Devil's advocate

[RedanTiger]

Agree that its a bit early to get carried away. Watched the Cats v Port match after ours and was truly worried about what either of these sides would do to either Richmond or Carlton.

In comparison to our match, the other one you had a split second to dispose under hot, very physical pressure with quick rebound and every player making position off the ball. Any slight mistake was punished and the players had to be totally committed to the ball and the second effort. That was one versus two from last year, ours was last versus second last with both teams seriously under done.

Any win is good but the future could be even more ugly in spots than last year.

 

[Willo]

Agree that its a bit early to get carried away. Watched the Cats v Port match after ours and was truly worried about what either of these sides would do to either Richmond or Carlton.

In comparison to our match, the other one you had a split second to dispose under hot, very physical pressure with quick rebound and every player making position off the ball. Any slight mistake was punished and the players had to be totally committed to the ball and the second effort. That was one versus two from last year, ours was last versus second last with both teams seriously under done.

Any win is good but the future could be even more ugly in spots than last year.

Well summed up RT. I was thinking the same thing. Very physical game and a real pressure cooker. If there isn't total commitment, you'll be found wanting and exposed (not like fev).
We've had a good win, but as you say and I agree, there will be some games ahead that will really test us all.

 

[RemoteTiger]

Johnson - I know he works hard, has ok smarts and is tough. But I'm 198cm and 125kg and I'd back myself over 10m against this bloke. A long way from real captaincy material I'd say.

That is an intersting quote - you would back yourself over 10m against Johnson - was it not Johnson who chased down Judd and grabbed him by the tail of his jumper - swang him round and earned a free kick from Judd holding the ball too long?

To many people like to deride our Captain but in truth it is his on field leadership - the quiet talks to our kids that is making them mature into AFL footballers. IMO when these very same kids of today hoist the premiership cup up over their heads in 2010 or 2011 or 2012 it will be due in part to the AFL foundation that Johnson is helping give them now!

Agree that its a bit early to get carried away. Watched the Cats v Port match after ours and was truly worried about what either of these sides would do to either Richmond or Carlton.

In comparison to our match, the other one you had a split second to dispose under hot, very physical pressure with quick rebound and every player making position off the ball. Any slight mistake was punished and the players had to be totally committed to the ball and the second effort. That was one versus two from last year, ours was last versus second last with both teams seriously under done.

Any win is good but the future could be even more ugly in spots than last year.

I agree Redan - the two matches were miles apart (from both a geographical and standard point of view) - our guys will be 30 to 40pts down at half time if we make the same 1st half clangers against Port or Geelong that we did against Carlton - but I am of the opinion that it may have been nerves in the first 40 or so minutes - once our guys settled down our style improved markedly - but not to the level of Geelong and Port. Our guys are still growing still learning - by the end of this year we will be about 1/2 a length off the perliminary finalists (to put it in racing parlance)......RT

 

[johnson2richo2003]

For those who seen our last Practice match against Geelong would acknowledge we have a long way to go before being considered a top 4 side.As long as the Tamblings,Deledios,Jacksons,Thurfeilds,Kings,Hughes etc continue to improve then we will get there.As for now just enjoy beating those that are in the same class as us.

 

[Rosy]

The game following ours looked leagues apart in skill and intensity but we can only beat our opposition on the day. I feel sorry for anyone who can't get pleasure from the fact we got the points against our arch enemies, especially considering wins have been so scarce for Tiger fans in recent times. We could find plenty of negatives if we looked for them but Thursday night was a time for celebration imo. Jakey's shaky start, which he made up for in leaps and bounds, was the furtherest thing from my mind after the game.

 

[premiers2011]

Let's just take it for what it was.

A WIN!!

Enjoy it, we haven't had too many of late

 

[YinnarTiger]

Watched the Cats v Port match after ours and was truly worried about what either of these sides would do to either Richmond or Carlton.

I'm not really worried about what they would do to Carlton. >

 

[AZZORP]

I donot understand the anti Kane Johnson sentiment that prevails on this site.

He is not slow, he is one of those players that has plenty of time. He sometimes looks like he's going in slow motion because of this, but he rarely gets caught. Would they have him tagging elite midfielders like Judd if he were slow?

His kicking is more than adequate. He turns the ball over occassionally as do the best. I recall Buckley doing the same. As someone said earlier in this thread, go watch Geelongs game and you'll see good players mis-kick occassionally also. It's the nature of AFL football. Infact the other night he nailed some lovely long 45 metre passes to a guy running out wide.

The one that riles me the most is the critisism of his captaincy. We had Cleave Hughes and Angus Graham come to my sons U12 footy training. One of the kids asked who was their most admired Richmond player. I was expecting the standard Richo answer. Both were unequivocal ... Kane Johnson .... Hardest worker, most professional, best communicator etc etc . The club reappoints him because he is an outstanding leader .... not necessarily the best player, but an outstanding leader. Voss said he was one of the great captains on Thursday night and I heard Buckley say the same last season ... two of the best captains of the modern era rate KJ as one of the best. He doesn't rate against them as a footballer, but as a leader of young men he is outstanding according to those who know alot more about these things than me.

 

[JR8]

The game following ours looked leagues apart in skill and intensity but we can only beat our opposition on the day. I feel sorry for anyone who can't get pleasure from the fact we got the points against our arch enemies, especially considering wins have been so scarce for Tiger fans in recent times. We could find plenty of negatives if we looked for them but Thursday night was a time for celebration imo. Jakey's shaky start, which he made up for in leaps and bounds, was the furtherest thing from my mind after the game.

Well said Rosy.

These negative vibe merchants can be a bit much somtimes.

BTW where's Dribbler & his offsider Larf????? :don't know

 

[GoodOne]

The one that riles me the most is the critisism of his captaincy. We had Cleave Hughes and Angus Graham come to my sons U12 footy training. One of the kids asked who was their most admired Richmond player. I was expecting the standard Richo answer. Both were unequivocal ... Kane Johnson ....

They were Johnson's kids. In all seriousness Johnson struggled badly last year. I really thought he was a goner but he played a great game against Carlton. Personally I think hsi body is struggling to cope with the demands of AFL. Let's see how he is going halfway through the season. As a captain I've never doubted his committment as a captain.

 

[Tiger_Shark]

the Simmonds jumping early thing was ugly but kinda worked. i wouldn't say he is the best tap ruckman anyway. against Carlton he sort of took out the opposition ruckman, the ball eiher fell to or was knocked straight down into a pack of players, and with Axel, Tucky, etc, we smashed them in the hard ball gets. might not work against good sides though.

 

[mld]

Well said Rosy.

These negative vibe merchants can be a bit much somtimes.

BTW where's Dribbler & his offsider Larf????? :don't know

Internet to the caravan park is down, I presume.