AFLX - Tigers in Sydney [updated - includes squad]

[one-eyed]

Highlights:

Game 1: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2018-02-17/aflx-match-one-highlights

Game 2: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2018-02-17/aflx-match-two-highlights

[mightytiges]

Can't believe we lost

Where is the sack Hardwick thread?

Dimma had the day off. So we need a sack Leppa thread .

No

Dimmas fault. Everyone knows Leppa can't coach.

Well we lost a game to Brisbane for the first time in about 9 years so perhaps all heads should roll. I hear the 'focus on footy' rebel group is planning another board takeover as we speak  .

[Diocletian]

Looked like defensive pressure is still a high priority, if not higher, even in this silly format and the new kids all seemed more than on board with it.....

Balta & Moore both looked exciting....Balta's early spoil v GWS was very Rance -like... ....looked equally comfortable at both ends too...Higgins looks a good kick and decision maker the two times I noticed him, Eggs didn't do too much wrong without really standing out...Baker looks bit iffy but a goer.....hard to judge them after 20 minutes of hit & giggle though... Short & Broad  looked the best of the "old" players...Butler's body still moving faster than his brain...Castagna still very ..."enigmatic"....Lloyd...meh...

I increasingly look forward to the day Conca is no longer on our list...almost as much as I look forward to the day Channel 7 loses the AFL broadcasting rights again....

The concept itself is a joke at this level, leave it for foreigners and kids from the northern states....

[wayne]

Brisbane won it.

When the wooden spooners win preseason trophies you know how serious (or rather not) the rest of the teams were taking it .

Brisbane's future is bright, their kids were great. Rich, Bell, Bewick, Christensen... all looked super impressive

[one-eyed]

From the Herald-Sun website:

Leppitsch said the players enjoyed the experience of playing the new game, as did the coaches, who were content there were fewer collisions, which meant no injuries across their two matches.

“When you are putting your players up and handing them to the AFL for experiments, you want to make sure they come back in one piece,” he said.

He said there was always room for further improvements with AFLX, and joked that the field could even be carved up a bit more like a dart board, for extra scoring opportunities.

X-FACTOR

Jason Castagna

Leaving aside Mitch Robinson’s matchwinning Zooper goal, Castagna turned in the best passage of the day with his brilliant goal against the Lions. Twice he tapped the ball around the boundary, and then launched with a flying soccer kick for goal.

TIME TO SHINE

Reece Conca

A fully-fit Conca would be a bonus for the Tigers headed into their premiership defence. The injury-prone runner wasted no time staking his claim with the first Zooper goal of the opening game and showed enough in both matches to suggest that if his body holds out, his speed and penetrating kicking will again be an asset.

STEPPING UP

Jayden Short

Short was stiff to lose his spot late last year and looked just as stiff when he was “disallowed” a Zooper goal during the first game. Thankfully, sanity prevailed, and the mistake was corrected. Looked sharp as he worked to regain his position in the side.

NEW FACES

Noah Balta

This kid might be the ‘bolter’ from the blue. The athletic 18-year-old key-position Tiger, who was pick 25 in last year’s draft, took a couple of strong grabs and hit the scoreboard. Looked a nice prospect who could be used at either end.

LOOK WHO’S BACK

Nathan Broad

The Tigers gave their premiership defender plenty of game time in both matches, mindful of his club-imposed three-game suspension. He did plenty of running from the back half.

SUPERCOACH WATCH

Jack Higgins ($130,800 mid/fwd)

The Tigers’ first draft pick (No. 17 overall) only had limited game time in the first game, but showed glimpses of his talent. It’s impossible to leave him out of your SuperCoach team at the price. May not be picked for Round 1 but shouldn’t have to wait long for his opportunity. Looks as good a cash cow as the Sunrise version.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-plans-to-implement-the-same-manic-pressure-that-won-the-premiership-in-2018/news-story/fc56a353d72022fe8740e09665ca757e

[mightytiges]

Brisbane won it.

When the wooden spooners win preseason trophies you know how serious (or rather not) the rest of the teams were taking it .

Brisbane's future is bright, their kids were great. Rich, Bell, Bewick, Christensen... all looked super impressive

Don't forget Mitch 'celebrate an AFLX zooper goal like you've won the premiership' Robinson either.

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

 

When will Hardwick and co effing learn???!! This high pressure gameplan is just NO GOOD for AFLX.

Another premiership goes begging.

Standard Richmond 

[mightytiges]

“When you are putting your players up and handing them to the AFL for experiments, you want to make sure they come back in one piece,” Leppitsch said.

Yep. The main thing is we walked away with no injuries.

He said there was always room for further improvements with AFLX, and joked that the field could even be carved up a bit more like a dart board, for extra scoring opportunities.

The last touch out of bounds rule doesn't work for smothers. Penalises the team/player for good play while rewards the other team/player for poor play. We got screwed by it about half a dozen times in the Brisbane game where we'd do well to smother a Lion's kick and they'd get given the ball back to set up a shot at goal . They need to tweak rule so that the player who smothers the ball is rewarded with possession if ball goes out of bounds.

Reece Conca

A fully-fit Conca would be a bonus for the Tigers headed into their premiership defence. The injury-prone runner wasted no time staking his claim with the first Zooper goal of the opening game and showed enough in both matches to suggest that if his body holds out, his speed and penetrating kicking will again be an asset.

The bit in bold is something that sadly for Reece has never happened in his AFL career. Even if his body did hold up now, he would pretty much be fighting for Broad's spot in the senior side amongst a host of other teammates.

[one-eyed]

Jack Higgins (FWD/MID, $238,000) was solid against GWS with seven possessions and remains in the mix if he can break into the premier's round one line up, which sounds unlikely at this stage.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-19/uncanny-xmen-the-fantasy-view-of-aflx

[one-eyed]

AFLX full wrap: How did your club go?

afl.com.au
Feb 19, 2018 12:55PM

RICHMOND

Game 1: Richmond 3.2.7 (49) def GWS 2.2.2 (34)
Game 2: Brisbane 4.3.8 (66) def Richmond 4.3.3 (61)

The premiers continued their winning ways with a first-up victory but couldn't repeat their efforts to make another Grand Final. Flag heroes Dan Butler and Jason Castagna were dangerous forwards for the Tigers, while Nathan Broad was a dasher in defence. Forgotten forwards Sam Lloyd and Reece Conca used the tournament to kickstart the season with both players finding plenty of the ball, with Jayden Short prominent with his pace, and youngster Noah Balta an influential big man. Jack Higgins showed glimpses of the talent that made him the club's No.1 draft pick, with both Derek Eggmolesse-Smith and Tyson Stengle also bringing some flash to the day.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-19/aflx-full-wrap-how-did-your-club-go