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PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
There were plenty of each...maybe a few more negatives, but it's early days yet.
Positives:
Schulz - Good solid game, couple of errors but only small...showed pace, judgement and strength at times. Could easily replace Gaspar this year if needed and would do just as well judging by today's effort - arguably better given he has far more upside.
Raines - Showed better pace and better delivery than he has in the past...improving.
Stafford - Rucked creatively to reasonable effect with his now customary 2" leap and swat style, lovely kick for goal as always, did all that was needed of his role. Should have had three. Still not moving 100% as he once did...but can still pull his weight.
Roach - Stuck to his guns ok after drawing the worst job on the field. He really matched strides with Williams on the lead...not enough to overtake him and spoil...but who could? The kid has pace to burn...he'll get easier roles to show us what he's capable of, but still needs time at Coburg to rack up some big possession games...start using the ball with confidence and composure at an easier level. Don't see him as a defender, but we don't have a lot of options in the small man department.
White - Good poise with his goal...showed enough for his first hitout. I wonder if there's room in the same 22 for him and Hartigan...
Humm - Looked alright...a good ordinary pickup.
Rodan - Flashes of what he's capable of today...even a couple of examples of composure and clever thinking...good hitout considering he's first up. Hope he hasn't picked up another injury...
Tuck - Can dominate again this season once he's blown the cobwebs out.
Tambling - Glimpses.
Deledio - Glimpses.
Negatives:
P. Bowden - Very lacklustre debut. Turnovers and errors galore are forgiveable; standing with hands on hips, player gazing with the ball 10m away is not. Nor is not running your butt off when you've cost the side several goals. Hopefully he improves out of sight...at times today it seemed like he was wearing Tivendale's g-string AND his kicking boots...not to mention took up his bar stool in the centre square. Patrick needs a huge turnaround on today's performance if he's to play regular senior football this year and pick up another contract. Switched on and pumped up he'd be very useful...let's hope today was an aberration.
J. Bowden - I didn't see him blushing after the 2nd benching and phone call from Wallace...he should have been. The kickout on the full while he was wandering along on the wing in the last quarter - totally unpressured - was the sort of shocking football we'd all hoped was behind him now...and it was far from his worst effort for the day. Did some good things as well, but must switch on once we get to rd 1...he is a leader now and can't afford to let his game go backwards due to silly, avoidable errors.
Hyde - played an ok game, beautiful poise and vision to kick his 2nd goal...however, that bosanova/lambada hybrid with pike that he pulled to avoid using his right foot 35m out from goal, was quite frankly embarrassing. He's been in the system long enough to have SOME right foot...and obviously still doesn't. He can't afford to be that one dimensional with so many natural athletes in the ranks behind him...he ended up in that position today because he was corralled into it...he can't progress much further on one leg once every team has worked him out...he doesn't have the pace, bulk, or natural avoidance skills to overcome it. I really like Hyde...I admire his G&D and the way he's improved in his time with us, but I don't know about his long term future if he remains a completely one-sided player. Perhaps his exceptional endurance, courage, and his improving kicking (on his left!) will see him through. Time will tell...
Hartigan - Son, when you run 10m forwards, then 20m sideways...without bouncing the ball, you're gonna get pinged. I worry a little about the mental capacity of a player who wants to argue with the umpire after running 30+ metres with the ball...apparently not realising that he did run that far...and that he should have been looking very sheepish. He's put on bulk, looks mega-fit, has plenty of pace and grunt...but the kicking and the upstairs bit are not quite there yet from today's display. Shame, we need a Hartigan-type who consistently helps us more than he has the potential to hinder. Deserves game-time and will get better.
Richo - When he's hot, he's hot...
At least good to see his 2nd efforts picking up where they did last season.
Foley - Needs to get plenty more of it against sides like Hawthorn if he's to make the big league anytime soon.
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Pretty standard/average/acceptable efforts from the rest...obviously a lot of rotations and some players didn't have a lot of game-time.
Wallace obviously handed out some tough roles, generally let players stick to that task, coached without a great deal of regard for the result IMO...which is fine...it's his plan, let's see what comes of it at the business end of the season.
To my mind three of the biggest questions were at least partially answered today:
Is Schulz good enough to be a no.1-2 key defender? - Yes
Is P. Bowden or Pattison the answer at CHF this year? - Probably not
Could our defence hold up without Gaspar and Kellaway? - Yes...with Schulz and Hall taking the two talls in the 2nd half we looked very solid and conceded very little. They'll get tougher assignments, but both seem up to it if the midfield can hold its own and give them a chance.
Anyway, was enjoyable to see the lads finally run around again...even in a very average loss. Let's hope we bring our best form to rd 1 and with the re-introduction of Coughlan, Brown etc, look many times a better side.
Positives:
Schulz - Good solid game, couple of errors but only small...showed pace, judgement and strength at times. Could easily replace Gaspar this year if needed and would do just as well judging by today's effort - arguably better given he has far more upside.
Raines - Showed better pace and better delivery than he has in the past...improving.
Stafford - Rucked creatively to reasonable effect with his now customary 2" leap and swat style, lovely kick for goal as always, did all that was needed of his role. Should have had three. Still not moving 100% as he once did...but can still pull his weight.
Roach - Stuck to his guns ok after drawing the worst job on the field. He really matched strides with Williams on the lead...not enough to overtake him and spoil...but who could? The kid has pace to burn...he'll get easier roles to show us what he's capable of, but still needs time at Coburg to rack up some big possession games...start using the ball with confidence and composure at an easier level. Don't see him as a defender, but we don't have a lot of options in the small man department.
White - Good poise with his goal...showed enough for his first hitout. I wonder if there's room in the same 22 for him and Hartigan...
Humm - Looked alright...a good ordinary pickup.
Rodan - Flashes of what he's capable of today...even a couple of examples of composure and clever thinking...good hitout considering he's first up. Hope he hasn't picked up another injury...
Tuck - Can dominate again this season once he's blown the cobwebs out.
Tambling - Glimpses.
Deledio - Glimpses.
Negatives:
P. Bowden - Very lacklustre debut. Turnovers and errors galore are forgiveable; standing with hands on hips, player gazing with the ball 10m away is not. Nor is not running your butt off when you've cost the side several goals. Hopefully he improves out of sight...at times today it seemed like he was wearing Tivendale's g-string AND his kicking boots...not to mention took up his bar stool in the centre square. Patrick needs a huge turnaround on today's performance if he's to play regular senior football this year and pick up another contract. Switched on and pumped up he'd be very useful...let's hope today was an aberration.
J. Bowden - I didn't see him blushing after the 2nd benching and phone call from Wallace...he should have been. The kickout on the full while he was wandering along on the wing in the last quarter - totally unpressured - was the sort of shocking football we'd all hoped was behind him now...and it was far from his worst effort for the day. Did some good things as well, but must switch on once we get to rd 1...he is a leader now and can't afford to let his game go backwards due to silly, avoidable errors.
Hyde - played an ok game, beautiful poise and vision to kick his 2nd goal...however, that bosanova/lambada hybrid with pike that he pulled to avoid using his right foot 35m out from goal, was quite frankly embarrassing. He's been in the system long enough to have SOME right foot...and obviously still doesn't. He can't afford to be that one dimensional with so many natural athletes in the ranks behind him...he ended up in that position today because he was corralled into it...he can't progress much further on one leg once every team has worked him out...he doesn't have the pace, bulk, or natural avoidance skills to overcome it. I really like Hyde...I admire his G&D and the way he's improved in his time with us, but I don't know about his long term future if he remains a completely one-sided player. Perhaps his exceptional endurance, courage, and his improving kicking (on his left!) will see him through. Time will tell...
Hartigan - Son, when you run 10m forwards, then 20m sideways...without bouncing the ball, you're gonna get pinged. I worry a little about the mental capacity of a player who wants to argue with the umpire after running 30+ metres with the ball...apparently not realising that he did run that far...and that he should have been looking very sheepish. He's put on bulk, looks mega-fit, has plenty of pace and grunt...but the kicking and the upstairs bit are not quite there yet from today's display. Shame, we need a Hartigan-type who consistently helps us more than he has the potential to hinder. Deserves game-time and will get better.
Richo - When he's hot, he's hot...
At least good to see his 2nd efforts picking up where they did last season.
Foley - Needs to get plenty more of it against sides like Hawthorn if he's to make the big league anytime soon.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty standard/average/acceptable efforts from the rest...obviously a lot of rotations and some players didn't have a lot of game-time.
Wallace obviously handed out some tough roles, generally let players stick to that task, coached without a great deal of regard for the result IMO...which is fine...it's his plan, let's see what comes of it at the business end of the season.
To my mind three of the biggest questions were at least partially answered today:
Is Schulz good enough to be a no.1-2 key defender? - Yes
Is P. Bowden or Pattison the answer at CHF this year? - Probably not
Could our defence hold up without Gaspar and Kellaway? - Yes...with Schulz and Hall taking the two talls in the 2nd half we looked very solid and conceded very little. They'll get tougher assignments, but both seem up to it if the midfield can hold its own and give them a chance.
Anyway, was enjoyable to see the lads finally run around again...even in a very average loss. Let's hope we bring our best form to rd 1 and with the re-introduction of Coughlan, Brown etc, look many times a better side.