Rnd 3 Pre-Match Thread, vs Richmond at MCG, 4 PM Sunday 31 March 2024

[waswan]

Amartey has had 15 touches, 10 marks and kicked 3 goals in 3 games.

I believe he is more than capable but is currently not performing.

Mclean stays permanent fwd and Ladhams as the relieving ruck.

Nank is a physical ruck.

[707]

Amartey has had 15 touches, 10 marks and kicked 3 goals in 3 games.

I believe he is more than capable but is currently not performing.

Mclean stays permanent fwd and Ladhams as the relieving ruck.

Nank is a physical ruck.

Only one change NEEDED and that's a replacement for Harry. Suspect Lloyd will go back into familiar territory and we'll bring in either Co Warner or debut/sub Caleb Mitchell. No need to rush back players from injury with Richmond and WCE the next two games.

Will they toy with the idea of Ladhams for Amartey? Ladhams is at least a genuine ruckman as opposed to McLean

[graemed]

Ladhams is at least a genuine ruckman as opposed to McLean

Are we forgetting that Grundy is a ruckman that thrives on being on-ball. The fact that he enjoys long periods as the main ruck should not be lost on us when looking at a relieving ruck.

1) We choose a genuine ruck to be the relief, in which case that ruckman must play another role when not on-ball.
If not suited to a forward role then that player must spend long periods on the bench waiting for his opportunity, and taking up vital rotation position.

2) We choose a player that is not only a capable position player but can be defensive pressuring player, an attacking threat and be capable of competing competently in the ruck either in the forward line or around the ground.

McClean has already proven himself in the second role and although lacking genuine pace is very strong aerobically. Less convinced by Armartey’s first few games but his limited involvement in Pre-Season sims and training may be the reason for this. Perhaps this may also explain his subbing and shortened game time.

I would rather see debuts from some of our well performed VFL candidates or the inclusion of Reid before the selection dilemmas posed by Parker and Addams begins.


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[i'm-uninformed2]

A bit off topic (or maybe a lot), but has anyone seen the full leadership group for this year?

I've noticed Ramps doing the toss in the absence of Mills, which is cool with me; but it got me wondering if i had missed the announcement of the broader group.

[waswan]

Are we forgetting that Grundy is a ruckman that thrives on being on-ball. The fact that he enjoys long periods as the main ruck should not be lost on us when looking at a relieving ruck.

1) We choose a genuine ruck to be the relief, in which case that ruckman must play another role when not on-ball.
If not suited to a forward role then that player must spend long periods on the bench waiting for his opportunity, and taking up vital rotation position.

2) We choose a player that is not only a capable position player but can be defensive pressuring player, an attacking threat and be capable of competing competently in the ruck either in the forward line or around the ground.

McClean has already proven himself in the second role and although lacking genuine pace is very strong aerobically. Less convinced by Armartey’s first few games but his limited involvement in Pre-Season sims and training may be the reason for this. Perhaps this may also explain his subbing and shortened game time.

I would rather see debuts from some of our well performed VFL candidates or the inclusion of Reid before the selection dilemmas posed by Parker and Addams begins.


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Ladhams for Amartey doesnt take anything away from Grundy.

Mclean stays fwd, Ladhams does Mcleans role.

Mclean better as a fwd, a toiler as a Ruck.

Be hard to argue Ladhams isnt a better backup ruck or Fwd option on current form

[grarmy]

Ladhams for Amartey doesnt take anything away from Grundy.

Mclean stays fwd, Ladhams does Mcleans role.

Mclean better as a fwd, a toiler as a Ruck.

Be hard to argue Ladhams isnt a better backup ruck or Fwd option on current form

Good Ladhams, in form, is terrific. Bad Ladhams, in form, is a worry. However, based on comments by posters who have followed his work over the past month or so suggest he is ready and deserving a run in the firsts. Amarty, to me still lacks confidence and four-quarter form. He has had some moments and taken some critical marks over the past month but leaves me unsure. Reid? Still a tease for me.

I would include Robbie Fox if fit, and Wicks for a full game. Cory as the sub. However all this depends on the matchups required for Richmond.

[Dow]

Ladhams for Amartey doesnt take anything away from Grundy.

Mclean stays fwd, Ladhams does Mcleans role.

Mclean better as a fwd, a toiler as a Ruck.

Be hard to argue Ladhams isnt a better backup ruck or Fwd option on current form

Couldn't agree more! interesting to note in the 2s game Ladhams spent nearly all the game time fwd and finished with 4 could of been 7 - I think they are training him for a fwd role and I believe Amartey should have a spell in the 2s to really get some form and get some real self-belief

[BRS328]

Agree with you on Mitchell. Good opportunity to bring him in for the gather round game against WCE

[waswan]

Good Ladhams, in form, is terrific. Bad Ladhams, in form, is a worry. However, based on comments by posters who have followed his work over the past month or so suggest he is ready and deserving a run in the firsts. Amarty, to me still lacks confidence and four-quarter form. He has had some moments and taken some critical marks over the past month but leaves me unsure. Reid? Still a tease for me.

I would include Robbie Fox if fit, and Wicks for a full game. Cory as the sub. However all this depends on the matchups required for Richmond.

Ladhams last spell in the Snrs was when he did his ankle. Would have still been playing if he didnt.

He wasnt doing the silly things he previously did, very mobile and skilled for a big man.

People need to get past his brain fades, he is 26.

[rojo]

Regarding the Ladhams replace Amartey suggestions, I would like to see Amartey given another couple of games. I find it very difficult just watching games on TV to know what the set up is in, say, the forward line at any given time. Are the 3 talls working on set rotations, are they playing in positions according to their strengths, it one acting as a decoy to give the other(s) more space? Are they committed to always play with a three tall forward line, that is with one rotating as ruck back up as needed?

The first few games I would see as a putting into practise what they had planned in preseason but it is a learning curve in how it is going to work out. Maybe Amartey is playing a role? They are a relatively new combination and a three-some of talls is not the norm! Are they rorating off the bench? Those of you who have been at any of the games would have a better idea of how it is working. So far the outcome has been pretty good!

[graemed]

In the past two games, Richmond’s backline has been composed of tall-mid sized defenders, i.e. Grimes, Vlauston, Broad, Rioli, Pickett, Short, et al, especially since losing Gibcus, and using Balta as a forward. That being said, if Fox is still unavailable and Lloyd is required down back then going with three talls is problematic.

On the positive side, it means we may have an advantage when trying to mark the ball inside 50, but this may be less of an advantage than we imagine as Grimes, Broad and Vlauston are excellent at intercepting and spoiling in marking contests.

The negative side is obviously maintaining forward 50 pressure, if the ball goes to ground would we have the wherewithal to keep it in our attacking region without the support of the mids flooding down. The disadvantage of such a strategy is clearly that you then leave an outnumber behind the ball if Richmond get possession.

I’m not sure what is the best for Sunday but if Armartey is not to play then it seems to me that another tall is not required. Hayward, McDonald and McClean are more than capable of handling the overhead load. Warner and Heeney can also provide aerial cover when resting and with strong ground support already there we don’t risk being run and gunned.


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[Mel_C]

A bit off topic (or maybe a lot), but has anyone seen the full leadership group for this year?

I've noticed Ramps doing the toss in the absence of Mills, which is cool with me; but it got me wondering if i had missed the announcement of the broader group.

A poster on Big Footy mentioned that he spoke to J McVeigh at the VFL game and asked him about the leadership group, as there had been no announcement. McVeigh said that a leadership group had been selected and that it had intentionally not been made public. The poster was surprised at this but didn't want to press him further.

I think it's very strange that there has been no announcement. What could be the reasoning behind this?

[Mountain Man]

I am in the leave the forward line as is camp.

Yes we have 3 talls but McDonald and Armarty play similarly as mainly lead up targets. McLean provides more of the contested/ get out of goal target.

I have not seen Ladhams play this year but on past performance he is more similar to McLean.

I believe it would be a significant backward step if our game plan changes to long dump forward kicks to 2 contested mark targets. Leave Armarty there for me

[MattW]

Adams and Fox both a test to play this week. If they both pass it, perhaps Fox could return for Cunningham and Adams take Corey Warner's place as sub: Injury Update: Duo a test to play this weekend.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I went back and watched the game vs Richmond in round three 2021 this arvo, when we sliced them apart at the MCG. My god that was fun.

Two things stood out. We had Parker, Kennedy, Hewett and Mills in the midfield. It didn’t slow us down a lot.

The other was Chad. This game was kind of his coming out party and the explosion was there, most notably in that goal he kicked bursting out of the centre. But he has put some serious pace on since then. He had quick feet and power at the contest, but he wasn’t quick over the ground. I wouldn’t say he has Blakey or McInerney level speed, but he’s built it impressively. It’s a tribute to his work ethic.