You cant help but be excited

[TFL]

I really dont think you can help but be excited about Richmond Football Club moving forward in to 2008.

There has been so many positives over recent weeks with the National draft, Pre-season draft, end of year profit and offield appointments.

When you think about the youngsters coming through with another pre-season under their belts and a fresh new group about to show their wares, i think the future is really bright.

We also have a few senior players to add to the mix such as Simmo, Cogs, Morton and McMahon.

I really think we could be a suprise packet next year and really take it up to a most teams.

 

[bluey_21]

you are so right 

ps might want to change title, grammar isn't great 

[richmondrules]

It is exciting but better temper the excitement with a bit of cold hard realism. Yes the RFC is doing some exciting things and is really pushing forward in all the right directions, but it will take a while for all these pieces to fall in place. Don't expect too much from next year or you are liable to set yourself up for a fall. We will take baby steps next year.

Ah what the hell, I'm excited  But I found last year exciting too although I haven't found many people who got what I got out of last year.

[mightytiges]

Yep lots of positive decisions and investments in the footy dept being made but reality will come between March and September. We're still a young side with 2/3s of our list 22 or under.

[Jobba]

I think I'm more excited about the prospect of the way we are going about bettering the club, not at the players and administrators we are getting (though, I'm excited about that too). To me, this off-season looks very similar on the outset to that of the Geelong Football Club's off-season in terms of the administrative arena; getting a bunch of people that generally would not be associated with AFL football, but undoubtedly bring something different an extra to the club. I remember reading in the Age a week before the draft about all of the Cats' appointments this time last year were made, and how that was a major factor on they're improvement as a club both on and off the field.

But more than that, the way we are going about selecting our players - and the hints given about how Terry Wallace will play the 22 this season is also promising, as it also seems quite similar to that of the Geelong Football Club - quick players all around the ground. I look at what Carlton had and what Essendon had and why they lost more games than they should have (especially Essendon) than their list says is because the football was moving to quick. I can legitimately see in a few years time, the Tigers going from their backline to their forward line in around 20 seconds very much like the Cats can do, and have done during the season just gone.

Long story short, I'm happy that we are mimicing the Cats as they are undoubtedly the most dominant team last season, and in my opinion, the decade (yes better than the 2000 'dons).

[Judge Roughneck]

If Cogs can come good, a fit Tuck can find his 2006 injury-free form and Foley can take another giant leap I will be excited - because our starting midfeild will be for the first time in my life semi-decent.

Throw Deledio and Cotchin on the wing and we should have a crack. 

[{X}]

we think like this every pre season, then the wheels just fall off and we crash

[Little Jackie]

As the late BIG KEV would of said, i am excited

[WilliamPowell]

Yes exciting times ahead

very much looking forward to 2008

[julzqld]

As the late BIG KEV would of said, i am excited

Are you really?

[Stripes]

I'm excited and will be even more excited if I hear that will come through the preseason relatively injury free. This will make a huge difference to our prospects.

I think Newman will be the surprize packet of the season playing in the midfield. He was fanatastic when he played under Sheeds in the International series in a similiar position and now has the maturity, body size and licence (now McMahon has joined the fold) to make an immediate impact.

Cogs and Simmo's fitness is crutial to our progression this year. With a injury-free Cogs it allows players like Foley, Tuck, Bling, Johnson and even Cotchin more freedom from taggers and more strength in and around the stoppages. Lids, Foley and the like suffered from being 'prematurely tagged' when in other stronger teams the more senior midfielders absorbed the tags so the developing players were more freed up. This is why players like Murphy seemed to be such a fantastic player at the start of the year when Stevens was taking the tagger but when Nick went down Murphy suddenly came back to earth with a thud.

Conversely Cogs maybe afforded the luxury of being left alone for the first part/half of the season so he can regain his poise and confidence while Axel takes the No 1 tagger. In any event having another strong midfielder to add to the mix helps the whole midfield unit.

Similiarly Simmo needs to be up and runningto be competitive in ruck duels and around the ground as a link up player. even when he played last year he couldn't run into space due to fitness and injuries so having him up and about will allow us to be far more competitive. In addition it means Patto can take the No 2 ruckman, which he would have normally been doing given his inexperience and size, and continue to develop. In many ways Pattos baptism of fire this year will fast track his development in the future but having the pressure off this year with Simmo back will certainly help our team structure.

Even though las year was poor in terms of results, I saw a lot of improvement in our club and team in general. We are on the right track and I believe with the addition of this year bumper recruits we WILL be a force once again in the competition building over the next 2 years.

 

Stripes

[FooffooValve]

I have a slight tingle in the loins (should see a doctor  ...or a nurse) but I prefer to go with the mindset of "We're crap until proven otherwise."

[cub]

At the start of every new year I would say hopeful (the excitment lays in wait underneath) Waiting Waiting

, a fit Tuck can find his 2006 injury-free form

Seen Tucky doing extra work by himself at the tan a few times lately, so looks like he is keen and switched on to get back in good nik.

These guys are the keys. If cogs can come back and have an impact along with the likes of Tuck it is going to improve our side more than some may think IMO
The new cubs look good 
The lids and Raines (hopefully he can come good again next year) tambling polak polos r all comin along well.

Like I said the excitment is there but hidden away just for now ..... Anticipation may be the word  

[Darth Tiger]

Whoa, I trust that the euphoria over the draft does not cloud the fact the Richmond is coming from a wooden spoon with a list largely in the development phase.

I am enthusiastic to see our list develop next year, but am not overly optimistic about getting out of the bottom 4.

Nonetheless, the building blocks at an administration level provide a platform for the development & improvement to be sustained over the coming years, but can't envisage a spike in performance in 08.

Would be happy to be proven pessimistic, but 2 spoons in 4 seasons will do that.

[Judge Roughneck]

Whoa, I trust that the euphoria over the draft does not cloud the fact the Richmond is coming from a wooden spoon with a list largely in the development phase.

Yes, but that doesn't mean much at the end of the day. The AFL is so even that a good run with injuries and our better players hitting form will mean see us competitive.

North, Collingwood and Hawthorn were top 8 teams last year. Each is pretty rubbish - one our day we are at least equally as good.

We were 7-2 a couple years back with a list infinatly worse that what we currently have.