2009 - Preseason Preview - 12th of 16 - Richmond

[pahoffm]

I always find Richmond hard to judge for obvious reasons.

The Tigers are aiming for finals this year. Their twilight group are playing their last season or two as, quite rightly, the younger group are rising to take hold of the key positions.

Their positional depth is as follows:

B	King (25,178,33,4)	Thursfield (22,191,40,0)	Moore (25,190,46,9)
		Silvester# (24,192,0,0)	McGuane (22,191,32,0)
HB	Bowden (30,188,253,171)	Schulz (23,193,67,55)	Newman (26,183,133,17)
	Polo (22,187,31,7)	Rance (19,193,0,0)	McMahon (25,186,136,43)
		Post (19,194,0,0)	Raines (23,183,53,1)
C	Oakley-Nicholls (21,188,9,0)	Tuck (27,189,91,44)	Tambling (22,180,75,50)
	Collins (20,186,0,0)	Coughlan (26,185,83,37)	White (21,179,38,14)
		Cotchin (18,185,15,9)
		Jackson (22,188,47,15)
HF	Morton (22,186,29,46)	Riewoldt (20,193,26,25)	Brown (31,181,206,333)
	Pettifer (27,183,109,129)	Richardson (34,197,276,791)	Connors (20,184,8,5)
		Polak (24,194,106,24)
F	Pattinson (23,198,53,13)	Hughes (22,193,16,23)	Edwards (20,180,32,23)
	Putt (19,203,0,0)	Gourdis# (20,194,0,0)	Nahas# (21,176,0,0)
			Gilligan# (18,177,0,0)
R	Simmonds (30,197,179,124)	Deledio (21,188,84,68)	Foley (23,178,70,18)
	Graham (21,201,2,0)	Hislop (20,185,7,2)	Cousins (30,179,238,205)
	Vickery (18,200,0,0)	Johnson (31,187,220,76)
	Browne# (18,205,0,0)	Thomson (22,184,28,16)

For the first time in this era, the Tiges finally fill out a field evenly with balance. Plenty of Rucks, KPPs, Midfielders and other runners.

The only area of concern is the number of games by their depth players. Most of the taller defenders are still on the lesser side of 50 games. Apart from Simmonds & Pattison, the rucks are thin on experience too.

Apart from this, the general level of long disposal needs improving, which may come with more experience and practice.

To support its efforts:
1. The Tigers had a very good run of wins late in last season to provide momentum.
2. It has a favourable draw with 13 games with a good show of winning.
3. Most importantly, Wallace knows that 2009 is a make or break year for himself, and a finals berth will indicate the players desire to retain him.

 

[Rosy]

3. Most importantly, Wallace knows that 2009 is a make or break year for himself, and a finals berth will indicate the players desire to retain him.

We're ranked high in list age and experience. Considering your assessment and balanced list do you think we'll cash in on the window of opportunity and play finals this year Phantom?

P.S. Thanks for the effort you put into your team previews. Interesting to read and a good reference to look back on.

 

[pahoffm]

We're ranked high in list age and experience.  Considering your assessment and balanced list do you think we'll cash in on the window of opportunity and play finals this year Phantom?

P.S.  Thanks for the effort you put into your team previews.  Interesting to read and a good reference to look back on.

Hi Rosy,

We are listed high in average age & experience but, as been posted on another threat, these are skewed by our group of about 6 twilighters.

After our twilighters, the bulk of the next group falls into that 22-24yo development bracket, of course, with the 18-21yo junior bracket coming after.

This is something that I've stressed in previous seasons as our list's major weakness but now, as that development group is maturing, a genuine window appears to be opening. It will get stronger as players from each of the two lower age groups mature.

Consequently, our opportunity for finals this year will depend on having all twilighters up and running for a full season, especially Simmonds who fills such a big hole, and the development group continuing their improvement.

Circumstances may set against us and we may miss out, but in the long term we are growing, we are getting better and the window is opening.

By my reckoning, in 3 years we should be right up there as a genuine premiership contender.l

 

[WesternTiger]

Hi Rosy,

We are listed high in average age & experience but, as been posted on another threat, these are skewed by our group of about 6 twilighters.

After our twilighters, the bulk of the next group falls into that 22-24yo development bracket, of course, with the 18-21yo junior bracket coming after.

This is something that I've stressed in previous seasons as our list's major weakness but now, as that development group is maturing, a genuine window appears to be opening. It will get stronger as players from each of the two lower age groups mature.

Consequently, our opportunity for finals this year will depend on having all twilighters up and running for a full season, especially Simmonds who fills such a big hole, and the development group continuing their improvement.

Circumstances may set against us and we may miss out, but in the long term we are growing, we are getting better and the window is opening.

By my reckoning, in 3 years we should be right up there as a genuine premiership contender.l

Think someone mentioned 2011 as the beginning of the genuine window at the start of the 2007 season

Despite his faults at least he was being realistic.

 

[pahoffm]

Think someone mentioned 2011 as the beginning of the genuine window at the start of the 2007 season

Despite his faults at least he was being realistic.

Exactly!

 

[TigerFlag2017]

I know I am on a hiding to nothing here, but its a real pity JON has not worked out. His size and speed certainly represent an X factor to the team, and could really carve out a critical role in the team. Perhaps if his body was developing into a Adam Goodes giant, then some of his deficiencies (kicking, awareness) could be overcome.

Let's hope he has a strong season and shows the ability to make it at AFL level. I suspect with the depth this year he may struggle to get a game this year, but if he could start dominating VFL on a weekly basis then we may have some confidence to progress.

On a non-JON note, it is good to see where we are building depth across the line, the obvious theme is now to build on our A-graders particularly in key forward positions and in being able to replace Richo and Troy. In the next two years, a bit of luck and we can pick-up another A-grade midfielder and tall forward, and we might just be starting to build some sustained success in the next decade.

Interesting Phantom that you named Richo at CHF, surprised no one has suggested that he should be on the wing. If Cleve plays, I certainly think Richo is better off out of the forward line for the balance of the team.

 

[pahoffm]

Interesting Phantom that you named Richo at CHF, surprised no one has suggested that he should be on the wing. If Cleve plays, I certainly think Richo is better off out of the forward line for the balance of the team.

Agree but Richo is not a specialist wing player. As most would recognise he is a floating tall.
Same really as Adam Goodes. Goodes plays as a floating tall too.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Think someone mentioned 2011 as the beginning of the genuine window at the start of the 2007 season

Despite his faults at least he was being realistic.

He also basically said he that 'opportunity will knock'(whatever that means? :spin) in 2009 and that we would finish ninth in 2007(last).

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21460858-23211,00.html

Realism is that Wallace has no real idea about what's going to unfold in the future, he only has guess work.
I am constantly amazed at how many swallow his crystal ball forecasts.

 

[WesternTiger]

He also basically said he that 'opportunity will knock'(whatever that means? :spin) in 2009 and that we would finish ninth in 2007(last).

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21460858-23211,00.html

Realism is that Wallace has no real idea about what's going to unfold in the future, he only has guess work.
I am constantly amazed at how many swallow his crystal ball forecasts.

The graph said nineth. Wallace said: "A holding pattern," Wallace said "Whether that be ninth, seventh, fifth, 10th, we don't know. We expect improvement, whether that's finals, who knows?"

Do you believe ToO that your core age group needs to be 22-26 to enter a genuine window? If you do we weren't going to have that until 2011 anyway you look at it considering the state the list was in in 2004.

 

[Djevv]

He also basically said he that 'opportunity will knock'(whatever that means? :spin) in 2009 and that we would finish ninth in 2007(last).

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21460858-23211,00.html

Realism is that Wallace has no real idea about what's going to unfold in the future, he only has guess work.
I am constantly amazed at how many swallow his crystal ball forecasts.

I reckon the situation was entirely predictable. I did a spreadsheet mock-up in early 2006 of how the list would change over the three yrs to 2009. It was pretty clear from that that last year we would be 'a team on the rise' and be contenders this year.

It is also not hard to predict that we may stumble in '10 and '11 depending how we handle the retirements of our aging stars and how well we have recruited.

 

[toothless]

B: Moore Thursfield Farmer
HB: Newman McGuane Tambling
C: Martin Cousins Cotchin
HF: Collins Riewoldt Edwards
F: Morton Polak Nahas
Foll: Simmonds, Deledio, Foley
Inter: Jackson, Connors, Post, Graham
Emerg: Polo, Vickery, Astbury