Richmond Spine - 2008. Thoughts and expectation.

[White Czar]

I don't think you can judge it on one year, if we have a look at some of the great teams of the recent past we see:
          Carlton 1981       Hawthorn 88      Westcoast 92     North 96         Adelaide 97      
FB:       Southby, 194      Langford, 196     McIntosh, 194    Martyn, 190    Caven 190      
CHB:    Perovic, 193        Mew, 190            Jakovich, 193     Fairley, 189     Ellen, 191
CHF:    Maclure, 191        Brereton, 188     Langdon, 188    Carey, 192       Robran, 193
FF:       Brown, 188          Dunstall, 188      Sumich, 190      Sholl, 189         Modra, 188

Even the last few years:
          Essendon 00       Brisbane 02          Port 04                 Sydney 05
FB:      Fletcher, 196       Michael, 190         Wakelin, 192        Barry, 185
CHB:   Wellman, 194      Leppisch, 191       Cornes, 191         Bolton, 190
CHF:   Lucas, 194           Brown, 195           Tredrea, 194        Hall, 194
FF:      Lloyd, 192            Lynch, 193           Thurstans, 195     O'Loughlin, 190

This tells me, for each position:
FB - generally has to be => 190cms, and most were physically strong.
CHB - Again, most were => 190cms, and most were physically strong.
CHF - Since the mid 90s, all have been => 192cms, strong & very importantly, very mobile.
FF - Not necessarily tall, but nearly all were very mobile.

So if we learn our lessons correctly,
.

Have to disagree. Think you might be reading abit to much into hight rather than the quailty of the player. If it was as easy picking players tall enough there'd be ahell of alot more medals.

1. Thursfield could hold down FB, but he'd have to be minimum 95kg.

Thursfelds is a very little man. I cannot imagion him ever getting to that weight. Even so the likes of Fletcher, Michael, & Barry are 3 of the best modern defenders the game has seen, let alone full backs. Young will was rookied drafted.

2. McGuane or Schulz could be CHB, but they too would have to increase their strength.

Again, will McGuane make it (or does he even have the potential) to be a in the class of Wellman/Leppisch/Cornes? Personally, I wont be holding my breath. Then again Wallace consiters *smile* a potential Cornes type in that rebounding modern CHB role. I actully quite like *smile* there and have hope for him. However, attitude problems & injuries are a huge set back. I shudder to think were *smile* (& Richmond young KPP situation) will be at unless the lad has a big 2006. Needs to, fingers crossed.

3. Hughes could be a mobile CHF but would have to increase his strength too. Pattison at 198cm maybe too tall and immobile for CHF, and the FP/Rk might be more his go.

Pattison wont be a CHF. Has the mobilty of a oil tanker. No turning circle. Ruckman/resting forward.

You honestly think Hughes (mobile or otherwise) will be our answer for Lucas/Brown/Tredrea/Hall ? If he had that potential I couldnt see him not being drafted top 3/5, ie. Kosi/Roughead/Kennedy. I quite like the kid but he has mobile FF writing on him (Wisbey & others reckon he doesnt like to crash a pack) than Monster CHF.

4. Limbach, McGuane, or anyone over 188cm, could handle FF as long as they are very mobile

The mobile, fast leading FF only works well when you have a monster CHF to play off. Otherwise you end up like Adelaide 3/4/5 flanking types and never kick a high enough score when it matters.


I really hope im wrong and your right.

I doubt it.

 

[Tigermad2005]

Lets just hope we are winning a few games by then.