Training Pre-season 2026

[THE_GUN]

Nice to see a general optimism in here for a change.
It's rare for me to be the one tempering optimism, but it's the start of Feb so any talk of finishing positions needs to chill a bit.

Its very exciting though, especially if we can stay healthy.

Im usually pretty optimistic type of person and can see all the talent at the club but at the same time im a realist and know that not all kids live upto expectations and development is a major part of what a young kid becomes as a player

We seem to have good development coaches in place at the club now and the coaching panel looks like they have a good plan and some good senior champions at the club guiding them for another 2-3 years so its looking good.

But will still take some time and we most likely still need another 6-7 players over the next 2 years to complete the rebuild with some from the draft and some as free agent/trade.

Also need alot of luck with injuries to kids to get games

 

[sante]

Nice to see a general optimism in here for a change.
It's rare for me to be the one tempering optimism, but it's the start of Feb so any talk of finishing positions needs to chill a bit.

Its very exciting though, especially if we can stay healthy.

Sadly I think a couple do this every pre season so then they can sink the boots in when we “under perform”

 

[poppa pump]

Jasper Alger another whom has sized up,before and after

 

[Groupie_]

sonsie flying is why prodigy is the eternal optimist

 

[THE_GUN]

sonsie flying is why prodigy is the eternal optimist

Watch out Groupie_

Sonsie is paying $4.31 for the JDM in early betting just behind Vlastuin and Hopper

 

[Charlie Pannam]

Jasper Alger another whom has sized up,before and afterView attachment 2519832View attachment 2519833

Bicep curls in the gym , just prior to hitting the training track.

 

[Groupie_]

Watch out Groupie_

Sonsie is paying $4.31 for the JDM in early betting just behind Vlastuin and Hopper

cumbo better chance

 

[THE_GUN]

cumbo better chance

Cant see his price

maybe he is not there ?

 

[Groupie_]

Cant see his price

maybe he is not there ?

still a better chance than sonise

 

[Grrr]

We are Richmond that’s why

In all seriousness a long term injury to anyone of Vlas, Broad, Nank, Hopper, Taranto & Lynch and a promising season can quickly derail.

I rate our young key forwards but the burden on second year KF’s is unreasonable if Lynch gets injured.

Our ruck depths is either uncompetitive or untested at AFL level.

Yes and maybe not. Obviously Nank is very important as we are really thin in the ruck dept. Ryan and OHB can pinch hit, but at least we are building some second ruck depth.

Vlas is a gun and Broad very solid but we have a pretty good back 6-7 that is starting to build together so if one goes missing they should be replaced without a giant hole. Miller, Gibcus, Balta, Brown, Banks, Short with Trainor, Gray and Grjl look good next in line depth.

Lynch is obviously important but some good tall timber coming through. Faull looks a player and plays with a physicality that belies his age, and Fawcett seems to have come on leaps and bounds over the preseason and even late season VFL. LeFau is good physical backup and you could even throw Gibcus down there is necessary. The quality at their feet in Hotton, Lalor, Campbell, an improved MRJ (hopefully his better fitness works) and a few others will make our forward line a lot more dynamic and not so Lynch reliant. Lynch could also have a very good year after his first uninterrupted preseason in years which would make our forward half very potent.

Hopper and Taranto for all their good work, also drag our midfield back a bit. Watching McAuliffe run all the way back to the last line of defence a few times in the one game last season surprised me, because you won't find Hopper and Taranto there too often, just not quick enough too keep up with the spread of their opponents. Ross was good when back in the guts and the new talent coming through will give our mids much needed speed and class. Hopper and Taranto's ball use is pretty poor as well. The sooner our young mids develop the better.

 

[chriso11]

Yes and maybe not. Obviously Nank is very important as we are really thin in the ruck dept. Ryan and OHB can pinch hit, but at least we are building some second ruck depth.

Vlas is a gun and Broad very solid but we have a pretty good back 6-7 that is starting to build together so if one goes missing they should be replaced without a giant hole. Miller, Gibcus, Balta, Brown, Banks, Short with Trainor, Gray and Grjl look good next in line depth.

Lynch is obviously important but some good tall timber coming through. Faull looks a player and plays with a physicality that belies his age, and Fawcett seems to have come on leaps and bounds over the preseason and even late season VFL. LeFau is good physical backup and you could even throw Gibcus down there is necessary. The quality at their feet in Hotton, Lalor, Campbell, an improved MRJ (hopefully his better fitness works) and a few others will make our forward line a lot more dynamic and not so Lynch reliant. Lynch could also have a very good year after his first uninterrupted preseason in years which would make our forward half very potent.

Hopper and Taranto for all their good work, also drag our midfield back a bit. Watching McAuliffe run all the way back to the last line of defence a few times in the one game last season surprised me, because you won't find Hopper and Taranto there too often, just not quick enough too keep up with the spread of their opponents. Ross was good when back in the guts and the new talent coming through will give our mids much needed speed and class. Hopper and Taranto's ball use is pretty poor as well. The sooner our young mids develop the better.

Injury to Nank and we are f*ed… imagine we need to rely on Delilah all season. Taranto also up there

 

[sregit]

Our team for rd 1 1965 at a similar stage of our development 2 years before we started making finals in 1967:

View attachment 2519592
You think that represents a better list than what we have now?

Or if you like, the whole list:

Richmond Playing List for 1965 - Draftguru

www.draftguru.com.au

View attachment 2519594

Absolutely that is a better list than we currently have.

 

[Grrr]

Injury to Nank and we are f*ed… imagine we need to rely on Delilah all season. Taranto also up there

Totally agree. Hopefully Sims can get back on the track soon because he, Fawcett, Balta, Lefau I think would be better value together perhaps than either Ryan and OHB unless they suddenly improve. They have to give Kras a go as well just to fast track him.

 

[THE_GUN]

Sometimes you need injuries to senior players for the younger or replacement players to get their chance and take their game to another level.

Im really not too concerned if we get an injury to Nank or to Prestia , Broad , Vlastuin or Short
It just means the club gets a very good look at their replacements to see what they have to offer and if they need replacing soon.

In a year of development i see that as part of the evolution of this team and finding alternatives 2-3 extra wins doesnt achieve anything whilst in rebuild

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Absolutely that is a better list than we currently have.

Only 2 players on the whole 1965 list ever got to 160 games or more.

The current list already has 8 players above that and likely has about 15 more that will get there before they retire.

 

[Coach_Required]

Totally agree. Hopefully Sims can get back on the track soon because he, Fawcett, Balta, Lefau I think would be better value together perhaps than either Ryan and OHB unless they suddenly improve. They have to give Kras a go as well just to fast track him.

We aren't in our window yet, so it doesn't really matter if one of our top older players get injured. (Nank, Vlastuin etc)

It only stings when it's the younger guys who are missing out valuable development time & experience. (Lalor, Smillie)

 

[Cherki]

Stud

 

[Danog]

Nank, Taranto, Vlastuin are the only 3 where I feel we're genuinely downgraded if they're out. Young talls have enough cover now.

 

[LTT]

Only 2 players on the whole 1965 list ever got to 160 games or more.

The current list already has 8 players above that and likely has about 15 more that will get there before they retire.

The lack of players to get past 160 games was due to the way they played and the way they were over trained. In those days if a player was knock unconscious, they stayed on the field and were told to get even. If a player had a drink of water during training, you were seen as weak. Hard bunch of players in that team

 

[tigerfan1961]

Absolutely that is a better list than we currently have.

Easy to say that when we have yet to see most of the current list reach 30+ games. Time will be the judge

 

[Meteoric Rise]

The lack of players to get past 160 games was due to the way they played and the way they were over trained. In those days if a player was knock unconscious, they stayed on the field and were told to get even. If a player had a drink of water during training, you were seen as weak. Hard bunch of players in that team

Our 1973 list had 13 players that played more than 160 games...

Players are definitely better looked after these days, and there are also more games played per season. But I still think it is pretty obvious that our current list is better than the 1965 list, which was two years before the club made finals.

Obviously different recruiting rules in those days, and Bourke Clay Hart Sheedy etc were about to arrive, but 1965 is about as close as we can get to the current stage of development of our list imo, unless you go for a year earlier in the 60's, where we don't have list information as readily available.

My point is sregit 's point about the late 60's early 70's list being stronger than our current list does not stand up if you go to a similar stage in the development of that highly successful list. And it is not even close.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Easy to say that when we have yet to see most of the current list reach 30+ games. Time will be the judge

It is just straight out wrong to say it. We have the benefit of hindsight and can see only a small handful of players from the 1965 list ever had full careers a the top level.

 

[Karp3_dm]

Richmond membership attached to MCC priced at $69

What a club!

 

[RFCGloryJC]

still a better chance than sonise

Spudsie?

 

[RFCGloryJC]

KMac is legendary in his running capacity, a leaner build than Hugo.
Different build.
They've given Hugo a good ample run of five years, averaging 13 disposals, probably the last year.