Bomberblitz's 2023 season preview of Richmond

[one-eyed]

A season preview from an enemy.

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By poster allblack:

Richmond

Coach – Damien Hardwick

2022 –

Points For – 1st
Points Against – 9th

Top 5 Best and Fairest

1 – Tom Lynch
2 – Daniel Rioli
3 – Dion Prestia
=4 – Shai Bolton
=4 – Liam Baker

2022 Rising Star Noms

Hugo Ralphsmith (Round 17)
Noah Cumberland (Round 20)

Ins – Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper, Kaleb Smith, Steely Green, Seth Campbell, Tylar Young

Outs – Josh Caddy, Kane Lambert, Matthew Parker, Shane Edwards, Sydney Stack, Jake Aarts, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Will Martyn

My Prediction

Richmond never looked like it last year. A couple of threatening moment but they seemed to never really be able to string it together. They have gone hard at the trade table though and brought in a couple of very good players although worth mentioning that they lost a couple of handy players as well.

The backline was an issue for them last season and I am not sure they have done a huge amount to solve that problem. They have tried using Balta a bit at both ends but they will need him down back as neither Tarrant nor Grimes are getting any younger or more athletic, they will be hoping Gibcus comes on and fills that rolee. Rioli was a revelation down back and will partner with Broad or Vlastuin who can improve their backline just by staying fit.

The midfield is considerably stronger with the addition of Hopper and Taranto. I am not sure I buy into the Hopper hype in the same way as others and suspect he will be the steak knives in a deal that brought Taranto to the Tigers. Dustin Martin is a year further removed from all the crap of last year and we can probably expect him to improve on last season. What they really need is Prestia to stay on the field although the recruitment of Taranto will take some of the pressure off him.

The highest scoring forward line in the competition last year also remains largely unchanged, Cumberland looked a revelation late last year but he has the smell of a Townsend about him and I suspect he slowly disappears, Lynch and Reiwoldt will do what key forwards are supposed to do, kick goals in large numbers. Bolton will probably rotate with Martin through the midfield but he just keeps getting better and then you have Maurice and Baker doing short people things.

The rucks are skinny, Nankervis is handy if he gets out there but we know with Richmond, the rucks are rarely important and more a case of having one if you need it. They have a midfield that can work with the opposition ruck anyway. Hardwick is a proven championship coach who deserves to be mentioned alongside Sheedy and Clarkson. He knows how to bring a team with him.

I think this year the Tigers have given their champions another year or two at the pointy end with their recruitment. However they have lost some handy players in Edwards and Lambert as well as some depth in Caddy, Aarts and Collier-Dawkins. They don’t bat as deep as they have in the past although they have an annoying habit of just finding someone when they need it. I don’t know if they are a top four team this year. I think 4-7 is about the mark.

https://discourse.bomberblitz.com/t/season-2023-richmond/28512

[one-eyed]

By poster Houli_Dooli

Fox Footy Best 22

B: Dylan Grimes, Noah Balta, Robbie Tarrant
HB: Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin, Daniel Rioli
C: Marlion Pickett, Jacob Hopper, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF: Maurice Rioli, Shai Bolton, Liam Baker
F: Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch
Foll: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Tim Taranto
I/C: Josh Gibcus, Jayden Short, Trent Cotchin, Ben Miller

Emerg: Tyler Sonsie, Ivan Soldo, Jack Graham, Jack Ross

Interesting they have gone with 1 ruck.
Who’s Ben Miller? (maybe he can ruck 198cm, sounds versatile)

I expect Tigers to be top 4 this year, midfield and forwardline will win them enough games even if backline isnt performing. Plus a super coach who will be more focused this year.
Taranto is a great addition, I probably would have rathered him over Tsatas if we were a chance. But Setterfield was a nice Booby prize, well done Dodoro.
I was never that keen on Hopper but would have suited us, even though he is a bit one dimensional.

Looking at tigers i just look to dreamtime match and think they still have us covered. Lost Parker, Edwards and Stack though.

Tigers Daniel Rioli, Maurice Rioli, Shai Bolton, Marlion Pickett
Dons Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Alwyn Davey, (Hopefully Wanganeen or Munkara get a gig as the sub).

Prediction 2-6

https://discourse.bomberblitz.com/t/season-2023-richmond/28512/2

[mightytiges]

Our backline wasn't the issue last year. It was our midfield allowing the ball to enter our backline under little pressure especially from centre clearances that burnt our defence. Hence, why we chased after Hopper and Taranto.

[Tiger Khosh]

Our backline wasn't the issue last year. It was our midfield allowing the ball to enter our backline under little pressure especially from centre clearances that burnt our defence. Hence, why we chased after Hopper and Taranto.

Our midfield sure didn’t help but that doesn’t fully excuse our defence who were also down. Our goals conceded per fwd50 entry had to be one of the highest in the league.

[Stripes]

Our backline does rely heavily on the ball coming in slowly or rushed. If teams cut through our midfield defensive zone, our defenders are at a distinct disadvantage. We need the midfield forcing attackers to kick over the mark or under pressure to enable our defensive team to work together to spoil and clean up.

Where we struggled last year was trying to defend man-on-man when we frequently lost the center bounce clearance. With more firepower around stoppages now, I think we could actually break even, or even win this contest. This would instantly improve our 'point against' deferential and even if that is by 2 or 3 goals a game, that launches us up into the top rungs of the competition.

So while we can't depend on our midfield zone and pressure to completely solve all our defensive issues, the difference they will make winning the ball out of the middle while the 6-6-6 rule is in place, is enough to make a significant difference to our fortunes in 2023.

[Jonesracing82]

Our backline wasn't the issue last year. It was our midfield allowing the ball to enter our backline under little pressure especially from centre clearances that burnt our defence. Hence, why we chased after Hopper and Taranto.

Our midfield sure didn’t help but that doesn’t fully excuse our defence who were also down. Our goals conceded per fwd50 entry had to be one of the highest in the league.

This is because of how easily it came down. Oppo fwds had too much space to lead into. Our mid recruits are 1 thing, Truck is another, he's been brought in to work on this exact problem.

[Tiger Khosh]

Like I said I agree that our midfield provided very little protection but I’m not excusing the defence from what was imo a pretty poor season on their end. Lost plenty of 1v1s, that’s not even being out marked on the lead, I’m talking man on man, conceded plenty of pack marks and just made comical errors (grimes dropped chest mark before andersons game winner, not punching the ball over the line before danihers game winner, etc.).

[lamington]

Our backline wasn't the issue last year. It was our midfield allowing the ball to enter our backline under little pressure especially from centre clearances that burnt our defence. Hence, why we chased after Hopper and Taranto.

Our backline was an issue! 3 defenders let Daniher kick winning goal in the EF!! Structurally and mentally a lot needs to change

[georgies31]

Defence was a big issue to many school boy mistakes weekly, and it didn't get rectified. Hopefully, Truck gets them back we're they should be.