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Who's going to play on Richo?

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Lovett-Murray to line up on Richo: Knights

By Matt Burgan
6:18 PM Wed 21 May, 2008

Matthew Knights says Nathan Lovett-Murray could play on Matthew Richardson on Saturday night

ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights has flagged versatile Bomber Nathan Lovett-Murray as an option to play on Richmond superstar Matthew Richardson in Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G clash.

Although Knights had earmarked the emerging Heath Hocking as the type of run-with player to feature on bigger midfielders this year, he believed Lovett-Murray had the capabilities to match-up on Richardson.

"He's [Lovett-Murray] certainly someone who can fit that size and athleticism demographic and we've got a few more options this week," Knights said.

Even Lovett-Murray, who was at the same media conference with Knights to promote the match, said he would "have a go at him".

"I haven't played on him before, but I've played against him and Dustin Fletcher usually gets the job on him, but I'd like to see Paddy Ryder play on him as well," Lovett-Murray said.

Knights, a former teammate of Richardson, said the powerhouse forward/midfielder was in the best form of his career and this was highlighted in round seven.

"With Richardson, the St Kilda game, I thought was nearly the best game I've seen him play - a couple of weeks ago," Knights said.

"He was playing wing and forward and moving around beautifully and that's a credit to him, being a veteran in this league - he's a super fit athlete and he's got a lot of pride in his performance and credit to him.

"He's playing as good now as he was when he was 25, so he's a much respected player.

"He's playing a bit differently to how he's played conveniently for his whole career, but we used to run around the Botanical Gardens and as a midfielder, you prided yourself on the way you'd run and 'Richo' never used to be too far behind the midfielders at six foot six, so he's a pretty decent athlete.

"We're going to have to have a player who, one, can go with him on the run and two, is capable in the air."
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Surely Ryder?

Richmond have no really dominating rey fowards if Richo plays up the ground. We have Riewoldt, who at this stage is more of flanker/foward pocket and Polak, who will also have spells down back and in the ruck. Add to this Bowden, Morton, Brown, Tambling, Deledio and Edwards rotating through and it's a comparitvly small foward line.

Therefore if Essendon play say Micheal on Polak and Fletcher on Riewoldt, with McPhee back, it doesn't give Ryder any match-up down back unless he plays loose or back up ruck
 
Been a lot of talk about this, and something that popped into my head is, does Hille have the pace to go with him even for a period? Hille and Ryder could rotate through the ruck, taking Richo in turns. Maybe not feasible, but worth thinking about?
 
clogwearer said:
Been a lot of talk about this, and something that popped into my head is, does Hille have the pace to go with him even for a period? Hille and Ryder could rotate through the ruck, taking Richo in turns. Maybe not feasible, but worth thinking about?
Click to expand...

Im not to sure about big D'hille.. Simmonds will be enough for now
NLM might be good in patches on him, maybe rotating with Ryder or Fletch could be the trick

Wait & see
 
#10 Tough As Nails said:
Im not to sure about big D'hille.. Simmonds will be enough for now
NLM might be good in patches on him, maybe rotating with Ryder or Fletch could be the trick

Wait & see
Click to expand...

Don't disagree completely, but I'm not convinced NLM can compete with Richo in the air, and I don't think Ryder's strong enough yet. Fletch maybe, but it would move him a long way up the ground if Richo is roaming outside 50. Hille has size and strength, is good in the air and decent at ground level, and has a tank. Only thing I'm not sure about is pace. It would leave questions regarding the ruck. Wish I had more confidence in Laycock to fill that role.
 
WindyHillWatcher said:
NLM or Paddy seems more likely to me, more so Paddy.
Now... who gets Nathan Brown?
Click to expand...

You've answered the question perfectly.

NLM will take some time on Richo as will Paddy... However NLM is capable of shutting down the smaller types also, due to his pace despite his strength over head. It is quite possible that Paddy and NLM will rotate off Richo and Brown as both are capable of playing taller and smaller then usual.

I really like NLM and think that if he could put it all together he would have it over quite a few players on our list.
 

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B-Bomber said:
You've answered the question perfectly.

NLM will take some time on Richo as will Paddy... However NLM is capable of shutting down the smaller types also, due to his pace despite his strength over head. It is quite possible that Paddy and NLM will rotate off Richo and Brown as both are capable of playing taller and smaller then usual.

I really like NLM and think that if he could put it all together he would have it over quite a few players on our list.
Click to expand...

I live in Darwin, so don't get to go to well... any bombers games! ha! But when i was down in Melbourne i saw the NAB cup game and NLM was just looking really good, looked fit, fresh with new coach/style and aggressive. That hunger seems to have died off a bit with the string of losses, so I hope his suspension hasn't broken his morale even more.
I hope he takes on Richo and isn't too scared to get a bit physical on him
 
whomb said:
i'd put money on knights playing myers and danniher (if picked) on richo for at least half a quarter each, like he did with goodes last week.
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I'd like to see daniher protected a little, and do not feel a run with role on Richo is good for him at this juncture.

If merv is right then I think NLM could provide good coverage in tandem with prehaps myers or even mcphee/ryder depending on team setup. Whoever it is/they are Richo is going run them all off their feet....
 
Ryder has the fitness ability to go with Richo but in 1v1 situatios he will get killed, Richo will be to strong for him.
 
In my mind, Paddy seemed the obvious choice, but from what Knights has said.... NLM to start on Richo, with Paddy as first change. Myers might also fit into a rotation, but as dapto said, Daniher probably does need to have his confidence protected a little at this point. (I simply rate Myers higher :))

Possibly McPhee? Other than NLM, the much maligned McPhee has the most suitable body out of those I mentioned to match up on Richo. Can compete with him in the air and body-on-body, and has been running and working very hard.

It's gonna be a massive job for whoever gets it!
 

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Big Kitty said:
Ryder has the fitness ability to go with Richo but in 1v1 situatios he will get killed, Richo will be to strong for him.
Click to expand...

It will be the complete opposite - Ryder is deceptively strong, and will be able to handle Richo 1v1. It's Ryder's tank that I'm worried about.
 
Big Kitty said:
Ryder has the fitness ability to go with Richo but in 1v1 situatios he will get killed, Richo will be to strong for him.
Click to expand...


there is no way paddy has the tank 2 go with richo. i have seen him before get dragged down the ground. and has been buggered by the end of the 1st quarter. he will only play on him when he is inside 50
 
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