Midseason review

[one-eyed]

The halfway mark of the season and we're 6-5 and just percentage outside the Eight so a pretty good time for a review. If we win 6 from the last 11 rounds we'll end up with 12 wins and be knocking on September's door.

How would you guys rate where we are at now and are we good enough to make the finals?

Can our young blokes keep improving and delivering or will they tire in the second half of the year?

What is the one major thing that has impressed and/or surprised you about the team this year?

Who has been our most important player so far and who will be the most vital in the second half of the year?

[julzqld]

To beat various hoodoos - beating the Crows, Cats, Roos and the June hoodoo - has been better than expected.  The rise of our young blokes and the proof we are no longer relying on Richo alone to win us games is all very encouraging. What we need is to really smash an opponent (Hawkes) and pump up our percentage.  Been really impressed with Pettifer, Raines and Simmo.  If we can keep fairly injury free we have a good chance of making the finals.

[letsgetiton!]

i had faith in the boys this yr and imo we are exaclty where i thought we would be by rnd 11

[bluey_21]

Going great we are  , only dissapointed that we might miss out on a star draftee at end of the year though.

[Darth Tiger]

2 Rising Star nominations, possibly 2 more (Meyer & Cleve) by year's end.

Continued development of 1st, 2nd & 3 year players in a structured, yet flexible gameplan.

Introduction of young leadership group for Cogs, Newman, Schultz etc. 

Enthusiasm from older players in Richo, Johnno, Staf, J.Bowden, Kellaway & N.Brown.

Need to win 4 out of the next 7 for a crack at the finals.   

[PuntRdRoar]

At the start of the year I thought we were still a bottom 4 team, however the young boyz have started to improve, simmonds, pettifer and afew others have gone up a notch.

At this stage i feel we are a team somewhere between 8 and 12. We could finish 8th but as low as 12th. The one thing is I dont think therell be much difference between 8th and 12th...maybe 1 game and percentage...so we would be around the mark for the finals, and clearly it will be a launching pad for the next 18 months to 2 years. Ultimately we have a tough draw I think we are looking at an 11th or 12th position finish.

I expect continued improvement from youngsters, and we still have to see casserley, white, hughes and oakley nicholls get a serious crack- so theres lots of upside still.

Ive been impressed with our coaching. Clearly developed players like Pettifer. Tivendale has improved. Simmonds is starring. Also like the fact that coaching panel is seriously switched on in term of game plans. Overall I also like the eveness of the development of the team. Going well I reckon.

[1980]

We are on course for a season of improvement. We had to win 10 games to improve on last season and 12 might even see us play finals.

Beating Geelong at Kardiania is going to be the year's highlight. Thats still one of the toughest grounds to win at.

I hope we win a few more at the Dome, just so the boys know they can do it.

All signs lead to a top 6 finish and 2 finals games next season

[WilliamPowell]

The halfway mark of the season and we're 6-5 and just percentage outside the Eight so a pretty good time for a review. If we win 6 from the last 11 rounds we'll end up with 12 wins and be knocking on September's door

With our % we will need 13 I reckon

How would you guys rate where we are at now and are we good enough to make the finals?

If we can beat either C'wood or Melbourne then I think we are a chance

Can our young blokes keep improving and delivering or will they tire in the second half of the year?

Plenty of improvement left in them. I think the longer the season goes on the better the likes of Tambling and Meyer will be

What is the one major thing that has impressed and/or surprised you about the team this year?

How the Club bounced back after the 100 point hidings - in years gone by we would be where essendon is if you know what I mean

Who has been our most important player so far and who will be the most vital in the second half of the year?

Petts has been super important with his skill and ability to run between HF & HB. I think the senior blokes will be the most important in the run home because they have to keep the kids focused and up

[LondonTiger]

The halfway mark of the season and we're 6-5 and just percentage outside the Eight so a pretty good time for a review. If we win 6 from the last 11 rounds we'll end up with 12 wins and be knocking on September's door.

We need 6, but that will not even guarantee us a spot.  I have pencilled in Hawks, Bombers, Carlton and Brisbane as wins.  50:50 Dogs, Saints, Port.  A chance against  WCE, Melbourne and Collingwood at the G.  Toughest game is Sydney.

Assuming we get the 4 wins, we need to win 2 from the tough 7.  I think we are a real shot.

How would you guys rate where we are at now and are we good enough to make the finals?   Yes, we can change our tempo and the second tier players are stepping up all the time

Can our young blokes keep improving and delivering or will they tire in the second half of the year?  For sure.  One thing is certain, we will be a fitter team in the second half of the year.  Brown and Richo will have had chances to freshen up, Petts is loving it out there.  The fab five are starting to make an impact, and solid contributions by Simmo, Cogs, Tuck, Tivva, Newman and Hyde are superb.  Add in some backs form like JB, PB, Raines and Kellaway and we are well on the way.

What is the one major thing that has impressed and/or surprised you about the team this year?  The ability to change the tempo of the game.  We have not done this since 1995

Who has been our most important player so far and who will be the most vital in the second half of the year?  Most important is Simmo.  The running backs also straighten up the team really well.  And the options up forward, more than 10 goal kickers a few weeks in a row makes us hard to man up on.

Very happy with how we are travelling.

[LondonTiger]

Interestingly I think the team we have the biggest chance to replace in the 8 is St Kilda.

They need maybe 6 more wins from 11 as well.  Looking at their fixture

St Kilda vs.Adelaide   Telstra Dome  Fri 16 June 2006  Loss 

St Kilda vs.Hawthorn   Telstra Dome  Sat 1 July 2006, Win
 
St Kilda vs.Collingwood   Telstra Dome  Sun 9 July 2006  Loss
   
Essendon vs.St Kilda   M.C.G.  Sat 15 July 2006, 2:10pm Win
 
St Kilda vs.Port Adelaide   Aurora Stadium  Sun 23 July 2006 Win

St Kilda vs.Richmond   M.C.G.  Sat 29 July 2006, 2:10pm  50:50
 
St Kilda vs.West Coast Eagles   Telstra Dome  Fri 4 August 2006. Loss
 
Geelong vs.St Kilda   Telstra Dome  Sun 13 August 2006 Win

Fremantle vs.St Kilda   Subiaco Oval  Sat 19 August 2006 Loss

Western Bulldogs vs.St Kilda   Telstra Dome Round 22  Loss
 
Brisbane Lions vs.St Kilda   Gabba Loss
 


Assuming Geelong and Port stumble against who they should in the run to the end of the year, then its down to us versus the Saints.  I expect Fremantle to make the eight.

Therefore the Crunch game for the Tigers should be St Kilda vs.Richmond   M.C.G.  Sat 29 July 2006, 2:10pm  50:50.  Win this, and we could even scrape in with 11 wins (regardless of our percentage)
 

[wayne]

How would you guys rate where we are at now and are we good enough to make the finals?

After round one, I was thinking that we hadn't progressed at all. The handballs to players about to run into trouble, the passing to 50/50 contests on the half back line, it reeked of Danny Frawley's legacy. We've had a tough run really, and I think the team is going better than I expected. to knock off Adelaide and Geelong were bonuses, we've beaten everyone we should have, except FREO!! 

Can our young blokes keep improving and delivering or will they tire in the second half of the year?

Yes they will, they all (Deledio, Meyer, Tambling etc) have a full pre-season under their belts.

What is the one major thing that has impressed and/or surprised you about the team this year?

Simmonds form, Pettifer still improving and Tuck wasn't a one year wonder. The bonus of Browny coming back in, he's like a new recruit.

Who has been our most important player so far and who will be the most vital in the second half of the year?

Most important is J. Bowden or Simmonds, and I think Browny will be vital in the second half, that match winning ability he has.

P.S. Raines v. Murphy for the Rising star award

[one-eyed]

Mid-Season Ponderings
4:33:01 AM Mon 19 June, 2006
Matt Burgan
Exclusive to afl.com.au

Richmond: Opportunity missed

Richmond's recent form - it entered round 12 having won six of its past eight matches - was impressive, particularly after it lost its opening three rounds of the season. But on Sunday in its inaugural home-and-away match in Launceston, it missed a golden opportunity to bounce into the top eight for the first time this season. Credit still must go to Terry Wallace and his charges for climbing off the bottom of the ladder - a position it held from rounds one to four - yet having worked hard to press for the top eight, its 41-point loss to Hawthorn, which ended a six-match losing streak for that club, frustrated Wallace no end - and we don't even have to ask how yellow and black fans felt. Dare we say Richmond will finish in ninth position again - it did in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000 - and 2006 may join the list as being a year that got away.

[PuntRdRoar]

We will finish 12 or 13th ... In 4 weeks i expect itll be all over for us this season well and truly. Look for pick 4 or pick 5 in the national draft i reckon.

[om21]

I got to go with Ramps on this one. He summed up my opinion in pretty much one hit! Thanks Ramps u saved me from typing!

My only dissapointment at this stage is the Hawks game. Had we been 7 and 5, Id have been over the moon.

I think finals are beyond reach bar some spectacular performances, but if I continue to see improvement in our mid-rangers and kids, ill be happy regardless of what happens from here on.

[PuntRdRoar]

Thanx for the support OM much appreciated