Is This The Week?

[_RT_]

Is this the week that Richmond realised that they have kids who can play AFL football if given the chance to?

The reason I ask is in round 1 we had 5, this week we went in with 2 and played the majority of the game with only 1. What stood out most by having a team full of kids is they weren't afraid to take the Roos on by running at them instead of hanging back, if they did make a mistake they buttered up and went again the next time the ball was in their possession. Perhaps now that the pressure is off a little it might be time that we focused on the future of the list and not the present. Whatever happens I implore TW and the coaching staff to stick by the kids for as long as they perform at the level they did last night.

Is this the week some whipping boys showed that they are AFL quality footballers?

Tambling, Graham, JON, Deledio, Jackson & Reiwoldt. Have heard this group constantly pounded by both our own and opposition supporters. Yet tonight they stepped up and delivered when the game was on the line. Not all of them were game breakers but there were things they did tonight that showed they may just make it at AFL level.

Graham was handed the number 1 ruck spot against McIntosh & Petrie and held his own.
Riewoldt stepped up to fill the void when Richo went off and provided a focal point up forward.
Jackson was released after Harvey went off and from being a tagger to an ball winning midfielder. Set up countless forward thrusts and continually broke the lines when running out of defence.
Tambling played well and although he didn't end up with 25-30 touches it was his attack on the ball and the man that was most impressive.
JON seemed bigger and more confident than he did running around at the end of last year. So quality ball use was mixed in with the odd mistake but for someone with less than 10 games to their name you can excuse that.
Deledio had a heavy tag placed on him by the Roos, but instead of going into his shell and just accepting the tag, he stepped up and broke the game open. Not only that but there was the tackles and spoils he made when down back.

Was this the week that we realised that we play better when we run at the opposition?
I hope so, because last night, just like the 3rd quarter against the Cats, we ran at the Roos and took the game to them. We used handball to create space and to reward the runners. It is when we have looked the most impressive as a team over the last 12 months. For the most part last night I thought we went first option nearly every time. Instead of holding onto the ball and playing like robots we saw a runner going past and dished off an attacking handball or we saw a player making space on the opposite side of the ground and kicked it to the advantage of that player so they could continue their run which stopped the Roos from getting back in numbers and allowed Riewoldt to compete 1-1 or 2-2. If we can continue to play this type of football I will walk away from games happier than I do when we don't. At least then you know that the side have had a real crack at winning the game rather than trying to save the game.

Feel free to provide your own response to those 3 questions and ask any others you feel like.

 

[Tigerballs]

Im hoping this was the week the players learned to work hard and run and create options for each other. The more we ran and created space the better we looked.

 

[The Cotch]

I don't know about everyone else, but I knew all along we have a great young list.

Don't let the media or losses cloud that judgement. You don't lose talent.

Some weeks they may not show it, but when put to the task with experienced players out, they'll step up.

 

[Blinky_bill]

Nice summary RT.

So much has been written this year about how bad our footskills are.

Yep we mised a few last night but nowhere near as many as last few weeks and no more than almost every other "quality" side i've watched this year.

Did we have such a great week on the training track this week that we totally sorted out our problems? Of course not.

The thing is - it's purely a confidence thing.

When we're up and running, as you said RT in the 3rd versus Geelong and most of last night, our skills looked fine and we hit the majority of targets. Only by going back into our shell, lacking confidence etc do the skills drop off.

Well done Tiges!

You now know what is required week in week out.

 

[patto_man]

at the moment the kids look like a better option to some of the older blokes.

JON, tambling and even McMahon stood up. now jordan just has to do this week in week out. JON looked good can take a mark. tambling looked much better.

yes, hopefully.

 

[Azzleberry]

is this the week..... That Malcolm Blight announces that he is gay??

Just watching the game now. Riewoldt takes a mark in front of goal... and blighty says; "There is a game in someone's career, that just turns you on!!"

AHahaahaha lmao

 

[Bojangles17]

I dont want to get carried away but I dont have too many problems with uor list, I realise it's not top 3 material, but it should be good enough to compete...Heck, most good judges thought as much only a month ago...here's oping we can gather some momentum, a WIN against the odds in SYD would be just the tonic..