We lost

[Ryan Bomford]

Originally posted by penga
So was it pack marks that Richards was taking with Fletcher/Bradley involved or one-on-one's with Lovett-Murray?

But the fact that he wasn't matching up against Fletcher is probably irrelevant because if he does earn a spot in the forward line it will be as 3rd or 4th receiver who would be unlikely to attract the likes of a Fletcher anyway.

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by Ryan Bomford
But the fact that he wasn't matching up against Fletcher is probably irrelevant because if he does earn a spot in the forward line it will be as 3rd or 4th receiver who would be unlikely to attract the likes of a Fletcher anyway.

Good point.

This is how i would like to see our forward line this year.

FF: Schneider O'Loughlin Davis/Goodes
HF: ROK Hall Superted.

I just love the idea of having ROK and Ted leading on the flanks and delivering into our dangerous forward line.

Davis will be rotating with Goodes on the wing and alternating in the forward line.

[stellation]

I'd like to see an extra marking option to go with O'Loughlin in the F50 at most times. Davis is an excellent mark and is (I think) extremely quick on the lead, but he needs to get the ball delivered in to him well; that is something our midfield seem to struggle with... unless Davis is in the midfield, he could probably hit himself on a lead... If anything I'd like to see Richards or Doyle rotating through the FP with Goodes, if Davis goes there for a rest then I'd rather not see Schneider down there (Davis and O'Loughlin can both crumb perfectly well).

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by stellation
(Davis and O'Loughlin can both crumb perfectly well).

I think MOL permanently in the pocket with SuperTed at fullforward could be effective, then ROK and Barry Hall at half forward .
With Goodes, Davis, Schneider, Monty, Doyle etc. etc. a rotating cast as and when the state of the game presents opportunities.

[NMWBloods]

I think a forward line along the lines of:

FF: Schneider Richards O'Loughlin
HF: O'Keefe Hall Davis/Goodes

would work well (assuming Richards is indeed as good during the season as has been suggested here based on a single game).

[stellation]

Originally posted by penga
So was it pack marks that Richards was taking with Fletcher/Bradley involved or one-on-one's with Lovett-Murray?

As someone already said, Richards took some genuine contested pack marks (and one was one-on-one with Lovett-Murray). One thing that did actually suprise me about Lovett-Murray was that he wasn't dwarfed by Richards; Lovett-Murray is listed at 188 cm (and looks to have bulked up a little from last season) and Richards at 194 cm.

[stellation]

I'm fine with O'Loughlin playing pocket, but you know that Roos would name him FF

[penga]

Originally posted by Ryan Bomford
But the fact that he wasn't matching up against Fletcher is probably irrelevant because if he does earn a spot in the forward line it will be as 3rd or 4th receiver who would be unlikely to attract the likes of a Fletcher anyway.

With regard to playing Essendon, Fletcher never plays on Hall. They always struggle to find a good matchup for him. McPhee usually goes to Magic, assume Bradley on Hall, which would leave Fletcher for, in theory, Richards. Teams normally put a mid-sized defender on Magic so Richards would be getting the second defender just about every week.

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by penga
With regard to playing Essendon, Fletcher never plays on Hall. They always struggle to find a good matchup for him. McPhee usually goes to Magic, assume Bradley on Hall, which would leave Fletcher for, in theory, Richards. Teams normally put a mid-sized defender on Magic so Richards would be getting the second defender just about every week.

Last year Fletcher matched up on Hall and did an OK job until he got injured which left Superted to take on Hall for the remainder of the game.

This year i would expect the same if Fletcher was to be fit with Bradley taking on Magic if he lines up at FF.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by penga
With regard to playing Essendon, Fletcher never plays on Hall.

I thought Fletcher usually played on Hall.

[Ryan Bomford]

Originally posted by penga
With regard to playing Essendon, Fletcher never plays on Hall. They always struggle to find a good matchup for him. McPhee usually goes to Magic, assume Bradley on Hall, which would leave Fletcher for, in theory, Richards. Teams normally put a mid-sized defender on Magic so Richards would be getting the second defender just about every week.

But is the reason Fletcher rarely matches up on Hall because Hall plays up the ground so much? Similarly, I see Richards as more of a HFF, maybe on the opposite side to ROK, rather than a FF as some seem to be suggesting. So if he plays up the ground, Fletcher may not be the right match either.

One thing is for sure, if Richards makes the first 22 which I think we can safely assume on current form, we will have the answers to our respective opinions in 6 weeks time.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I think a forward line along the lines of:

FF: Schneider Richards O'Loughlin
HF: O'Keefe Hall Davis/Goodes

would work well (assuming Richards is indeed as good during the season as has been suggested here based on a single game).

I was thinking more along the lines of "a good game against is old club". Players tend to lift a little when against the old boys. We'll see come Rnd 1, 2, 3, 4, ...........

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
assuming Richards is indeed as good during the season as has been suggested here based on a single game

Good point Bloods, one pre-pre-season 15 aside game does not a season make, but I was pleasantly surpised at SuperTed's capabilities.

[Bas]

Not to repeat too much from what others have written about friday night.

I was very excited about SuperTed and LRT. I was particularly impressed with Simon Phillips.

I was walking past the food stand and saw a fat guy in a Bombers jumper stuffing his face. "Gday Deano, good to see you back this year!" he was too busy eating to reply.

Gary Jack, Kieran's father was in the crowd not far away from me as well.

No one mentioned the 160cm Japanese player the bombers unveiled. Very lively and sheedy should have given him more time.

Lloyd didn't seem to bother too much with the 30 second rule. I hope it's enforced properly during the season.

$6.00 for a steak sandwich and $5 for a sausage sandwich. I'll remember to eat before the came next time or at least bring my own food.

Chambers went off early in the third quarter with a knee injury and Dr gibbs seemed quite concerned for a while as he tested his knee. Fortunately it wasn't anything serious. After all, Jolly was pretty quiet in the first few rounds last year.

I still can't understand why those dill brain bombers let superTed go. Their loss, our gain.

If you were a bomber fan you would be worried after last friday nights effort.

I suppose we'll get another chance next weekend to watch the rookies play. I was impressed with all of them.

[liz]

Originally posted by Bas

I still can't understand why those dill brain bombers let superTed go. Their loss, our gain.

You should try popping over to Bombertalk or Bomberland or whatever they call it nowadays. There you will be informed that either Teddy is complete rubbish or that he is decent but had absolutely no chance of fitting into the Bombers star-packed forward line, and has done himself a favour by moving to a club with a far inferior forward set-up.

Oh, and Courtney Dempsey is definitely, 100%, no question going to be 10 times the player that Richards will ever be.

There is the odd voice suggesting that he will be missed, but these are generally shouted down.

To be fair (if I must) supporters of most clubs are the same when they lose a player to another club, even a fringe player. But then again, it's been so long since the Swans lost a player they really wanted to keep that it becomes hard to anticipate how we'd react.