Richmond v Sydney

[O'Reilly Boy]

We were 26 points down against a team playing out of their skin on their home deck and coming off back-to-back brutal games/6 day breaks, this was a really gutsy win, albeit ugly.

The negativity in this thread is astounding, there was plenty to take out of tonight.

? Cunningham's last quarter was brilliant, I knew he had pace to burn but his endurance is obviously first class as well...was absolutely everywhere!

? Buddy, need I say more? An above poster mentioned his will to win, it's fantastic. He is lifting us at the moment the way Carey did with North, I'll put my hand up and say he is displaying leadership qualities that I didn't know he possessed.

? Jetta is finding plenty of the ball on the outside and really starting to lift his pressure game, laid some tackles and did some very handy inside work that I didn't know he was capable of tonight.

? Brandon Jack seems to be finding his feet really well, his disposal wasn't perfect tonight, but who's was? His tackling and strength in the contest is remarkable for a slightly built, second year, 14 game player. After another pre-season or 2 he is going to develop into a really complete player.

? Zak Jones did not miss a beat. Not many first game players -especially after starting as sub- come on and slot in so seamlessly. He knew his role and played it well. Absolutely loved the aggression and competitiveness. 6 tackles in your first half of footy is no mean feat.

? Reid looks like he's warming into the season nicely and is arguably playing the toughest role in the team -the swing man. In a scrappy, unattractive affair his two big contested marks and goals really stood out, his set shots seem to have improved as well. Not to mention his tackling and pressure is absolutely top notch for someone of his size.

? Laidler really stood up tonight, did some clutch things in that last quarter and barely lost a contest all night, possibly his best game in red and white.

? Kennedy and Parker were both slightly down by their extremely lofty standards yet they still laid 23 tackles between them...this is what gun midfielders do, they find a way to influence a match even when they're not at their best. All of Sydney's mids do this better than any other team.

Great to read the positives. It was not pretty, but in all honesty I never felt, from the comfort of my couch, that we were going to lose last night. Our second half was gutsy and as Whateley said on ABC radio this morning, we didn't surge, but just got our heads down and took the game away from them. Tired players, tacky conditions underfoot, slick ball, a handful of key injuries and players finding their way back into the game (I'm looking at you, Mike Pyke). Tiges have been a hoodoo team?the only mob we didn't beat in 2012?and were up for it. Laidler, Jetta, Bird, Reid all outstanding, and Buddy, despite being legged, hugged, scragged and having to compete with committed adversaries all night, as well as Vance, just competed and competed. He's wearing the red and white well.
I hope they enjoy the deserved eight day break?it's been an outstanding month from a great team?and come back with fresh legs (hopefully including those belonging to a short, angry midfielder and an oversized FF), and that we get a dry night next Saturday and cream GWS.

[Melb Blood Bro]

I'm a tad worried about this too but then I remember we've always had problems beating the tiggers at the MCG. I think it's just a matter of them matching up well on us and beating us at speed.

Also... I haven't read the thread yet... but surely I can't be the only one that thought Mike Pyke played like garbage and shouldn't have been picked in the team this week? He looked the crappiest I've ever seen him play.

I wouldn't be too concerned. We didn't play with the normal hunger.

[Melb Blood Bro]

We all knew a let down was coming. We have virtually come through a mini finals series this past 5 or 6 weeks. Beaten all the top teams. That has taken its toll physically and mentally. Just glad we can bank the 4 points. Some observations;
- there were a lot of tired players. If I was the coaches, after tomorrow's beach session, I would say to the players, "see you Wednesday". Some rotations are required next week. Membrey, Robinson and Nankervis come to mind.
- both ruckman were terrible. For the 2nd week in a row Derickx looked cooked and tonight Pyke looked like a Canadian rugby player. Really need Naismith to step up and claim that No.1 ruck role next year.
- Cunningham gets better each week. He is very quick.
- Jetta is perplexing me. He is doing so many good things defensively. But when he gets the ball in attacking positions he is in two minds. Just not backing himself.
- Laidler fits beautifully into our working class backline. Reid looks better each week as that swingman.
- BJ improved. Worked hard but execution was lacking.
- Buddy is a champion. Would be looking forward to Tippett coming back or Nankervis going to full forward so he can play his more roving half forward role.

We were definitely off last night. We were supposed to have a training session on Thursday afternoon but the flight was cancelled causing delay. I suspect that the players had to miss the training session.
I wouldn't be too hard on the rucks. Derickx has been playing a huge amount of game time this season and is badly in need of a rest. Pyke was rusty but will be better next week with this game under his belt.
You're right about Buddy. He's a freak. A lot of people aren't aware, but because of his knee, he hardly had a pre season and hasn't spent much time jelling on the training track with the other players. Considering these factors his season has been amazing.
If Tippett isn't back next game I'd like to see Membrey be given a go. I think he will need another pre season however to get his fitness up.

[Melb Blood Bro]

Tweet from Ben McGlynn:

@McGlynn_21: Gee that was hard to watch! @DHannebery nearly put a hole in my wall..#intense Congrats to @zakjones10 was Hard&Clean when needed!

I feel you, Dan.

They'd better watch the game at Hanners place next week.

[DamY]

Zak Jones was really impressive. Alex Rance is gorgeous but a shady player! Scragging all day

[Scottee]

Agree about the rucks, really poor. Sam N and Toby N would be starting to feel hard done by if that sort of effort doesn't earn them a call-up. Don't think we can afford the 2 of them in the side at once.
Very pleased to see the young guys fighting it out in the last quarter. Thought BJ finally found his mojo in the last quarter and it was a break out game for him in that respect. Similarly for Harry. Both of them seem timid/hesitant around goal early though. Looking forward to them gaining confidence here, it could make a huge difference to the side.
Zac shows lots of promise. Nice to get a first rounder that looks the goods.
Well done Jetts, Birdy, Buddy as well. The hard games with 6 day breaks obviously took their toll on others.
Happy to get away with it.

[dimelb]

Second Thoughts

After watching the replay I felt differently about some things.

1. Our intensity began to lift sooner than I thought; from Q2 onwards we improved in that respect. I realised in more detail that a lot of our problems arose because of how well Richmond were playing for long stretches of the game.

2. The umpiring was woefully inconsistent and affected both teams. To be fair, Hardwick in his post-match presser said it was a very hard gig under the present rules, while Horse declined to comment on the grounds that it was something he couldn't control.

3. The youngsters stood out again. Zak Jones was terrific in his first match, and I wondered if people would be quite so critical of Jake if he'd kicked that goal. Harry just keeps heading up. Brandon showed some of the quick mind and accurate hands we know he has.

4. After the second viewing I admired even more the restraint Buddy showed. I think it's a part of his professionalism, an aspect commentators don't seem to pick up on.

5. Sometimes no amount of skill is as important as persistence and sheer determination. We showed those qualities last night.

[stellation]

Zak Jones was really impressive. Alex Rance is gorgeous but a shady player! Scragging all day

After Buddy was tripped last night I cursed Rance as a "sneaky, dirty, handsome man".

[DamY]

Hehehe *high five* I have to agree! Makes me angry and happy at the same time

[Matt80]

Zak Jones was really impressive. Alex Rance is gorgeous but a shady player! Scragging all day

Rance was very impressive. At 24, he is an excellent key back.

[DamY]

Prone to brain farts tho

[Meg]

Scrappy win but we got the 4 points. And Suns just beat the Cats (whoopee!) which has put us a game clear of Geelong. Hawks still sit comfortably in 2nd place with a healthy %age lead on Swans.

I had some hope that the Dogs might cause an upset as they were leading in first quarter over Port. But Port ran riot in second half. Port players showed no sign of feeling tired after the tough match against us last week. Admittedly they had an extra day to recover compared with our players but still they are an impressively physically fit team. I think the hotels in Dubai might be booked out with AFL players at the end of the year as other clubs try to emulate Port's pre-season training methods.

[0918330512]

Rance was very impressive. At 24, he is an excellent key back.

Please, let me save you the effort.

M80: Trade Mitchell for Rance. We need a young KP defender. Richmond need ... just about everything.

85%RWOposters: can't trade him, he's a FS keeper

10%RWOposters: interesting proposition M80

5%RWOposters: this topic again?!?!

Nothing more to see here, move along, move along

[Conor_Dillon]

Please, let me save you the effort.

M80: Trade Mitchell for Rance. We need a young KP defender. Richmond need ... just about everything.

85%RWOposters: can't trade him, he's a FS keeper

10%RWOposters: interesting proposition M80

5%RWOposters: this topic again?!?!

Nothing more to see here, move along, move along

Hahahaha brilliant!

[Mel_C]

Did anyone go to the meet and greet this morning at MSAC? Which players attended?