Analysis The Rebuilds of West Coast and Richmond and their Future Prospects

[Big_Birdy]

Richmond apparently not ahead because we are not fielding a high school side. Need to blood them.

Much better to rebuild cushioning the blow with mature players helping.

Although I agree, there is a big difference between helping, and carrying.

Apart from Reid last year, our senior players carried the team.

This year they have either been injured or poor. But the younger players have clearly been our best (outside of Baker).

The Tigers have definitely been in the carrying stage this year. Nothing wrong with it per se, it can just turn easily with a couple of injuries and retirements.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Although I agree, there is a big difference between helping, and carrying.

Apart from Reid last year, our senior players carried the team.

This year they have either been injured or poor. But the younger players have clearly been our best (outside of Baker).

The Tigers have definitely been in the carrying stage this year. Nothing wrong with it per se, it can just turn easily with a couple of injuries and retirements.

Top 20 rated Eagles & Tigers 1-4 year players(turning 19-22yo this year) who played at least 5 games in 2025, listed by average player rating below.

Also, both teams have 11 of their top 20 rated players in 2025 aged 26 or younger. Interesting, West Coast top 3 rated players to play 10 or more games in 2025, were Baker, Graham & McCarthy. All from Richmond.

 

[Big_Birdy]

Top 20 rated Eagles & Tigers 1-4 year players(turning 19-22yo this year) who played at least 5 games in 2025, listed by average player rating.


View attachment 2406878

Not sure why anyone takes the players rating system seriously (don't actually know anyone who does) but 12/20 are Eagles and the margins are small? Can't speak for the tigers to be honest but Dewar and Davis would suffer (I'd imagine) from being sub. Also the Eagles players are on average a year younger/a season behind.

But this proves my point doesn't it? The young players for both sides are having a similar impact (although no serious person would rate Campbell over Reid, although I like Campbell), but our older players were poor/not on the park whilst the Tigers will make up the majority of the top ten in the B&F.

Which explains the one win vs five.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Not sure why anyone takes the players rating system seriously (don't actually know anyone who does) but 12/20 are Eagles and the margins are small? Can't speak for the tigers to be honest but Dewar and Davis would suffer (I'd imagine) from being sub. Also the Eagles players are on average a year younger/a season behind.

But this proves my point doesn't it? The young players for both sides are having a similar impact (although no serious person would rate Campbell over Reid, although I like Campbell), but our older players were poor/not on the park whilst the Tigers will make up the majority of the top ten in the B&F.

Which explains the one win vs five.

The player ratings will give you the most accurate objective list of player performance you are going to be able to get anywhere.

What they are telling us imo is there is not great reason to believe the youngsters from either team performed especially better in 2025.

The thing that will encourage Richmond supporters is that our 5 most highly rated draftees from the last 4 drafts, Lalor, Smillie, Gibcus, Hotton, Faull, all suffered major injury related impediments in 2025. Which would suggest there is a hell of a lot of upside to come from that group. Four of them have already shown enough at AFL level to suggest they have very strong futures.

When you add to that the injuries suffered by McAuliffe ad Gray who both showed up well in the games they played, and Trainor and Armstrong also performed very well for 18/19yo's in their roles, it is pretty clear where a ton of improvement is coming from on the Richmond list.

The best Eagles youngsters seem more exposed at this point. There will be plenty of upside there as well, but probably not to the same extent as the Tigers 1-4 year cohort.

 

[Footy Smarts]

If Richmond had an average run with injuries nobody would be talking rebuilds. If they had a good run with injuries they could easily be hanging around the top 6.

A club who needs to find around 2-3 key players is not a club who needs to rebuild.

Remember the good old days when Richmond didn't need a rebuild?

 

[Le RickyBobby]

Win games in 2025? Or teach and lead a new game style and stay competitive for longer?

You really do make up some serious BS when trolling.

The Richmond and Freo circle jerk going on in here says a lot.

A LOT.

What have I made up? I said you brought in Owies, Baker and Graham to win games.

I think you're confused or deluded. Whichever comes first.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Remember the good old days when Richmond didn't need a rebuild?

Yep. Our almost total rebuild was not our only option. We elected to do it due to the value available in the 2024 draft and for no other reason, in case you didn't notice.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Yep. Our almost total rebuild was not our only option. We elected to do it due to the value available in the 2024 draft and for no other reason, in case you didn't notice.

 

[Daka]

Ball movement and staying competitive for longer in games. Both easily improvements from 12 months earlier. Applying more forward half pressure for longer.

Led by 7 points at half time v Swans. A year earlier we would have been 10 goals down.

Those facts are pretty obvious to see. Even for a dope like Hird. And you.

You guys didn't improve this season, it's a fact even Bartel said "No" when asked he is straight as a arrow.

Doesn't mean you guys might not improve in 2026-2027 but this year you guys went backwards.

 

[tiger_tough]

The captain is leaving, their leading goal kicker this season is 33 years old, their 2nd highest goal kicker has just requested a trade, McGovern has retired.


Eagles may well be worse next year.....

 

[Meteoric Rise]

The captain is leaving, their leading goal kicker this season is 33 years old, their 2nd highest goal kicker has just requested a trade, McGovern has retired.


Eagles may well be worse next year.....

Eagles supporters will be rapt they get to pay $2.5m per year to a 3rd year player though.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Eagles supporters will be rapt they get to pay $2.5m per year to a 3rd year player though.

Actually hes still on his rookie contract next year

Then 2 years at close to $2m each of those years, if he hits certain triggers

Should probably get the facts correct when throwing barbs

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Actually hes still on his rookie contract next year

Then 2 years at close to $2m each of those years, if he hits certain triggers

Should probably get the facts correct when throwing barbs

Why, when you can do that for me?

Thanks.

 

[chriso11]

Remember the good old days when Richmond didn't need a rebuild?

Remember the good old days when Richmond exited Geelong from finals in 3 out of 4 years?

 

[Footy Smarts]

Remember the good old days when Richmond exited Geelong from finals in 3 out of 4 years?

Just about. It's good to see the results haven't got Richmond fans down and they're now celebrating 17th as hard as they celebrated the premierships.

 

[Morro]

Just about. It's good to see the results haven't got Richmond fans down and they're now celebrating 17th as hard as they celebrated the premierships.

Yet here you are in a RFC based thread, just cant get enough can you

 

[Mr.X]

Richmond have timed their rebuild well, collected a heaps of picks before the Tassie drafts and are loading up well

 

[LeBronco]

Richmond should exit the rebuild phase before West Coast but it's scary to see Gold Coast with more young talent than both combined. Hard for West Coast to build a competitive side when WA is struggling to produce talent and after winning 11 out of 91 games between 2022-2025 there's still no light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Shueygod]

Richmond should exit the rebuild phase before West Coast but it's scary to see Gold Coast with more young talent than both combined. Hard for West Coast to build a competitive side when WA is struggling to produce talent and after winning 11 out of 91 games between 2022-2025 there's still no light at the end of the tunnel.

Gold Coast have more young talent than everyone, whole leagues ****ed

 

[Obeanie1]

Yep. Our almost total rebuild was not our only option. We elected to do it due to the value available in the 2024 draft and for no other reason, in case you didn't notice.

No other reason......other than a mass exodus of players wanting out.

The players elected to leave.

Richmond were forced to do the best they can with the trade bout of picks.

 

[Obeanie1]

Richmond should exit the rebuild phase before West Coast but it's scary to see Gold Coast with more young talent than both combined. Hard for West Coast to build a competitive side when WA is struggling to produce talent and after winning 11 out of 91 games between 2022-2025 there's still no light at the end of the tunnel.

Luckily the Eagles were allowed to draft the best players from other states.

Four Vic Country stars in a row this draft. Duursma, CDT, Allan and Lindsay.

Added to Vic Country draftees H Reid, A Reid, Shanahan NSW and others.

 

[Obeanie1]

Bad message to send to your players that you have improved... the facts are quite stark.

Less floggings by over 100 points.

Pushing top side deep into the 4th quarter.

Leading games at half and 3 qrt time.

Structures starting to gel.

Overlap handball game showing promising signs as the season progressed.

If Hird doesn't get those indicators he should go play with his money and stop grinding his ax making dumb comments for click bait.

Does anyone take Hird seriously anyway?

 

[Obeanie1]

You guys didn't improve this season, it's a fact even Bartel said "No" when asked he is straight as a arrow.

Doesn't mean you guys might not improve in 2026-2027 but this year you guys went backwards.

I listed facts showing what clearly improved.

You quoted a media nuffy.

2024 was terrible even though we won a couple more games. Inconsistent and got flogged by 100 plus several times. Totally lost the plot in some games in 2024.

2025 we became much more competitive and consistent. And under a new coach and game style started showing later in the season rhe changes were making a difference.

Non Eagles followers wouldn't know. They look at win loss and make assumptions based on very little.

It's just how 99% of the media works.

 

[tiger_tough]

I see Eagles have just signed a handful of recycled list cloggers. That should help them shoot up the ladder.....

 

[Philth]

I see Eagles have just signed a handful of recycled list cloggers. That should help them shoot up the ladder.....

This reminds me of the crazy Vozzy days!!