AFLW: Richmond vs Hawthorn @ Punt Rd --- Round 10, 2024

[Hard Roar Tiger]

That list is overrated. We have 1 stand out player, a sprinkling a good players and the rest can barely hit a handball target. Most of them fail the basic skills like how to pick up a ball at any pace. The coaching won’t make much of a  difference. While I understand why we might blame the coaching it’s 100% the lack of quality footballers on the list

[one-eyed]

Hawks surge late to overcome Tigers

By Sarah Black
AFL Media
3 Nov 2024

RICHMOND           0.1     1.2     2.4      3.5 (23)
HAWTHORN          0.2     1.5     2.6     6.10 (46)

GOALS
Richmond: Yassir, Shevlin, Lynch
Hawthorn: McDonagh 2, Williamson, Gilroy, Eardley, Ashmore

BEST
Richmond: Conti, Kelly, Egan, Dempsey, Lynch
Hawthorn: West, Bodey, McDonagh, Smith, Vukic, Fleming

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

Reports: Nil

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

Richmond couldn't get the job done against a fast-finishing Hawthorn on Sunday at the Swinburne Centre, going down by 23 points.

In a perfect finals warm-up for both sides, played with high intensity throughout, the Hawks kicked clear late to win 6.10 (46) to 3.5 (23), sewing up a home qualifying final and the $1 million McClelland Trophy.

The win was capped off with a stunning intercept-turned-goal from Kaitlyn Ashmore to put the cherry on top of a $1 million sundae.

Kicking with a gusty wind in the first term, Richmond locked the ball inside its attacking half, but struggled to find a mark inside 30 metres, with skill errors also an issue.

It took until five minutes into the second term for the goal deadlock to be broken, Richmond winger Maddy Shevlin kicking truly from the pocket. Just prior, Aine McDonagh had selflessly let a Mattea Breed shot dribble through, but it clipped the post.

McDonagh (two goals) and Bec Miller were involved in an intriguing battle, the pair matching up well physically with their similarly long reaches, and Miller also keen to rebound as much as possible.

The game devolved into one of ping-pong in the third term, bouncing between the arcs as the Hawks tried time and time again to pierce Richmond's backline, eventually finding a clear path for McDonagh's first.

A Lynch kicking goals on Punt Road Oval drew rapturous applause, defender Beth converting a rare opportunity as brother Tom watched on for her 50th game, former Hawk Tam Luke's behind then setting the margin at a solitary behind at the final break.

Mon Conti led all-comers in the disposal count, but didn't have nearly enough support, with Hawthorn players filling seven of the top 10, Eliza West superb in a hard-working, four-quarter performance.

The Tigers had no answer for Greta Bodey, who ran hard on the wing throughout and took a brave intercept mark in the first term, running back with the flight of the ball.

Lucy Wales spent some time on the sidelines receiving treatment late in the fourth quarter, but returned to the field.

The uncontested game
Richmond was torn apart by Essendon in the draw last weekend, conceding 40 marks as the Bombers well and truly controlled the outside. It's a similar style to what Hawthorn like to play, chipping around until it's time to hit the accelerator. While the Hawks only sat nine ahead in the mark count, they had 32 more uncontested possessions.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1688771/hawks-surge-late-to-overcome-tigers

[one-eyed]

Team Stats:

Disposals     221 - 263 ..... ( contested: 103 - 123 ; uncontested: 109 - 141 )
Efficiency%    60 - 65
Kicks           126 - 156
Handballs      95 - 107
Turnovers      70 - 65
Marks            39 - 48 .... ( contested marks: 5 - 3 )
Tackles          72 - 62
Clearances     22 - 29 .... ( centre: 3 - 7 ; stoppages: 19 - 22 )
Inside 50s      29 - 40
In50 eff.%      35 - 40
In50 marks      8 - 6 .... ( 2 - 5 in the second half )
In50 tackles   14 - 19
Hitouts          32 - 27
Bounces          2 - 2
One %ers      26 - 31
Frees             15 - 22 

Individual possies:

Conti       25 .... (13 cont), 6t, 305m gained, 5in50, 3 score inv, 2 assists
Egan       18 .... 6t, 3 cl, 245m gained, 3in50
Dempsey 15 .... 5m, 5t, 250m gained, 4in50
McKenzie 14 .... 4m
Kelly        13 .... 4m, 24ho
Lynch      12 .... (9 cont), 4t, 7int & 1 goal
Shevlin    12 .... 263m gained & 1 goal.
Brennan   11 .... 4m, 201m gained
Seymour  11 .... 237m gained, 3in50, 6int
Sheerin    11 .... 6t, 222m gained
Lavey      10 .... 5int
Miller       10 .... (7 cont), 202m gained
Dallaway   9 .... 5t
Graham    8 .... 4t, 5int
Ford         7 .... 5t
Hicks       6
Luke        6 .... 4t, 3 cl, 8ho
Bacon      5
Greiser    5
Yassir      4 .... 1 goal.
Ryan       3

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/matches/6888#team-stats

[one-eyed]

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1688680/aflw-week-10-ferguson-lynch-post-match

[WilliamPowell]

That list is overrated. We have 1 stand out player, a sprinkling a good players and the rest can barely hit a handball target. Most of them fail the basic skills like how to pick up a ball at any pace. The coaching won’t make much of a  difference. While I understand why we might blame the coaching it’s 100% the lack of quality footballers on the list

I look at the list and ask (as people have done with our men's side btw) how many would get a game in any other side in particular those in the top 8

I come up with 6 8 easily

Conti
McKenzie
Dempsey
Seymour
Shevlin
Egan
Sheerin
Lynch

There are others but that's a start

That's why I think we have a strong list

I watch a lot of AFLW and in comparison to other clubs our lists is one of the better ones

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Do you rate our list as being better than the Dees and Bombres?

[WilliamPowell]

Do you rate our list as being better than the Dees and Bombres?

Based on what I've seen

Better than the Bombers absolutely

The Demons, no, not at this time. But the 8 of listed above would easily get a game with wither the Bombers a d Dees

[Knighter]

Geiser never stands up when needed. Another Sheehan stuff up

[Tiger Khosh]

That list is overrated. We have 1 stand out player, a sprinkling a good players and the rest can barely hit a handball target. Most of them fail the basic skills like how to pick up a ball at any pace. The coaching won’t make much of a  difference. While I understand why we might blame the coaching it’s 100% the lack of quality footballers on the list

I look at the list and ask (as people have done with our men's side btw) how many would get a game in any other side in particular those in the top 8

I come up with 6 8 easily

Conti
McKenzie
Dempsey
Seymour
Shevlin
Egan
Sheerin
Lynch

There are others but that's a start

That's why I think we have a strong list

I watch a lot of AFLW and in comparison to other clubs our lists is one of the better ones

Problem is WP from what I can see and correct me if I’m wrong as I’m far far from an expert, other than gabby, you’ve just named a bunch of mids/flankers. Our key position stock at both ends is what is holding us back. We don’t have anyone that can take a contested mark up fwd which is more troublesome then it would be in other teams as we just bomb it long every time. Down back, I always get the sense that they are equally likely to drop a sitter and/or fumble the ball as they are to mark it or take possession cleanly.

Gabby had a much better season last year, playing as a mobile ruck around the ball rather than being stranded down back where she can’t influence the game.

Also disagree about Egan, not sure she’s in the upper echelon of mids in the comp whereby she’d be a walk up starter at the other finals teams.

[WilliamPowell]

Problem is WP from what I can see and correct me if I’m wrong as I’m far far from an expert, other than gabby, you’ve just named a bunch of mids/flankers. Our key position stock at both ends is what is holding us back. We don’t have anyone that can take a contested mark up fwd which is more troublesome then it would be in other teams as we just bomb it long every time. Down back, I always get the sense that they are equally likely to drop a sitter and/or fumble the ball as they are to mark it or take possession cleanly.

Gabby had a much better season last year, playing as a mobile ruck around the ball rather than being stranded down back where she can’t influence the game.

Also disagree about Egan, not sure she’s in the upper echelon of mids in the comp whereby she’d be a walk up starter at the other finals teams.

Firstly, on Egan; understand your point but as she is considered by most as one of the best inside mids in the comp. That's why why IMHO she'd easily get a game in other sides. He role isn't to amass huge stats but to get the ball out to the likes of MonCon... is she elite? No, but for the role she's there to play she's one of the best going around.

I deliberately left out any of our KP forwards because I wasn't prepared to face any pile on about player A or B not being fit enough or not good enough. Our game plan as it stands is beyond flawed because our small FWDS are never front and square at marking contests. On Sunday the number of times Greiser was one out with at least 2 but usually 3 and sometimes 4 was staggering. Not quite sure how she's supposed to take a contested mark? But if the likes of Yassir and Ford had been at the foot of the contest then things would have most likely been different.

Further to that I reckon the set up is wrong. I'd be playing Brennan out of the square as the lead forward inside 50 and have Greiser at CHF, that's where she takes most of her contested marks. But what would I know 

And just on key forwards in the AFLW, there are only a couple in the entire comp who I'd describe as power forwards. Bonnie Toogood from the Bombers is the stand out to me. She is IMHO the best contested mark in the comp. Since the comp started the focus has never really been on key forwards, it has mainly been on mids/flankers. That is clearly slowly changing and Richmond no doubt, needs to change with it

On our key backs, I believe both Miller and Graham would get games (easily) but I left them off my initial list as Libby has too many brain fades that cost goals, not that you'd know as it rarely gets mentioned on the coverage. And I think Miller has struggled this year with the speed of the game

Finally, the most improved player for us this year is Poppy Kelly and I reckon there are few sides who wouldn't mind having her as their 1st ruck. And just on Poppy, kudos to Shaun Hampson for the work he's done with Poppy it certainly has paid off in spades

Obviously this is just my take on things.

[Tiger Khosh]

I’ll Defs defer to your analysis on it WP as my exposure to AFLW is limited to tigers games only.

Regarding the key forwards, not sure if it was an outlier but Melbournes key forward were clunking their fair share of solid contested marks. I said it in that game thread but I thought if you switched our key forwards for theirs we would have won comfortably. Again not sure if they were just playing particularly well that day or it’s a fault of our defenders but it stood out to me.

Agree that Poppy Kelly has shown a fair bit this season. Not sure where that leaves Gabby as I think she’s far better around the ball. Maybe that can throw her in as an oversized mid or a winger or maybe try her up forward?

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Our team is littered with players who absolutely try their hearts out but fumble, miss targets by hand and foot, generally looking a class below. I get the point about a lack of gameplan but it’s hard to know if it’s the coaches lack of gameplan or lack in faith of the playing list to execute it

[Tiger Khosh]

It’s the coaches job to come up with a game plan that suits his players and their skill sets. It was what Dimma and his team finally got right in 2017.

[mightytiges]

Problem is WP from what I can see and correct me if I’m wrong as I’m far far from an expert, other than gabby, you’ve just named a bunch of mids/flankers. Our key position stock at both ends is what is holding us back. We don’t have anyone that can take a contested mark up fwd which is more troublesome then it would be in other teams as we just bomb it long every time. Down back, I always get the sense that they are equally likely to drop a sitter and/or fumble the ball as they are to mark it or take possession cleanly.

Gabby had a much better season last year, playing as a mobile ruck around the ball rather than being stranded down back where she can’t influence the game.

Also disagree about Egan, not sure she’s in the upper echelon of mids in the comp whereby she’d be a walk up starter at the other finals teams.

Firstly, on Egan; understand your point but as she is considered by most as one of the best inside mids in the comp. That's why why IMHO she'd easily get a game in other sides. He role isn't to amass huge stats but to get the ball out to the likes of MonCon... is she elite? No, but for the role she's there to play she's one of the best going around.

I deliberately left out any of our KP forwards because I wasn't prepared to face any pile on about player A or B not being fit enough or not good enough. Our game plan as it stands is beyond flawed because our small FWDS are never front and square at marking contests. On Sunday the number of times Greiser was one out with at least 2 but usually 3 and sometimes 4 was staggering. Not quite sure how she's supposed to take a contested mark? But if the likes of Yassir and Ford had been at the foot of the contest then things would have most likely been different.

Further to that I reckon the set up is wrong. I'd be playing Brennan out of the square as the lead forward inside 50 and have Greiser at CHF, that's where she takes most of her contested marks. But what would I know 

And just on key forwards in the AFLW, there are only a couple in the entire comp who I'd describe as power forwards. Bonnie Toogood from the Bombers is the stand out to me. She is IMHO the best contested mark in the comp. Since the comp started the focus has never really been on key forwards, it has mainly been on mids/flankers. That is clearly slowly changing and Richmond no doubt, needs to change with it

On our key backs, I believe both Miller and Graham would get games (easily) but I left them off my initial list as Libby has too many brain fades that cost goals, not that you'd know as it rarely gets mentioned on the coverage. And I think Miller has struggled this year with the speed of the game

Finally, the most improved player for us this year is Poppy Kelly and I reckon there are few sides who wouldn't mind having her as their 1st ruck. And just on Poppy, kudos to Shaun Hampson for the work he's done with Poppy it certainly has paid off in spades

Obviously this is just my take on things.

Agree WP. There's too many basic flaws in our gameplan. This I might add goes for both our men's and women's teams. The lack of basic defensive positioning does my head in as it's schoolkid stuff  .

As you mentioned, our small forwards don't get front & square . They are always out of position in no man's land. Being front & square is not only fundamental from an attacking sense, but it also acts as defensive positioning against the opposition sweeping the ball from one end to the other. The same thing happens at stoppages. We don't protect the defensive side and the opposition repeatedly exits out the front of the stoppage. Geez, I wonder why we get beaten in the middle and at ground level in the forward line so often  .

Then there's our obsession to continually over-handball and gift turnovers even when a kick is the best and most obvious option. It kills our momentum on transition and heaven help our key forwards trying to figure out when and where to lead when upfield we are going sideways and backwards by hand. Even in wet weather, Ferguson still had us doing it .

Sorry, the coach being outcoached has cost us too many games this year.


ps. Just on Poppy Kelly. Agree, her improvement this year has been remarkable. Last year she was a liability and had no impact. This year she is a totally different player. Credit to her. 

[one-eyed]

Speaking of our list, Ellie McKenzie & Emelia Yassir have made the AFLW 22 Under 22 squad.


https://x.com/FOXFOOTY/status/1854033471762755640