David King was on 3aw before 1pm...
* Last time they won the contested ball but our speed worried them so it evened out. We need to improve in the first area today and keep up the other. Out of Gilbee, Griffen and Conney today, King said he'll be more worried about Gilbee's ball use at Docklands. Griffen has had strong quarters and Cooney is underdone. So Gilbee would be the one of those 3 today. Mind you there's 3-4 others as well. Having said that they'll be worried about us especially up forward. They don't have two defenders to close down both Browny and Lids so we expect one of them to break free.
* What we do with player development is similar to all clubs. Craig McRae is our development coach. We get the kids settled in as some guys come from interstate and
* Last week was won by Ablett with 11 disposals in the last quarter and he won every clearance that he was involved in. It just shows the value of matchwinners to get you across the line in that situation. A great lesson to Lids, Foley and Cotchin that when we are next in that situation either today, next week or in the weeks ahead, we need you guys to stand up to become our matchwinners.
* Rance - He played on Chapman and we saw what Chapman did to Collingwood. He didn't do that against us. What Alex is is he a goer. The guys that we brought in had a go. That's what Richmond supporters want to see. They want to see guys having a go at the ball and man.
* Cotch - he's training with the main squad now so he's not far away. It depends how he trains in the next couple of weeks. Joked to Mike that we'll give Cotch 15 mins at Coburg then bring him in.
After David King left Mike, Shaw, Pagan and Healy talked about us.....
* They agreed we only had one A-grader which was Richo and we lack class in the group. Mike said our best youngster by a long way is Cotch. They also expect Lids to become a good player. They did Collingwood and said they have no A-graders. Shaw got upset that Dane Swan wasn't classed as one.
* They asked each other if they overrated Richmond as although we won 8 of our last 11 in 2008 we only defeated Hawthorn of the top 8 sides. They said it was too early to call after two rounds but Mike said there was improvement from Moore and Thursty last year as far our backline. Pagan said our defenders lack class. Mike agreed we definitely lack class.
* Mike said there hasn't been any significant improvement in Terry's 5 years. Shaw said most Tiger supporters are upset with our foot skills. He remembers Terry at the Bulldogs spending the first two preseasons just on kicking to position. Pagan said it's more a mental and decision making thing. If you make good decisions and play within your limitations kicking 30m then you can get by.
