Preview RND 1 - Carlton v Richmond - Thursday 21st March 7:20PM @ MCG - Team Post #1412

[BlueAbroad]

I had a go at predicting our starting 22 for next week - VIDEO HERE

A total of four (4) changes to my original predicted starting 22 for our game against the Tigers next week.

O'Brien is my dark horse to get the nod for round 1 as I believe his run and spread is important for how we want to move the ball.

IN - Phillips | Cuningham | Gibbons | O'Brien

OUT - Williamson | Marchbank | Kreuzer | Lang

See the image in the comments for the image of my selected 22.

What do you think?

***Apologies for the wind/noise

 

[Dadda Dave]

Thomas has the footy brain to play anywhere - body size to tackle well in the pocket and knows how to scrag a goal.
Fasolo is an MCG 'specialist' will kill 'em on a bigger ground.
IF fit Kennedy will show what he's got - I like him a lot.
Prefer Ed on ball and tagging and using his endurance to create an option - that is his real go.

I reckon my selections take pressure off kids and allow them to be used as shock troops.

Yep!! Hope Ed tags Twent out of the game ..

 

[ESKIE]

I read it in the Herald Sun

But who do you believe the Hs or Russell at the club ?

 

[Zlatan]

I am expecting to win this game. Yes we have a few out and they have some real start playing and are a good list but they have proven vulnerable at times in the past with a few out.

I would think with their underdone/injury list that they will be really reliant on Martin, Riewoldt and Cotchin to have big games. JLT is done so tagging, physicality and accountability are back in.

I think rotations will be key. It's the first time in a long time that we can put good numbers through the midfield. As long as we can do that without making things in there to weak at times and them not kicking away from us we should be right in this. Rotations for defence too here. Riewoldt likes to run all day so we cut his run opponents into the ground tactic down and rotate defenders on him.

If they play underdone players then we run off them. If Lynch plays then we use his opponent to run off him all day and drag him up the field as much as possible. Same with Caddy, Castagna etc. I think Nankervis is another who hasn't had the biggest preseason.

I think if we manage our players well and have really good rotations. Don't let Martin, Cotchin and Riewoldt have too much space, win or break even with center clearances and contested possession and get better at holding the ball in our forward line then we can win this.

You’re expecting a win? I like the confidence but last season we struggled to play 2 1/2 quarters of contested footy per game.

Baring the odd shock win, we need to prove we can compete with St. Kilda, Western Bulldogs and GC before I’m prepared to see us as a comptetive outfit.

 

[ESKIE]

Us by 10 points AND will play finals.

 

[murphster]

Levi is only good jumping at the ball. He is hopeless 1-on-1

This is so true in a standing one on one he is worse than hopeless he will either lose outright or usually gives away a free kick, needs to run and jump to have any chance unfortunately.

 

[gbatman]

You’re expecting a win? I like the confidence but last season we struggled to play 2 1/2 quarters of contested footy per game.

Baring the odd shock win, we need to prove we can compete with St. Kilda, Western Bulldogs and GC before I’m prepared to see us as a comptetive outfit.

Luckily this is not last season.

Plenty has changed from then. The last 4 or 5 years I've turned up to this game just wanting to see us play well and not expecting a win but now with them weakened and us going ok I think a win is possible so I am expecting it.

We're still some ways off in our rebuild, we still need to find players and develop young players but that doesn't mean we aren't capable of some good wins and early season I think we are a shot.

 

[murphster]

I think with JSOS I don't see him as a savior of our midfield, but the reward for effort for me is a big message to send. He will likely be fringe best 22 all year but for me should get a spot round 1 for either Plowman or McGovern.

Like I said earlier Jack needs to work with Cripps speed coach to really take a big step in terms of midfield and other possies.

 

[HARKER]

Walsh has been all the talk of this pre-season, but I've noticed the name Setterfield being raised quite a bit, also. (Hear Dow on SEN)
Setterfield has probably come back into the main squad a little sooner than many may have foreseen, but given all the circumstances, he's been more than just a little bit impressive.
Commentators are talking about Cuningham a lot, but the one guy that seems to have been left alone, yet may be the most impressive of the lot, is SPS.
Just looks primed for a terrific season.

I guess some doubts are setting in with some as the season approaches, but this is a different lot than showed up at times last year.
If for nothing else, we'll be able to compete for longer. Not sure how far that may take us, but surely we won't be dropping our guards after 20 minutes of the quarter. Just don't think we'll see that anywhere near as often as we did last year.

 

[murphster]

Kennedy as well.

Kennedy is a worry with his shoulders apparently got a hit to it a couple of weeks ago at training and then another in the VFL game he played, after already having them reconstructed to be having a problem after a couple of knocks playing low tempo footy doesn’t bode well for his future as far as his shoulders go.

 

[gbatman]

We nearly won last year before things got real bad for us with a lesser side and that was against a better Richmond side.

I wouldn't take a heap of notice of the footy we played and the results of last year. Playing a heap of young players and copping a lot of injuries, you'll get that.

Less injuries, young players getting older and new and improved additions so we should make some strides forward.

 

[VainGlorious]

Being completely honest - I don't see that.

He's a fairly straight line player, has a nice turn of speed without being exceptional, decent jump, OK hands, generally pretty good by foot.

And I know he's relatively inexperienced due to his injury history, but there are first year players who I think have shown more creativity and X-factor. Daniel Rioli, Higgins, Stephenson, Papley - those are young players who I see as being able to create something from nothing. With a deft little knock-on, or a soccer kick, or a shimmy, or a spin - they can turn a contested situation against a more experienced player into a goal they have absolutely no right to kick.

Like Garlett, like what he does add to the side. But there's a fair distance between what he does and what some of the real excitement machines can do.

High on my wishlist for next year - find a young player with silly levels of confidence who brings some flair to the side, in particular our forward line.

Honesty is the best policy. We shall just agree to disagree.

 

[murphster]

Blue__Balls said:
"Settlefield" is becoming a trigger for me

Same with Stoker and Stroker, I mean come on.

 

[gardiner stand]

Kennedy is a worry with his shoulders apparently got a hit to it a couple of weeks ago at training and then another in the VFL game he played, after already having them reconstructed to be having a problem after a couple of knocks playing low tempo footy doesn’t bode well for his future as far as his shoulders go.

Not terribly encouraging

 

[murphster]

If we can get the majority of our selected 22 playing well at the same time anything is possible, this is going to scare the pants off a lot of teams, when this happens and they all click on the same day, look out AFL because you will see something special evolve right before your sarcastic belittling degrading beady little eyes. Go Blues

 

[chunkylover53]

Richmond will be breathing fire this year - make no mistake they will be on a mission like Geelong 2009.

However - if they are going to hit a poor patch of form it's going to be very early in the season. Patchy pre-season, few players out, some won't be 100%, adjusting to the Lynch factor and how it will affect their structures.

We are a slight chance to cause an upset.

 

[Curnivore]

But who do you believe the Hs or Russell at the club ?

Wasn't aware Russel said it, great news. Also wasn't aware that you were a cop Eskie!

 

[Macca43]

Walsh has been all the talk of this pre-season, but I've noticed the name Setterfield being raised quite a bit, also. (Hear Dow on SEN)
Setterfield has probably come back into the main squad a little sooner than many may have foreseen, but given all the circumstances, he's been more than just a little bit impressive.
Commentators are talking about Cuningham a lot, but the one guy that seems to have been left alone, yet may be the most impressive of the lot, is SPS.
Just looks primed for a terrific season.

I guess some doubts are setting in with some as the season approaches, but this is a different lot than showed up at times last year.
If for nothing else, we'll be able to compete for longer. Not sure how far that may take us, but surely we won't be dropping our guards after 20 minutes of the quarter. Just don't think we'll see that anywhere near as often as we did last year.

I think the big thing in the players being talked up and SPS is that SPS played 22 games last year, yes he looks like taking a big step forward but the others could performance worse and make a bigger difference.

The thing I like about both SPS and Cuningham is that they can hurt with minimalist touches.

 

[Blue and Blue]

Richmond will be breathing fire this year - make no mistake they will be on a mission like Geelong 2009.

However - if they are going to hit a poor patch of form it's going to be very early in the season. Patchy pre-season, few players out, some won't be 100%, adjusting to the Lynch factor and how it will affect their structures.

We are a slight chance to cause an upset.

Richmond breathing fire....I laughed....a soft lot they are.
Puff the magic dragon type smoke is about all they willl manage.

 

[JustaBattler]

SPS was impressive in both JLT games I watched - because he was a step or two faster into contested and congested areas playing like a genuine mid whilst at the same time maintaining his ability to make quick decisions with disposal to advantage. Walsh actually improved from JLT1 - JLT2 and JLT2 against Collingwood was a much harder workout for all concerned. The other guy who was doing 'little' things in congestion and doing them well was Weitering - impacted contests outside defensive arc on quite a few occasions with deft touches and disposals. Fish was a bit flat in JLT2 - I expect him to lift for round one in more space. Dow has been a tad under rated for his efforts - sometimes he shows clean hands and deft touch but wasn't as consistent as those above. Cuningham's movement in congestion is lightening quick - crossing my fingers we have found a factor X HFF.

For all the criticism that 'fatso' McGovern has copped - he has a way of making his presence 'felt' by opposition - really looking forward to seeing him get better each week - and what a glorious kicking action!.

Not out of this first game by any means - but Richmond will look and play slicker and better drilled and probably score easier if the side falls off in intensity - they have learned how to win - something that has to be on Bolton's agenda in 2019.

They will expect a competitive start from Carlton but they will also 'expect' to run over the side over 4 quarters- that has been their strength.

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

We shall be victorious..

 

[ESKIE]

Oh stoooop it’s too exciting

 

[ESKIE]

Is the 6 6 6 likely to affect Richmond’s game style?

 

[TooBlue14]

Get on the blues on sportsbet. Go up by 24 points like last year and get paid out.

 

[Sector 7G]

I think the big thing in the players being talked up and SPS is that SPS played 22 games last year, yes he looks like taking a big step forward but the others could performance worse and make a bigger difference.

The thing I like about both SPS and Cuningham is that they can hurt with minimalist touches.

One moment Roos was saying how we expect too much from draffees then the next he was saying SPS had a dissappointing year last year