View Full Version : Michael Rischitelli
Lady Lawrence
19 Jan 2007, 15:06
over to you - Scott522
Grimreepah
3 Mar 2007, 12:56
The thing I like about Rischitelli is that he doesn't have any weaknesses. He's got decent pace, he's a good mark, seems to have fairly good endurance, he reads the play well and has good awareness, he doesn't panic ie. he uses as much time as possible to assess his options (although sometimes too much), he's courageous and hard at the footy, he knows where to find it, he's an umpire's favourite, he's a pretty decent and long kick of the ball, he's got good balance, loves tackling and has a good work rate.
IMO if he wants to take his game to the next level he needs to become a bit stronger so he can break tackles a bit more effectively. I also think with experience his decision making will sharpen up, he will get cleaner hands and be more effective with his disposal. I don't think he will ever be an intimidator like Voss, he is more in the Simon Black mould.
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9940/rischitellixr7.jpg
Lace Out
3 Mar 2007, 19:05
The strength will come,pencil him in for a top 5 midfielder in the comp within 2 years.Very clever and still learning...
konstas_87
3 Mar 2007, 22:30
had a pretty good game last night didnt he? looking forward to watching him for 10 years.
danielcanberra
8 Mar 2007, 09:13
Young Lion gets coach's nod of approval
Andrew Stafford, Brisbane (The Age)
March 8, 2007
AS ONE decorated career at the Brisbane Lions slips quietly away in the night, another has been anointed to take off in season 2007.
With it increasingly likely that dual premiership player Chris Scott has played his last game, coach Leigh Matthews yesterday singled out Michael Rischitelli as "an All-Australian in the making".
His unusual step appears designed to boost the 20-year-old's self-confidence.
"He's not a dominant personality, Michael, so he takes a lot of time to get the belief in himself," Matthews said. "I think he's a very, very capable player, I've got a lot of time for him. I can make the statement he's an All-Australian in the making."
Rischitelli, from Keilor, polled well in the Rising Star Award last year and was chased hard by Essendon before re-signing with the Lions.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/03/07/1173166799475.html
danielcanberra
8 Mar 2007, 09:19
Star role for youngster
Andrew Hamilton
March 07, 2007 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail
LIONS coach Leigh Matthews has taken the rare step of declaring 22-game novice Michael Rischitelli a future star of the game.
"I'll make the statement, I think he's an All-Australian in the making," Matthews said of the midfielder.
Rischitelli was the subject of a huge recruitment campaign by Essendon last season but opted to re-sign with the Lions.
The Lions no longer have the benefit of the player retention allowance and often have to pay overmarket value to retain promising interstate-born stars.
Although his senior career is only one full season old, Matthews believe Rischitelli's about to be worth every cent.
Always reluctant to over-hype his youngsters – and such a statement may seem to be placing a burden of expectation on a kid just 20 years old – Matthews explained Rischitelli was the kind of player who benefited from positive reinforcement.
"He's not a dominant personality Michael so he takes a lot of time to get the belief in himself," he said.
"I think he's a very, very capable player, yeah I have a lot of time for him."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21344946-5003410,00.html
lion_gooner
11 Mar 2007, 16:04
i thought this might be of interest
one of my friends actually played with micheal when he was at the jets and he said he dominated while he was there :D which was good to know :D:D:D
scott522
11 Mar 2007, 19:10
http://i15.tinypic.com/2rcmjbn.jpg
Michael in July 2005 @ The Gabba (copyright LMB 2006)
i thought this might be of interest
one of my friends actually played with micheal when he was at the jets and he said he dominated while he was there :D which was good to know :D:D:D
goon er, your friend is bull sheeteeng you. If my memory serves me correct Michael did not dominate at the Jets. He was an underage, skinny rant even for TAC 18s and played very few games . I think he spent most of the season injured and got back for the last few games of the season. If Michael dominated he would have been picked a lot higher than pick 61. In fact Brisbane was the only club that even remotely showed interest. Riska will be Kenear Beatson's greatest legacy to the Lions. Who knows what KB saw in Riska to select him in the draft. But I suspect he saw this skinny little kid just tackling like there's no tomorrow and a heart as big as the Empire State Building.
Lets Roar like '44
11 Mar 2007, 22:17
Should be made vice- captain, and at least in the leadership group with Black, Power, Brown, Lappin and Johnson
scott522
11 Mar 2007, 22:43
http://i18.tinypic.com/4bzjpfq.jpg
Michael at Keilor
Love them flares:D
Like I said. Skinny little rant.
scott522
11 Mar 2007, 22:59
Irel trying to dig up the one i have when he was 13...
scott522
11 Mar 2007, 23:05
http://i18.tinypic.com/2lm2vz6.jpg
This was for the Vic Under 15's
copyright - newsphotos (why shown watermarked)
Sherminator.
12 Mar 2007, 11:38
Found out his parents live across the road from my Grandma in St Albans!
scott522
6 Apr 2007, 20:44
Best on ground Thurs night - onya Rischi !
TheBrownDog
6 Apr 2007, 20:49
3 brownlow votes in the bank.
Lethal was interviewed today on SEN and recollected the time when the club selected Riska in the 2003 draft.
He said, the recruiting team debated for a while on the two names they had lined up for pick 61 and eventually settled on Riska.
The other name was Aaron Davey who was later selected by Melbourne in the Rookie draft.
Lethal was interviewed today on SEN and recollected the time when the club selected Riska in the 2003 draft.
He said, the recruiting team debated for a while on the two names they had lined up for pick 61 and eventually settled on Riska.
The other name was Aaron Davey who was later selected by Melbourne in the Rookie draft.
Ahh, if we only didn't pick up Spaaaaaaaaaaaaanders, we could've picked up both Riska and Davey. :o
danielcanberra
9 Apr 2007, 11:32
Good article. Couple of points from me
- When I mentioned my 'Blacky for captain' campaign to Mike last month, he only had high praise for Simon.
- Mike has an amazing football brain, and showing great signs of leadership
- Essendon :p
- Scotty522 sure knows how to pick them, can understand the pride she feels :)
- one of the nicest players that I have talked to - polite, mature and considerate = top bloke :thumbsu:
Rischitelli aims to live up to hype
AAP - Saturday April 7, 2:23 PM
Comparisons with Brisbane Lions legends Michael Voss, Simon Black and Nigel Lappin have already begun.
His coach Leigh Matthews - not a bad judge of AFL talent himself - dubbed him a "future All Australian" before the season even started.
It's enough to overwhelm any 21-year-old player.
But Brisbane midfielder Michael Rischitelli says he is looking forward to living up to the hype.
So far, so good judging by his powerhouse display against a highly-fancied St Kilda in their AFL clash at the Gabba.
The Victorian who once dreamed of playing for childhood heroes Essendon looked every inch a Lions champion as he gathered 27 possessions in a best on ground performance.
With his midfield mentor Simon Black shut out by St Kilda, Rischitelli worked overtime to inspire Brisbane's 52-point upset thrashing, keeping the Lions on top of the table with a second straight win.
"It's time to step up now. Blacky has been dominating (so I've got to) share the load, but I'm excited about that," Rischitelli said.
And so is Matthews.
Not usually one to place undue pressure on his young cubs as he tries to rebuild his once mighty Lions, Matthews kept the superlatives flowing when asked about Rischitelli's command performance on Thursday night.
"You know your Blacks and (Luke) Powers and (Jonathan) Browns have been good players for a long time but now Rischitelli is really elevating himself," he said.
"I think Michael is capable of being in that top bracket.
"He played a lot like Simon Black. Michael, with a bit more freedom, was able to elevate himself (as best on ground).
"He works hard defensively, he tackles, he chases, he pressures, he smothers and he gets the ball - so he is a good all round player."
The quietly spoken Rischitelli has done all his talking on the field since knocking back the chance to sign with his beloved Bombers at the end of 2006.
Re-signing with Brisbane for another two years, Rischitelli has emerged hungrier than ever after his 2006 season was curtailed by a shoulder injury.
He watched as Brisbane lost their final six home and away games last year and were dismissed as "old and slow" after they missed the finals for the second straight year.
But Rischitelli typifies a leaner and meaner Lions that have emerged in 2007.
"Last year wasn't great so we decided to put our heads down in the pre-season and I think that it is paying off, but there is still a long way to go," Rischitelli said.
Matthews on Saturday had further praise for Rischitelli by declaring the Lions' joy for securing him so late (pick No.61) in the 2003 national draft.
The Lions were considering selecting exciting Melbourne forward Aaron Davey with that pick, but Matthews said even now, Brisbane would have no hesitation in picking Rischitelli ahead of Davey.
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/070125/2/12gl2.html
TheBrownDog
27 Apr 2007, 11:33
Michael is currently ranked third in the AFL for tackles. He has racked up 26 in four rounds which is an average of 6.5 per game.
Kochie 16
27 Apr 2007, 15:32
Michael is currently ranked third in the AFL for tackles. He has racked up 26 in four rounds which is an average of 6.5 per game.
Very impressive! Wish I could sponser a player:( , Blacky or Charmo.:cool: :thumbsu:
Anywho, Who's 1st & 2nd for tackles?
TheBrownDog
27 Apr 2007, 16:15
Very impressive! Wish I could sponser a player:( , Blacky or Charmo.:cool: :thumbsu:
Anywho, Who's 1st & 2nd for tackles?
Brett Kirk is first.
Kochie 16
27 Apr 2007, 16:18
Brett Kirk is first.
Aaaaarrrrrrgggggggg *Rips out hair*
Atleast it not some vic
TheBrownDog
27 Apr 2007, 16:27
Atleast it not some vic
What... some Vic like Rischitelli? :rolleyes:
Kochie 16
27 Apr 2007, 16:39
What... some Vic like Rischitelli? :rolleyes:
Victorian CLUB PLAYER!
eg. Collingwood player.
Who cares whether it's a Victorian club or Sydney? As far as I know you don't get 5 points for beating a Vic club.
Kochie 16
29 Apr 2007, 17:12
He's leading in the takles now! Onya mate!
TheBrownDog
29 Apr 2007, 17:27
Tied with Brett Kirk for first now. 36 tackles a piece.
scott522
30 Apr 2007, 17:59
that's My boy
Kochie 16
1 May 2007, 17:04
Tied with Brett Kirk for first now. 36 tackles a piece.
Fox footy stat sheet said he was 37 tackles?:confused:
TheBrownDog
1 May 2007, 17:10
Nope, Rischitelli and Kirk 36 a piece.
How good are his tackles. Every one is quailty wrap up and dump tackles.
Grimreepah
1 Jun 2007, 11:50
fqmrjYz2TmQ
Grimreepah
17 Jun 2007, 12:23
Link (http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/how-rischitelli-chose-to-play-for-pride/2007/06/16/1181414609567.html)
WHEN Michael Rischitelli turned down the chance to join Essendon at the end of last season, the Brisbane Lion was commended for doing the difficult thing. In fact, he says, he took the easy option.
"A lot of it was about Brisbane, about the club," he said. "I did think a lot about going, but Brisbane was the one who drafted me and gave me the chance to play, so that was always in my head.
"I also thought it would be hard to go somewhere new. It would have been close to home, but it would still have meant starting everything all over again.
"It took me a while to get to know everyone and to fit in up here. To go into another group and get to know a whole new group of people would have set me back a bit."
When he was drafted to Brisbane three years ago, as a most surprised 17-year-old who slept through the draft, Rischitelli's parents were in the middle of building a big, new, two-storey house in Taylors Lakes. So when he goes home now, he gets the guest room.
"I always go for the biggest room. But it's still a spare room, so it still feels weird," said the young Lion this week. "I go home, but to a place I've never lived."
Rischitelli's chance to spend more time there came at the end of last season, when Essendon asked the emerging onballer whether he'd like to continue his breakthrough wearing their colours.
Other clubs asked the same question, but the Bombers were different: they were around the corner from both his homes, they'd finished second-last on the ladder and had pre-season draft power, and they were the team he'd grown up barracking for.
Rischitelli still doesn't feel completely settled, but that's mostly in a football sense. Away from the game, he has a house and a backyard, which is being torn to bits by his two-month-old German shepherd puppy. "Life is better when you have a dog," he said.
He has a housemate, too, and the freshly drafted James Hawksley has reminded him that football clubs don't let you stay a kid for long. "The time moves quickly. You don't get to stay the young, homesick kid forever," he said.
"There's always a new group of young players, and you become the one with more experience. They start to ask how you handled being away from home, and then you start to realise that you have actually handled it."
He has been nudged towards on-field revelations, too. Rischitelli was so certain he would not be chosen as a 17-year-old that in 2003 that he slept through the draft, after a late night at his year 12 formal.
He had the last remnants of osteitis pubis when he moved away, then overcome a lengthy quad injury and a few more small hassles before making his Lions debut. Then he had to realise he should and could play more.
Michael Voss watched him figure it all out. "He's a pretty quiet kid, a reserved kid, and he's probably someone who needs to feel like he belongs to a group. It took him a while to do that," said the former Lions captain.
"He's someone who needs that bit of reassurance and to feel like he's wanted and needed …
"A good turning point for him was probably earlier this year when Leigh put that little bit of faith in him. Leigh said: 'We're sticking with you, we're going to play you and we're going to see it through,' and that's been a really good thing.
"It probably made him stop wondering about what people were thinking and have that bit more belief."
If not complete faith. Rischitelli was happy with the first part of his season but, like his side, has been less content with the past month. His plan is to concentrate on his second efforts, his third efforts and making it to more contests. "If you do that, everything else should happen around it," he said.
Voss agrees. "The thing I love about Rischa is not what he can do offensively, but that he has a real balance in his game," he said.
"Guys like that can get themselves out of flat patches because they're still giving … You can choose to give nothing on bad days or you can choose to contribute what you can. He does that, and he's going to be a very good player for it."
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9230/rischitellisp4.jpg
Grimreepah
4 Aug 2007, 22:25
Great to see him in form again.:thumbsu:
konstas_87
5 Aug 2007, 22:23
best game for months from Rischa, managed to find some of the footy again :thumbsu:
Grimreepah
23 Aug 2007, 12:09
Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=49579)
Keeping an eye on things
9:52 AM Thu 23 August, 2007
By Simon White,
for lions.com.au
BRISBANE Lions fans who get plenty of value from at-ground replay screens can rest assured that their heroes do as well.
Modern-day players are often seen on television broadcasts using the big screens to make sure they look the part or to fruitlessly argue a point of contention with a controlling umpire.
But, as midfielder Michael Rischitelli explained to lions.com.au, they are equally handy when it comes to keeping track of the scores in tight game – such as last weekend’s nail-biting draw with Sydney at the Gabba.
“Obviously you can’t be looking up at them all the time, but you definitely check when there is a stoppage – like when a goal has been kicked,” Rischitelli said.
“Most of the time you try to have a pretty good idea of what the score is, especially when it’s a tight game.
“If the opposition comes out and kicks a few goals in a row, you need to know whether you have to come back with a goal of your own right away.”
The Lions, of course, found themselves in the position of “chasers” against the Swans and managed to get level with their visitors with only seconds remaining, thanks to Jonathan Brown’s unerring roost from 55m.
Rischitelli said players also generally had a concept of the amount of time left in a game – something which added to the tension when it became clear Brown was going to have a set shot after marking on lead.
“I was thinking to myself ‘he’d better kick this’,” Rischitelli laughed.
“He was a fair way out but it was a pretty good set of hands for the ball to be in.
“If you’ve just come off the bench you might know more about how much time is left, but mostly you just wait until it gets to the 25-minute mark and then say ‘we’ve got five minutes from now’.
“I actually thought on Saturday night that we might have still have had a couple of minutes to go. So it was pretty good that Browny had a shot.”
The Lions will continue their run towards a potential finals berth on Saturday at AAMI Stadium, where they will do battle with the Crows.
Adelaide sits 10th and trails the ninth-placed Lions on percentage.
For Rischitelli, who is now in his fourth season at the Gabba, having something tangible to play for in the final two games of the season is an exciting feeling.
Having looked out of the finals reckoning after failing to register a win between rounds seven and 13, the Lions then strung together five victories on the trot to put themselves firmly back in the frame.
“All we can do is focus on each week as it comes – we’d have to win both our games so we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“But the last six or seven weeks have been great and everyone is feeling pretty bubbly and energetic.
“The seven weeks or so we went without a win before that weren’t a lot of fun and I know I definitely got sick of losing.
“To be able to sing the club song five weeks in a row was terrific and the vibe around the club is just great.”
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/4272/rischitellicx4.jpg
Really like the look of Riska.
With a little bit more meat on his bones he'll really do some damage.
Big year coming up in 08.
Grimreepah
1 Nov 2007, 11:46
End of Season Player Review
Rischitelli’s year began with a bang, showing some terrific form during the NAB Cup and prompting Leigh to state he would one day be an All Australian. He continued this form into the first two rounds of the season, but unfortunately he was not able to sustain it throughout the year.
Although he played all 22 games, there were times in the middle of the year when he would have been close to being dropped. He managed 20 disposals or more on only 4 occasions throughout the year, and only twice after round 2. But while he wasn’t a big possession getter his defensive game was solid, finishing the year as our second highest tackler behind Adcock.
No doubt Riska is a very talented player (as evidenced by the interest shown in him over the off season) but he just can’t seem to put it all together yet. At times he seems to hesitate and almost over think the situation instead of just letting it come naturally.
He will benefit from having played the whole season, and it is obvious that the Lions see him as a big part of their future. Hopefully he will be able to step it up a cog or two next year.
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9894/rischitelliuo9.jpg
Grimreepah
3 Dec 2007, 11:37
Link (http://lions.com.au/tabid/5085/News/NewsArticle/Default.aspx?newsId=53978)
"We’ve been very lucky in the past in being able to put new guys up with blokes like Black, Power and Brown and now we’re doing it with the younger leaders like Michael Rischitelli and Jed Adcock," Lambert said.
It's amazing how fast some of these guys 'grow up'. I still see Rischitelli as a shy young kid, but he's already looking after the younger blokes.
TheBrownDog
3 Dec 2007, 11:49
Link (http://lions.com.au/tabid/5085/News/NewsArticle/Default.aspx?newsId=53978)
It's amazing how fast some of these guys 'grow up'. I still see Rischitelli as a shy young kid, but he's already looking after the younger blokes.
I suggest people read that whole article, great read.
Craig Lambert is such an asset to our club. Getting Adrian Fletcher as a midfield coach frees up Lamby to focus completely on player development and welfare (along with Johnno).
We should create a "Coach Watch" thread to keep track of all our assistants etc.
Grimreepah
20 Dec 2007, 13:01
Link (http://www.lions.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=5085&newsId=54432)
Strong finish to 2007 buoys Rischitelli
12:55 PM Thu 20 December, 2007
By Simon White
for lions.com.au
FOR YOUNG midfielder Michael Rischitelli, improvement in 2008 will be as much about the mental side of his game as the physical.
In 2007, Rischitelli, as much as any player, experienced a personal season that mirrored that of the Lions as a team.
Excellent early as the Lions went 4-2 after six rounds, the 21-year-old hit a flat spot during a seven-week mid-season spell that saw the Lions fail to record a win. He then finished strongly as a dramatic form turnaround put Leigh Matthews' side back in the finals race.
"For me, improving my endurance is a big thing because you can always be fitter," Rischitelli said.
"If you can add that extra one percent to your fitness it means you can run out games better, from the start of the year through to the finish.
"I had a bit of a flat spot last year and some of that was about fitness but it was also a fair bit do with confidence.
"You try to come up with answers about where things aren't going right but the main thing is that you can't afford to sit back, wait and hope the game will come to you."
Fortunately for Rischitelli, he is well-placed to achieve his aim of contributing to the Lions' cause even when the ball isn't necessarily bouncing his way.
His total of 60 hard ball gets in 2007 was bettered only by renowned in-and-under merchant Simon Black, while 99 tackles put him narrowly behind Jed Adcock in the tackle count.
"From last year I've learnt that things don't always go right for you – and that's when you've got to find other ways to help the team," Rischitelli said.
"You might not get 20-plus possessions, but if you only pick up 15 or 16 you can make up for it with those other things.
"They might not show up as much on the stats sheet as 30 possessions, but they are still just as valuable to the team."
Rischitelli saw plenty of on-field success in his early days at the Gabba, making his debut in a club-record 141-point win over Adelaide in Round 17 of 2004.
Later that year, he watched on as his teammates played in a fourth straight grand final.
The club has not played in a final since but Richitelli says five wins and a draw in the last nine games of 2007 is an indication of the Lions' ability to compete with top-tier teams.
During that run, the Lions beat reigning premier West Coast, accounted for eventual preliminary finalists Collingwood and North Melbourne and drew with a Sydney side that had played in the previous two grand finals.
"You get sick and tired of finishing your season early and having eight weeks off because you aren't playing finals," Rischitelli said.
"I'd much rather play right through to the grand final and then only have the four or five weeks break.
"The five games we won in a row showed that we can beat anybody when we are playing well enough; we've just got to find a way to play like that for three-quarters of a season.
"That's why we'll be working on our skills so much over the summer, because there were times last year when they were pretty poor."
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/967/rischitellifo8.jpg
Grimreepah
27 Feb 2008, 08:10
Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23282117-10389,00.html)
Rischitelli, 22, also made a good impression with his hardness and commitment in the midfield last year when he played every match. But his start to 2008 has been hampered by injury and he remains under a cloud for Friday night's clash against the Cats, who were eliminated from the NAB Cup by St Kilda last weekend.
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2576/rischitelli6ox2.jpg
Pedro the Lion
21 Mar 2008, 10:28
I'm hoping for big things from Mr Rischitelli this year. Time to bump him to the top of the Roster Watch thread in the hope that he doesn't languish this low again all season. I get the feeling that how he plays this year will somehow be a reflection of our success in 08.
Grimreepah
22 Mar 2008, 23:11
I was a little disappointed with Riska's 2007 season, and 2008 is off to a bad start with an 8 possession game first up. With Adcock going down early he really needed to step up. The Lions are talking up their chances this year and they can't afford to have passengers. Do we persevere with him or should we give someone else a go?
Dylan12
23 Mar 2008, 00:24
I was a little disappointed with Riska's 2007 season, and 2008 is off to a bad start with an 8 possession game first up. With Adcock going down early he really needed to step up. The Lions are talking up their chances this year and they can't afford to have passengers. Do we persevere with him or should we give someone else a go?
Grim - Is it fitness or form? From what i saw at the ground, and he wasn't alone, the hunger and desperation were not there. I felt many Lions lacked any urgency and if it is only fitness and Jed does not pull up for the Pies, I think he deserves another go. He has a mature body and hopefully after watching his own performance on DVD he surely would not serve up another average performance.
On the surface, I didn't think he had an automatic claim to a starting spot after a luke warm finish to 2007, an interupted preseason and one average community cup game. Alby and Shermo both seemed to have stronger claims. Didn't see anything to change my mind last night.
chopperduck
25 Mar 2008, 16:35
On the surface, I didn't think he had an automatic claim to a starting spot after a luke warm finish to 2007, an interupted preseason and one average community cup game. Alby and Shermo both seemed to have stronger claims. Didn't see anything to change my mind last night.
even tho i like risky, i cant disagree with this. black was outstanding, but we really need someone else to help get the ball. think proud can definitely help out black here, give him spurts on the ball as someone else has suggested on these forums.
sherman sounds like he had a good reserve grade game, and you cant deny his 2006 form, you cant fluke a whole season. he has the run and dash we need, and is also a finisher, if the ball is contested around the forward line he is capable of kickin a goal.
think both should get a shot if adcock and bushy dont come up. proud can play forward with sherman in the middle. risky could be given another shot, but if either adcock or bushy make the game, would heavily consider giving up his spot.
cant play midfield, and i think he was playing as an on baller, and get 9 possessions. he can do much much better
Fairley
25 Mar 2008, 18:11
he needs to be given chances in the midfield because lets face it he isn't a small defender and we don't want him to be a small defender
chopperduck
25 Mar 2008, 19:20
he needs to be given chances in the midfield because lets face it he isn't a small defender and we don't want him to be a small defender
well said fairley
he needs to be given chances in the midfield because lets face it he isn't a small defender and we don't want him to be a small defender
I don't accept that.
Last year Adcock was our best small defender till he was moved into the middle. Who has taken Adcock's role of bolting down dangerous small forwards, marshaling the defence and attacking when able?
Both Selwood and Sherman have been tried there in recent times without meaningful success. Rischa is one of our best tacklers (av. almost 5 per game last year), plays tight, wins more frees than he gives away, has more burst power and better foot skills than Bunno.
Which part of that makes him unsuitable as a small defender?
chopperduck
26 Mar 2008, 14:56
I don't accept that.
Last year Adcock was our best small defender till he was moved into the middle. Who has taken Adcock's role of bolting down dangerous small forwards, marshaling the defence and attacking when able?
Both Selwood and Sherman have been tried there in recent times without meaningful success. Rischa is one of our best tacklers (av. almost 5 per game last year), plays tight, wins more frees than he gives away, has more burst power and better foot skills than Bunno.
Which part of that makes him unsuitable as a small defender?
all those attributes are fine for a small defender, and he does possess these, but he just doesn't seem to have the head for a defensive player. i would not like to seem him in the back line. he does his best work in the middle, and gets those tackles in the packs fighting for the ball.
adcock is just a freak, and basically became too good and too valuable to to stuck in the back half. playing middle he should double the goals he kicked last year easy, and he ain't a bad shot. pitty we haven't really seen him play that role yet this year.
all those attributes are fine for a small defender, and he does possess these, but he just doesn't seem to have the head for a defensive player.
It's easy enough to say that, but what are you basing it on? Stats? Historical data? Anecdotal evidence? A stated dislike of the backline?
There doesn't seem much dispute that his raw attributes set him up nicely as a potential backman, but no-one can seem to nail a reason why his 'head' isn't right for the role. Not sure what I've missed there.
Both Aker and CJ were completed as players (and much more obvious 'headcases') by learning to their apply their attacking qualities at precisely the right times out of a back pocket -- Aka for a year or so, CJ for most of the rest of his career. Both had struggled for consistency and decision-making till then, but thrived within the structure ther back 6 imposed on them.
Rischas debut game in 2004 was playing as a blanket flanker on Mark Ricciuto, then at the height of his powers (reigning Brownlow medallist at that time), nailing a couple of perfect tackles and two goals along the way. Technically it was in the front half, but his role was an entirely defensive, focussed on shutting down one of the Crows most important cogs -- not unlike Adcock's first half season last year.
In the recent past, I don't think we had enough numbers in the middle to release him to the back, but with TJ, Brennan and possibly Proud and/or Sherman adding, to Black, Power, Lappin, Notting, Hooper, Selwood and Corrie, that issue is evaporating.
Grimreepah
27 Mar 2008, 13:56
After reading the last few posts I have warmed to the idea of trialling Riska as a small defender. He's got some dash and a nice big kick so he could really help us with our rebound out of defence. We know he can play tight, but he's got a good engine and should be able to work his opponent the other way. We haven't seen much of him in aerial contests, and not being overly strong he may be vulnerable in a one on one situation, but I think it's worth a try.
Leigh generally likes to mix things up and try his players in different roles, but he has persisted with Riska as a defensive inside mid for a while now, without him setting the world on fire. Maybe it's time to see what else he can do.
I'm hoping for big things from Mr Rischitelli this year. Time to bump him to the top of the Roster Watch thread in the hope that he doesn't languish this low again all season. I get the feeling that how he plays this year will somehow be a reflection of our success in 08.
This kid is a gun, saw him kick 9 once in a local match and he was on fire...plenty on raw talent! Just needs to apply himself consistently!
We haven't seen much of him in aerial contests, and not being overly strong he may be vulnerable in a one on one situation, but I think it's worth a try.
Don't think he's great overhead, but wouldn't give anything away to Bunno in that regard. As good as Adcock is, his aerial work isn't a linchpin of his game either.
Generally, particularly when Roe is there, our aerial coverage is very good -- Strawb, Roe, Patful, Drummo and JMac all play pretty tall to the incoming ball.
LionKing
27 Mar 2008, 14:31
Totally agree with Xplo. Rischa's bone jarring tackles against the Crows in his debut game were just brutal :thumbsu:
At the time, I also thought his defensive/shut down game was great for a new kid on the block and maybe he would be best suited down back. But Lethal earmarked him to rotate through the midfield, which worked for a while but watching him run around last season and this week, he seems to have lost his passion at the moment.
I recall Merrett struggling up forward for a couple of seasons and being a little disenchanted before finding his calling in defence. Maybe Rischa needs a position he can call his own? Having said all that I love Rischa !
One last question . . . has Rischa got a big enough engine to be a tagger?
Grimreepah
29 Mar 2008, 01:17
Funnily enough the Lions had a similar thought process to us on this board and decided to try him down back. He did a few nice things, but generally whoever he played on started to look dangerous. I would stick with the experiment for at least another week though.
BigCat2
29 Mar 2008, 01:21
Funnily enough the Lions had a similar thought process to us on this board and decided to try him down back. He did a few nice things, but generally whoever he played on started to look dangerous. I would stick with the experiment for at least another week though.
It's like having crap bowlers to play opposition batsmen back into form. :D
Nah he showed a few nice things as well. All-round he's pretty good, and I understand that you don't need to be absolutely exceptional in one area to be valuable to the team, but we should be getting more out of Riska?
Yeah, slippery, slidey balls probably suit Davis and Didak more than most in the AFL, and both are capable of pulling out the unstoppable thing at times. Sit him down with the tape and go through a few positioning things, but I thought he had more general influence on the game than he has for a while. Made some great tackles too.
Begley was good, but still looks a bit skittish when he's running so having another competent 'waxing' option out of the back -- particulary when Drummo went down -- was very valuable.
chopperduck
29 Mar 2008, 11:13
definately need to get a bit more out of riska, but thats because we know he has more to give. he didnt' have the best pre season so hopefully he just needs to settle in. had more of a impact than he did last week which was good, but didn't look good as a defender at all.
how much he has played back previously im not sure, so maybe it would be an option with some coaching, but he wasn't good. could stick with his man, but choose the wrong option and gave away a goal or two.
still a riska fan and hope they persist.
chopperduck
29 Mar 2008, 11:25
It's easy enough to say that, but what are you basing it on? Stats? Historical data? Anecdotal evidence? A stated dislike of the backline?
There doesn't seem much dispute that his raw attributes set him up nicely as a potential backman, but no-one can seem to nail a reason why his 'head' isn't right for the role. Not sure what I've missed there.
i think tonight showed what i ment with riska not being a defender. was really outclassed and choose some bad options, but as i've said, its probably not a position he is comfortable with.
he probably could make a good small defender, but needs leppa to give him some coaching so he thinks like a defender.
hope he stays in the team, because he is a solid player
OldLion
30 Mar 2008, 00:31
He really was under the pump and his disposal was poor. Together with Sherman, real liabilities with lively small forwards. Can we clone Jed ?
Grimreepah
6 Apr 2008, 23:18
Link (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/sport/swans-tame-errorridden-lions/2008/04/05/1207249554520.html)
Matthews admitted he's expecting more from Michael Richitelli
Link (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/sport/swans-tame-errorridden-lions/2008/04/05/1207249554520.html)
Yep, doesn't really matter where he's playing. He's making average decisions and lacking some clean hands. No big deal, but needs two weeks at Suncoast, IMO.
Cousin Jed
7 Apr 2008, 13:03
Link (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/sport/swans-tame-errorridden-lions/2008/04/05/1207249554520.html)
In that link
Ash McGrath played for the Suncoast Lions in his second game back after a knee injury and could leap into contention for the weekend's trip to Port Adelaide.
Don't think he'll be doing much leaping from the reports we have.
Anyway, I felt like Rischa deserved a spell in the Magoos from about halfway through last year, and he has done nothing since then to change my opinion.
lionslady
7 Apr 2008, 18:50
i think he needs to be dropped and stiller bought in, i thought that from start instead of stiller getting dropped.
Grimreepah
7 Apr 2008, 19:04
I'd be surprised if wasn't dropped this week. I didn't mind the trial of him as a defender though, and I would be all for persisting with that in the 2s.
He seems to be a protected species around the club. I'd say hooper has more of a chance of getting dropped than him.
Grimreepah
10 Apr 2008, 20:54
Link (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/sport/rischi-switch-for-midfielder/2008/04/10/1207420558266.html)
Rischi switch for midfielder
Marc Fox
April 10, 2008 - 1:58PM
It's fair to say this season's subtle change of position hasn't yet bought the best out of Brisbane's young Lion Michael Rischitelli.
Last season Rischitelli played every game in midfield, averaging 17 disposals and laying the second-most tackles of anyone at the club.
He literally tackled the pants off the opposition, as Geelong's Corey Enright could testify. The Cats midfielder famously played on with his blue strides showing after another Rischitelli grab left him revealing more than he might have liked.
Last March, Lions coach Leigh Matthews even took the unusual step of singling out the 2006 Rising Star nominee as "an All-Australian in the making".
But 12 months on, the 21-year-old honestly concedes he's grateful to be playing at all given his current form.
"That's where I'm at at the moment so I've just got to try and keep persisting," Rischitelli said on the eve of Brisbane announcing the 22 to face Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium this Saturday.
"I haven't had a great start as yet. But it's one of those things where you build up and work yourself into the season.
"I've started off slowly but feel I'm steadily crawling back. Not everyone can have a great game every week. It's one of those things where you have to try and find a balance."
Rischitelli's recent indifferent performances, albeit in an unfamiliar defensive position, haven't gone unnoticed with Matthews demanding he play much better in the wake of the 17-point to the Swans last weekend.
When you're one of the club's elite tacklers, an error-ridden opening quarter is always likely to shine the spotlight on your position in the side.
Against Sydney, Brisbane's tackling effort was terrible.
"I was one that didn't tackle as well as I can," Rischitelli conceded.
However, he refused to buy into the hype surrounding his breakthrough season last year, reflecting that his form was only good in patches.
"For me this year is all about trying to be consistent," he said.
"I'm trying to work on a different game plan from last year ... but you've just got to do what you can do wherever you're playing."
That hints at a dissatisfaction with Matthews' decision to divert him from midfield to an attacking role out of defence.
Against the Swans last week he led the side in rebounding from 50, helping counterbalance the injury absence of Josh Drummond.
Rischitelli, however, hasn't instantly adapted to his new role and longs for a move back into the heart of the action.
"It's still early days but I'm just hoping that I can play a little bit more in midfield. Playing down back is a different role and you've just got to accept it and try and work it out.
"I'm grateful to be playing anywhere at the moment, but the ideal role for me is playing in the midfield.
Those sentiments can make for a nervous wait on days when the Lions match committee convene to agree the weekend's players.
"I think it's in the back of everyone's minds but you can't worry about that sort of stuff. You've just got to worry about that you are playing," said Rischitelli.
"I don't get too nervous. Fingers crossed.
"If it (losing your place) does happen you've just got to go back and play your best in the reserves and get back in
"But I'm just worrying about the game. I'm pretty confident that I will be playing this week."
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3904/rischitellide7.jpg
Brisbane Lions' Michael Rischitelli 'tackles the pants off' Corey Enright of the Cats in an AFL clash at at the Gabba in 2007.
midfield please, rest him forward
Fairley
10 Apr 2008, 22:28
Play Rischitelli in the midfield and play Selwood as our small backmen to take the best small forwards in the game.
ZoBlitz
11 Apr 2008, 09:04
Riska will need a good one this week to keep his spot, you'd reckon. Especially if he's playing in defence again.
I reckon he'll stay back until he stops sooking and starts doing a good job at it.
Gee, it's not like he was tearing up the middle and the difference between half back and centre is bugger all in todays game anyway.
Suck it up, princess.
Bloody hell xplo, it is like you are reading my mind. If we put Blacky on a half back flank and told him to do a job on an opponent and provide some rebound, then I reckon he'd get the job done. He might not like it but he'd do it. You play in a team and under a coach - you do what the coach thinks is best for the team. I don't know if it is the players making excuses or supporters sticking up for their favourites but I hate this idea that guys don't/won't play well unless they are put in their favourite position. When I played footy, I wanted to play full forward or in the centre but so did the rest of the blokes I played with. But not everyone plays the glamour roles.
Let's get this straight - these guys aren't Chris Judd or Simon Black. They have not earnt the right to automatic selection in their most favoured position. They would be the last blokes selected in some clubs and not be near first team selection in others. We all see the promise and we all remember the occasional quality performance. But until they put consistently decent performances together, then they are entitled to nothing. In my mind, they are not yet AFL standard on-ballers and so they aren't entitled to play on ball, particularly when our first sting on ball division is so strong. That means they need to fill other roles in the side or not get selected.
Grimreepah
11 Apr 2008, 11:41
I didn't see it as a whinge, more just a frank assessment of where he's at. The textbook answer is 'I'm happy to play anywhere' but I don't have a problem with him being honest about where his preferred position is. Playing on ball is the premier position for a player his size and I like it that he is ambitious and wants to regain his spot back. I don't think he was suggesting he's hard done by, and he wasn't hiding from the fact that his form is well down.
charles202
11 Apr 2008, 12:04
Ive got to agree with you Grim, i dont think he is having a winge, i think this is just an honest assesment of where he is at the moment.
I think the follwoingself assessments mirror a lot of the comments made on this board the last couple of weeks:-
"That's where I'm at at the moment"
"I haven't had a great start as yet. But it's one of those things where you build up and work yourself into the season.
"I was one that didn't tackle as well as I can,"
Ive got to agree with him, I think Riska's best role is as a defensive midfielder. The fact that the guy was second at the club in tackles last year supports this as well.
"I'm grateful to be playing anywhere at the moment, but the ideal role for me is playing in the midfield.
I like this attitude, in previous years we have heard that the coaching staff has been worried about dropping him due to the effect it would have on his conficence. This might be a change in perception (or it just might be towing the company line).
"If it (losing your place) does happen you've just got to go back and play your best in the reserves and get back in".
Just my 2 cents
Just sounded a bit out of touch for what today's defenders do. Look at Keneally, Peter Burgoyne, MacLeod, Heath Shaw.. -- they're all basically traditional wings/centremen playing off the back edge of the square. JMac and Drummond are in the top bracket for disposals for us this year playing as ball chasing defenders.
The difference between a 'defensive midfielder' and a 'midfieldy defender' is about 20m to the left, and you'll probably swap with one of the starting guys anyway.
I would have thought he'd be looking at it as something of a promotion -- as in, 'we see you as a guy who do more than one job', exactly the way that Adcock does. Jed can kick goals, get the hard ball, shut down danger forwards and run the ball -- all depending on what the side needs. Strawb certainly never appeared to look at fullback as a demotion. It was another chance to stave off the selector's axe.
Bradshaw too, always looked more confident in his place in the team once he had clearly established him credentials as a defender also.
As Nick Davis, Neon Leon and Milney can all atest, guys that are perceived as one-dimensional specialist find it hard to survive when the wind changes, as it inevitably does.
chopperduck
11 Apr 2008, 16:02
valid point xplo, especially with how fast the game is changing atm. dont think riska really cares if he is playing down back, and dont think he is at all complaining bout it. he seems to know he is lucky to be in the team and is happy where ever, on baller role is just his favorite is all.
I could see why Judd would want to be in the square. He's a clearance genius, and what he does specifically in the first 4-5 seconds after the centre bounce is a particular skill that doesn't translate automatically to the backline.
But wouldn't have thought Rischa hung his hat on his clearance work.
brisbanelioness
11 Apr 2008, 22:38
Great discussion here guys. :thumbsu: It has helped me understand what Rischi was really saying. Initially I was shocked at his open comments about wanting play the midfield more and not sounding enthusiastic about playing in defence. I would have thought being selected at all would be enough to keep a young AFL player happy but Rischi sounded a bit deflated about being moved into a different position and that's not good. I always thought that you play where to coach wants you to and that's that. However, when you guys mentioned that Rischi was just being honest about his preferred position instead of being wantonly diplomatic then I admire him for that. I like Rischi and I think he is and will continue to be an important player for our team. I think he is capable in defence and given time he will prove that (probably even to himself!).
konstas_87
12 Apr 2008, 23:52
much better game tonight Rischa :thumbsu: (along with shermo as well).
if those two can get some confidence back we will be SUCH a better team for it.
Seem to simplify his game tonight, tackle hard and move the ball on!
Fairley
13 Apr 2008, 00:03
He looked dangerous when he was put into the middle.
notting18
13 Apr 2008, 09:19
A very good game to help get his season up and going last night. It is good to see his form on the up now!
chopperduck
13 Apr 2008, 18:23
Seem to simplify his game tonight, tackle hard and move the ball on!
best sum up i've read. he didn't do anything special, just did the basic stuff and played solid. tackling was much better, and certainly helped to get it from traffic. took a nice grab too. kicking was much improved as well
Grimreepah
22 Apr 2008, 10:32
Link (http://lions.com.au/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsid=58289)
Michael Rischitelli is set to play his 50th AFL match this Sunday against Melbourne at the Gabba. Rischitelli was drafted to the Lions from the Western Jets in Victoria with Pick No.61 in the 2003 AFL National Draft.
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5051/rischitelliux8.jpg
chopperduck
22 Apr 2008, 17:46
50 'rookie' games are up, time for riska to put his stamp on the competition.
lets hope there is about another 200 games to come
congrats riska :thumbsu:
Link (http://lions.com.au/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsid=58289)
Jeez, that shot should be sepia tone, Grim. CJ and Silly Dilly?
Grimreepah
23 Apr 2008, 14:28
Jeez, that shot should be sepia tone, Grim. CJ and Silly Dilly?
In recognition of his first milestone it was a nostalgic picture of his debut against Adelaide in 2004, a game we won by 141 points.
Photo aged for effect:
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7222/rischitelli2iy9.jpg
ZoBlitz
25 Apr 2008, 11:47
Ah the memories...
50 'rookie' games are up, time for riska to put his stamp on the competition.
lets hope there is about another 200 games to come
congrats riska :thumbsu:
I thought today was a nice game from Riska.
Love his attack on the ball and his tackling is great also!
Grimreepah
27 Apr 2008, 19:05
He has improved out of sight since two weeks ago.
notting18
27 Apr 2008, 19:09
He has improved out of sight since two weeks ago.
It has been said that it is Rischa, Sherman, Stiller, etc that need to perform for us to be a finals challenger this year. In the last few weeks this has been the case and we have looked a lot better!
He topped our DT points for this week, 10 tackles, 6 marks. glad to see he iced his 50th with a goal too. Hope ya mum taped it Riska! superb:thumbsu:
chopperduck
27 Apr 2008, 19:40
definitely a better showing this week. has improved drastically in the last 2 weeks. was one of our best tacklers last year, had several games where he got near the 10 tackle mark, so great to see him getting back to that kind of form. sure blackly and power were loving the support.
great way to cap off a 50th game.
Grimreepah
28 Apr 2008, 13:22
Link (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/afl/lions-must-improve-for-cats/2008/04/28/1209234713489.html)
Lions 'must improve' for Cats
Marc Fox
April 28, 2008 - 12:07PM
Fifty-gamer Michael Rischitelli still isn't entirely satisfied with his own output and also believes there's plenty of improvement in how the Lions move the ball around the field.
Match statistics indicated Rischitelli celebrated his milestone appearance with a season's best return in Brisbane's resounding win over the lowly Demons yesterday, a 52-point walkover at the Gabba.
The 21-year-old enjoyed 20 possessions and laid a game-high 10 tackles to blow the cobwebs off a sluggish start in a readjusted defensive role.
But asked about his own form today, the tenacious onballer wasn't quite as effusive.
"Not too bad," he responded to a direct question about his personal contribution to the Lions' 3-3 start to the year.
"Each week I seem to be getting just a little bit better and finding my feet a little bit more.
"Early in the year I was just trying to get the ball, so it's just been good to be able to find a bit more ball."
It's clearly small steps for Rischitelli at the moment.
Earlier this month (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10619024&postcount=71), he exclusively admitted to brisbanetimes.com.au to floundering after being moved into a more defensive starting position by coach Leigh Matthews.
Before the remarkable come-from-behind win at AAMI Stadium in round four, Rischitelli said he was "steadily crawling back" into form after a sluggish start to the season and admitted he was grateful just be keeping his spot in the side.
Since then his numbers have improved, but his frame of mind hasn't.
"I've just been focusing on trying to get the ball and trying to dispose of it because our skills at the moment aren't that great," he said.
"No doubt we'll be working on it this week in training."
Geelong squeezed past Fremantle by a point with a last quarter comeback on Friday night to extend that winning sequence, making a fast start the key for Rischitelli.
"I think we've got to push for that, especially during the first quarter, and then you never know," he said.
"But there's nothing better than going into the week after with a win like that (against the Demons)."
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7129/rischitelli2up1.jpg
Pedro the Lion
28 Apr 2008, 14:13
My cousin works with Riska's mother in Essendon. The whole family flew up for yesterday's match. Nice little holiday I'd say. :thumbsu:
If riska ever bulks up he could do some serious damage with his tackling and attack on the ball. Dare i say similar to the Scotts and maybe just MAYBE similar to Mr Michael Voss