Vs Adelaide (Crunch Time?)

[TigerGar]

CRUNCH TIME........ more than the situation we are in, but how we need to play in-and-under hard at the body football!

For the second week running the Crows were exposed as not
good enough . Got themselves in a winning position against Port Adelaide and a 28 point lead early in the third quarter should have been defendable in the slippery night-time conditions at Football Park. But the Crows lack of strikepower allowed them only three goals in the second half.

It’s crunch time for the Tigers.
We will welcome back Richo this week, but our real problems are in midfield where key players such as Bowden, Tivvers, Knighter, Cameron, Fiora and to a lesser extent Cambo are just not having enough impact. The Crows’ midfield can totally exploit our biggest weakness.

Our less established players need to step up. We’re obviously not in our strongest position list wise, with a lot of the talent injured. A lot of clubs go through this and out of this adversity, there’s opportunity. You get an opportunity and you find something special on your list. That’s the only way we can get better, if new players have the opportunity to play a substantial part in the game.

THE BURNING QUESTIONS:How will the Tiges tackle McLeod,
who was the difference the last time and he'll be primed for a big one ?(He must be stopped). How will Richo perform in his return from injury and will it be good enough to inspire us out of our slump?

I think RICHMOND CAN WIN. The Tiges season is on the line here. The return of Richo will be a huge boost to us,and continued improvements of our lesser lights like Rodan, as will the game being played at Colonial where we have only had 3 losses (none of them by more than 9 points).

 

[CJH]

Last year, McLeod was shown as being too quick for the likes of Kellaway or Sziller. The thing about him that hurts teams more than anything is his pace - there are not very many who can run with him.

This is why I favour Fiora who is our quickest player and who also has more endurance than McLeod. Fiora is also an attacking player in his own right, so would have to have some respect paid back otherwise they will get hurt.

As Plan B, maybe Rodan is worth a crack. He too has the pace and edurance to match and can also hurt going back the other way.

 

[ok.crows]

This should be a good game. I take it as read that Tigers fans think they can win. If the two teams play anything like their form last week, with Tigers going down by 40-odd (to Hawks who themselves haven't been flash) and Crows by only 8 points, then I think that Crows can win.

I would expect an improvement from tigers though this week, but also I would hope for an improvement from Crows.

McLeod has too much experience for Rodan. It would be a bit tough to put Rodan on McLeod in only his fifth game.

McLeod is but one of a strong Crows midfield. Tigers still have to worry about Ricciuto & Goodwin, but if they focus on just those three then Edwards & Bode will come into the game. It is a pity Johnson won't be playing, but watch out for Gallagher and Doughty or they will surprise you as well.

Where Richmond may have an advantage is in defence. The absence of Holland hurts a bit here though. If Richmond can't contain Crows long list of players rotating through the midfield, Crows will dominate theere and starve Richmonds otherwise potentially matchwinning forwards of supply.

As I say it should be a good game. I think Crows can win it. Crows do pretty well at Colonial. I know it is a bit of a crunch game for Richmond, but it is also a gamee that does not lack for importance to Crows.

I'm looking forward to an interesting contest. What do you guys think?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Only 3 Richmond players concern me - Ottens, Richo & Bowden. Expect Stenglein to have a run-with role with Bowden. Smart is my tip to play on Richo, as he has done a great job on the likes of Tredrea & Grant so far this year. Ottens is the major problem from a Crow's perspective as we don't have any player really capable of matching him. I would give the job to Marsh to follow him everywhere like he did with Josh Fraser last year.

IMO, even without our best player so far this year - Kane Johnson, I expect the Crows to win based on a dominant midfield. Bunji will be angry this week after his suspension & has not played at his best since round 1. Goodwin returned to his best form last week. Roo on the other hand played a crap game against the Power last week & his only show of strength was in Showdown 11.5 in the pub the following day. I expect him to perform better this WE. Watch out for Doughty, who has been a consistent performer on the wing. It would be great to see him matched up on a Coughlin or Rodan. The wildcard is the Birdman who has not done much since burning off Geelong in the 1st half a few weeks ago.

Really looking forward to this crucial game for both sides.

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Only 3 Richmond players concern me - Ottens, Richo & Bowden. Expect Stenglein to have a run-with role with Bowden.

...

I take it that Stenglien is Adelaide's best tagger? If so, then by all means play him on Bowden!

This may shock some of you, but Richmond folk don't rate Bowden as highly as apparently everyone else does. Sure he can have a damaging left foot and is good overhead for his size and may hurt teams on occasions but never often enough for most of our liking.

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by ok.crows


...

McLeod has too much experience for Rodan. It would be a bit tough to put Rodan on McLeod in only his fifth game.

McLeod is but one of a strong Crows midfield. Tigers still have to worry about Ricciuto & Goodwin, but if they focus on just those three then Edwards & Bode will come into the game. It is a pity Johnson won't be playing, but watch out for Gallagher and Doughty or they will surprise you as well.

Where Richmond may have an advantage is in defence. The absence of Holland hurts a bit here though. If Richmond can't contain Crows long list of players rotating through the midfield, Crows will dominate theere and starve Richmonds otherwise potentially matchwinning forwards of supply.

...

That's OK, crows.ok! This will be Rodan's 6th game so should have enough experience to be up to the task!

We are more worried about McLeod because he is more unique! Ricciuto & Goodwin are more conventional in the way they play - McLeod isn't, and that is why he hurt us last year.

As for tagging - Richmond very rarely do full on tagging. Sure Sziller is given a job each week, but he also collects his 20 odd possessions as well. He is used as more of a run-with player than a pure tagger.

Other than that, we usually just match up players and let them go at it amongst themselves.

Our strength against Adelaide IS our defence because you guys don't have much firepower up forward! Our strength also is our forward line - with Richo and Otto - because you guys don't really have anyone to match them!

Sure you can mention Smart, but he would be giving away 7cm and probably 10 Kg's against Richo; more against Otto. Take a real close look at these two boys - they are absolutely huge and can run to boot!

The thing that we realise though is that you could have a forward line consisting of Richo, Otto, Carey, Dunstall, Lockett, Ablett, Wade and Coventry but they are absolutely useless if no-one kicks the ball to them.

This is why the midfield contest is crucial. If we break even in the midfield- ie., have equal number of Inside 50's - we will win the game, due to the differences in the respective forward/backline.

Of course, if our midfield play completely crap like they did last week, Adelaide will win by 40 points as well!

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

there is no denying that the crows have one of the best midfields going around and the tiges has a midfield that has in the past gone missing and not known for its toughness.
mcleod is the danger man for the tigers.how do we stop him?well ya cant really stop a champion like mcleod for a full game however you can limit his effectivness by making it harder for him to find a teamate.
play close attention to his teamates therefore mcleod will be less effective.
trying to come up with someone to play on mcleod why not fiora he has the speed to keep up and the confidence to actually hurt mcleod by moving fwd.
this game no doubt be won in the middle if the tigers can come out even with the crows out of the middle the tigers will win.
if not it could be a longgggggggggg day.
cheers!

 

[Tigerheart]

Mcfast

Could chaffey run with him...is he quick enough ? Enough endurance ? Knighter ran with Braddles and the old fella still has some pace. I'd be happy to sacrifice either Chaff or Knighter.
The value of playing a lesser skilled player on Mcleod is that you know your player will be shown the way to the ball.

And don't forget Roo and Goodwin....even Edwards.

Tivendale is quick and not exactly setting the world on fire...even run Bowden with them. Trouble is, if the opposition think the onus is on them to create the play...they might oblige.

We have to give the crows some problems too..

The team with the most taggers usually lose(r)s.

 

[TheFoxhat]

Let's just let the teams go out & do it. Instead of each week other supporters coming on to our page just to bait everyone on here....................Don't dream it -------do it .

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Which 3 players dropped out as emergencies for Richmond this week?

Also, with Spud mentioning during the week he was doing no favours to Ottens by using him to plug holes, where is he likely to play this week - in ruck or as a key forward?

CJH - Stenglein is our best run-with player (not a traditional tagger) & I expect will get the job on Bowden who cut up the Crows (well Doughty to be precise) in the wizzer semi. I believe we have the options to cover Richardson & don't under-rate Smart who has been back to his vintage best blanketing equally dangerous forwards in Tredrea & Grant. Ottens is the player which really concerns me as we have no obvious player to match up on him (similar to your problem with McLeod).

Good to see you guys have been reading the Victorian press than the Crows have no forwards. We have been averaging about 100pts per game, which is the 6th best in the league & better than Richmond so far.

Also, our defence has been very solid this year & I would suggest more settled than yours missing Holland (Crows have conceded 468pts compared to Richmond's 569pts!). Although Torney is having a great year & Zantuck has been impressive. However, the likes of Cameron, Rogers, Sziller & to a lesser degree A Kellaway have been struggling.

However, where I expect the Crows to have a big advatage is the midfield, even without our best player so far this year in Kane Johnson. I can see all our gun midfielders (ie. McLeod, Goodwin & Riccuito)firing for the 1st time this year - as it has been the "lesser" likes in Johnson, Bickley, Bode & Doughty who have carried the midfield so far this year. Crows to win by 5+ goals.

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Which 3 players dropped out as emergencies for Richmond this week?

...

Sziller, Poyas and Rogers are the emergencies and apparently all went round for Coburg today. Hope no-one does a hammy in the warmup!

 

[TheFoxhat]

If we lose ,the room of mirrors is going to be rather full tonight