how can we be as bad as last year?

[polo]

If we are as bad as last year, we are in big big trouble because, this time last year;

Symonds had done his ankle,
Brown was about to declare his hot spot that was basically to put an end to his season,
Cogs had slipped in the shower and done his knee
It was Thurstfields first year back from a knee reco
Polo while young did his shoulder (I am also biased and rate this guy as a very good footballer)

This year within reason we all have those players playing and you would hope a lot of the younger players (Deledio, tambling etc) would continue to improve.

We had no major players depart punt rd.

Given a continued good run with injuries I would expect us to be competetive with most average teams which in the AFL runs from about 12th to 4.

Like I said if it did stay as bad as last year under these current circumstances it would be a pretty horrid picture. Lets hope it gets better.

 

[jimbler]

We had no major players depart punt rd.

You forgot about Kingsley.

 

[the claw]

If we are as bad as last year, we are in big big trouble because, this time last year;

Symonds had done his ankle,
Brown was about to declare his hot spot that was basically to put an end to his season,
Cogs had slipped in the shower and done his knee
It was Thurstfields first year back from a knee reco
Polo while young did his shoulder (I am also biased and rate this guy as a very good footballer)

This year within reason we all have those players playing and you would hope a lot of the younger players (Deledio, tambling etc) would continue to improve.

We had no major players depart punt rd.

Given a continued good run with injuries I would expect us to be competetive with most average teams which in the AFL runs from about 12th to 4.

Like I said if it did stay as bad as last year under these current circumstances it would be a pretty horrid picture. Lets hope it gets better.

simmo is now 30 hes undersized for a ruckman has always struggled a bit at stoppages but does very well around the ground.
brown is also 30 hes basically a flanker he bneeds the ball in the forward line to dominate games this just doesnt happen enough.
coughlan will spend most of the yr just getting a feel for the game. he may not get back.
thursfield is a very sound defender with good skills but he is not the answer against big bodied opponents.
polo im prepared to cut some slack but he is a typical glass half full richmond player.

we struggle because of our list structure and we have a lack of skillful well rounded players. we struggle because we lack height size and footy smarts. we lack quality inside players we have done little to correct this in the short term. at least we started to address some deficiencies long term with rance putt gourdis and cotchin.

 

[craig]

Here here my Dear CLaws.

The tigers are kidding emselves if they think they can ge away with Thursty, McGuane and Moore all down back in a side with balnce and structure Willy T is best served as 3rd tall well ahead of Moore and McGuane also in reality by todays standards these guys are not true talls anyway, not to mention their lack of body size to make upfor lack of genuine height.

This is where the likes of Michael(190-91) Glass (192), and Rutten (191-92)are better served at 6 "3 they at least have strength and body types that the likes of Thursfield and McGuane lack and will never have.

Rance (192) hopefully may develop into this type, but the club needs to find another 1 or 2 of these types to develop.

That requires the development or procurement of 2 Bigger stronger Taller Key Backs which wont happen overnight sadly.

Hence the requirement for Polak to step up at CHB and provide at least one big body down there.

The fact Wallet thinks Schulz should have yet another go in a position he isnt suited to just supports this arguement.

Better still go out and get specialists for these roles.

Scott Turner was the last big bodied strong hard nosed Key Defender of genuine size this club has had.

We need another Scotty Turner in a perfect world.

 

[mojo31]

If we are as bad as last year, we are in big big trouble because, this time last year;

Symonds had done his ankle,
Brown was about to declare his hot spot that was basically to put an end to his season,
Cogs had slipped in the shower and done his knee
It was Thurstfields first year back from a knee reco
Polo while young did his shoulder (I am also biased and rate this guy as a very good footballer)

This year within reason we all have those players playing and you would hope a lot of the younger players (Deledio, tambling etc) would continue to improve.

We had no major players depart punt rd.

Given a continued good run with injuries I would expect us to be competetive with most average teams which in the AFL runs from about 12th to 4.

Like I said if it did stay as bad as last year under these current circumstances it would be a pretty horrid picture. Lets hope it gets better.

Your talent level is better than last year. But their is still a huge reliance on the veterans and this can come unstuck very quickly with injury concerns. The pre season amtters little. Its just points scoring for people with agendas on here. Go away and post when they get smashed or come back when they win. Depends on your agenda. Just let it roll off you. I dont bother to much about the pre season. My posts are about the list as a whole. I take into account injuries in the off season and a brief look at a few games and youngsters and leave it at that.

tHe problem this year is a lot of the struggling clubs have improved I believe and therefore Richmond could improve a fair bit and still have a bad year compared to wins and losses. Of course wins matter a lot. But try and focus more on the young players and how they are going and dont get to wrapped up in the results.

 

[St. Jude]

Here here my Dear CLaws.

The tigers are kidding emselves if they think they can ge away with Thursty, McGuane and Moore all down back in a side with balnce and structure Willy T is best served as 3rd tall well ahead of Moore and McGuane also in reality by todays standards these guys are not true talls anyway, not to mention their lack of body size to make upfor lack of genuine height.

This is where the likes of Michael(190-91) Glass (192), and Rutten (191-92)are better served at 6 "3 they at least have strength and body types that the likes of Thursfield and McGuane lack and will never have.

Rance (192) hopefully may develop into this type, but the club needs to find another 1 or 2 of these types to develop.

That requires the development or procurement of 2 Bigger stronger Taller Key Backs which wont happen overnight sadly.

Hence the requirement for Polak to step up at CHB and provide at least one big body down there.

The fact Wallet thinks Schulz should have yet another go in a position he isnt suited to just supports this arguement.

Better still go out and get specialists for these roles.

Scott Turner was the last big bodied strong hard nosed Key Defender of genuine size this club has had.

We need another Scotty Turner in a perfect world.

I think you might be selling the boys a little short comparing thursty, mcguane and kel to michael, glass and rutten when you compare the ages of the 6. Our boys are 21,22 and 24 compared to 25,26 and 31 and from the looks of it the boys have been getting bigger every year, you are also comparing the boys of one team to the 3 premier FB's of the comp.
Besides, size is not everything, Campbell brown is not huge and do I have to remind you that the FB of the century (SOS) was not a super huge body but wirey tough and these boys have the potential to be that .
For Ch!$ts sake I wish everyone out there would stop comparing our KIDS to the superstars of the comp. Let them get to the same age before you belt pi$$ out of them

 

[Opulentus Tigris]

Here here my Dear CLaws.

The tigers are kidding emselves if they think they can ge away with Thursty, McGuane and Moore all down back in a side with balnce and structure Willy T is best served as 3rd tall well ahead of Moore and McGuane also in reality by todays standards these guys are not true talls anyway, not to mention their lack of body size to make upfor lack of genuine height.

This is where the likes of Michael(190-91) Glass (192), and Rutten (191-92)are better served at 6 "3 they at least have strength and body types that the likes of Thursfield and McGuane lack and will never have.

Rance (192) hopefully may develop into this type, but the club needs to find another 1 or 2 of these types to develop.

That requires the development or procurement of 2 Bigger stronger Taller Key Backs which wont happen overnight sadly.

Hence the requirement for Polak to step up at CHB and provide at least one big body down there.

The fact Wallet thinks Schulz should have yet another go in a position he isnt suited to just supports this arguement.

Better still go out and get specialists for these roles.

Scott Turner was the last big bodied strong hard nosed Key Defender of genuine size this club has had.

We need another Scotty Turner in a perfect world.

There is no doubt our backline is deficient, against the better sides it won't cope. But like Claw said, it is being addressed and Craig is right, big defenders are hard to come by. Pinch hitting with Silvester, whilst waiting for Rance and Goudis to develop. Unfortunately Silvester is too slow and out of his depth at the highest level. Hope I'm wrong about him.
Good work Clawsy and Craig. :clap

 

[MC]

If we are as bad as last year, we are in big big trouble because, this time last year;

Symonds had done his ankle,
Brown was about to declare his hot spot that was basically to put an end to his season,
Cogs had slipped in the shower and done his knee
It was Thurstfields first year back from a knee reco
Polo while young did his shoulder (I am also biased and rate this guy as a very good footballer)

This year within reason we all have those players playing and you would hope a lot of the younger players (Deledio, tambling etc) would continue to improve.



Given a continued good run with injuries I would expect us to be competetive with most average teams which in the AFL runs from about 12th to 4.

Like I said if it did stay as bad as last year under these current circumstances it would be a pretty horrid picture. Lets hope it gets better.

Yeah I agree with most of this except the cogs bit. Don't get me wrong I love this guy, star quality, but he has hardly played any games so you can't expect too much from him.

Yes, polo has alot of talent, and there are 2 factors which determine his fate.
1. His shoulder may still be a concern?
2. If he starts to get BIG headed too soon, he won't make it at this level. It's ok to have arrogance but you have to back it up with actions.

Like our president has said, the time for EXCUSES is over now.

Let's see what happens in 08?

 

[itsintheblood]

If we are as bad as last year, we are in big big trouble because, this time last year;

Symonds had done his ankle,
Brown was about to declare his hot spot that was basically to put an end to his season,
Cogs had slipped in the shower and done his knee
It was Thurstfields first year back from a knee reco
Polo while young did his shoulder (I am also biased and rate this guy as a very good footballer)

This year within reason we all have those players playing and you would hope a lot of the younger players (Deledio, tambling etc) would continue to improve.

We had no major players depart punt rd.

Given a continued good run with injuries I would expect us to be competetive with most average teams which in the AFL runs from about 12th to 4.

Like I said if it did stay as bad as last year under these current circumstances it would be a pretty horrid picture. Lets hope it gets better.

I hope we are as bad as last year. We need to be to secure Nicholas Natanui and the 2 best kid in the land. Read the article i posted on the journos board. The kid sounds like a freak and we need him at punt road.

 

[Col.E.Kurtz]

Polo appears to not be 100%, so it may be best to tone tone down the expectation.

 

[Rosy]

Given a continued good run with injuries...

I think we'll improve a lot this season but there's no doubt we need better luck from the injury gods to do so.

 

[Jason King]

Polo appears to not be 100%, so it may be best to tone tone down the expectation.

Apparently he is being wrap in cotton wool, gone are the attitude problems of last year (and hopefully the dodgey shoulder joint).