Can Richmond challenge again in 2022? [merged]

[one-eyed]

Matty Lloyd now has us missing the finals when at the start of the year he had us in.



In the pre-season, Lloyd named Melbourne, Brisbane, Western Bulldogs, Sydney, Port Adelaide, GWS, Essendon and Richmond as his top eight – and has now made changes to the latter four.

Replacing them are the three breakout teams of the season thus far in Fremantle, St Kilda and Carlton, as well as Geelong.

...

“That’s where Richmond is falling off the cliff. Not enough young talent coming through and their top-enders aren’t going as well.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/04/21/matthew-lloyd-makes-four-changes-to-his-pre-season-top-eight-prediction/

[georgies31]

Matty Lloyd now has us missing the finals when at the start of the year he had us in.



In the pre-season, Lloyd named Melbourne, Brisbane, Western Bulldogs, Sydney, Port Adelaide, GWS, Essendon and Richmond as his top eight – and has now made changes to the latter four.

Replacing them are the three breakout teams of the season thus far in Fremantle, St Kilda and Carlton, as well as Geelong.

...

“That’s where Richmond is falling off the cliff. Not enough young talent coming through and their top-enders aren’t going as well.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/04/21/matthew-lloyd-makes-four-changes-to-his-pre-season-top-eight-prediction/

Cats please lool. We have plenty of youth and need one more draft to add to it.Even if  not the case others teams sucked the system dry like demons and blues.

[one-eyed]

A quarter into the season we're 12th and a game and % out of the Eight.

--------------------

Over a quarter of a way through the season, how are you feeling about your team so far?


https://twitter.com/AFL/status/1518740385807298560

[Tiger Khosh]

if we look at all our losses, we were in the game until quite late into all of them. maybe clinging onto nothing but if we can bring a greater consistency in our performances over the full 4 quarters, we should be able to move up the ladder.

Carlton - leading to about halfway through the 4th
Saints - leading at 3 qtr time
Crows - leading halfway through the 3rd
Demons - leading about halfway through the 3rd

[MintOnLamb]

I think the percentage says it all

[pmac21]

Should win the next 4 games.  WC, Pies, Hawks & Bombers. 

[georgies31]

Should win the next 4 games.  WC, Pies, Hawks & Bombers.

There no guarantees there games we playing in patches at the moment can't put 4 quarters together.

[Yeahright]

Should win the next 4 games.  WC, Pies, Hawks & Bombers.

1 win will be expected, lucky to get 2, wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t win any

[Damo]

Should win the next 4 games.  WC, Pies, Hawks & Bombers.

1 win will be expected, lucky to get 2, wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t win any

We will beat the Eagles

[pmac21]

Get Dusty back, get Grimes back, get Lambert back were a 3 goal better team and we win all 4 of these. 

[Yeahright]

Should win the next 4 games.  WC, Pies, Hawks & Bombers.

1 win will be expected, lucky to get 2, wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t win any

We will beat the Eagles

That’s 1 win, good job chief.

[Jonesracing82]

I think the percentage says it all

Funny isn't it, we have similar % (albeit 1 less win) to the Hawks & Crows, we are being written off by all & sundry yet the media are drooling all over those other 2....

[the claw]

if we look at all our losses, we were in the game until quite late into all of them. maybe clinging onto nothing but if we can bring a greater consistency in our performances over the full 4 quarters, we should be able to move up the ladder.

Carlton - leading to about halfway through the 4th
Saints - leading at 3 qtr time
Crows - leading halfway through the 3rd
Demons - leading about halfway through the 3rd

Looks can be decieving.
 Carlton game they had it all over us and we hung in. inevitably the flood gates had to burst.

The Stkilda game really did flatter us it probably should have been much worse.

Demons well 31 shots to 14 says it all it could have been a demolition.
Adelaide well fair enough had our chances but could not get in front in the end they finished too strong for us.

Even the Bulldog game that we won it could have been over by half time -  three quarter time
The only game we have had control in is GWS and look where they are at. Cameron must be pooting bricks atm he cannot keep his job surely.

[the claw]

Can we challenge again. Then the question is at the end of the day who will Hardwick go with if we make finals.

It has been as clear as the nose on your face he will continually go back to the oldy well over kids. I think come finals the only two  23 and under will be Bolton and Balta. Balta will go back i think that is what they prefer and i think they want to play two ruckmen if they can.

If all are fit he has continually favored the following over kids and unless players are injured the kids will not get a gig. Even Gibcus will miss out if all are fit.

Vlastuin 28yo - Tarrant 33yo - Grimes 30yo
Broad 29yo - Balta 21yo - Rioli 25yo

Pickett 30yo - Martin 30yo - McIntosh 28yo
Nankervis 27yo - Cotchin 30yo - Prestia 29yo

Lambert 30yo - Riewoldt 33yo - Bolton 23yo
Castagna 26yo - Lynch 29yo - Soldo 26yo

Edwards 33yo - Short 26yo - Baker 24yo - Graham 24yo

Aarts 27yo.

Aarts as sub is probably the only questionable one when it comes to what Hardwick has done even then he has backed him in to the hilt.
Has any of these players outside of maybe three or 4 obvious ones in recent years actually been dropped.
The only ones missing from the 2020 flag are Houli and Astbury replaced by Tarrant and Soldo. That to me is a failure to evolve and keep moving fwd.

The other thing that i question and others do as well are there actually any kids who are actually better than any of those named. There is a few but most we have little to go by. The Gap between our mature players and 23 and unders in experience is huge.
This is a real conundrum and has been cause for much debate. Play the kids or make em really dominate.
 
The real worry and not many are saying it,  the older blokes can no longer do it as well as they once did,  not enough have come thru to even force regularly  bad performers out. The middle tier is the biggest concern of all. the 24 25 thru 28 yr olds should be the ones taking over and there are too few capable of it.

Yep older players who can no longer win a flag for us and a ordinary middle tier. Imo  the rebuild when we actually do embrace it will not be a short fix.

Can that team of players win a flag, clearly two seasons ago but not now imo. Two years is a hell of a long time in footy.Simply put imo who have failed to keep evolving.
When you look at it its time to ask should we  be more positive and show more perseverence in picking kids. Is it time to be planning for  the future rather than planning for a flag.

The answer to these questions should determine what you think we should be doing. What i do know is people will have differing views on it.
Its pretty clear i dont think we can win a flag and that there is too big a chasm between experienced older players and younger blokes with games behind them.

[one-eyed]

Richmond

Maher: “There or thereabouts.”

Gaze: "Hanging around and dangerous.”

De Stoop: “Still have no idea if they’re any good.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/05/04/a-snapshot-of-all-18-afl-clubs-after-seven-rounds/