Best 23 in 2024?

[the claw]

If that Ben Cotton team is our R1 side I'll be very disappointed.

Kmac, Graham, Pickett and MRJ are all lucky to be there.

Grimes too even, bar his runs on the board.

If Gibcus is fit he will play kpp.
The forward line is a joke. If we concede both Dusty and Bolton are primarily mids and are badly needed thru the midfield then he has named just two permanent forwards in Lynch and Koschitzke.
They are trying to fit name players into roles that are not their go and not their primary role to the exclusion of actual fwds.
 Lack of actual fwds has been an achilles heel most of us acknowledge it but the clowns in the media sheesh.

Blind fred can see we need a desperate injection of pace and skills but no one is picking those who have it.

The majority of our kids  are into year three most of them are smalls who come on quicker generally than mediums and talls. we have others who are 23  and 22 in Cumberland and Coulthard.

We really do need to get games into the two talls who have shown a bit of promise in Bauer and Ryan.

For me its simple are we going to win a flag in the next two seasons and the clear and obvious answer is no. That means its time to prioritise youth over age and ordinary role players.

When will these idiots in the media start thinking for themselves instead of just trotting out what others have wrongly said.

These things are so obvious it frustrates ya when people refuse to acknowledge or recognise them.
Instead its oh well we don't need to get games into kids we don't need to find fwds and skillful pacy players ya know what lets just play plodders and average kicks on the wings like McIntosh and Ross and lets put graham and Baker in the fwd half after all we have to fit em in somewhere despite them not being the best fit fwd. Grimesy is not out of form or in decline nope he will have his best year at age 32.

[the claw]

Vfl team.

Grimes - Young - Mansell
Tresize - Miller - Smith

Pickett - Graham - McIntosh
Naismith - Ross - Dow

Ralphsmith - Fawcett - MRJ
OH-B -  #### - Coulthard

Colina - McAuliffe - Green -

[one-eyed]

A new era at Tigerland is dawning. Can they stay in the finals mix in 2024 or does a slide loom?

PREDICTED ROUND 1 TEAM:


https://twitter.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1729998674720067706

[one-eyed]

A TIME OF CHANGE UNDER YZE: AN EARLY LOOK AT RICHMOND’S BEST 22 FOR 2024

Andrew Slevison
SEN
6 December 2023

It is a time of change for the Richmond Football Club.

Adem Yze has been tasked with rebuilding on the run after an era of success under Damien Hardwick and a short stint helmed by interim coach Andrew McQualter.

The Tigers have lost some experience with Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt now gone, a situation which has somewhat thinned out the list depth.

In defence, they’ll be hoping potential young star Josh Gibcus can return to his best after a frustrating and hamstrung 2023. He is expected to slot straight back into the defensive six provided he is fully fit.

Noah Balta is one of the league’s best intercept markers, Nick Vlastuin is a staple in the backline and Tylar Young impressed in his debut season.

Dan Rioli and Jayden Short provide the dash, dare and drive off half-back. Hugo Ralphsmith could be next in line for this role. Rhyan Mansell can play various roles, but primarily as a defender.

The question mark surrounds co-captain Dylan Grimes whose form tapered off late last year. If he can regather some semblance of his best, then he starts. Nathan Broad is a figure of consistency and provides great depth with his versatility.

The midfield has lost Cotchin but that opens up a slot for a player like Thomson Dow to grab. He showed a bit late in the season.

Reigning best and fairest Tim Taranto is the central figure in the middle, and his former Giants teammate Jacob Hopper will be hoping for a year without interruption. Dion Prestia is expected to be a usual suspect in the thick of the action once again.

Midfield depth comes in the form of the evergreen Dustin Martin, who was superb in the back half of last season, as well as Shai Bolton with support from Jack Graham, Dow, and perhaps even Tyler Sonsie after his suspension ends.

Jack Ross should get a crack on the wing and around the midfield after impressing in the latter stages of last season, and Kamdyn McIntosh provides good balance on the wing.

Is Marlion Pickett best 22? He can still play a crucial role, either on the wing or as he did helping Riewoldt up forward, but Yze may have to start looking beyond him and to the future if he truly wants to revitalise this group.

Joint skipper Toby Nankervis starts in the ruck and Samson Ryan should be granted the opportunity to play as a forward who pinch-hits in the middle. Ben Miller is the fallback option for this role.

Up forward, it all revolves around Tom Lynch.

If the 2022 best and fairest and leading goal kicker is fit, then Richmond’s forward line looks so much more dangerous. If he’s not, then it leaves a lot to be desired inside forward 50.

Jacob Koschitzke has seemingly been recruited to step in as a warm body to repack Riewoldt. But he did kick only nine goals in 12 games for Hawthorn last season so buyer beware.

Jacob Bauer is the other tall option but he is very raw and Noah Cumberland needs to find a way to avoid fading out of matches before he can be relied upon.

Martin and Bolton provide the cleverness and spark, Baker (who can also go back or in the middle) has the grunt and skill, and Judson Clarke appears a decent sub option with his ability to kick crucial goals off the bench. He has a bit of upside.

You could also build a case for early games for the likes of Sam Banks, Tom Brown, James Trezise and Matt Coulthard, but they’ll have to earn their stripes. As will Maurice Rioli Jnr, who needs to find his way again, and Sonsie, who is a talent but needs to show it.

BEST 22:

B: N.Vlastuin / N.Balta / J.Gibcus
HB: D.Rioli / T.Young / J.Short
C: J.Ross / J.Hopper / K.McIntosh
HF: D.Martin / T.Lynch / L.Baker
F: J.Koschitzke / S.Ryan / S.Bolton
Fol: T.Nankervis / T.Taranto / D.Prestia
Int: T.Dow / N.Broad / D.Grimes / J.Graham / J.Clarke (sub)
Emg: S.Banks, T.Sonsie, R.Mansell, B.Miller or M.Pickett

Overall thoughts:

It feels like there are at least a handful of positions up for grabs for the Tigers in 2024.

There’s little doubt that Yze will be pushing that as a key message, providing hope to the group of youngsters who have been starved of opportunity during the recent successful era.

The defence is in fairly decent shape with small, medium and tall options. The midfield is ok, but desperately needs significant contributions from emerging on-ballers, and the forward line does rely on one man. Which is worrying.

What the Tigers will really need if they are to avoid a disappointing 2024 season is the age bracket of 20 to 24 to develop sharply as the season progresses. If they don’t come on or stagnate, it will be too much for the established senior players to continue competing as they have for years.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/12/06/a-time-of-change-under-yze-an-early-look-at-richmonds-best-22-for-2024/

[one-eyed]

Every AFL team’s best 23 for the 2024 season: Richmond Tigers

What moves will Adem Yze make in his first season at the helm?

Mitch Keating
zerohanger.com
December 7, 2023

A new era under Adem Yze has begun at Tigerland, with Richmond looking to bounce back from a 10-win campaign that included the departures of premiership icons Damien Hardwick, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin.

Without an early draft selection and with little movement in the trade period, the Tigers' list hasn't undergone a large restructure despite the coaching change, with Richmond only making one delisting ahead of 2024 to show they're settled with their list.

The recovery of star forward Tom Lynch will be integral in Yze's side potentially challenging for a September return, while the addition of Jacob Koschitzke from Hawthorn adds to Richmond's new-look forward plans.

With a string of Tiger cubs looking to make a name for themselves during this period of change at Punt Road, we've looked to identify what Richmond's best 23-man side might look like in Yze's first year at the helm.

1. Defenders

The Tigers are set to welcome the return of young key backman Josh Gibcus following a season riddled with hamstring issues, with the 20-year-old set to offer some freedom in Adem Yze's key-position plans.

His likely return will allow Yze to consider playing Noah Balta at the other end of the field given Richmond's need for forward reinforcements, while Tylar Young and Nathan Broad are also in contention for key defensive roles down back.

Veteran premiership pair Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes will hold their posts as the leading names on Yze's last line, offering plenty of voice and defensive work rate as staples of the side.

Since transitioning to defence from the forward line, speedster Daniel Rioli has only continued to grow as one of the game's best half-backs and could re-enter the All-Australian conversation after earning a squad selection last year.

Best and fairest winner Jayden Short is another household name who will likely share his time between the backline and midfield following another fine year for the two-time premiership player.

Swingman Jacob Bauer is another who could split his time in defence given his potential need as a forward target, as could Ben Miller, while the Tigers' young defensive ranks of Sam Banks, Tom Brown and James Trezise all got a look at AFL level this year.

2. Midfielders

The 2022 off-season additions of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper will again be at the forefront of Richmond's midfield plans, with the former enjoying a career-best campaign in his first year at Punt Road to earn the Jack Dyer Medal.

Injuries limited Hopper's impact this year, but his absence did allow opportunities for others to get larger looks in the middle of the field.

Shai Bolton has continued his rise to stardom in further honing his midfield and ball-winning craft, while triple-premiership Tiger Dion Prestia is another who remains an integral piece in the club's engine room and will hope for another 20+ game season in the yellow and black.

Richmond champion Dustin Martin returned to a high level of football this year to be the Tigers' only All-Australian squad selection, with the three-time Norm Smith Medal winner likely to continue his role in roaming across the middle and front thirds of the field.

The hard nut that is Liam Baker is another who will get access to centre bounce stoppages as he continues to make a case as one of the best utility players in the competition, while Jack Graham will offer some defensive traits to Yze's midfield.

The Tigers aren't short on rising midfielders with Tyler Sonsie, Jack Ross and Thomson Dow all set to push for starting roles in 2024, with Yze potentially looking to add some youth to his wing ranks.

Kamdyn McIntosh and Marlion Pickett have been the incumbent wing options for the Tigers but could now face a battle to hold their spots out wide.

2023 co-captain Toby Nankervis remains the first-string ruckman moving forward, with the former Swan likely to gain some assistance from young pair Samson Ryan and Noah Balta when needed. The Tigers also added Nankervis' old teammate Sam Naismith to their ruck depths after the loss of Ivan Soldo this off-season.

3. Forwards

Richmond's tall forward stocks will be an area of intrigue under Adem Yze following a season where the club bid farewell to icon Jack Riewoldt and was also left without Tom Lynch for a majority of the year due to injury.

Lynch isn't a 100 per cent chance of playing against Gold Coast in Opening Round given his lengthy rehabilitation from a nagging foot injury, with new recruit Jacob Koschitzke potentially spearheading Yze's attacking plans.

He could be accompanied by Samson Ryan in attack, with Lynch's return a chance to see all three utilised in the same formation, while defender Noah Balta is another who could start forward. Swingmen Jacob Bauer and Ben Miller could also be in the mix after showing glimpses of comfort in the forward 50 this year.

Behind Riewoldt, Shai Bolton was Richmond's leading goalkicker this year and will likely be utilised across the front half of the field again in 2024 given his speed, agility and scoring impact.

Dustin Martin can be expected to hold a similar role to what he was tasked with in 2023, playing as a deep forward who is given the license to roam free and drift further up the ground.

Competition for small forward spots will be high, with the likes of Maurice Rioli, Judson Clarke, Matt Coulthard and Noah Cumberland all set to press their case, while Rhyan Mansell is another who could get a look as a forward after making the move from defence this year.

4. Final 23

FB:  Nick Vlastuin    Josh Gibcus        Nathan Broad

HB: Jayden Short     Noah Balta          Daniel Rioli

C:  Marlion Pickett    Dion Prestia         Jack Ross

HF:  Liam Baker   Jacob Koschitzke      Shai Bolton

FF: Maurice Rioli      Tom Lynch          Dustin Martin

FO: Toby Nankervis   Tim Taranto      Jacob Hopper

I/C: Dylan Grimes    Samson Ryan     Jack Graham      Judson Clarke

SUB: Jacob Bauer


Also in the mix: Tylar Young, Ben Miller, Matt Coulthard, Noah Cumberland, Kamdyn McIntosh, Tyler Sonsie, Sam Banks

https://www.zerohanger.com/every-afl-teams-best-23-for-the-2024-season-richmond-tigers-146271/4/

[lamington]

I predict prestia ‘a body and consequently form will let him down and we might see a bit more sonsie. Also with the off field dramas and how it will most likely effect pickett’s form we’re going to have someone replace his spot as well

[Diocletian]

Be very surprised if Prestia or Lynch play every game.....Pickett could very well be gone before the season even starts....Graham and possibly even Hopper if he doesn't recapture his best form could also find themselves on the outer given Yze's stated preference for speed, could also spell trouble for Ross given his outside role and that his unlikely to get a gig on ball where he belongs in front of others ....need to move on from McIntosh....MRJ needs to play on ball in the VFL for at least the first half of the season... Gibcus worries me - should be eased back in....Nank will probably get suspended or injured at some point.....Grimes apart from being injury prone surely won't be a walk up start under Yze if he stinks it up like he did last year.... 

[Andyy]

Be very surprised if Prestia or Lynch play every game.....Pickett could very well be gone before the season even starts....Graham and possibly even Hopper if he doesn't recapture his best form could also find themselves on the outer given Yze's stated preference for speed, could also spell trouble for Ross given his outside role and that his unlikely to get a gig on ball where he belongs in front of others ....need to move on from McIntosh....MRJ needs to play on ball in the VFL for at least the first half of the season... Gibcus worries me - should be eased back in....Nank will probably get suspended or injured at some point.....Grimes apart from being injury prone surely won't be a walk up start under Yze if he stinks it up like he did last year.... 

Agree with all. Eek

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Be very surprised if Prestia or Lynch play every game.....Pickett could very well be gone before the season even starts....Graham and possibly even Hopper if he doesn't recapture his best form could also find themselves on the outer given Yze's stated preference for speed, could also spell trouble for Ross given his outside role and that his unlikely to get a gig on ball where he belongs in front of others ....need to move on from McIntosh....MRJ needs to play on ball in the VFL for at least the first half of the season... Gibcus worries me - should be eased back in....Nank will probably get suspended or injured at some point.....Grimes apart from being injury prone surely won't be a walk up start under Yze if he stinks it up like he did last year.... 

Cannot see Pickett, KMac, Graham in starting 18, possibly one might be jockeying for a spot on bench…..
Hard to argue with Prestia but Lynch should be okay given it’s a break not a soft tissue but reckon he starts later than r1.
Impossible to tell rhetoric from fact with Gibcus, we will find out soon enough.

I would play Hopper as a hit up across half forward, is a nice kick and a good enough mark - similar to Caddy’s role.
Not giving up on Jack Ross and he surely gets a chance on ball first with Cotchin retiring.
I like Sonsie but he needs to earn that spot, like MRJ.

Get some class and speed on the wings - is the model of top 4 sides last year and Banks, Clarke,Brown or Dan Rioli should be considered to give us pace and inside 50 marks with their classier disposal than those that were tried last couple of seasons.

[one-eyed]

According to the HeraldSun.

[WilliamPowell]

According to the HeraldSun.

That's actually a very good looking side. Youth and experience

The only ones I'd question as being best 23 are Dow and Cumberland and both for the same reason  = consistency 

[Dont Argue]

Balta currently training with the forwards which shows Herald/Sun’s lack of due diligence

[The Machine]

Have been told Grimes is having a great pre-season and is happy to release the additional pressure of being Captain. Of the small forwards, Mansell is having a ripper and is the hardest small to play on during match simulation. High expectations for Trezise on the HBF.

[Diocletian]

Balta currently training with the forwards which shows Herald/Sun’s lack of due diligence

The history of Balta forward reminds me of the history of Communism  - "just hasn't been done properly yet and will work this time...."

[Assange Tiger 😎]

I'm told Balta is having a ripper pre-season and is the hardest forward to play on. Outside of Mansell that is