Top of the ladder and premiership favourites

[one-eyed]

On the ladder RICH are currently ranked #1 offensively (most points scored) and defensively (fewest points conceded) The last time they held that distinction was Round 2, 1949

https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/993503113960042497

[Tigeritis™©®]

On the ladder RICH are currently ranked #1 offensively (most points scored) and defensively (fewest points conceded) The last time they held that distinction was Round 2, 1949

https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/993503113960042497

Is this current team better than the 1980 premiership team?

[YellowandBlackBlood]

On the ladder RICH are currently ranked #1 offensively (most points scored) and defensively (fewest points conceded) The last time they held that distinction was Round 2, 1949

https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/993503113960042497

Is this current team better than the 1980 premiership team?

Pretty hard to call so early on in the season. That team was awesome. Raines, Roach, Wiley, Bourke, Keane, The Flea, Jimmy Jess, Cloke, Mark Lee and of course KB destroying all and sundry in the finals. Even Mick Malthouse made all opposition small forwards nervous..... Bloody amazing collection of players.

[mightytiges]

On the ladder RICH are currently ranked #1 offensively (most points scored) and defensively (fewest points conceded) The last time they held that distinction was Round 2, 1949

https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/993503113960042497

Is this current team better than the 1980 premiership team?

Pretty hard to call so early on in the season. That team was awesome. Raines, Roach, Wiley, Bourke, Keane, The Flea, Jimmy Jess, Cloke, Mark Lee and of course KB destroying all and sundry in the finals. Even Mick Malthouse made all opposition small forwards nervous..... Bloody amazing collection of players.

Hard to compare as they play(ed) different gamestyles and in different eras. Back in 1980, it was still a suburban comp. and you played away games at smaller (but tougher to win at) suburban grounds. For instance, we only played 10 times at the 'G for a 7-1-2 record.

1980 team was an offence machine. Averaged 125 pts per game over the H/A season and 200 pts aggregate ahead of the next best. 7 times they scored more than 150 pts including scores of 222 vs StK, 195 vs Melb, and 180 vs Foot. 3 times they won by 100+ pts. They also flogged Collingwood at Victoria Park which was a rarity (a portal to what would happen on GF day  )

The current team is a defence machine. Breaks the opposition defensively with high intensity speed and team pressure and then finishes them off offensively.

The current team is also backing up after winning the flag last year. In 1981, we were 4-3 after 7 rounds and ended up just missing the finals which got TJ the flick  .

Ladder after Round 7      
                      W-D-L      %        Pos.        
1980 team      5-1-1      145       1st
2018 team      6-0-1      155       1st
2017 team      5-0-2      110       6th

Full season averages
                       Avg For            Avg Agst
1980 team       125   (1st)         90   (3rd)
2018 team       106* (1st)         68* (1st)
2017 team         90  (8th)         77  (3rd)

* after 7 matches


Sources:
https://afltables.com/afl/seas/1980.html
https://afltables.com/afl/seas/2018.html
https://afltables.com/afl/seas/2017.html

[Slipper]

On the ladder RICH are currently ranked #1 offensively (most points scored) and defensively (fewest points conceded) The last time they held that distinction was Round 2, 1949

https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/993503113960042497

Is this current team better than the 1980 premiership team?

Pretty hard to call so early on in the season. That team was awesome. Raines, Roach, Wiley, Bourke, Keane, The Flea, Jimmy Jess, Cloke, Mark Lee and of course KB destroying all and sundry in the finals. Even Mick Malthouse made all opposition small forwards nervous..... Bloody amazing collection of players.

Depth wise 1980 was better, but this team does boast a midfield containing 2 Brownlow medallists.

[Tigeritis™©®]

Personally there’s no comparison as in 1980 having  missed attending only 1 game (v St Kilda in Sydney) for the season all those blokes were my heroes the greatest being KB.

But this current team has really exceeded my expectations and do play some tough footy.

I think if both teams would line up on one another and each team were just as fit I’d expect the 1980 team to win easily. But it depend on whether or not the current team would allow such easy entry into forward 50 and whether or not the 80 team would cope with the pressure, probably not.

 

[mightytiges]

I actually watched the 1980 GF the other day. It's great to watch it now knowing it's no longer our last premiership.

It's hard to compare as footy in those days was get ball and just kick it to the next contest upfield if no one was free. Disposal was often quick, long and blind if under physical pressure. The current team with its forward press and team-based pressure would eat teams of that era for breakfast but one-on-one there would be some great match-ups (eg: Roach vs Rance). Our current smaller quicker forward line set-up is hard to do match-ups with past eras.


B:  Astbury       Rance       Vlastuin
F:   Cloke         Roach      Weightman

HB:  Houli         Broad        Grimes
HF:  Rowlings     Jess         Bartlett

C:   McIntosh    Martin        Edwards
C:   Wood         Raines        Welsh

R:  Nankervis    Prestia       Cotchin
R:    Lee           Keane        Wiley

HF:   Butler      Townsend   Lambert
HB:   Smith        Mount      Strachan

F:     Caddy       Riewoldt     Castagna
B:    Bourke        Dunne      Malthouse


Int (from): Short, Conca, Graham, Higgins, Rioli, B.Ellis, Lloyd
Int:  Monteath, Freame

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

Yeash, even so, that '17 backline would have a tough time of it. Talk about firepower!

[one-eyed]

The way results have gone so far this round, if we win today then we would join the Eagles two games clear of the rest.

[mightytiges]

Back on top and two games clear of 3rd  . Home finals are crucial and we play far better at the 'G.

[Slipper]

Back on top and two games clear of 3rd  . Home finals are crucial and we play far better at the 'G.

Going to be interesting to se how we handle Optus Stadium.

I felt that in recent times we had mastered Subi.

[mat073]

Top of the AFL and VFL ladder . #invincible.

[one-eyed]

https://twitter.com/TheTigerArmyAFL/status/995604307322982400

[Diocletian]

Dropped 5 percentage points.....sack Halfstep..... 

[one-eyed]

Lost today and lost top spot but we're still premiership favourites with the bookies.

https://www.tab.com.au/sports/betting/AFL%20Football/competitions/AFL%20Futures/matches/2018%20AFL%20Premiership
https://crownbet.com.au/sports-betting/australian-rules/afl/afl-futures-2018/outright-markets-20180420-814011-26570334
https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/AFL-Premiership-Winner-2018-3567914.html



https://twitter.com/MelbPTUser/status/998144540912508929