Can Richmond challenge again in 2023?

[1965]

I have been a RFC supporter since 1965 and a member ever since I could afford it. I cant remember a time when I was more excited about an upcoming season.

Well that didn't last long.

[camboon]

I’m getting excited about our draft picks, oh wait a minute

[one-eyed]

AFL power rankings:

Harrison Reid
7news
17 April 2023

We rank every AFL club from 1 to 18 based on current form, and there has been some big movers after Round 5.

1. Collingwood
2. Essendon
3. St Kilda
4. Melbourne
5. Carlton
6. Adelaide
7. Essendon
8. Sydney
9. Port Adelaide
10. Geelong
11. Western Bulldogs

12. Richmond
It’s becoming more and more clear that the Tigers aren’t capable of building upon their bounce back into the finals last year, and that Hopper and Taranto can’t paper over the aging cracks. Until Friday night, it felt like there was more in Richmond that we were yet to have seen, but the 44-point loss to Sydney felt significant. You can’t see the wheels falling off this proud Tigers unit, but September looks a stretch from here.

13. GWS
14. Fremantle
15. North Melbourne
16. Gold Coast
17. Hawthorn
18. West Coast

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-power-rankings-all-bar-three-teams-change-places-in-massive-round-of-movement-c-10367379

[one-eyed]

2023 just isn’t Richmond’s year

Nathan Buckley
SEN
17 April 2023

“I think the supporters and everyone else need to readjust our expectations of them.

“I think they’ve been coached exceptionally well. I think they’ve been true to themselves, the messaging would be really consistent about the way they want them to play.

“But in the last eight quarters, they’ve kicked 15 goals in two of those quarters, and only eight goals in the other six.

“There’s a big difference between their capacity to score when they execute their kicking or their handball or their simple basics in the game, and when they don’t.

“They’ve just got kids playing that aren’t ready to play in winning teams. That’s not to say they’re not having a go, but there’s just too many of them. (Noah) Cumberland, (Tylar) Young, Maurice Rioli, (Tyler) Sonsie, (Rhyan) Mansell, (Samson) Ryan, (Brad) Miller, (Hugo) Ralphsmith, (Judson) Clarke all played in the side on the weekend. All have got talent and things they can offer the team but there’s just too many at once.

“I don’t think it’s an excuse at all, but I think that the way that Richmond went into this season, their top half looked amazing, they recruited (Tim) Taranto and (Jacob) Hopper, they brought in some players, tried to address a need through the midfield and there’s no doubt they have done that.

“But they’ve just lost too many of their players that they’ve relied on and some of their experienced players have dropped off before they thought they would.

“The expectations need to shift. Damien Hardwick isn’t coaching for success this year, his language has changed slightly. The leaders in the side need to make that adjustment as well because I saw an element of frustration in the way they went about it on the weekend.

“If they continue not to deal with or understand the reality of the situation that they’re in, then that frustration will continue and it won’t be great for the development of the young players.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/16/the-buck-stops-here-2023-isnt-richmonds-year-crows-are-the-real-deal-and/

[one-eyed]

https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1647882375001694208

[one-eyed]

Power Rankings after Round 5

Max Laughton
Fox Sports
April 18th, 2023

1. Collingwood
2. Melbourne
3. Sydney
4. Brisbane
5. St Kilda
6. Geelong
7. Adelaide
8. Port Adelaide
9. Carlton
10. Essendon

11. RICHMOND (1-3-1, 92.4%)

Last week’s ranking: 8

Let’s make one thing clear - the Tigers don’t start seasons well. In the last seven seasons they’ve opened the year 5-4 (2017), 7-2 (2018, so the one time they didn’t win a flag they were supposed to win), 7-6 (2019), 4-3-1 (2020), 5-5 (2021) and 2-4 (2022). There’s usually a pattern - they get upset a couple of times, some bad injuries strike, but then they work out what’s going wrong and the players come back and they surge into September. Last year went against the pattern because they didn’t win a final, and most people are giving up on them doing it this year too. We’re not going that far. We’d point out the tough opening five weeks they’ve had, and how much better their one win (over Adelaide in Adelaide) looks right now. Soon enough the fixture will open up and the Tigers will get their chances to recover. But we will say that the top four berth we thought they’d contend for is looking very far away.


12. Western Bulldogs
13. Fremantle
14. Gold Coast
15. GWS
16. North Melbourne
17. West Coast
18. Hawthorn

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-power-rankings-after-round-5-analysis-highlights-every-club-ranked-ladder-predictions-contenders-latest-news/news-story/4f9d285140f1064353234930b2d313a4

[one-eyed]

https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1647882375001694208

AFL premiership window revealed: Contender’s grim title reality as shock bolter emerges

Catherine Healey
Fox Sports
April 18th, 2023

Sydney and Essendon are sitting in the premiership window box seat after five rounds, with a trio of Melbourne-based clubs not far behind.

Statistics show of the last 17 premiers, 15 of those have sat in the top six for both offence and defence – and that is where both the Swans and Bombers currently rank.

Just outside of that top six loom Melbourne, Collingwood and St Kilda while there’s big concerns for the Western Bulldogs who are currently ranked 17th in the premiership window.

Alarmingly, no premier in the past 17 years has come from below the defensive top six in worrying signs for Adelaide, Geelong and Brisbane who have shown firepower up forward.

Only the Western Bulldogs (2016) and Richmond (2017) have won flags without sitting in the top six offensive stats – but they still ranked top six defensively.

As it stands, if that defensive premiers trend were to continue, there’s seven teams in the race – Sydney, Essendon, Collingwood, St Kilda, Carlton and Richmond/Fremantle who are tied for points allowed.

WHO FLIPPED THE SCRIPT

Statistics show Richmond have completely turned the tide on their playing profile in 2023.

“This year Richmond has flipped their profile. Last year they outscored everyone, they got scored against,” Brown said.

“This year, they’ve been harder to score against but they can’t score themselves.”

The Tigers are clinging to a decent spot in the premiership window, as they rank equal with Fremantle for points allowed.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/shock-bolter-as-afl-premiership-window-revealed-but-its-a-long-way-back-for-spent-biccies-side/news-story/a26fd3a5cbf3e493f245f7d866be11fb

[one-eyed]

RUSSELL: RICHMOND CAN STILL WIN THE 2023 FLAG

Seb Mottram
SEN
18 April 2023

Dwayne Russell says both Richmond and Geelong can still win the 2023 flag, refusing to buy into the negativity surrounding the two sides.

Both teams have suffered slow starts to the 2023 season and currently sit outside this year’s top eight. Momentum surrounding the Cats was at a big low after their Round 3 loss to Gold Coast, while Richmond finds itself in a similar position after a loss to Sydney on the weekend just gone.

But Russell still sees the potential for both clubs to play finals. And if they make the eight, Russell wouldn’t put a line through them for the flag.

He also mounted a similar case with Brisbane, who have rebounded over the past fortnight after a difficult Round 3 loss to the Western Bulldogs.

“Two weeks ago there were people saying Brisbane can’t win the flag with (Joe) Daniher and (Eric) Hipwood. Well guess what, they can win the flag and they can win it because Hipwood and Daniher can play, and that’s what I said at the time,” he explained on SEN’s Dwayne’s World.

“Too many people were running around a few weeks ago telling us the sky was falling in on Geelong, I wasn’t buying that either.

“They can make the finals, and to me, if you can make the finals you can win the flag, especially when you’ve got an experienced lineup like Geelong’s got. I think Geelong is the kind of team that could, is they scraped into 7th or 8th, win it from there.

“The latest one seems to be Richmond, this week it’s write Richmond off week.

“Is that assessment not reality or is it correct? I think the reality is Richmond can get their game going. Yeah, they’re a bit undisciplined at the moment, yeah they’re not playing their best footy at the moment, yeah they’ve got a few guys who are off at the moment, yeah they’ve got some injuries at the moment, but to me, I don’t think it’s over for Richmond.”

Instead, Russell could write off just four clubs from playing finals this year.

“Only four teams, in my opinion, can’t play finals after five rounds,” he stated.

“Only Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Gold Coast and West Coast.

“In my opinion, there are still 14 teams alive for the finals.”

The Suns, Eagles and Hawks currently occupy the last three spots on the ladder with a trio of combined wins, while North Melbourne is slightly higher in 13th with two.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/18/the-four-teams-that-can-be-ruled-out-of-the-finals-race-after-round-5/

[one-eyed]

Six AFL clubs who can’t play finals... and the bottom four side that can: Power Rankings

Max Laughton
Fox Sports
April 27th, 2023

Welcome back to the Power Rankings.

After six rounds we’re ready to rule six teams out of the finals race - but we still believe in one that’s stuck in the bottom four.

1. Collingwood
2. Melbourne
3. St Kilda
4. Geelong
5. Brisbane
6. Sydney
7. Adelaide
8. Port Adelaide
9. Essendon
10. W. Bulldogs
11. Carlton

12. RICHMOND (1-4-1, 90.3%)

Last week’s ranking: 11

We might be the last ones in the ‘Richmond is still good!’ room so we’ll turn off the lights if needed, but the Tigers feel like this year’s prime example of the ladder lying. Would anyone really say the bottom four teams right now - North Melbourne, Richmond, West Coast and Hawthorn - are the worst four teams? One of those things is not like the other, and it’s Damien Hardwick’s men. They kicked themselves out of holding off Melbourne on Monday night; on expected score they actually should’ve won the game, after a strong performance in contested footy. We’re not trying to say the Tigers are secret flag contender or anything crazy like that - the losses all count, and they’re going to have to win 11 or 12 of their last 17 games to play finals. That’s not easy especially with the injuries they’ve got. But they’re losing to good teams, so if they can just start beating the teams they really should be beating - Gold Coast next, West Coast after that - they should be back in the mid-table mix where they belong.

13. Fremantle
14. Gold Coast
15. GWS
16. North Melbourne
17. Hawthorn
18. West Coast

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-power-rankings-after-round-6-analysis-highlights-every-club-ranked-ladder-predictions-contenders-latest-news/news-story/d896001ec1cef62d00c711c8a6367271

[one-eyed]

Tigers’ burning question: Does the long-term start to take precedence now?

It looks like a delicate balance for coach Damien Hardwick. The glimpses we’ve seen from Richmond this season – the eight-goal second quarter against the Bulldogs, the seven-goal third quarter against Sydney and the first half against Melbourne – have been brilliant, but they haven’t been able to maintain that intensity for a full four quarters. As Damien Hardwick pointed out, the Tigers “have been in every game” they’ve played, but the reality is they’ve won just one game from six rounds – and finals now seems like a tough ask. Jason Dunstall told AFL 360: “We’re going to see some great performance from them, but it’s still a renovation process.” Co-host Gerard Whateley said the Tigers had now “reached a point where we accept they’re not about to reprise their glory days”, adding on AFL 360: “It’s only six rounds in, but the early polls say they’re not challenging for a flag, so what are you doing?”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2023-the-blowtorch-round-7-preview-every-clubs-burning-question-fox-footy-commentators-tv-broadcast-guide-analysis-fixture/news-story/5f1941fd649cbfd2d9d82378db1ed1a5

[the claw]

2023 just isn’t Richmond’s year

Nathan Buckley
SEN
17 April 2023

“I think the supporters and everyone else need to readjust our expectations of them.

“I think they’ve been coached exceptionally well. I think they’ve been true to themselves, the messaging would be really consistent about the way they want them to play.

“But in the last eight quarters, they’ve kicked 15 goals in two of those quarters, and only eight goals in the other six.

“There’s a big difference between their capacity to score when they execute their kicking or their handball or their simple basics in the game, and when they don’t.

“They’ve just got kids playing that aren’t ready to play in winning teams. That’s not to say they’re not having a go, but there’s just too many of them. (Noah) Cumberland, (Tylar) Young, Maurice Rioli, (Tyler) Sonsie, (Rhyan) Mansell, (Samson) Ryan, (Brad) Miller, (Hugo) Ralphsmith, (Judson) Clarke all played in the side on the weekend. All have got talent and things they can offer the team but there’s just too many at once.

“I don’t think it’s an excuse at all, but I think that the way that Richmond went into this season, their top half looked amazing, they recruited (Tim) Taranto and (Jacob) Hopper, they brought in some players, tried to address a need through the midfield and there’s no doubt they have done that.

“But they’ve just lost too many of their players that they’ve relied on and some of their experienced players have dropped off before they thought they would.

“The expectations need to shift. Damien Hardwick isn’t coaching for success this year, his language has changed slightly. The leaders in the side need to make that adjustment as well because I saw an element of frustration in the way they went about it on the weekend.

“If they continue not to deal with or understand the reality of the situation that they’re in, then that frustration will continue and it won’t be great for the development of the young players.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/16/the-buck-stops-here-2023-isnt-richmonds-year-crows-are-the-real-deal-and/

Gunna disagree.
Young is 24 and you bring in mature players only if they can offer something straight away. Well he has filled a hole but he clearly is not an answer imo.

Mansell is 22 yo in yr 3 and has been moved from his primary role as a defender to the graveyard small pressure fwd role.

Miller is 23 and in in year 6 ffs,

They are hardly kids and should be established if good enough.

Ralphsmith well imo he won't make it hope im wrong.

MRJ similar to Hugo just so deficient in basics and the roles they perform.
Any way i digress the point is not all are kids or juniors. The truth is the after the vets there is not a lot of quality to speak of.

[georgies31]

2023 just isn’t Richmond’s year

Nathan Buckley
SEN
17 April 2023

“I think the supporters and everyone else need to readjust our expectations of them.

“I think they’ve been coached exceptionally well. I think they’ve been true to themselves, the messaging would be really consistent about the way they want them to play.

“But in the last eight quarters, they’ve kicked 15 goals in two of those quarters, and only eight goals in the other six.

“There’s a big difference between their capacity to score when they execute their kicking or their handball or their simple basics in the game, and when they don’t.

“They’ve just got kids playing that aren’t ready to play in winning teams. That’s not to say they’re not having a go, but there’s just too many of them. (Noah) Cumberland, (Tylar) Young, Maurice Rioli, (Tyler) Sonsie, (Rhyan) Mansell, (Samson) Ryan, (Brad) Miller, (Hugo) Ralphsmith, (Judson) Clarke all played in the side on the weekend. All have got talent and things they can offer the team but there’s just too many at once.

“I don’t think it’s an excuse at all, but I think that the way that Richmond went into this season, their top half looked amazing, they recruited (Tim) Taranto and (Jacob) Hopper, they brought in some players, tried to address a need through the midfield and there’s no doubt they have done that.

“But they’ve just lost too many of their players that they’ve relied on and some of their experienced players have dropped off before they thought they would.

“The expectations need to shift. Damien Hardwick isn’t coaching for success this year, his language has changed slightly. The leaders in the side need to make that adjustment as well because I saw an element of frustration in the way they went about it on the weekend.

“If they continue not to deal with or understand the reality of the situation that they’re in, then that frustration will continue and it won’t be great for the development of the young players.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/16/the-buck-stops-here-2023-isnt-richmonds-year-crows-are-the-real-deal-and/

Gunna disagree.
Young is 24 and you bring in mature players only if they can offer something straight away. Well he has filled a hole but he clearly is not an answer imo.

Mansell is 22 yo in yr 3 and has been moved from his primary role as a defender to the graveyard small pressure fwd role.

Miller is 23 and in in year 6 ffs,

They are hardly kids and should be established if good enough.

Ralphsmith well imo he won't make it hope im wrong.

MRJ similar to Hugo just so deficient in basics and the roles they perform.
Any way i digress the point is not all are kids or juniors. The truth is the after the vets there is not a lot of quality to speak of.

Harsh on Young your going on one bad quarter and when Dimma screwed the team structure even admitted it 24 or not still good age plenty of upside in him way  to early.The others I agree on.

[Jonesracing82]

2023 just isn’t Richmond’s year

Nathan Buckley
SEN
17 April 2023

“I think the supporters and everyone else need to readjust our expectations of them.

“I think they’ve been coached exceptionally well. I think they’ve been true to themselves, the messaging would be really consistent about the way they want them to play.

“But in the last eight quarters, they’ve kicked 15 goals in two of those quarters, and only eight goals in the other six.

“There’s a big difference between their capacity to score when they execute their kicking or their handball or their simple basics in the game, and when they don’t.

“They’ve just got kids playing that aren’t ready to play in winning teams. That’s not to say they’re not having a go, but there’s just too many of them. (Noah) Cumberland, (Tylar) Young, Maurice Rioli, (Tyler) Sonsie, (Rhyan) Mansell, (Samson) Ryan, (Brad) Miller, (Hugo) Ralphsmith, (Judson) Clarke all played in the side on the weekend. All have got talent and things they can offer the team but there’s just too many at once.

“I don’t think it’s an excuse at all, but I think that the way that Richmond went into this season, their top half looked amazing, they recruited (Tim) Taranto and (Jacob) Hopper, they brought in some players, tried to address a need through the midfield and there’s no doubt they have done that.

“But they’ve just lost too many of their players that they’ve relied on and some of their experienced players have dropped off before they thought they would.

“The expectations need to shift. Damien Hardwick isn’t coaching for success this year, his language has changed slightly. The leaders in the side need to make that adjustment as well because I saw an element of frustration in the way they went about it on the weekend.

“If they continue not to deal with or understand the reality of the situation that they’re in, then that frustration will continue and it won’t be great for the development of the young players.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/16/the-buck-stops-here-2023-isnt-richmonds-year-crows-are-the-real-deal-and/

Gunna disagree.
Young is 24 and you bring in mature players only if they can offer something straight away. Well he has filled a hole but he clearly is not an answer imo.

Mansell is 22 yo in yr 3 and has been moved from his primary role as a defender to the graveyard small pressure fwd role.

Miller is 23 and in in year 6 ffs,

They are hardly kids and should be established if good enough.

Ralphsmith well imo he won't make it hope im wrong.

MRJ similar to Hugo just so deficient in basics and the roles they perform.
Any way i digress the point is not all are kids or juniors. The truth is the after the vets there is not a lot of quality to speak of.

Gotta look at games played to see how inexperienced they are. Mega harsh on Young, after playing 5 games in his AFL career he's got a 14.3% 1v1 loss record, 7th best in the comp & he's #1 for spoils at 9.6 per game in the comp. I'm not sure what u are expecting of him...

[one-eyed]

@MatthewLloyd18 and @barrettdamian have completed their rounds one to six stocktake... have they got it right?



https://twitter.com/AFL/status/1651511513088413701

[one-eyed]

Nathan Buckley isn't quite ready to give up on Richmond just yet.

Watch here: https://twitter.com/1116sen/status/1651364281718394884