Hard Hitters

[nut]

Essendon,North,Brisbane all have it.

Although I haven't written this year off, after Essendons pure dominance I'm not conviced we have what it takes just yet.

Let’s look at why Essendon beat us.
Lets look at why Brisbane beat Hawthorn and why they are the the premiers.
They have three or four Hard, skillful onballers prepared to use their bodies in and around packs. They apply physical pressure on every opportunity. Included they have players that really hurt you when you are under the ball.
Always slipping one in at the last moment to let you now you have earned it.

On every line, forward to back they have players that given the chance will give you a good old hip and shoulder. We lack this. Do we have the Players that can give some back??? I think we do but it doesn't seem to an instinctive thing for them to do.Rather keep there feet and wait around for a spoil. I remember when Bowden loved to hurt people in a tackle but rarely does these days (may have to do with collarbone, teams exploit this).

We have all mentioned this in other threads so if it is obvious to us than why does it keep happening. I remember that great day in 95 when Turner crashed and bashed Essendon to a point where they didn't want to go near him and he won us the game. Since then Essendon has improved in this area and we have got worse. They learnt. We didn't. You can have all the skill in the world but if you don’t want the pill than you are useless. In the middle is where you want the guys who want it the most.

We lack the physical presence around the ground that makes a player think twice. When going for the ball. If you were an opposition player running back with the flight of the ball attempting to take a mark, who at Richmond would execute fair but hard contact that will put doubt in his and his team-mates minds? It’s an important part of the game which we have neglected to put in our repertoire. Courage we don’t lack (ie.Kellaways,Torney) Hard hitters we do.

 

[CJH]

There were a few midfielders who 'hard hit' themselves at the sight of Essendon!

I kinda nodded with a pleased expression when Zantuck ran through Caracella (which he has subsequently been reported for, for God's sake! ) This was the only act of aggression I noticed for the whole game. Pretty sad really.

This is why I am all for Zantuck, Coughlan and even Rodan being in the senior team. They all have body mass on their side and can hurt people with it (fairly of course!).

At the moment, there is not anyone in our team that causes genuine fear in the opposition - no Glenn Archer or Byron Pickett or Barry Hall type player.

The reference to Scotty Turner was apt because he always knew how to throw his weight around and did provide us with some hardness.

 

[Tigerbob]

I totally agree CJH,

The first smile that came to me on Friday was when Zantuck ran through Carracella, it took a young kid to show the way for the rest of them!

The only other smile was the goals for Rodan, the were rippers.

Coughlan, Zantuck, Rodan, Pettifer, Newman, Mills, Fiora are the future and IMHO should all have a crack,and I mean a good decent crack at senior footy in the next few weeks.
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Coughlan - Hard and tough, good hands in tight traffic, style of play is similar to a Simon Black, and has a body of Michael Voss, but not as good as them....not yet, maybe never who knows until we play him.


Zantuck - Hard and tough, never forget his first game, picked a fight with of all the people in the world, Barry Hall and Peter Everitt. Decent skills, needs to make more of the right decisions, but is good under pressure and should be a cert for our backline.


Rodan - The 'hoover' should be in the middle for a longer period of time, has been compared to Peter Bell, if so why the hell isn't he in the middle more often? We all saw the Wizard Cup Grand Final what he is capable of.


Pettifer - Alot of people at Richmond think that Kayne Pettifer is the next big thing at Tigerland, has the awarness around goals, can take a big grab, has all the skills, has bulked up over the summer, still no sign of him!


Newman - I really like this kid, reminds me of a young Andrew McKay from Carlton, tough and hard, good composure, silky skills, just a bit thin at the moment, should be given a chance soon.


Mills - I reckon in my honest opinion Millsy is the most capable of the youngsters to make the big step this year, if injury doesn't prevent him that is. If he hadn't been struck down by injury would be our leading youngster along with Otto and Fiora.


Fiora - The silkiest tiger, we all know what he can do, should be on a wing and left there and let him have a licence to do as he pleases. Needs to bulk up a bit more but one of the bright futures in footy.
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Sorry for boring everyone, but that is the level of improvement still in this team, We should be playing these young fellas more often, not have them sit on the bench most of the time.

Once Danny and the coaching panel realise this the better we will be for it, all the youngsters have all got something we are lacking, a bit of toughness and a bit of class.

Does anyone else agree, or strongly disagree? Your comments good or bad appreciated!

 

[CJH]

Good summation there Bob!

My main gripe (OK, one of my many main gripes!) is that our players are still too light on right across the board. Should be every players objective to gain 5kgs by the start of next year. (Richo excused!)

 

[Tigerheart]

oh i absolutely agree....well done Bob much appreciated.