Changes v Crows | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

Changes v Crows

Knackered with the draw whilst others get soft starts, such as Essington getting Hawthorn and the Goldens back to back.......................
You not looking forward to the bombombs winning the first month, receiving the accolades as a bona fide top 4 contender in April only to actually start to play top 8 teams and collapse to the bottom rungs?
I am.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 7 users
Rory Laird had 18 touches, 4 clearances and 2 tackles last week. (2 tackles? Insane.) 77% TOG. Sure, 10 Score Involvements. Effective. But quiet. He is their star and never fails. Historically low numbers. Probably underdone or maybe a knock.

Berry was invisible - 12 touches. FFS 1 tackle? Something wrong there too. Soligo was quiet. Fair enough - child.

High half forwards Rankine, Rachele and Keays got good numbers. Schoenberg is barely AFL standard. (Numbers always a problem.)

They're a 5 goals better side with Matt Potato in the stands. No excuses there. It's possible Sloane is as much a liability now.

It's a thin midfield and very reliant on underrated Laird. Unless Laird is injured their midfield will lift. They'll need to.

Coming off a 64/45 I50 ball slaughter party, RFC may go in unchanged. And tidy up a bit. Richmond fans are looking for cleaner use, particularly I50 ball, and more of the legendary surge mayhem we showed in the third quarter last week.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9 users
Surely a six day turnaround in 38 degrees and 95 humidity catches up with them? We've had nine. Huge advantage.

No excuses. Midfield of the crows is full of plodders, quick ball movement, and transition running and they are cooked by half time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8 users
last time, it was the last quarter clearances that stopped us. We have improved in his area, getting goal conversion rate up will assist us to win
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Hopefully last years loss should be enough to spur them on. Our midfield should give the forwards a good look at it.
Dusty and Shai should have a good afternoon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
It is true that we have an issue with opposition teams scoring from rebounds out of our 50.

But just about every team struggles with that, it is damned difficult to defend.

A lot teams set up for the rebound and we need to do that better.

This is the reason for picking Mansell, and it has some merit in the sense of having a defender playing in the forward line. Maybe he was protecting space and maybe it worked to the extent that we didn't concede so many scores from rebounds.

If this experiment lasts until we hit Melbourne, who are very good at rebounding, then we will see whether there is any merit.

But, the player in this role also needs to be able to do some attacking, otherwise we're already outnumbered in forward options and that's before you factor in that just about every team putting at least 1 extra in defence when the ball is heading to their opponent's forward line. This is where Castagna was very good, you could not ignore the fact that he might have been guarding space, he might have been chasing defenders, but he could also take a mark, he could also gather the ball and go for goal. This is what Mansell I doubt can provide, he can be left alone in the forward line because he is unlikely to be a threat, and this frees up a defender.

Unless Mansell improves in this position I think it is too expensive to spend a forward position on a player who can only defend.

DS

Great post.

It is a question of nous and talent. There is no evidence that he has enough of either. While he is determined and suitably aggressive, unfortunately the absence of top rung speed and offensive ability are a handicap.

And looking ahead if he plays this week it is hard to see someone else being given those same defensive forward responsibilities against Collingwood in round 3. I’d prefer that job, probably against N Daicos, go to M R Jr.
 
Hopefully last years loss should be enough to spur them on. Our midfield should give the forwards a good look at it.
Dusty and Shai should have a good afternoon.

Have been a supporter since his arrival in 2017 in the VFL. But his position is now no longer guaranteed.

This week he will likely get Tex, in day light, and hopefully with a winning midfield. His success or other will be important to the result as well as to his immediate future.
 
If the Richmond football club are serious finals contenders then we really should no longer be dropping *smile* games like this

Last years silly results against Crows , North , Gold Coast , Sydney, Freo and even the geelong games where we were in control and let them slip and lost the points that cost us a top 2 spot and most likely a good shot at the premiership

We need to be focussed and kill these pleb clubs off quick and early
 
  • Like
Reactions: 17 users
How do we best utilise the sub rule?

Heres some options

1. Play the most versatile player available , someone who can cover all positions, including ruck - sampson ryan, noah balta, ben miller

Plus - this is a % play, there are no catastrophes
Minus - your not gaining much, its match saving rather than match winning; potentially stymie development of youth

2. Play a 2nd ruckman - soldo

plus - the most devastating first quarter loss is covered; can also tactically release a fresh ruckman in 4th quarters
Minus - few other positional losses are covered; no injection of speed

3. Develop a specialist sub - the old champs (trent cotchin, JR)

Plus - cotchy can be deployed on all lines; inspirational quarters or halves from the champ, prolong his career; you could count on JR to kick a team lifting goal; fresher in september

Minus - cant cover talls; disrespectful to the champs; all-time greats playing 25% game time, hard to manage GT

4. Run a fresh mid/tagger - jack graham

plus - if someone needs stopping, deploy the stopper; if noone needs stopping, fresh legged mid for final quarter. Versatile coverage of smalls on all lines

Minus - doesnt cover talls

5. 3rd wingman - Hugo, JG, Clarke (kmac, marlion)

plus - wing is a VIP in modern footy. A fresh, proper, wingman would inject run and impact; marlion and kmac are very versatile and are deployed elsewhere

Minus - dont cover talls

6. Dynamism/speed/impact injection (MRJ, Hugo, Clark)

Plus - hope for a goal or two from a tactical fatigue sub
Minus - inflexible, development stymie

7. Your 23rd best player (on form)

Plus - KISS
Minus - less flexibility, development stymie

8. Go nuclear - Dusty

This is pure fantasy. GF against Geelong. Tigers a goal down at 3/4 time, camera goes to dustys shark-eyes then switches to Scotts resigned terror.

Its a tough one. Get it right and make it part of your game plan, and its potentially a huge advantage in September. Which way do you go? Try save games, or try win games? Horses for courses?

I probably lean toward a combo of 3 and 5 and 6. A specialist sub on a roster - the veteran impact champs - JR, Cotchy, with a young dynamo in week 3. They know and understand the role, and you hope to have control over the sub most weeks. Marlion is probably our most versatile player we have in that he can play ruck or rover. If we play a wingman (cotchy or Jr can do this), marlion covers other losses.

In summary - cotchy, JR, Hugo, MRJ, Clarke all play sub 4-5 times this season. In an ideal world, Marlion is deployed to cover a mid or back position, and the sub goes to his wing. If the sub is unused at 20min mark 3rd quarter, theyre deployed tactically
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
How do we best utilise the sub rule?

Heres some options

1. Play the most versatile player available , someone who can cover all positions, including ruck - sampson ryan, noah balta, ben miller

Plus - this is a % play, there are no catastrophes
Minus - your not gaining much, its match saving rather than match winning; potentially stymie development of youth

2. Play a 2nd ruckman - soldo

plus - the most devastating first quarter loss is covered; can also tactically release a fresh ruckman in 4th quarters
Minus - few other positional losses are covered; no injection of speed

3. Develop a specialist sub - the old champs (trent cotchin, JR)

Plus - cotchy can be deployed on all lines; inspirational quarters or halves from the champ, prolong his career; you could count on JR to kick a team lifting goal; fresher in september

Minus - cant cover talls; disrespectful to the champs; all-time greats playing 25% game time, hard to manage GT

4. Run a fresh mid/tagger - jack graham

plus - if someone needs stopping, deploy the stopper; if noone needs stopping, fresh legged mid for final quarter. Versatile coverage of smalls on all lines

Minus - doesnt cover talls

5. 3rd wingman - Hugo, JG, Clarke (kmac, marlion)

plus - wing is a VIP in modern footy. A fresh, proper, wingman would inject run and impact; marlion and kmac are very versatile and are deployed elsewhere

Minus - dont cover talls

6. Dynamism/speed/impact injection (MRJ, Hugo, Clark)

Plus - hope for a goal or two from a tactical fatigue sub
Minus - inflexible, development stymie

7. Your 23rd best player (on form)

Plus - KISS
Minus - less flexibility, development stymie

8. Go nuclear - Dusty

This is pure fantasy. GF against Geelong. Tigers a goal down at 3/4 time, camera goes to dustys shark-eyes then switches to Scotts resigned terror.

Its a tough one. Get it right and make it part of your game plan, and its potentially a huge advantage in September. Which way do you go? Try save games, or try win games? Horses for courses?

I probably lean toward a combo of 3 and 5 and 6. A specialist sub on a roster - the veteran impact champs - JR, Cotchy, with a young dynamo in week 3. They know and understand the role, and you hope to have control over the sub most weeks. Marlion is probably our most versatile player we have in that he can play ruck or rover. If we play a wingman (cotchy or Jr can do this), marlion covers other losses.

In summary - cotchy, JR, Hugo, MRJ, Clarke all play sub 4-5 times this season. In an ideal world, Marlion is deployed to cover a mid or back position, and the sub goes to his wing. If the sub is unused at 20min mark 3rd quarter, theyre deployed tactically
It has to be a runner, preferably taller, though if we decide to rest Cotch he could be a sub who only plays a 1/4 in the best scenario.

I don't think we can play Graham Ross and Sons in the same team. After last week, though, I'd have Ross last in that group and wouldn't want him as sub (too pedestrian). Maybe Steely Green can push past him, if not Hugo.

Clarke should be best 22, but if not he's the ideal impact sub.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
It has to be a runner, preferably taller, though if we decide to rest Cotch he could be a sub who only plays a 1/4 in the best scenario.

I don't think we can play Graham Ross and Sons in the same team. After last week, though, I'd have Ross last in that group and wouldn't want him as sub (too pedestrian). Maybe Steely Green can push past him, if not Hugo.

Clarke should be best 22, but if not he's the ideal impact sub.

i reckon a sub will win a GF,

And it should be developed and practiced discreetly all H&A.

Agree, a tall runner is the ideal sub, though theres no reason your tall running sub cant start on the field (marlion, or we play Balta on a wing). Hes the versatile swingman who fills holes, and your sub replaces your sub.

See what im getting at?

For arguments sake, we think of Noah as our sub, and he starts on the wing. If theres an important injury (nank, grimes, lynch), Noah goes there, and the nominal sub is always equipped to play 3/4 on a wing

This makes the actual sub - cotchy, kmac, clark, hugo, whoever else plays VFL wing and is either very quick or very smart.

But swingman Balta trains and plays with all lines and becomes the ultimate nuclear sub.

Or maybe Gibbo is our nuclear sub?

In the 20 gf, when vlastuin went down, we had 10 minutes of almost total disorganisation - astbury and JR in the ruck in a panicy merry-go-round. If not for dusty, the game slips from our grasp.

Under this scenario, noah simply goes from wing to vlastuins role, and clark goes to the wing. Ideally, its makes us better

Wing is arguably the easiest position to cover - this is evidenced by the fact that Jack Ross usually goes there. quickish toughish player with a tank occupies mcg space. So you cover the wing, and your wing covers the rest.

You're starting slightly sub-optimal but max versatile, and theres a decent likelihood an injury makes you better.
 
Last edited:
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
i reckon a sub will win a GF,

And it should be developed and practiced discreetly all H&A.

Agree, a tall runner is the ideal sub, though theres no reason your tall running sub cant start on the field (marlion, or we play Balta on a wing). Hes the versatile swingman who fills holes, and your sub replaces your sub.

See what im getting at?

For arguments sake, we think of Noah as our sub, and he starts on the wing. If theres an important injury (nank, grimes, lynch), Noah goes there, and the nominal sub is always equipped to play 3/4 on a wing

This makes the actual sub - cotchy, kmac, clark, hugo, whoever else plays VFL wing and is either very quick or very smart.

But swingman Balta trains and plays with all lines and becomes the ultimate nuclear sub.

Or maybe Gibbo is our nuclear sub?

In the 20 gf, when vlastuin went down, we had 10 minutes of almost total disorganisation - astbury and JR in the ruck in a panicy merry-go-round. If not for dusty, the game slips from our grasp.

Under this scenario, noah simply goes from wing to vlastuins role, and clark goes to the wing. Ideally, its makes us better

Wing is arguably the easiest position to cover - this is evidenced by the fact that Jack Ross usually goes there. quickish toughish player with a tank occupies mcg space. So you cover the wing, and your wing covers the rest.

You're starting slightly sub-optimal but max versatile, and theres a decent likelihood an injury makes you better.
I reckon the need for versatility in a sub is overrated- you should hve flexibility in the 22 already. and i reckon you need to be a little wary of going for an 'impact' player over a better footballer.- the impact player might work better if they come on in the last and have fresh legs, but if you get an injury early you might regret not having the next best footballer coming on to play 3 quarters.
ideally your "23rd best" player can also be an impact type, and probably be flexible enough to play 2 positions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
I reckon the need for versatility in a sub is overrated- you should hve flexibility in the 22 already. and i reckon you need to be a little wary of going for an 'impact' player over a better footballer.- the impact player might work better if they come on in the last and have fresh legs, but if you get an injury early you might regret not having the next best footballer coming on to play 3 quarters.
ideally your "23rd best" player can also be an impact type, and probably be flexible enough to play 2 positions.
Thats sort of what im getting at.

Your sub isnt that versatile - hes a wingman.

Your starting wingman is a swingman,

And arguably the smallest hole in a 22 is left by the loss of a wingman. A kpp has to be tall, a backman has to be selfless and accountible, a forward has to kick goals. A Richmond wingman 'just' has to run to space again and again and again, and ideally shove.

What im trying to do with this theory, which may be a caffeine-induced over-thought complication,

Is make a substition 1. Almost* entirely Predictable for the coaching and playing staff and 2. Possibly make you better

* who cant noah replace? Only the irreplaceable; Shai, dusty, Tom. And thats not going to need doing 87% of the time

Its time let Noah Balta fulfil his destiny as;

a norm smith winning onfield nuclear sub.
 
Noah's a Commodore VIC 20 in footy IQ terms, and only has the ROM to be programmed one way. Let him settle into one position and develop into a solid key back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users