Summary
* Nup didn't hear anything from the bench (laughs). Haven't caught up with Roosy.
* Christian asked about Terry's summer and that he has been quiet.
Plough said I've been waiting for your call Michael (laughs). We haven't had a meda ban or anything like that. We decided as group that given we finished 16th last year we didn't want to get involved in similar talk of other clubs of how much weight they've put on and how much quicker they are, particularly having finish we had to last year. We will do things when ask to but won't jump on the front foot. We'll wait until the real season starts and we've got something to talk about.
* Plough was asked if he was satisfied with the preseason and how it's progressed and did you change things this preseason compared to previous preseason?
You're always tricking it up a little bit. We looked at last year and where we need to improve over the summer months. Obviously they weren't on display in our opening NAB Cup game so that was disappointing. A Friday night game high profile and we put in a really poor performance. The last couple of weeks have been better against Melbourne in Cairns. Young Dee side so hard to get a gauge on that one. Last week in Narrandera versus Sydney, they had a fairly full side in - Kirk, Goods, O'Loughlin, Hall running around. We were a lot more pleased with what we showed.
* So what were specific areas we needed to get better?
8-10 years ago you kicked to more 50/50 contests. This is where you get people saying they liked the game better then. You had more people going at the contest and more collision footy. Now days the game has gone more European style soccer like where it's maintain and create possession of the footy and keep your possession rate to a premium. That gets back to our skill level which was an area we believed was not up to standard and that had been the case over a number of years at Richmond. Richmond teams even when I was in the media was noted as having poor skills and the area they needed to work on the most and that's the case over the past 6 months.
* Question from sms - Where do you see Richmond's improvement coming from?
There's 3 areas of improvement and we need to improve no doubt about that.
1st - A Healthy List. Last year we had Newy (rod in leg), Browny wasn't right, Simmo was right for the start of the year and basically missed most of it, Cogs didn't play all year and then Polo early on in the season missed the year with a shoulder. All those blokes are back fit and well. So apart from Cotchin and Schulz who's 50/50 for round 1 we have everyone available. Always helps getting players back.
2nd - Maturity. We've also said we've got good young players coming and people have questioned that. Our players are now fit and are getting to that age of 22. Always thought 22-26 is that impact age. Moore, Schulz, Raines, Jackson, Pattison .. obviously Deledio and Tambling. All coming towards that 21-22 age bracket. So a natural maturity will make a difference to us.
3rd - Adding a little bit of depth. Now got a few young men rather than young boys. Bringing Morton and McMahon to the club who is ready made means we've got more depth. We've played young boys in the past who probably weren't ready for senior footy but we didn't have an alternative.
* Christian mentioned it's a nice way to finish the preseason with a match against the reigning premiers.
Terry added "and at their home" (all laugh). Plough said he actually would prefer that. We've had a situation where we have played St Kilda first who were probably up and running and are now in the NAB Cup Grand Final. Then Melbourne and then played Syndey who are always a tough uncompromised team. Now to play Geelong in Geelong it should have us ready for the season proper and anything we face after that would be any more intense or higher level that the teams we've played.
* Christian mentioned Carlton will be a massive game with Judd playing, a Thursday night and the nation's attention on the match. A great opportunity to put your best foot forward.
Plough said we've copped our fair share of whacks over the past 3 weeks or so and it's quite strange as they are practice games after all but we're quite happy to be judged what we put on display in round 1. Too be honest all our guys are hoping Judd plays for the spectacle of the whole things and add 15-20,000 onto the crowd. We were fortunate to play in Sheeds-Hird's last MCG game and all professional footballers want to play in front on 90,000 people and that climate.
* Wallace was then asked if it's farcicle that Roos has to explain comment or does the AFL have the right to investigate what was said?
Plough responded by saying well what was said. Terry listened to everything and he still doesn't know what Roos definitely had said. A bit strange.
* They asked Terry about some bloke called Jak who sms in a message saying that Roos could get advice off Wallace about his players not kicking goals.
Plough said well we kicked 17 up in Narrandera in a shortened game against the Swans who are as difficult to score against as most so if we do that in round 1 he'll be more than happy.
