er hex to continue
3:28:08 PM Wed 7 May, 2003
Rodney Eade
afl.com.au
Both Richmond and Essendon would have been disappointed last week, not only because with their results but also with the injuries sustained.
Richmond lost Wayne Campbell and Adam Houlihan, which only adds to an already quality-laden list of absentees and it now becomes a big test for the club to see how it copes with so many good players out. The Tigers, and other teams, could take a leaf out of Port Adelaide’s book and see how the Power copes.
Essendon will probably name Dustin Fletcher or James Hird, but it would not surprise to see at least one of them miss the clash. The Bombers are notorious for making last-minute changes.
Dean Rioli will be a big loss for them as he is in the best form of his career, and what the Bombers must also take into account is that no team has won this year the week after playing in Perth.
Nevertheless, the Bombers boast a 6-1 advantage over the Tigers since 2000. This gives them a huge psychological edge and is something the Richmond players must overcome.
Game plan: Essendon generally likes to play a possession-type game, although this can fluctuate from week to week and there are times when the side gets into trouble by trying to be too cute with its disposal.
The Bombers’ game against Collingwood did underline how dangerous they can be if they kick longer and are more direct. On Anzac Day, they were able to access the centre corridor and deliver the ball more quickly to their forwards. The Tigers will need to slow them up and exert pressure on the ball-carrier. Under this sort of pressure, like most teams, they are a change to turn the ball over.
The Tigers are one side that tends to flood. They did this early in the game against Hawthorn and were exposed. They allowed the Hawks to run the ball up the ground without any pressure. But once they manned-up, this allowed their hard-ball winners such as Mark Coughlan, Kane Johnson and Tim Fleming to come into their own. They could be exposed again if they flood and allow spare Essendon players in the middle of the ground.
The Bombers can also flood, but only in a transitional sense, such as with the flow of play. Therefore, the Tigers must move the ball quickly to at least give their forwards a 50-50 chance.
The Coaches: Danny Frawley’s main thoughts would be to do with Matthew Lloyd, James Hird (if he plays), Jason Johnson and also if there is any residual scarring from the previous encounters. Essendon holds a definite edge over the Tigers and Frawley must convince his troops that they can win the game.
Darren Gaspar will take Lloyd while Joel Bowden would be a good match-up on Hird in the midfield. Bowden would be able to run with him but also be able to run off him and set up the play. Andrew Kellaway would be assigned Hird if he plays up forward.
Jason Johnson’s pace might be a concern against Coughlan and Kane Johnson. Coughlan seems tough enough though, to be able to accept this challenge.
Kevin Sheedy’s plans and thoughts will revolve around getting off to a good start. This could open up old wounds. Expect him also to rotate his midfielders heavily so as to orchestrate a mismatch, and with Campbell missing for the Tigers, Frawley’s options in the centre will be limited. The expected return of Paul Barnard and Mark Mercuri from injury only adds to his dilemma.
Expect Sheedy to also attempt to put a clamp on Bowden, Greg Tivendale, Mark Chaffey and Aaron Fiora. All are players who can hurt you with their foot disposal. Sheedy attempts to dictate terms by rotating his players around, looking for a mismatch and causing opposition confusion. Frawley must counter this by being pro-active himself and not giving the Bombers what they want.
An example would be not to let Bowden and Tivendale be tagged. Let them run with one of Essendon’s main players. Also, he could rotate through the middle without compromising the hardness of Coughlan and Johnson by introducing into the midfield some players that the Bombers would not expect.
Damien Cupido and Dean Solomon could also prove to be headaches for Richmond. Chris Newman and Matthew Rogers may lack the ability to close them down all game.
One of Richmond’s assets has been its height but this will not be as noticeable as in the past. Royce Vardy will come in but may be required to play on Essendon’s resting ruckman. The pressure will be on Greg Stafford and Ray Hall to perform.
The Verdict: Both teams have injury problems. If Hird misses, this evens the ledger somewhat. Even so, the Bombers still have quite a few avenues towards goal whereas you question where the Tiger goals will come from.
The Tigers must make it a tough, in-tight physical game by exerting constant pressure on Essendon’s ball-carrier. David Hille and Steven Alessio, in tandem, can quell Stafford’s influence and with more options in the midfield, the Bombers should be able to make the post-2000 scorecard 7-1 in their favour. Essendon by 19 points.
3:28:08 PM Wed 7 May, 2003
Rodney Eade
afl.com.au
Both Richmond and Essendon would have been disappointed last week, not only because with their results but also with the injuries sustained.
Richmond lost Wayne Campbell and Adam Houlihan, which only adds to an already quality-laden list of absentees and it now becomes a big test for the club to see how it copes with so many good players out. The Tigers, and other teams, could take a leaf out of Port Adelaide’s book and see how the Power copes.
Essendon will probably name Dustin Fletcher or James Hird, but it would not surprise to see at least one of them miss the clash. The Bombers are notorious for making last-minute changes.
Dean Rioli will be a big loss for them as he is in the best form of his career, and what the Bombers must also take into account is that no team has won this year the week after playing in Perth.
Nevertheless, the Bombers boast a 6-1 advantage over the Tigers since 2000. This gives them a huge psychological edge and is something the Richmond players must overcome.
Game plan: Essendon generally likes to play a possession-type game, although this can fluctuate from week to week and there are times when the side gets into trouble by trying to be too cute with its disposal.
The Bombers’ game against Collingwood did underline how dangerous they can be if they kick longer and are more direct. On Anzac Day, they were able to access the centre corridor and deliver the ball more quickly to their forwards. The Tigers will need to slow them up and exert pressure on the ball-carrier. Under this sort of pressure, like most teams, they are a change to turn the ball over.
The Tigers are one side that tends to flood. They did this early in the game against Hawthorn and were exposed. They allowed the Hawks to run the ball up the ground without any pressure. But once they manned-up, this allowed their hard-ball winners such as Mark Coughlan, Kane Johnson and Tim Fleming to come into their own. They could be exposed again if they flood and allow spare Essendon players in the middle of the ground.
The Bombers can also flood, but only in a transitional sense, such as with the flow of play. Therefore, the Tigers must move the ball quickly to at least give their forwards a 50-50 chance.
The Coaches: Danny Frawley’s main thoughts would be to do with Matthew Lloyd, James Hird (if he plays), Jason Johnson and also if there is any residual scarring from the previous encounters. Essendon holds a definite edge over the Tigers and Frawley must convince his troops that they can win the game.
Darren Gaspar will take Lloyd while Joel Bowden would be a good match-up on Hird in the midfield. Bowden would be able to run with him but also be able to run off him and set up the play. Andrew Kellaway would be assigned Hird if he plays up forward.
Jason Johnson’s pace might be a concern against Coughlan and Kane Johnson. Coughlan seems tough enough though, to be able to accept this challenge.
Kevin Sheedy’s plans and thoughts will revolve around getting off to a good start. This could open up old wounds. Expect him also to rotate his midfielders heavily so as to orchestrate a mismatch, and with Campbell missing for the Tigers, Frawley’s options in the centre will be limited. The expected return of Paul Barnard and Mark Mercuri from injury only adds to his dilemma.
Expect Sheedy to also attempt to put a clamp on Bowden, Greg Tivendale, Mark Chaffey and Aaron Fiora. All are players who can hurt you with their foot disposal. Sheedy attempts to dictate terms by rotating his players around, looking for a mismatch and causing opposition confusion. Frawley must counter this by being pro-active himself and not giving the Bombers what they want.
An example would be not to let Bowden and Tivendale be tagged. Let them run with one of Essendon’s main players. Also, he could rotate through the middle without compromising the hardness of Coughlan and Johnson by introducing into the midfield some players that the Bombers would not expect.
Damien Cupido and Dean Solomon could also prove to be headaches for Richmond. Chris Newman and Matthew Rogers may lack the ability to close them down all game.
One of Richmond’s assets has been its height but this will not be as noticeable as in the past. Royce Vardy will come in but may be required to play on Essendon’s resting ruckman. The pressure will be on Greg Stafford and Ray Hall to perform.
The Verdict: Both teams have injury problems. If Hird misses, this evens the ledger somewhat. Even so, the Bombers still have quite a few avenues towards goal whereas you question where the Tiger goals will come from.
The Tigers must make it a tough, in-tight physical game by exerting constant pressure on Essendon’s ball-carrier. David Hille and Steven Alessio, in tandem, can quell Stafford’s influence and with more options in the midfield, the Bombers should be able to make the post-2000 scorecard 7-1 in their favour. Essendon by 19 points.
