Changes v Brisbane

[Brodders17]

Apparently Cuz, Groin Boy and Simmo have to pass fitness tests today to determine if they play. The medical staff are making the final decision on their respective playing status, if the medico's don't think they are up to it, then they won't play according to Terry Wallace.

WTF, if they aren't that fit and they need to be tested today, then they most likely aren't that bloody good, so why name them in the team. Christ what is going on down at Punt Road, it sounds like the Match Committee have completely lost the plot, they've got what 40 odd players and rookies to choose from less those with injury, still leaves around 36 odd to select from, surely to christ they can pick a 22 man team that can get on the playing field that is 100% fit and ready to go. Oops, they might be 100% fit BUT ARE THEY READY TO GO?????

2 points. are they having fitness tests, or rumour has it they are?
also i think fitness tests are quite common even late in the week. very few players are %100 all season. maybe the fitness test is to see if they are %100.
i didnt think brown had an injury anyway, wasnt it made up to save his rep? he shouldnt have too many dramas with the test then. maybe the test is part of the facade. conspiracies abound.

 

[Al Bundy]

i didnt think brown had an injury anyway, wasnt it made up to save his rep? he shouldnt have too many dramas with the test then. maybe the test is part of the facade. conspiracies abound.

I know for fact his injury was true.

 

[Disco08]

Of the players you mentioned Kiel is a rookie, taken for insurance purposes, yet to play a game, Muston has been a tragic story with injuries, techncally White has done better, but Muston hasn't had the chance, would rate Varcoe and Gamble out in front, especcially Varcoe, this year he has been immense, Begley is from Ireland and again taken by St.Kilda for insurance purposes, I rate Gwilt and McQualter about at White's level....

So in essence, given Gwilt and McQualter have both played every game for the Saints this year, and Eddy has played 2 games, White is clearly good enough to be getting a game for them?

Sorry to throw more stats at you, but I haven't paid close enough attention to these guys to discuss them off the top of my head. Anyway, both Gwilt and McQualter get less of the ball than White. McQualter has less long kicks comparatively too (Gwilt has 2 more long kicks a game than White). White has considerably more tackles and 1%ers to his credit than both of them and makes less errors than both of them. White also wins more first use and more clearances. Why is it that you rate White only even with these guys?

FWIW, I'm not saying White is a great player. I reckon he's a good role player at this point in his career that may still develop into a good player. I agree with you about the fact that his standing in the POTY votes probably illustrates why Richmond is struggling. His contribution should be between 15th and 22nd for the team most weeks and over the long run, not 5th.

 

[lisamaree]

Pathetic changes..... what is the point? Unless this is a farewell weekend, then i have no idea why you would bring these blokes (Brown, Simmonds) back in the side. THe season is as good as over. Need to play guys like Post, Hughes etc - see what they have to offer.

I fear greatly when SImmonds is picked ahead of any of our junior fwd options. Even if we get the points - im not going to feel like we have achieved much and that we are moving fwd. THis was a perfect opportunity to pick Hughes and even Schulz also - and give them an extended run before stamping their papers. Why not play a kid like Post??

Weak changes by a selfish coach.


We are in big trouble.

My sentiments exactly, nothing week for mine.....win, lose or draw....these selections do nothing for the long term viability of our playing list!

No, these selections are actually counter productive to our long term future.....if we get a win, well that just propels us up the ladder, and by seasons end when we finish with a few extra wins (just enough to deprive ourselves of a priority pick) and the veterans are duly put out to pasture, we can go further backwards when we are literally forced to blood our kids.....yep, this club will never, never, never learn!

It feels like 2004 all over again, only something tells me we won't be so lucky this time around!

 

[Massai]

2 points. are they having fitness tests, or rumour has it they are?
also i think fitness tests are quite common even late in the week. very few players are %100 all season. maybe the fitness test is to see if they are %100.
i didnt think brown had an injury anyway, wasnt it made up to save his rep? he shouldnt have too many dramas with the test then. maybe the test is part of the facade. conspiracies abound.

Brodders, I'm going off a Sky News Australia report that "quoted" Terry Wallace the Richmond Coach advising that ALL three players had to undergo "fitness" testing with the medico's signing off again on ALL three players before they could play against Brisbane today. Wallace went on to say that if the medico's said NO, then the relevant player/s would not play they would select others in their place.

Of course Sky News could have it wrong I suppose.

 

[Brodders17]

Brodders, I'm going off a Sky News Australia report that "quoted" Terry Wallace the Richmond Coach advising that ALL three players had to undergo "fitness" testing with the medico's signing off again on ALL three players before they could play against Brisbane today. Wallace went on to say that if the medico's said NO, then the relevant player/s would not play they would select others in their place.

Of course Sky News could have it wrong I suppose.

fair enough. perhaps in future you should quote your source. on here "apparently" can mean i heard it from the club or i heard it on the radio or i heard it from a friend or its made up.

 

[tigerfan1961]

Cotchin's achillies won't stand up to the pressure of AFL, it simply won't. There is no point in playing the kid for the sake of seeing his number on the ground, if he snaps the Achillies then that is almost career ending. No leave him in Coburg, let him have a week off with the bye, play him in the Burgs for another couple of games and then assess whether his achillies are up to scratch for AFL.

I agree about Thursfield, he has to play and if he is not up to speed after several games then he's pretty much gone, but I think the issue with Will his is confidence, and that applies to a lot of the players at Richmond, they don't have any confidence and they have bugger all leadership coming from those who are supposed to be leaders on the field as well.

As for the forward line structure I agree. schulz should be at CHF, Hughes FF but I also said if Hughes can't play, then Simmonds goes to FF and stays there, he's got the height, bulk and mobility, if he gets the ball, kicks a couple of goals, his confidence will be up. He will stretch the Lions defend, particularly if Graham/Pattison rotate thru the CHF position. Dropping Morton and replacing him with Brown, CRAP decision. Brown with is suspect "groin", gee Gary Ablett is out for 3 games, Brown is only out for 2 games and back in again. He'd better perform and by perform the benchmark for him this game is 3 goals minimum, doesn't attain that, back to Coburg and he can bloody well stay there and work on his fashion labels instead.

Cousins back in, christ I hope that this is not a panic decision by the Match Committee to have a top class player brought back in a hurry so they can get some in and under going with the ball and some decent disposal of the ball into the forward 50. If he does a hammy again this game, then the Match Committee should be collectively lined up against a brick wall and SHOT. Again it would be more sense if they'd left him out for another week with the Coburg bye, played him once more in the Burg's then brought him back in around the same time Cotchin hopefully becomes available.

Christ why is it, that Richmond have to always rely on their all too few big names, there are 22 players in the side, they should be doing their bit but all too often its left up to half a dozen players to do what they can, whilst the rest seem to be a bit like "Nero, playing their fiddles whilst Rome burn's down around them".

I cannot see the difference in playing Cotch at Coburg or RFC- just play him off the bench if required. Far too good to be at Coburg for an extended period- he played in a practice match there last night anyway. If it is just match fitness, let him get it at seinior level.

Agree with you about Schulz and Hughes. Play them in the key possies with Riewoldt as the third tall with a get the ball in quick gameplan also to be implemented- make or break time as far as I am concerned with these players with Richo out for an extended period.

As for the Matt White knockers on here, I agree he has limitations but gee, he is better than others on the list at present and is currently in our best 22. Certainly better than Connors, Raines and McMahon who have all been given a go this year so far. Maybe only Edwards is close but he was ordinary when in the seniors.

 

[Tigerhart04]

Seems like some on here got their way. Brown out Edwards in.