Tiger's Midfield has a ways to go

[WhiteLineFever]

Having watched the Wizard Granny last Saturday, I am more convinced than ever that Richmond needs to improve its midfield if it is to take the next step. From what I saw the backline was playing well and the forward line is potent with Richo & Otto - if only they are given a proper chance.

On Saturday we were flogged in the centre and around the packs. Whenever the midfield brings the ball into the forward line it is coming in under pressure (ie just kick it long quickly) or it is kicked not to the advantage of the forwards, who have to compete in a crowded forward line. On saturday, it was only in the last 10 minutes when Rodan cleared the ball a few times that we looked like getting the ascendency.

The same midfield flogging happened when we played Essendon in the 1st final and Brisbane in the qualifying final. These sides have great midfields and we were exposed. Exposed by 70+ points as I recall.

In todays football if you do not control the midfield you cannot beat the best sides. I reckon Richmond should experiment with its younger guys maybe poyas and roden. If we can get it right in the centre, maybe we can go two better than last year.

And that's my say ..........

 

[CJH]

We have some improving to do if we want to be considered alongside Brisbane and maybe (maybe!!!) Essendon. Aside from that, we are on a par with everyone else.

On the Wizzer Cup, it is hard to deliver the ball to the forwards advantage when they have up to a 16 - 17 man flood happening (which at times it did).

Don't think that Ports Midfield were any better - they were more prolific for greater parts of the game on Saturday but only managed ONE more goal than us. Tredrea had to play a Richo - like game and push far and wide for most of his kicks - even considering that he was playing on a ruckman who out of necessity was being played as a Full Back.

I would say that our midfield doens't match that of Brisbanes, but both our defence and attack are as good as any going around.

Oh, and Rodan MUST start in the centre square on Thursday week!

 

[WhiteLineFever]

I thought we were soundly beaten in the centre on Saturday. Port play that ball carry game because of their midfield players like Dew, Stevens & Francou were pretty effective.

I'd be interested in seeing the stats for centre clearances. This only tells half the story as it is also the way it comes in to the forward line.

My point is to take the next step and win the big ones we have to address the midfield.

 

[nut]

Stafford might make the difference in the centre square.
But I still have the memory of adelaide last year when they took us apart in the middle.Teams when they get on top of us seem to do it out of the middle. We have a good Coaching staff.Crocker for the forwards and Frawley for the defence but more is needed in the centre.

If we had a Voss or a Mcleod in there, then our side would be complete.

I would play Fiora in defence with some spells in the middle. He has good situation awareness around him. which you need in the middle.

 

[Dean3]

Midfield

Don't forget that the double centre circle's favoured Primus a lot in the Wizard Cup - when Stafford and Otto can take a proper run at the centre bounce, we'll be more competitive out of the middle. That's not to say that we don't need to get some hardness in there though.

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by WhiteLineFever
I thought we were soundly beaten in the centre on Saturday. Port play that ball carry game because of their midfield players like Dew, Stevens & Francou were pretty effective.

I'd be interested in seeing the stats for centre clearances. This only tells half the story as it is also the way it comes in to the forward line.

...

I would also like to see the stats (couldn't find them at afl.com.au) for the 'Inside 50's' This is possibly the most pertinent statistic as the primary job of the midfield is to kick the ball to the forwards.

Port Adelaide no doubt would have racked up plenty of the ball through the midfield playing ring-a-ring-a-rosy but this does little to actually put a score on the board.

Also, don't forget that despite having more of the ball in the middle, we did outscore them after the first quarter.

The sole crucial error that ultimately cost us the game was the decision to start Holland on Primus at the start of the last quarter. Primus is the best ruck in the league at the moment and was far too good for Holland. This is why Port were able to get those early centre clearances in the last quarter - not because of any great dominance from their smaller midfielders.

 

[CJH]

Oh, and this doesn't mean that I don't acknowledge the point that we need more grunt through the midfield - it is well known that we do.

Interesting that Hart, Houlihan and Hudson aside, aren't all our draftees and rookies all hard-at-it in-and-under type players.

Looks like Danny and Greg Beck are well aware of this deficiency as well.

 

[Tigerheart]

wELL THE SECRET IS OUT ON rODAN...HIS SESSION IN THE FNAL QUARTER HAD ME DROOLING AND i'D GET HIM (damn caps) in the centre square every time...White line fever gets support from me here because think Poyas would be an excellent ruck-rover...for hecks sake at least we can try him out !

Obviously our midfild needs to improve.

Our other big deficency is the no. of talls on the list. 9.
Injure Stafford Richo and Holland (these guys have injury histories as long as the Hume HWY) on your paper team and see who we've got.

But Rodan and krakeour are just fantastic recruits for us.
stay injury free and play the RIGHT guys in the middle and we could go 1 better this year.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

we will get it all together remember that Staff, duncan kellaway and chaff wherent playing..

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by rfctigerarmy
we will get it all together remember that Staff, duncan kellaway and chaff wherent playing..

Think about how different it all would have been had Gaspar been playing. He would have taken Tredrea and Hall could have gone to make a nuiscance of himself up the ground!

 

[WhiteLineFever]

I think that ruckman at the centre bounce and ball-ups around the ground and their perceived impact is over rated. Good mid fielders can rove to opposition ruckman. Even if your ruckman is on top of his game, a midfield like Brisbane or even Adelaide's with Andrew McCloud can take it away what looks to be with ease.

It is good to see Richmond has recruited a number of good younger players over the last few years, including midfielders like Poyas, Rodan & Fiora . I think the recruitment guys have done a really good job and should be congratulated.

 

[Rodgerramjet]

The Centre

I say get a few guys in the middle that have got a bit of meat on there bodies ie Poyas and Rodan, both of these guys have got some grunt, i think there ready, King is not bad but he is a walking skeleton, needs more beef. And someone said the other day we have a team of wingman, i tend to agree with that.

If we can get the mid feild right, we are going to do some serious damage and i think we will just about win it, the big one.