Can we burn the candle at both ends?

[DirtyDees DDC 171]

It wasn't so long ago when we were complaining about our poor starts to matches - the Carlton and Geelong matches were classic examples. We have turned this around in recent weeks and now have won 7 1st quarters for the year, including 3 of our last 4 matches.

Bailey has consistently said we need to win more quarters of footy this year. Currently the total quarters won is 30, just 2 down on 2009.

However, now we can't seem to win any last quarters of football. We've only won 6 for the year. The last was against Collingwood and the other 5 occuring in rounds 1-5. It hasn't been a problem when we jump sides by a big margin like the swans, but the Brisbane match was too close and we struggled badly. We had just one shot at goal in the final quarter, and that was courtesy of a 50 metre penalty.

I hope the MFC pick this up on Sunday. Richmond have only won 24 quarters in 2010, but 8 have been final Qs. We could be in trouble if it's close at 3/4 time.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

The Port win was a horrible last quarter too.

I'd prefer the fast starts and clinging on for the win, slow starts and catch up footy is bad for my blood pressure.

They'll get it right, only the powerhouses consistently win all 4 quarters, even Collingwood eased up last week.

We're still young and developing, it's good to see a problem get addressed, such as the starts in the last few weeks.

You could be right about Richmond, if they're close they'll be a big problem. The first game against them this year they looked gassed after half time, they look much fitter now.

[DirtyDees DDC 171]

Richmond are possibly in better form at the moment. They seem to get a lot of drive from their backline - with Newman, Connors and Deledio starring. We should seriously consider putting a defensive player on Deledio. He's very quick and generates a lot of run from their defence. Maybe Jones is an option here.

[Adzman 2,088]

They have looked spent lately in the 4th. That said, they are winning. I don't care which quarters they win or lose, as long as they win.

Richmond's form has been quite solid. They have won 6 games from their last 9 after a poor start. We have won 3 and had a draw out of the last 9. They could very well roll us in the 4th....I certainly hope this does not happen.

They will be tough, but I get the feeling our list has a little hardness over the Tiges.

[Chook 14,711]

Richmond are possibly in better form at the moment. They seem to get a lot of drive from their backline - with Newman, Connors and Deledio starring. We should seriously consider putting a defensive player on Deledio. He's very quick and generates a lot of run from their defence. Maybe Jones is an option here.

It seems to me like this would be a perfect role for Lynden Dunn to play. He has experience as a tagger, and is a natural forward. He's quick, strong and in good form. He appears to be the most qualified.

[P-man 13,356]

It seems to me like this would be a perfect role for Lynden Dunn to play. He has experience as a tagger, and is a natural forward. He's quick, strong and in good form. He appears to be the most qualified.

Either him or Bennell, provided he can play like he did against the Swans.

[jnrmac 19,537]

They have looked spent lately in the 4th. That said, they are winning. I don't care which quarters they win or lose, as long as they win.

Richmond's form has been quite solid. They have won 6 games from their last 9 after a poor start. We have won 3 and had a draw out of the last 9. They could very well roll us in the 4th....I certainly hope this does not happen.

They will be tough, but I get the feeling our list has a little hardness over the Tiges.

Richmond was very lucky to win last week. Very poor kicking from the Crows kept them in the game. 2goals 9pts for the 2nd quarter I think.

Dees by 34pts

[RalphiusMaximus 6,005]

Richmond are possibly in better form at the moment. They seem to get a lot of drive from their backline - with Newman, Connors and Deledio starring. We should seriously consider putting a defensive player on Deledio. He's very quick and generates a lot of run from their defence. Maybe Jones is an option here.

We play them the same way we did Collingwood. They are also reliant on generating run from the backline, and we shut them down by making their running backs accountable and not giving them the space to run when they have the ball. The same will work against the Tigers, and we have the personnel to do it. Dunn and Aussie are the obvious choices for the shut down roles in our forward line and both are very dangerous once we have the ball.

[titan_uranus 23,318]

No coincidence that we've won the first quarter in the three wins we've had in the last 4 weeks.

I prefer it when we get a lead in the first half. Playing catch up footy is usually harder.

[The Jacks 0]

I think the problem is putting in a consistent four quarters of top notch footy. Which particular quarter it happens to be isn't the problem. Off the top of my head there has been the Brisbane game (Round 5, I think) and the Sydney game at the 'G the other week when we really put in a solid four quarters (or at least had a nil-nil draw once the game was over).