Midfield Depth | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Midfield Depth

caesar

Tiger Legend
Feb 9, 2015
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RCD quick ? Sorry, no way.
IMO Riley is hardly slow for an inside mid, and has bursts of speed which hopefully will become more regular in time. I think his first goal and side-step last night shows he is not slow.

Explosiveness and Speed were a catch cry of his draft prospects.

People need to remember though Riley was in the bottom 20% in terms of endurance in testing, (this will take several off-seasons to build which in some part is why he was mentioned as a project player).

In the infancy of building that endurance maybe he is pacing himself somewhat or it limits the 2 way defensive running that people expect him to have straight up throwing up an illusion that he is lacking some pace.

Personally his first 3 games performances, (against quality midfields) have been more than promising.

 
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DavidSSS

Tiger Legend
Dec 11, 2017
10,523
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Melbourne
Ezy might be right about Chol, he is tall and can ruck/forward. Ok so is CCJ. He doesn't hit packs hard enough and goes missing which is a huge issue. But the appeal is that he is a tall ruck/forward who can also run, is quick and not bad at getting the ball off the ground.

My opinion is that he goes missing too often. You could try and sort out a role where he doesn't have to hit packs and the like but going missing is non-negotiable.

Prefer to try CCJ.

DS
 
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Redford

Tiger Legend
Dec 18, 2002
34,360
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Tel Aviv
IMO Riley is hardly slow for an inside mid, and has bursts of speed which hopefully will become more regular in time. I think his first goal and side-step last night shows he is not slow.

Explosiveness and Speed where a catch cry of his draft prospects. And as for Draft Central, isn’t that Knightmare and co (maybe not) who said Schache was a contested beast ?

People need to remember though Riley was in the bottom 20% in terms of endurance in testing, (this will take several, off-seasons to build which in some part is why he was mentioned as a project player).

In the infancy of building that endurance maybe he is pacing himself somewhat or it limits the 2 way defensive running that people expect him to have straight up throwing up an illusion that he is lacking some pace.

Personally his first 3 games performances, (against quality midfields) have been more than promising.

He’s got attributes for sure but speed isn’t one of them. Few loose excuses there. And as for Draft Central isn’t that Knightmare and co (maybe not) and the guys who said Schache was a contested beast ?
 
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Smoking Aces

Batten Down The Hatches
Sep 21, 2007
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I am not sure why you need to be lighting quick to be a good mid. You need to be quick of mind and get to the right spots.
RCD is three games into his career. Let’s judge him after 50 games.
 
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Timmy99

Tiger Matchwinner
Jan 7, 2006
908
373
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Canberra
I am not sure why you need to be lighting quick to be a good mid. You need to be quick of mind and get to the right spots.
RCD is three games into his career. Let’s judge him after 50 games.
I am not sure why you need to be lighting quick to be a good mid. You need to be quick of mind and get to the right spots.
RCD is three games into his career. Let’s judge him after 50 games.
Speed not an issue for him. As others have pointed out it is more about improving his endurance base.
I would be fascinated to know how much his endurance has improved so far ie how his 2km time compares now to when drafted.
 
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eZyT

Tiger Legend
Jun 28, 2019
21,434
25,776
I am not sure why you need to be lighting quick to be a good mid. You need to be quick of mind and get to the right spots.
RCD is three games into his career. Let’s judge him after 50 games.

however fast he is or isnt at running,

he dragged us back into the most important H&A game of our double premiership defence,

really *smile* fast. and emphatically.

Huge half of footy from a 3rd gamer, and he did it surrounded by other kids.

im really happy to say, It appears Im wrong on RCD.

I still dont think hes gonna be a star, but we dont need him to be; thats bakes and $hai's job.

But it seems we've found a big inside mid who can step up and impact and is very capable of performing his role 150 or so times.

If measured against Tom Green and Jacob Hopper in the 4th quarter,

RCD was as quick as *smile*.

if that was the yard stick, he should be called Riley Collier-Usain-Bolt,

cause those two *smile* were doubled over or walking
 
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The_General

It's been a very hard working from home
Staff member
May 4, 2004
10,915
7,011
Agreed Scoop. Without getting the elite mids at the top end of the draft we seem to only have B graders at best.
After this older core go, mids and key defenders are needed.
 
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Scoop

Tiger Legend
Dec 8, 2004
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Agreed Scoop. Without getting the elite mids at the top end of the draft we seem to only have B graders at best.
After this older core go, mids and key defenders are needed.
And we pass on the obvious. Deven Robertson stings.

Need a change in thinking about how we build it again.
 
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stripes17

Tiger Superstar
Mar 9, 2004
1,411
167
Victoria
We cannot get a centre clearance , midfield is getting slaughtered
Makes so much difference if we can get it quickly into the forward line
The amount of scrubby kicks is killing us, no tackling with intent, lack of pressure on the ball carrier
 
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Tigers2011

What did I miss dad?
May 6, 2007
5,863
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Mt Waverley, Victoria
We cannot get a centre clearance , midfield is getting slaughtered
Makes so much difference if we can get it quickly into the forward line
The amount of scrubby kicks is killing us, no tackling with intent, lack of pressure on the ball carrier
Midfield is the key issue. Combine that with being without our two rucks & it’s a recipe for disaster.
 
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Smoking Aces

Batten Down The Hatches
Sep 21, 2007
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Massive injection of quality is needed. Our once great midfielders are either geriatrics or injury prone.
 
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Tigers2011

What did I miss dad?
May 6, 2007
5,863
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Mt Waverley, Victoria
Have to find 2-3 quality midfielders ASAP with leg speed, skill & toughness. If Cotchin plays in 2022, he’s a pinch hitter at best. Prestia is class but can’t play a full season - Lambert the same. They’re the supporting cast. We need to find the new leads.

Dow probably deserves a run at it in the middle for us to see but RCD & Ross are just too slow & don’t seem to have any tricks. I’m hoping the latter two still might be something but it’s unlikely. A few others untried at VFL level but reality is we need to go recruiting probably.
 

DavidSSS

Tiger Legend
Dec 11, 2017
10,523
17,875
Melbourne
I'd persist with RCD, still think he can improve.

Ross I can't see a reason to hold on to.

Try a few of the kids too - Dow etc.

DS
 
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Bill Haverchuck

Tiger Superstar
Jun 27, 2011
1,196
593
So looking to the future
Graham
Bolton(though cant see him staying now)
Maybe Baker?

Fairly optimistic about Dow and RCD

With 6 picks this year 3 midfielders(all decent size if possible) and 3 KPPs if possible..
Though i don't really trust Blair Hartley so who knows...

Looking at it with a glass half full things should be ok in a few years , especially if both Dow and RCD make it..