Round 1 Best 22 (23). No easy task... | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Round 1 Best 22 (23). No easy task...

We differ on Tarrant. Has been a great player in his day but imo wasn’t anywhere near that last year. Prefer others now.
Suspect Young may come under consideration early.
Have you read the recent training report from Tim Livingston?
Think you should.
I also think you’re writing off JR8 far too quickly. Has the smarts to play the high forward role and can kick goals from the boundaries from 50m out as evidenced in last seasons EF where he kept us in the game with his sheer brilliance.


Josh Gibcus will be back running in weeks after hamstring surgery that will put him out for the early rounds of the season but ex-Roos full back Robbie Tarrant has not missed a beat after his strong back half to the 2022 season.

“He is a terrific guy. He prepares meticulously, a great athlete and he would say himself it took him a little while last year to settle into our system but once he did he played some terrific footy and he gives us great options down there down back depending on match-ups,” Livingstone said.
 
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I thought Tarrant was more than serviceable in a backline that was often undermanned. With grimes coming back from a serious hammy and Gibcus delayed start - he is def best 22 at this point.
 
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B: Grimes Tarrant Broad
HB: Vlastuin Balta DRioli
C: Pickett Taranto McIntosh
HF: Bolton Riewoldt Martin
F: MRioli Lynch Cumberland
R: Nankervis Hopper Prestia
I: Cotchin Baker Short Miller
S: Ross

Beat that team. Looks like the Sonz starts in the 2s if everyone's fit. Him or Cumbo. Graham to work into it off the toe.
Reckon that’s spot on Spook… that’s a damn good team. Hopefully it can stay healthy.
 
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I thought Tarrant was more than serviceable in a backline that was often undermanned. With grimes coming back from a serious hammy and Gibcus delayed start - he is def best 22 at this point.
Yeah i thought he was good, after struggling with a hand or finger injury early in the season.
 
Have you read the recent training report from Tim Livingston?
Think you should.
I also think you’re writing off JR8 far too quickly. Has the smarts to play the high forward role and can kick goals from the boundaries from 50m out as evidenced in last seasons EF where he kept us in the game with his sheer brilliance.

Josh Gibcus will be back running in weeks after hamstring surgery that will put him out for the early rounds of the season but ex-Roos full back Robbie Tarrant has not missed a beat after his strong back half to the 2022 season.

“He is a terrific guy. He prepares meticulously, a great athlete and he would say himself it took him a little while last year to settle into our system but once he did he played some terrific footy and he gives us great options down there down back depending on match-ups,” Livingstone said.

Not writing off JR at all. At 34 he is still a terrific footballer. But just because he can still kick them from 50 doesn’t mean he is also still well suited to chasing around and take possession at 50.
Prefer him closer in where he can play a familiar role alongside Lynch and possibly won’t have to chase a faster and physically stronger opponent up and down the ground all day… a position which is best suited to a focus on bringing the ball to ground and into the arms of waiting team mates - a role it looks like Cotch himself is being prepared for.

Glad everyone thinks Tarrant can do the job he too managed as a youngster. I think he has lost that level of ability. Let’s hope he hasn’t.
Won’t be surprised however to see the very promising Young get a chance early!
 
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B: Grimes Tarrant Broad
HB: Vlastuin Balta DRioli
C: Pickett Taranto McIntosh
HF: Bolton Riewoldt Martin
F: MRioli Lynch Cumberland
R: Nankervis Hopper Prestia
I: Cotchin Baker Short Miller
S: Ross

Beat that team. Looks like the Sonz starts in the 2s if everyone's fit. Him or Cumbo. Graham to work into it off the toe.
This is exactly my 22 with a sub being a toss up between Ross, Graham and Sonsie

It is going to be very difficult to get into our team this year especially for mids. This is why I am not sure we need sparkle Narkle as well. Even if we get injuries to mids we have a lot of players who can slot into a midfield role.

Players not in that team include Graham, Sonsie, Gibcus (inj), Soldo, Castagna, Ralphsmith, Clarke, Young, Banks, Brown, Dow, Nyuon, Ryan and Mansell who will all have claims for games during the year I reckon. Not to mention Smith, Green, Campbell and Bauer who hopefully will come on.

Our VFL team should be better this year as well, we had a very young team in 2022.
 
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Where was that DA? Link pls?

Pre-season news: Jack Graham and Tom Lynch expected to play in practice games


Jon Ralph
HeraldSun
6 January 2023

Richmond premiership stars Tom Lynch and Jack Graham will be fit for the club’s pair of pre-season clashes after overcoming worrying foot injuries that have hampered their pre-seasons.

Tigers football boss Tim Livingstone said on Sunday Lynch (plantar fascia) and Graham (turf toe) would join main training in the next fortnight and were on track for round 1.

Richmond will enter round 1 as the favourites against a Carlton side that broke a long losing streak against the Tigers in last year’s season opener.

But as Richmond builds for those pre-season games with Dustin Martin in exceptional shape and dominating the club’s early match simulation, a young draftee will be sidelined for months.

Livingstone told News Corp the club’s first live draft pick in Kaleb Smith (selection 49) will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with foot bone stress that will curtail an exciting few months of training at Punt Road.

Richmond used up plenty of draft capital securing GWS midfield pair Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper but had been enthused by Smith’s breakaway pace and precise ball use.

Damien Hardwick’s Tigers will resume their regular battles with an Alastair Clarkson-coached side in the official match simulation when they take on North Melbourne on Friday February 24 before an official pre-season game on March 4 against Melbourne at Casey Fields.

Lynch’s last act of the 2022 season was kicking the contentious score ruled a behind in the knockout final against Brisbane and after being eased through training Richmond believes he is over his plantar fascia issues.

“Lynchy is progressing well with his rehab,” Livingstone said.

“He will look to begin skills with the main group in the coming weeks. The plan is for him to play game time in practice matches. We are just taking it slowly and carefully and making sure it’s right. We are pretty confident it will be fine. He seems to be running OK and has no issues at the moment.

“Everything is coming along nicely for him and I would almost cut and paste with Jack Graham. We will look to begin skills in coming weeks and game time in practice matches. The plan is that those guys will be available in round 1.”

Martin had a significantly interrupted summer entering the 2022 season as he rehabbed an internal injury, took time away from the club after round 1 and battled multiple hamstring issues.

But the proof of his renewed fitness and motivation has been obvious on the training track in early scrimmages.

“He is training well. He is fit and anyone that has been down to see any of our match sim stuff would see that he’s been playing some terrific footy. He is preparing well,” Livingstone said.

RICHMOND’S SUMMER TRAINING UPDATE

Richmond is yet to decide whether to play two regular ruckmen but is determined to settle down Liam Baker and Noah Balta into defensive roles in their backline alongside Nick Vlastuin, Dylan Grimes, Nathan Broad, Jayden Short and Daniel Rioli.

“It is a challenge for us. Big Ivan Soldo is having a good pre-season, we have him and ‘Nank’ as ruck prospects,” said Livingstone.

“Ben Miller finished off the season well last year and he can give us great flexibility. He can play back, he can play on ball and showed some good signs down forward so we have some options. Noah has been doing most of his training down back as has Liam Baker this pre-season. So we are looking to have a good settled back six down there.”

DEFENDER ON ROAD TO RECOVERY

Josh Gibcus will be back running in weeks after hamstring surgery that will put him out for the early rounds of the season but ex-Roos full back Robbie Tarrant has not missed a beat after his strong back half to the 2022 season.

“He is a terrific guy. He prepares meticulously, a great athlete and he would say himself it took him a little while last year to settle into our system but once he did he played some terrific footy and he gives us great options down there down back depending on match-ups,” Livingstone said.

QUARTET OF YOUNG CUBS IMPRESS

Damien Hardwick’s claim that the most exciting part of Richmond’s list was its future has been borne out by strong summers from wingman Sam Banks, half back Tom Brown, midfielder Tyler Sonsie and medium-forward Judson Clarke.

Along with No. 9 pick Gibcus those five players from the 2021 national draft all have huge potential, with Banks much-hyped inside Richmond as a wingman who could have an impact this year.

“Judson Clark got a taste of it last year and did some terrific things in the games he played. He just does everything right and loves being at the club and loves training,” Livingstone said.

“We saw what Josh (Gibcus) did. Tyler Sonsie came in the second half of the season and the second year he is getting a pre-season under his belt which is exciting.

“We have high hopes for Sam Banks and Tom Brown. They are showing exciting signs in the match sim so far and we would love to see them play senior footy this year because they have got real talent.

“Sam has been doing a bit of wing work and runs those patterns well and uses the footy well and Tom Brown can make it over head and can mark it, so he’s been practising mainly across half back.”

HIGH HOPES FOR LAST YEAR’S DRAFTEES

Richmond selected two national draftees and a pair of rookie selections and while none came before pick 49 (Kaleb Smith) the Tigers still have high hopes for that selection of players.

“To be honest we have been really excited about what they have been able to do thus far. Kaleb will be held up a little bit but he is explosive with the ball, has genuine speed and uses it well,” said Livingstone.

“Seth Campbell (pick 12 in the rookie draft) is a natural goalkicker and clean and has been terrific in his approach, as has Steely Green (pick 55 in the national draft) who attacks the contest with ferocity. He is a bit like ‘Bakes’ (Liam Baker) and was happy to take the number he had when he started. Tylar Young (pick 26 in the rookie draft) has been in our VFL program for a little while and hasn’t put a foot wrong. He has great athleticism for a big guy and he will benefit from having an AFL pre-season at 196cm. We think he may have a future, this young fella.”

FINAL SPOT QUERY

The Tigers are not yet set on whether it will use its vacant list spot as ex-Geelong clearance specialist Quinton Narkle and Corowa-Rutherglen forward Kaelan Bradtke push to be listed at Punt Road.

“We have got until February 15 so it’s a really tough decision,” Livingstone said.

“Both Quinton Narkle and Kaelan Bradtke have been impressive with their work ethic and character, so we can choose one or choose to hold. We are comparing a key with a mid and there is a bit of match sim coming up so we can make a decision when we get closer.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...s/news-story/051e7802eb6a829ef3c0986421fcda35
 
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Tarrant, Balta, Grimes, Broad, Nank, Jack and Lynch and 16 midfielders in our initial 23 and that 'rests' 3 or 4 midfielders which are unlucky. Good times ahead (y)
 
Tarrant, Balta, Grimes, Broad, Nank, Jack and Lynch and 16 midfielders in our initial 23 and that 'rests' 3 or 4 midfielders which are unlucky. Good times ahead (y)
Yeah, we're going to field some strong teams this year. No second ruck?
 
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B: Grimes Tarrant Broad
HB: Vlastuin Balta DRioli
C: Pickett Taranto McIntosh
HF: Bolton Riewoldt Martin
F: MRioli Lynch Cumberland
R: Nankervis Hopper Prestia
I: Cotchin Baker Short Miller
S: Ross

Beat that team. Looks like the Sonz starts in the 2s if everyone's fit. Him or Cumbo. Graham to work into it off the toe.
This looks incredibly strong & flexible combination. Bloody hell I'm excited.
 
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This looks incredibly strong & flexible combination. Bloody hell I'm excited.
The midfield has gone from a weakness to a strength in one off-season. Hopper, Taranto and Dion as first rotation, then we put in Chimp, Dusty and Shai against their B-team and kick 12 in a quarter.
 
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Yeah, we're going to field some strong teams this year. No second ruck?
Good point, challenging to pick, Soldo is the best tap ruckman, Ryan has potential, Miller and Balta can ruck too. Nank is a high possession ruck rover really. I guess I was mostly thinking about the fact that virtually everyone on our team can play as a midfielder ... and most of them are gun midfielders ...
 
B: Grimes Tarrant Broad
HB: Vlastuin Balta DRioli
C: Pickett Taranto McIntosh
HF: Bolton Riewoldt Martin
F: MRioli Lynch Cumberland
R: Nankervis Hopper Prestia
I: Cotchin Baker Short Miller
S: Ross

Beat that team. Looks like the Sonz starts in the 2s if everyone's fit. Him or Cumbo. Graham to work into it off the toe.
Yeah this looks like our best 22. But that's 8 backs, unless Short plays as a mid which I don't think he will. We look a bit tall back there aswell so maybe cut one of them to add a Sonsie or a JGti. Balta was a bit crap at times last year, I'd be tempted to make him earn his spot back and let Grimes take the 2nd tall forward.
 
Short adds speed through the middle and will be primed as a delivery man.
Plus he can swing back as needed.
Plays as a mid for mine
 
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Agree with Jimmeh that bench spots need to be balanced.
To me the bench has ruck support (Miller), backline (Baker) and 2 mids.

If we have full fitness then the mids is Cotch plus a shootout Between Short Ross Graham Sonsie
 
Yeah this looks like our best 22. But that's 8 backs, unless Short plays as a mid which I don't think he will. We look a bit tall back there aswell so maybe cut one of them to add a Sonsie or a JGti. Balta was a bit crap at times last year, I'd be tempted to make him earn his spot back and let Grimes take the 2nd tall forward.
Na, we don't want Grimes playing that tall. Think Short will have first crack at the Lambert role.
 
Na, we don't want Grimes playing that tall. Think Short will have first crack at the Lambert role.
Yep, assuming they are fit, i am pretty confident we will line up with 2 talls down back- Balta and Tarrant, plus Grimes and Broad.
And yes, also pretty confident they will try to settle Short into a high half forward/midfield role, and that Baker will start down back, with the plan to leave him there as much as possible.
 
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