JLT2 vs Hawthorn @ Launceston on Sat. March 9

[one-eyed]

Big name players attract fans from afar

Adam Holmes
Tasmanian Examiner
11 March 2019

For Richmond fan Oliver Wright, there was no better way to spend his first day in Tasmania than by getting the prized autograph of Dustin Martin on his back.

"Someone told me where the players were going to be when they get to the ground, so we went and Dusty signed my guernsey," he said.

Oliver came down to Launceston with his dad Ross Wright - a special treat for his son - and they had the best seats in UTAS Stadium in the front row on centre wing. It was the third time he had met Dusty and he was in prime position to meet the players after the game.

Mr Wright said they had enjoyed their time in Launceston - but just wished a few more places were open on a Saturday. They were confident the Tigers would have a successful 2019. "This was always meant to be their year, and winning the premiership in 2017 was a bonus really," Mr Wright said.

Emma Kirkhope, of Longford, took her Tiger fan daughters to the footy - and for some it was the first time they had seen their team play in Tasmania.

"We've gone to see them in Melbourne a few times," she said. "It's pretty awesome to see them here."

The Examiner spoke to Tigers fans as they made their way into the ground, and most had come up from Hobart. It was the first time the Tigers had played in Launceston since 2013 when they won with a kick after the siren in a preseason game against the Hawks.

Saturday night's match almost matched that excitement - Richmond coming back from 40 points down at half-time to win by eight.

Michelle Oliver and her son Josh made the trip from Hobart - complete with autograph-laden merchandise. Josh struggled to decide who he liked more - Dusty or Jack Riewoldt. But there was one thing he was sure of: a 2019 premiership for the Tigers. "I reckon they'll win it," Josh said.

Free entry for season ticket holders helped to boost crowd figures, along with both clubs naming strong teams. The official crowd of 6982 was one of the strongest so far in the 2019 JLT Series.

For Hawthorn, big recruits Chad Wingard and Tom Scully were missing, but the remainder had the look of a round one team. The Tigers were without new recruit Tom Lynch. The other big names were there though and played for much of the match: Dusty, Jack, Alex Rance and the rest.

Fans got the chance to have a kick on the ground after the match for about half an hour, before huge crowds gathered outside to see the teams board their buses.

https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5945699/big-name-players-attract-fans-from-afar-photos/#slide=2

[one-eyed]

60 per cent of teams with undefeated records in last year’s preseason went on to play finals – the best of any category – but they actually averaged less wins overall than the eight sides who went 1-1.

Why? Well, it was an eclectic group – including the minor premiers Richmond and finalists Sydney and Melbourne, but also the two worst teams of the year in Carlton and Gold Coast.

Of the teams this year who’ve managed to go 2-0, I’d say Brisbane, Adelaide and Richmond all have good cause to believe those results are more than just good luck.

The Tigers have gone up against two of last year’s preliminary finalists and looked the part against both of them.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/03/10/seven-afl-talking-points-from-the-jlt-series-week-two/

[Slipper]

I wouldn't read bugger all into JLT form, other than to say our kids look promising and we are keeping a lid on things.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

How can they read anything into these preseason games comparing them to last year? First and foremost they played 3 games last year while they only played 2 this year.....

[amc11]

How can they read anything into these preseason games comparing them to last year? First and foremost they played 3 games last year while they only played 2 this year.....

Preseason 2017 they played 3 games, last year it became 2 games plus the AFLX.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

How can they read anything into these preseason games comparing them to last year? First and foremost they played 3 games last year while they only played 2 this year.....

Preseason 2017 they played 3 games, last year it became 2 games plus the AFLX.

Must be stuck in a time warp! 

[mightytiges]

How can they read anything into these preseason games comparing them to last year? First and foremost they played 3 games last year while they only played 2 this year.....

Preseason 2017 they played 3 games, last year it became 2 games plus the AFLX.

Must be stuck in a time warp! 

Dr Frank.N.Furter?   

[YellowandBlackBlood]

How can they read anything into these preseason games comparing them to last year? First and foremost they played 3 games last year while they only played 2 this year.....

Preseason 2017 they played 3 games, last year it became 2 games plus the AFLX.

Must be stuck in a time warp! 

Dr Frank.N.Furter?   

[mightytiges]

One eyed and other posters how have you seen our ability to win centre clearances and first hand on footy  past 2 games this was a major issue last year and needs to be rectified.

Still a big concern to me. However, when both games needed to be won the midfield stood up. Only the real stuff will answer that question...

The JLT series is hard to judge as every side is experimenting and managing players. Dusty was rested at 3/4 time in both games; Melbourne were without Gawn, Jones and Viney; while the Hawks rested Sicily after half-time which freed up Jack.

Georgies, we're heavily reliant on Dusty and Cotch at centre clearances when we need a matchwinner. Our midfield depth is going to be tested against the top sides who bat deep in their rotation. Both games showed what we already knew: that if we lose the manic pressure, contested footy and clearances badly then we're susceptible as it puts our backline on the back foot and separates them into one-on-one situations which are difficult to defend; conversely, when we win or at least match the opposition in those key stats then we are a dangerous side that can set up repeat F50 entries and score quickly.

[Diocletian]

Jack was freed up because Clarkson took Frawley off him and sent O'Brien, who's a forward, to him...that kind of stuff won't happen in the season proper....

[mightytiges]

Jack was freed up because Clarkson took Frawley off him and sent O'Brien, who's a forward, to him....that kind of stuff won't happen in the season proper....

Hawk fans did give O'Brien BOG for us lol. Jack was too smart for Frawley in the end too.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Jack was freed up because Clarkson took Frawley off him and sent O'Brien, who's a forward, to him....that kind of stuff won't happen in the season proper....

True, however, we were also being smashed in the centre so Jack was getting no ball delivered with any purpose during that period. After half time we started winning the centre clearances and the ball was heading down there quickly, so it's difficult to know what their initial structures, although successful early on, would have been able to withstand.

[one-eyed]

“We played pretty poorly in that first half and Hawks played fantastic footy. We were able to get our game up and going, which is a good sign,” Riewoldt told ‘Fox Footy’.

“The third quarter was really impressive and then, I know we’re not playing for points, but just to continue to finish the game there means we’re going to go into two weeks’ time (season-opener) in really good stead . . .

“The group’s in a really good spot. Hopefully we get a couple of additions going into Round 1, which is exciting.

“We’ve had a really good summer and we’re looking forward to the season.”

“We don’t rant and rave, because we’ve always got belief in ourselves that whether we’re up at half-time, or down at half-time, we feel we’re always in the game,” he said.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2019-03-11/tassie-trip-a-tonic-for-tigers

[one-eyed]

THE 2019 JLT LADDER

Club    Wins    Losses    Percentage
1. West Coast    2    0    169.11
2. Brisbane        2    0    131.21
3. St Kilda         2    0    125.0
4. Adelaide        2    0    123.97
5. Collingwood   2    0    119.75
6. Richmond      2    0    110.64
7. Sydney          1    1    112.35
8. GWS             1    1    102.99
9. Carlton           1    1    102.98
10. Port Adelaide 1    1    101.92
11. Geelong        1    1    96.51
12. Gold Coast    1    1    81.03
13. Melbourne     0    2    91.24
14. W.Bulldogs    0    2    88.82
15. Essendon      0    2    81.59
16. North Melb.   0    2    79.56
17. Hawthorn      0    2    74.62
18. Fremantle     0    2    64.55

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-03-11/the-2019-jlt-ladder-whos-on-top-whos-on-bottom

[one-eyed]

Houli, acknowledging that football is “not made to be perfect”, said the Tigers' system allows players to maintain confidence in situations such as Saturday night's early deficit.

“We’ve realised the areas that we need to improve throughout pre-season, we work on them,” he said.

“We know we’re going to fall short in areas throughout the year but we just have to compensate in other strengths… (in both JLT matches) we had a very slow start.

“But through our experience and our confidence of our system, we know that we can always come back and be the true Richmond players that we can be.”

With the round one season opener against Carlton just nine days away, the premiership backman said the group has “ticked off a few boxes” this pre-season while still leaving room for improvement.

“We don’t want to be at the top of our game just yet,” he said.

“We want to work for something greater and bigger down the track.”

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2019-03-12/houli-confident-with-the-tiger-system