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IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
Finally, we have a full list again. So what has changed?
We have nine new players to replace Hall, Knobel, PBowden, Kingsley, Gaspar, Krakouer, Hartigan, Peterson and Clingan.
The last two didn't fire a shot between them so they can be relegated to the status of last year's mistakes, the least said the better. Of the rest, all except Krakouer were injured (or retired) for most of the year and gave us next to nothing. Yes, I know, I'm being kind with this assessment. The point is that we didn't lose much, as one would expect from nine players shown the door by the reigning wooden-spooner. Probably, the list could have been cut a bit deeper. I'll leave it to others to pontificate on this point.
The replacements are five talls and 4 smalls, same as the delistings, so no real alteration to team balance. We have 15 players over 190 cm and 29 others, just like last year, it seems. Except last year we had four ruckmen and this year we have five. Hall, Bowden and Kingsley were all third talls rather than KPPs whereas Gourdis, Rance and Sylvester appear more likely to play down the spine. That's gotta be a positive.
Graham and Putt are not ready to plug and play in the ruck. Whilst it would have been good to pick up another 18 year old ruckman, at least Cartledge can now be sacrificed if Simmonds goes down with injury. You never know, he might even get on the real list next year if Graham doesn't make much progress, as many pundits expect. No Richards or Fanning, luckily they were too old for the rookie draft. See, Virginia, there is a god. Just be thankful that the mature-age rookie rule disqualifies anyone who has been on a AFL list, otherwise we could have had the pleasure of watching Guy Richards wearing the revered number 33 next season.
Our rucks are improved over last year and are probably more robust. Of the 15 talls, only Richo and Simmonds are over 24. Plenty of potential to develop, develop, develop.
Collard replaces Peterson, hopefully for longer than a year. At worst, Morton and Cotchin will share Krakouer's half-forward flank for a couple of years and play some midfield. They are at least quick and skilled. Collard, Morton and Cotchin would be miles ahead of Krakouer, Hartigan, Clingan and Peterson.
McMahon? Still can't figure that one out but good luck to him. If he hits Richo on the tits a couple of times a game then he'll convert a few fans. If not, PRE has a replacement for the Krakouer and Kingsley threads. Either way, its a winner!
Howat? Would have preferred half of Coburg's senior team but at least his presence might encourage a few of them to keep trying. King, Howat and now Sylvester are good choices for the future, even if they don't personally work out.
Just my opinion.
We have nine new players to replace Hall, Knobel, PBowden, Kingsley, Gaspar, Krakouer, Hartigan, Peterson and Clingan.
The last two didn't fire a shot between them so they can be relegated to the status of last year's mistakes, the least said the better. Of the rest, all except Krakouer were injured (or retired) for most of the year and gave us next to nothing. Yes, I know, I'm being kind with this assessment. The point is that we didn't lose much, as one would expect from nine players shown the door by the reigning wooden-spooner. Probably, the list could have been cut a bit deeper. I'll leave it to others to pontificate on this point.
The replacements are five talls and 4 smalls, same as the delistings, so no real alteration to team balance. We have 15 players over 190 cm and 29 others, just like last year, it seems. Except last year we had four ruckmen and this year we have five. Hall, Bowden and Kingsley were all third talls rather than KPPs whereas Gourdis, Rance and Sylvester appear more likely to play down the spine. That's gotta be a positive.
Graham and Putt are not ready to plug and play in the ruck. Whilst it would have been good to pick up another 18 year old ruckman, at least Cartledge can now be sacrificed if Simmonds goes down with injury. You never know, he might even get on the real list next year if Graham doesn't make much progress, as many pundits expect. No Richards or Fanning, luckily they were too old for the rookie draft. See, Virginia, there is a god. Just be thankful that the mature-age rookie rule disqualifies anyone who has been on a AFL list, otherwise we could have had the pleasure of watching Guy Richards wearing the revered number 33 next season.
Our rucks are improved over last year and are probably more robust. Of the 15 talls, only Richo and Simmonds are over 24. Plenty of potential to develop, develop, develop.
Collard replaces Peterson, hopefully for longer than a year. At worst, Morton and Cotchin will share Krakouer's half-forward flank for a couple of years and play some midfield. They are at least quick and skilled. Collard, Morton and Cotchin would be miles ahead of Krakouer, Hartigan, Clingan and Peterson.
McMahon? Still can't figure that one out but good luck to him. If he hits Richo on the tits a couple of times a game then he'll convert a few fans. If not, PRE has a replacement for the Krakouer and Kingsley threads. Either way, its a winner!
Howat? Would have preferred half of Coburg's senior team but at least his presence might encourage a few of them to keep trying. King, Howat and now Sylvester are good choices for the future, even if they don't personally work out.
Just my opinion.