What do we really need to do?

[Stripes]

With some our young players now showing promising signs our deficiencies are less obvious now than I can remember in many years. I the past our midfield was our first port of call, then the backline looked thin, last year our rucks were a weakness now people are saying our forwardline should be our focus.

The problem I am having is that with Post showing that he could develop into a big forward perhaps even our next Full Forward it has taken some of the pressure off Jack which has shown he is more than capable of becoming a strong CHF. Similarly Morton will be less of a focus with Jack having stepped up last week so he should be freed up more. Nahas the same. All of a sudden our forwardline may not be the major weakness many are pointed to especially once they all gain size and experience.

Our backline has an embarrassment of talent at the moment, our midfield starting to shine and our Rucks extremely promising.

So where is our weaknesses? What sort of player should be our number one target? Am I over rating players and areas? Should we just be looking for the best player now rather than a type or should we be seeking depth to the list?

What is you opinion  ???

Stripes

[Gracie]

Get our team skills to a higher level - tackling, blocking and pressure skills. This would lead to a marked improvement

[Judge Roughneck]

unless Butcher is still at our pick I would think getting the best midfeilder is the way to go

[HD]

Now is probably more a case of develop who we have, add some depth and improve other areas of our game with our current list - things like forward line pressure from kick ins, hard tackling, cleaner disposals and the all important 1 %ers.

Our team as whole is improving and we are showing that but i still think we lack the depth to be a truly great team. If we lose a combination of, and it's not unthinkable, Cousins, Morton, Bling, Deledio, Riewoldt, McGuane or Jackson for an extended period next year it would do some real harm to our chances of playing finals.

i.e. we lose Cousins, Lids/Bling and Jackson for 6 weeks we've lost a major part of our midfield and one of our best taggers opening us up to some serious damage in games against teams with a strong midfield. Depth will be the difference between mediocrity and success in the years to come.

[tiga]

We need a big bodied Defensive KPP with a bit of toe to really rattle any opposition key forwards. Our current defenders are wiry characters who can bend a twist their way into a contest but we need someone who can't easily be bumped off in a contest by a bigger bodied forward. Rance will probably get there eventually but we could always use the backup especially if they can move forward and kick a few goals now and then. Polly when fully fit would fill this role but his future is obviously uncertain.

[mat073]

Just my opinion stripes... but I think you might be going over the top saying our backline has an "embarrassment of riches".

I would describe our backline as "solid" but they have been put to the sword by gorillas like Brown and Fev this year.

[FooffooValve]

We need pace and elite kicking skills.

[wayne]

We need another tall forward 194-198cm.

Another elite midfielder, Cousins will only give us 2-4 years.

We should draft one ruckman every year.

[mightytiges]

We need another tall forward 194-198cm.

Another elite midfielder, Cousins will only give us 2-4 years.

We should draft one ruckman every year.

Structurally sounds good to me wayne as far as needs. I agree with tiga and mat also that a more solid key defender is needed. A Brian Lake type (not saying we should trade for him - just the type we need). I guess we're hoping Rance with bulk up and fill out in time.

[Infamy]

An elite kicking midfielder I think should be our priority, there are plenty of good ones to go early this year too so should be able to get one
Butcher could definitely be an option around Pick 7, if he's still there then he will give us a big foward to build around, although he's certainly not perfect. My preference is go for Dustin Martin if we can get him. You can never have enough good midfielders, especially ones with such good skills.
If we have to push some of the midfielders out to the flanks then thats fine, our rotations will just be stronger and our delivery to the forwards will make anyone look like a good player (see Q. Lynch).

We should elevate Browne to the senior list and get another rookie ruckman to replace him. Take a punt on an agile 195+cm defender in the 3rd-4th round similar to an Egan type but hopefully without all the injuries.

[Stripes]

So assuming we have 5/6 picks in the national draft, 1 in the PSD and 5 in the Rookie (we will probably keep 3 existing rookies) what should we go for (Inside midfielder, outide midfielder, tap ruckman,mobile ruckman, small backman, tall backman, small forward, tall forward etc) -

National Draft
1st Round -

2nd Round -

3rd Round -

4th Round -

5th Round -


PSD Draft -

Rookie Draft -




Stripes

[Infamy]

National Draft
1st Round - Best Available

2nd Round - Best Available

3rd Round - Best Available

4th Round - Best Available

5th Round - Best Available


PSD Draft - Best Available

Rookie Draft - Best Available

[mat073]

Could not agree more Infamy.

To choose the best available talent is the  way to go.Only way to build depth to our list and hopefully get a potential superstar into our system.(now that Tanking is out the window)

One of Richmonds many problems in the past is that we have been too "particular" in our recruiting......Fiora and JON are good examples of this.

If we choose the best available talent....we may be in a better postition down the track to trade players with greater currency for players that suit our needs.You have to trade quality to get quality.

[Stripes]

What if the best available is ruckmen? Do we end up getting 10 ruckmen then? What should be our preferences given that we can't take all the same type of player and if we choose a midfielder in the first round do we then miss out on a KPP because the best available for the rest of the draft is all midfielders.

While I agree with you in theory, choosing the best available at every round is impractical.

Stripes

[Mopsy]

We need another tall forward 194-198cm.

Another elite midfielder, Cousins will only give us 2-4 years.

We should draft one ruckman every year.

Structurally sounds good to me wayne as far as needs. I agree with tiga and mat also that a more solid key defender is needed. A Brian Lake type (not saying we should trade for him - just the type we need). I guess we're hoping Rance with bulk up and fill out in time.

Worth a try MT they might take McMahon for him