The Essendon game.

[Dan26]

Well, we both have tough away games this week (Richmond against Port and Essendon at Freo.)

Will be tough for both teams to record victories this week, so it will be vitally important for the Tigers get a win against the Bombers the week after - a side who has troubled them in recent times.

My question is, can you beat us? This time? It's been over half a decade. You are in form, playing excting footy, and there will be a full house. This "big match"situation has presented itself before and Essendon has always won easily. Sometimes embarrasingly so. I sense deja vu, but can the Tigers turn it around this time? Is this a different Richmond?

 

[CJH]

Over half a decade since what? Since we beat you in Round 22, 2001?

It has been a different Richmond so far this year - mainly in the hardball gets area. Also in our non-reliance on big forwards.

Saturdays win was important - not so much because of the quality (or lack thereof) of the opponent - but because we found ourselves in a huge hole and managed to dig ourselves out. Bodes well for self belief.

Not sure how we are going to go over these next few weeks - mainly because we are not sure on what team we will be able to put out. We know we will be without Richo and Otto and there must be a huge question mark over Stafford.

Ben Holland has only just resumed from a knee injury (at Coburg) and may make it back either this or next week. Don't know how much we can expect from him at this stage.

So even if we get belted by Port then yourselves, I am not sure if it really tells us much. If we are at least competitive - honourable losses - it may give a good indication on where we are.

At least our back 6 are stable and our midfield has been doing well. Whether or not this is enough to win a game of football is yet to be seen.

In 2000, our season was highlighted by our ability to keep winning against the odds as player after player went down. This trait has been apparent already this year - at least in the last 4 games. This is probably where we are pinning much of our faith on.

If we can turn at the half way mark of the season with a 50/50 win-loss record, it will be good as we expect to have a full strength team on the park for the second half.

Sorry I can't give a more definitive answer but circumstances currently dictate that we don't know how our team will look over the next few weeks.

 

[Dan26]

Originally posted by CJH
Over half a decade since what? Since we beat you in Round 22, 2001?

Oops! Silly me. That match totally escaped me for some reason. Was thinking back to round one 1998. The 2001 match seems to get eclipsed by the final one week later, simply because it's, well.... a final.

I like the way you are looking this year actually. You actually look dangerous when you go forward, and even in 2001 I never sensed that. Maybe missing Ottens has forced the coaching staff to alter your structure. In the past it always seemed to be kick it to the tall forwards and if that fails, just hope something can happen.

Now you have more avenues, and are more unpredictable. I have a hunch this will be one of the the better Essendon-Richmond games.

 

[Rodan#18.]

Dan

hey Dan...perhaps you are not familiar with my copyright 'Subiaco Hangover 'theorem.

How it works is a team travels to Perth...plays wce or freo...loses.
And also gets done the next week. 2003 is going nicely.
2002 showed the same.

So youre in the proverbial creek my bomber friend.

Perhaps the theory could be broken if Bris played Freo and then backed up against Hawthorn at the Gabba.

Aside from that...we're a little short on Key Talls. But Spud doesn't seem to mind that very much.

 

[Tigerblood]

We should do better than usual because Blumfield is not playing - for Essendon!

 

[Rodgerramjet]

Essendon

As CJH said, It's going to depend on who we have on the park or rather who we can select. If we are without Richardson, Ottens, Stafford then i think it's going to be very difficult.

I think that Holland will be bought back into the side this week to cover Richardson, whether Holland plays full-forward or down back with Hall going to full-forward remains to be scene but Holland won't Ruck, one would hope not anyway, not yet.

If Stafford is rubbed out at the tribunal, then Shultz should be called up for selection so Holland doesn't have to ruck if he plays and conversly Hall won't have to ruck all day.

 

[Rodan#18.]

ok

alright...let's get our season back on track.
beat the bombers.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Re: ok

Originally posted by Rodan#18.
alright...let's get our season back on track.
beat the bombers.

Yep id love it too. Just dont know if its possible.

Injurys are worrying us at the moment. Its going to be a very, very hard ask. Tigers need to fire on the day.