Hmm, not a great performance.
Clearly issues with missing players. We were smashed in contested possessions which really is non negotiable. I didn't think we were that bad in the air, Balta took some good marks and Broad seemed to be everywhere, but lacks height. On the ground we were soundly beaten. Brisbane players running through congestion and gathering the ball, we couldn't grab the ground ball and we couldn't stick tackles.
Much talk about lots of our players.
I saw a few signs Vlastuin is getting better, definitely still rusty but glimpses of what he normally delivers.
Rioli and Castagna just having little impact. I think it is a combination of bad form and that their roles are not fitting in to the way the game is being played at the moment. Something needs to change. Blocking space means they are not at the fall of the ball to crumb goals, and blocking space is not working. A change is needed.
I have to say Ross is not performing at AFL level. I don't know if some development will fix this but at the moment not at the level.
Grimes seems a bit off along with Astbury.
Thought Lynch made a bit more space at times in the game, some better signs. But the goal kicking yips are bad, it has to be a confidence thing. Reiwoldt started well but held after the first quarter.
Delivery into the forward line is still not up to scratch.
Dustin seemed less interested than he was last October, tried to turn things at times but didn't come off tonight.
Baker made a few mistakes but he's still a gun.
Houli was quite fumbly, but the whole team were really.
Clearly some issues with our disposals too. Many chains of possession didn't come off as the delivery was no good. Passes were intercepted, handballs to players' feet, needs to get better.
I'll agree with TBR that we need to have more than 1 gear. We never try and slow the game down. Our players are constantly running and seem to tire more than the opposition because they are running too much. When the other side have a run on we need to be passing it around a bit, slow the tempo. We did this a bit against Port and started doing some short kicks sideways and it worked. Need more variety in how we play.
Umpiring: woeful. What other conclusion can you draw? So many head high tackles on Richmond players missed. So many soft high tackles on Brisbane players paid. Simply appalling. At least 2 instances when Richmond players were called to play on when they were walking back after marking the ball, completely different treatment to Brisbane players. Holding the ball and incorrect disposal was simply all over the place, you couldn't tell what they were going to do next. If they could treat both teams the same it would be a relief, and a novelty.
DS