Welcome to Tigers: Jason Castagna | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Welcome to Tigers: Jason Castagna

mrposhman said:
I don't think he did the minimum yesterday, the ball didn't fall for him offensively but he was good defensively. Agree about last week he was poor.
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When I say minimum, I mean when looking at the last 4 or so weeks as a whole. We have a number of small forwards now who harass well so the position is up for grabs. I don't believe you can just get by on defensive pressure alone, you need to also kick goals. Castagna has been great in that respect in terms of number of goals kicked this season (and could have been many more but for his kicking yips) but the fact remains is he hasn't kicked a goal in 5 weeks now.
 
I'll back Leppacella on this one, personally think he'd have to be on thin ice, however the forward unit has worked all year and his big part of it, though I'm sure Bolton will end up a better footballer, not sure he can have the same impact as George without the ball at this stage, the second tall must be in there thoughts too, however I doubt they will go funking around with the team structure much now.
 
CC TIGER said:
I'll back Leppacella on this one, personally think he'd have to be on thin ice, however the forward unit has worked all year and his big part of it, though I'm sure Bolton will end up a better footballer, not sure he can have the same impact as George without the ball at this stage, the second tall must be in there thoughts too, however I doubt they will go funking around with the team structure much now.
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Unless something goes seriously wrong ( Hello Merkin ) Bolton will be an AFL star. Another 10 kgs to that frame and you have someone as good or better than Hills, Bennells etc.
George a completely different type and not close in class or future ability. You can just tell with some players from day 1
 
TJsFurrow said:
Did anyone notice how many times Saints defenders threw the ball onto the boot quickly yesterday? It's implied pressure, and it's a big part of our success this year. These defenders know there's 3 super quick tacklers nearby, and George brings the physicality as his point of diff. His numbers without the ball suggest he's contributing well defensively. I'd prefer the other two to be having a ping at the goals TBH. I'd keep him in.
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Ah TJ, as usual you are spot on.
 
maybe his role is to shut out the opposition's interceptor? from the replay i noticed at one stage a contest with roberton.
its not possible to see from the tv but a guess

our forward plan is to bring the ball to ground - caddy and now towner are making aerial contests and actively engaging with the bigger KPD. Is a key role for George to play that role on the intercepting marking type? he has the speed and body to make the contest/ prevent third man up and so cause a spillage

yes his numbers are low, but it would greatly reduce the opps rebound. If so then coaches are happy and he plays on mackie in 2 weeks


alternatively it is the idea that 2 smalls can be caught, but 3 are impossible to track all game. so someone pops up each game (and someone invariably is quiet)
 
We have a dangerous amount of speed right across the ground. Most teams have a bunch of plodders running around. It is a good combination for us.
 
On pressure acts in general. It's a thing. Observable. Can be measured. The main thing is chasing. En masse. In formation. Heating the opposition with the ball.

Until recently our game plan was very dependent on forward pressure. For most of the game. But that's changing. We still need it often. (We're moving it up the park.)

For a month or so George has been found out. Offensively. He'd become reliant on his physical strength (awesome per kg) to win the ball. His power in attack on the ball. That's a bad idea because there's a simple solution for the opposition - play a bigger bloke on him. And that's what they've done. George? Not strong enough any more.

I mentioned at the very beginning of the season that George's reliance on strength in his attack on the ball was a trap. And that under Fly George had learned to use his evasive skills.

Well, here we are again. Or at least were. From about a month ago George is recultivating his evasive skills (as coached, absolutely as coached) and we see this on the park. Selling candy. Getting them up the park and doubling back on them. And even though George's offensive numbers have been largely off he is using the ball with aplomb and creativity. Just not often enough. And he is getting somebody like Roberton or Acres out of the arc to take aerial heat off Jack and Towner and to disrupt opposition system.

There's one more facet of George's game that I can't get numbers on but that RFC will measure. The number of times George stops them taking an uncontested mark in our forward line. This heinous act, this felony, the act of a defender taking an uncontested mark in the Richmond forward line is match losing *smile*. It is absolutely and strictly prohibited.

George is usually good at getting involved in the marking contests even if it just bounces off his head. Even when he's out of position. Caddy is too. Less so Townsend who has a nasty habit of marking it and kicking the goal. But Jack can just go AWOL on this *smile*. (He did for an hour yesterday.) George, at his best, is quick enough and smart enough to get in there when he's out of position. Agile too.

Since he's been getting a tall that too has dropped off. When his pressure acts dropped off a fortnight or so ago George was not much help at all. Confidence shot. Activity down. Not winning the ball. Not getting hands to the air ball. Not kicking goals. And then not heating. Not good.

Yesterday I thought George started to turn it around. His pressure acts were back, he was using his evasion. And his limited disposal was brilliant. He wasn't much of an aerial presence but Townsend is delivering there.

I think he'll keep his spot. But need more from him. We need him to level up so we can level up.

I haven't made enough of the change in gameplan effecting George adversely. Mainly because I'm not sure we'll keep playing that way. And it's all a bit new anyway. But George is less effective with the new tactics. Others are thriving on them. Let's see how that plays out.
 
Jack we've released the handbrake.

I think we are all nervously awaiting what our ceiling might be.

BTW as I mentioned in another post, Georgey not getting the pill much and Caddy missing has meant better goal kicking outcomes. Forward line purring ATM. I wouldn't tinker too much.

Probably too late this year but when we add some more speed and silk next year through Bolton and Shorty takes Houli's spot and Mendadue and Ellis roam the wings it might get real scary especially if we ever find a decent (real) second tall somewhere.
 
lamb22 said:
Jack we've released the handbrake.

I think we are all nervously awaiting what our ceiling might be.

BTW as I mentioned in another post, Georgey not getting the pill much and Caddy missing has meant better goal kicking outcomes. Forward line purring ATM. I wouldn't tinker too much.

Probably too late this year but when we add some more speed and silk next year through Bolton and Shorty takes Houli's spot and Mendadue and Ellis roam the wings it might get real scary especially if we ever find a decent (real) second tall somewhere.
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Fortunately IMO, Robert, we've accidentally tinkered with the forward line already. Other changes are coming. Graham has forced his way into the side and I think Shai might too. Caddy will come back in but he won't play as much forward. There is some chance Graham will go back. Or into the guts early.

Other accidental tinkering with the forward line is clearing the small forwards out to apply pressure at half back so we can transition cheaply. How good has that been?

You are absolutely right about our ceiling. Nobody knows what it is yet. We are most dangerous because nobody knows how we'll play.

Ima talk about Shai on his thread but he is a very big chance to play in a fortnight IMO. The playing personnel are forcing the changes.
 
Dyer'ere said:
Fortunately IMO, Robert, we've accidentally tinkered with the forward line already. Other changes are coming. Graham has forced his way into the side and I think Shai might too. Caddy will come back in but he won't play as much forward. There is some chance Graham will go back. Or into the guts early.

Other accidental tinkering with the forward line is clearing the small forwards out to apply pressure at half back so we can transition cheaply. How good has that been?

You are absolutely right about our ceiling. Nobody knows what it is yet. We are most dangerous because nobody knows how we'll play.

Ima talk about Shai on his thread but he is a very big chance to play in a fortnight IMO. The playing personnel are forcing the changes.
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Graham and Caddy are the same big bodied, slower midfielder. At this stage, Caddy is the much safer bet going into a final.

I'm not sure why we'd want to tinker with anything else when our form and game style have been solid.

Taylor got a hold of Rance last time and was the difference. I guarantee that won't be happening again.
 
Dyer'ere said:
Ima talk about Shai on his thread but he is a very big chance to play in a fortnight IMO. The playing personnel are forcing the changes.
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Watched the Punt Road game Sunday and Shai was freakish. Already improved heaps as a player this year. Wouldn't surprise to see him in finals this year.
 
Midsy said:
Graham and Caddy are the same big bodied, slower midfielder. At this stage, Caddy is the much safer bet going into a final.
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But Graham is the better mid. Wonder if they'll apply the MIles rule and tell Caddy there is no spot for him because of structure. Townsend is playing his spot better than him. if they want a pure mid Miles is better.
 
With Towner providing that mid marking option and kicking straighter than Georgie, I'm feeling Shai in to replace him
 
Midsy said:
Graham and Caddy are the same big bodied, slower midfielder. At this stage, Caddy is the much safer bet going into a final.

I'm not sure why we'd want to tinker with anything else when our form and game style have been solid.

Taylor got a hold of Rance last time and was the difference. I guarantee that won't be happening again.
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Caddy is a lumberer. He's our other tall forward. Short and light given his lack of acceleration and mobility. Plays tall but has bad hands so can miss easy marks. Spills sitters after taking position brilliantly late. Poor shot for goal but cunning. Townsend takes position early and usually holds position and the mark. Excellent hip check. Fine kick. Not quick but runs hard. Poor balance at times. Comes through the line with the ball, running.

George comes into this because he (decreasingly) plays #3 forward. Semitall. If both Caddy and Towner play that leaves George to play small. And if he plays small Shai may the better player. And Shai was BOG last week and plays this week. Another BOG and he might explode into the side.

Castagna's spot is kind of under threat from Towner too ATM. And it is under threat.
 
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