GAME DAY - Tiges v Blues

[Bullarto Tiger]

It's the start to a long season.
Banked the four points.
Some rust, some sheer brilliance, some courage and some errors.
There were definitely numerous positives to take from the game.
The Tigers will build the machine, fine-tuning it along the way, as the season unfolds.
RFC is an intelligent organisation.
All in all, a pretty good outing to start the defence of the B2B and onto the march towards the threepeat.

 

[craig]

good round 1 win,

We'll have 4pts more than 8 other sides by Monday

Hopefully Geesook and the Skunks are two of those sides we have 4 more points than

Lets hope the Dogs dont *smile* the bed against the Skunks like they did last year.

 

[KnightersRevenge]

As odd as it sounds, I've always thought younger players struggle with fatigue more than older players.

Nothing odd about it. Stamina seems to be something that only improves through years up to a peak between 28-35. Young blokes gas out. Don't know the science behind it, but I bet there is some. Not too many Marathon runners who peak before 25, (except maybe women who seems to get to that peak earlier?)

 

[23.21.159]

15-25 !!!
Sheesh, I thought we got a pretty good run from them tonight.

 

[gutfull]

Wasn't the elbow just the triceps. Should be a fine, but we're Richmond, so 3 weeks.

Agree NOT an elbow !!!!
Nothing in it ....

 

[jb03]

15-25 !!!
Sheesh, I thought we got a pretty good run from them tonight.

That is a good run for us 23 (except in Grand Finals)

 

[KnightersRevenge]

Wasn't the elbow just the triceps. Should be a fine, but we're Richmond, so 3 weeks.

I wonder if Balta will be in any trouble on the Video Review? Looked to have landed a couple in the stoush early on.

 

[HR]

As odd as it sounds, I've always thought younger players struggle with fatigue more than older players.

Maybe Curser, but I reckon a 23 year old will be running harder than a 33 year old by round 15. That was seriously quick, Dusty had the right idea, drop a bit of weight increase the cardiovascular its a running game this year.

 

[RoarEmotion]

Rioli and pickett should be fearful of their spots. Dan just doesnt do enough, while pickett adds grunt, but is too much of a liability with the ball.

not sure if you were at the ground but from the southern stand top deck you could see the amount of ground Pickett covers to put on pressure and contest a mark etc. he was elite in this regards. Clearly can hack it sometimes and drop uncontested marks too. Good far outweighed the bad for me.

 

[RoarEmotion]

good round 1 win,

We'll have 4pts more than 8 other sides by Monday

I’d like To see the maths on that. ;-)

 

[Tigers of Old]

Jack Ross made a huge difference in that last term. Fantastic signs.

 

[eddazol]

That is a good run for us 23 (except in Grand Finals)

Wait until we play the pies.

 

[Ridley]

not sure if you were at the ground but from the southern stand top deck you could see the amount of ground Pickett covers to put on pressure and contest a mark etc. he was elite in this regards. Clearly can hack it sometimes and drop uncontested marks too. Good far outweighed the bad for me.

Yeah I thought Marlion did some great defensive work and halved some marking contests when he had no right to. But he really let himself down with his disposal and decision making and dropped a couple of really easy marks. Strange game from him.

I find his kicking very frustrating. He has a beautiful fluent action but he turns the ball over a lot more than he should.

 

[St Kevin]

not sure if you were at the ground but from the southern stand top deck you could see the amount of ground Pickett covers to put on pressure and contest a mark etc. he was elite in this regards. Clearly can hack it sometimes and drop uncontested marks too. Good far outweighed the bad for me.

Agree. Pickett's skills and fumbles were poor, but his defensive running to cover space was great. Still not sure it's enough, but the coaches know what they're doing. Despite Ross' game, Pickett probably gets a reprieve with Vlastuin likely out.

 

[Tenacious Tiges]

how bad is Nicks knee, or was he taken off as a precaution?

He was bandaged up and limping on the ground with the boys after the game

 

[DavidSSS]

Hmm, back at the footy, so stressful at times but, yeah, great to be back.

Wow, that was a fast game. So much run and pass going on. Can't see it lasting but clearly less ball ups.

Carlton have clearly improved. They seem to improve in small steps but that was a good showing by them. When they got free they seemed to have a lot of options getting out of defence and going forward. They scored 61% from inside 50 entries. Grimes may have been a bit down but that is way too high. We cannot let it happen.

I think the speed of the game was such that our defence was caught out too often. Clearly this is an issue further up the ground but I think the increased speed of the game means we might need to adjust the way our defence is set up. Also wings and centre need to maybe set up slightly different when it comes out of our forward line. It was noticeable that Carlton would pass the ball along the boundary line, didn't seem to switch to the corridor often, but they had an outlet just about every time. Something has changed and this being the first game of the season I reckon a lot of coaches will be looking at this game and sorting out their defence and even how they defend the wings after watching this. Carlton were able to get numbers behind our defence way too often.

I was worried about our positioning as Carlton seemed to always be in the right place when the ball came off a pack. We weren't.

Richmond were rusty, no doubt about that. Passes a little too high or too often straight to the opposition. A bit fumbley. We weren't putting enough pressure on their players. Plus, we only had 40% scoring from our inside 50s. Again, we need to fix up the inside 50 entry, seems to be a problem in the first half of the season every year.

Players saying they were buggered at the end of the game may mean they need to slow it down a bit. We seemed to run on at all costs and I'm not sure that is sustainable given the game is a bit more open and the quarters are back to standard length.

Still, we bank the 4 points and move on, and that is the main thing.

DS

 

[DavidSSS]

Agree. Pickett's skills and fumbles were poor, but his defensive running to cover space was great. Still not sure it's enough, but the coaches know what they're doing. Despite Ross' game, Pickett probably gets a reprieve with Vlastuin likely out.

The thing is Pickett was great on the wing last year, I'm really not convinced we should be trying him in a different position.

DS

 

[KnightersRevenge]

Graham looked very polished. Dusty looked the sharpest I've seen him in an early season game, maybe pumped himself up knowing Cotch wouldn't be there? DTL Dave-with-the-silky-locks was solid, hopefully only a fine. Grimes was a worry. Didn't get near it after that early knock. If the tribunal decided to go hard on Dave and Balta and Grimes comes up short that's our backline kyboshed. But in general Balta was great. Beast in the ruck late, big, high leap, hard body. Not what you want if you are the opposition ruck late in the game. Also he got up the ground and delivered a couple of massive bombs that no-one was ready for, including our own forwards. That's a weapon we need our forwards/crumbers to react faster to when he is streaming through the middle/wing. Serious weapon that slipper. (Okay enough Balta love. Geez I love 'im)

I liked Carlton's moxy. Coming at us and playing physical, I reckon that was a good idea but it back-fired. I think it will have helped us get into the right mindset. A great way to shake off any cobwebs. I also like the way Balta, Nank and a few others made sure to give back and throw their weight around. Great for team spirit and to give midfielders confidence that they are protected.

 

[Mr Brightside]

How bloody good was it to be back at the footy and how bloody good was it to beat Carlton, I dislike Carlton

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

We kicked 9 goals to 1 in time-on.

"I knew we should've kept the shortened quarters!"

- Steve Hocking