Training Pre-Season 2015-16

Sir_Loin

Premium Platinum
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Posts
17,573
Likes
39,705
AFL Club
Richmond
Yeah our best players didn't have a good day on the field. However, I think North Melbourne simply have the upper hand against us. We won the contested possessions against them in the Round 6 game, but still lost.

I have mentioned this before, but outside of Round 23 last year (where North played their VFL side), North Melbourne have not scored any less than 100 points against us in a match since 2009. That covers the entire reigns of Damien Hardwick and Brad Scott at Richmond and North Melbourne respectively. In contrast, we have conceded less than a 100 against every side at some point in 2015, let alone the last 6 years. They just match up really well against our defence.

Therefore, the problem may not have been the EF in of itself this time around unlike the past. It may have just been our strategy going into games against North Melbourne altogether. What the problem is though, I can't tell you.
Great post. I remember the game in Tassie earlier in the year and they just waited for us to turn the footy over, then surged forward with the pill and slaughtered us. Then when we slowed the ball down and made it contest they pressured us, made us kick to contest and won the footy back and hurt us on the turnover. When it was up for grabs, too big, pushed us off the ball and moved it quickly. They use a lot of handball off half back which hurts us. Like others have said, they match up well on us. They also have a much older, seasoned side. This is really they're last crack at it I reckon, we turned over another 9 players this year. I'd rather be in our shoes than theirs in terms of the development cycle.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Valixir

World's #1 Procrastinator
Joined
Oct 22, 2015
Posts
787
Likes
2,053
Location
Vandalay Industries
AFL Club
Richmond
aaaaaaahhhhhhh. OK I know the NAB is considered no big deal in the scheme of things but I soooooo want to see some 2016 footy.

I've watched all last season again, gnawed on the tidbits of training videos, read all the opinions re 2016 here until they go on repeat and now I am READY.

Sigh. Sorry. Just want the season to start.
Get back to me when you've re-watched EVERY roar vision video from the past 3 years and ALL of the shitty montage slideshows on YouTube. I've even sunk to memorising all the player profile Q&A's. ;)
 

Lsta062

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Posts
9,390
Likes
17,777
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Chelsea
NOrff beat us in the EF because the week before they rested their guns...
We didn't...
End of story....
I wouldn't be shocked if they rested players to ensure they played us as well as getting a rest. They beat us at the MCG, Etihad, Tasmania, pre-season or H&A season regardless of whether they rest players the week before or not. It is not surprising finals went the same way. If they didn't rest players the week before, they would have probably won Round 23 and play someone else in the finals.

I would rest players too if we could make sure we got our bunnies in the final.
 

tunksy

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 6, 2011
Posts
7,828
Likes
10,971
AFL Club
Richmond
Re game style, didn't we go into 2015 with grand plans to be more attacking only to ditch it at about round 4 for the more slow/deliberate style. At the end of the day we didn't have enough attacking and quick players to pull it off. That can change with the new crop of recruits from 2014/15 who have genuine leg speed and disposal skills but will still take a year or 2 or 3 to happen imo.
Probably pretty smart we ditched it.. the power didnt ditch ot and had a shit house year
 

theflea

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Posts
23,713
Likes
25,563
Location
victoria
AFL Club
Richmond
Great post. I remember the game in Tassie earlier in the year and they just waited for us to turn the footy over, then surged forward with the pill and slaughtered us. Then when we slowed the ball down and made it contest they pressured us, made us kick to contest and won the footy back and hurt us on the turnover. When it was up for grabs, too big, pushed us off the ball and moved it quickly. They use a lot of handball off half back which hurts us. Like others have said, they match up well on us. They also have a much older, seasoned side. This is really they're last crack at it I reckon, we turned over another 9 players this year. I'd rather be in our shoes than theirs in terms of the development cycle.
Our issue is still trying to maintain possession while doing so at speed. This is why we tried to slow down our exits. North do have a problem with fast defending, which is why we struggle against them. Hopefully this will change this year.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Calcium Man

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Posts
16,762
Likes
36,282
Location
The Hospital
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Golden State, Daniel Rioli
NOrff beat us in the EF because the week before they rested their guns...
We didn't...
End of story....
Norf just match up perfectly against us to exploit our weaknesses.

3 tall forwards (two of who always play well against us) exploits Chaplin and our third tall back. Chappy gets no help and can't help others while Batch was left one out with Waite too much.

Dominate athletic ruck negates Maric at ruck contests and around the ground.

Plethora of hard inside nuts exposes Cotchin and Miles as our only two genuine inside players. Further killed by Goldstein tapping it down the throats.

Our 7 man defense means we are one short in attack. Hansen thrives as a loose tall and picked off our long bombs constantly. Our poor awarness when going into f50 doesn't work against a team with a dominate tall loose defender.

Our poor to average pressure in attack is exploited by Norf who love to attack from the HB line.

A small, skillful and fast player like Brett Harvey constantly cuts us up.

Overall I'm not sure any team in the league matches up as well against us as Norf. That is further highlighted by the stat they never score below 100 points against us yet we've pretty much held every other team below that threshold in last 2 years.
 

Charlie Pannam

Premiership Player
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Posts
4,699
Likes
12,169
AFL Club
Richmond
In a few years I fully expect Lennon and Corey Ellis to be our best players. I like some of our other youth but these guys are just worth frothing over.
Good call, these 2 have sublime footskills, you try and get the ball into their hands at every opportunity.
 
Last edited:

Sir_Loin

Premium Platinum
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Posts
17,573
Likes
39,705
AFL Club
Richmond
Good call, these 2 have sublime footskills, you try and get the ball into their hands at every opportunity.
Lennon is a bit of a mystery. I wonder if the tigers rate him as much. Could be anything but dropped for the EF after a few good showings and the contract issues over the post season. Needs a good year
 

Charlie Pannam

Premiership Player
Joined
Aug 15, 2015
Posts
4,699
Likes
12,169
AFL Club
Richmond
Lennon is a bit of a mystery. I wonder if the tigers rate him as much. Could be anything but dropped for the EF after a few good showings and the contract issues over the post season. Needs a good year
I think the penny dropped last year for Lennon re how hard he has to work to play regular senior football. Maybe up until then he was expecting talent alone to do it for him. As long as he doesn't get ahead of himself I reckon he'll be an absolute gun.
 

Sir_Loin

Premium Platinum
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Posts
17,573
Likes
39,705
AFL Club
Richmond
I think the penny dropped last year for Lennon re how hard he has to work to play regular senior football. Maybe up until then he was expecting talent alone to do it for him. As long as he doesn't get ahead of himself I reckon he'll be an absolute gun.
Hope so, can be if he wants it
 

Dunger

Club Legend
Joined
Nov 28, 2008
Posts
1,176
Likes
4,167
Location
-37.822165, 144.988143
AFL Club
Richmond
I think the penny dropped last year for Lennon re how hard he has to work to play regular senior football. Maybe up until then he was expecting talent alone to do it for him. As long as he doesn't get ahead of himself I reckon he'll be an absolute gun.
Spot on, the kid can take a great contested mark for his size. Knows where the sticks are too. I cant wait to see how he has improved come round 1
 
Top Bottom