Late 2011. It was one of those games we were expected to win ... but we didn't.

MELBOURNE

Backs Colin Garland James Frawley Clint Bartram

Half backs Aaron Davey Jared Rivers Joel Macdonald

Centreline Sam Blease Brent Moloney Tom Scully

Half forwards Jack Trengove Stef Martin Jeremy Howe

Forwards Ricky Petterd Jack Watts Brad Green

Followers Mark Jamar Colin Sylvia Nathan Jones

Interchange (from) Jamie Bennell Lynden Dunn Neville Jetta Liam Jurrah Jordie McKenzie Cale Morton Daniel Nicholson

In Jamie Bennell Brad Green Neville Jetta Liam Jurrah

Out Luke Tapscott (soreness)

RICHMOND

Backs Bachar Houli Alex Rance Will Thursfield

Half backs Brett Deledio Jayden Post Matt Dea

Centreline Trent Cotchin Dustin Martin Shaun Grigg

Half forwards Daniel Jackson Tyrone Vickery Shane Edwards

Forwards Robin Nahas Jack Riewoldt Jake King

Followers Angus Graham Shane Tuck Nathan Foley

Interchange (from) Mitchell Farmer Brad Miller Mitch Morton Ben Nason Jamie O'Reilly Jeromey Webberley Matthew White

In Ben Nason Jamie O'Reilly Jeromey Webberley Matthew White

Out Jake Batchelor (Shoulder)

Likely OUTS for this round include the following:

A. Davey, J. Macdonald, S. Blease, B. Green, J. Bennell, J. McKenzie, C. Morton (Omitted),

C. Sylvia, N. Jetta, L. Jurrah, D. Nicholson (Injured)

T. Scully (Hip Pocket)

Very different side.

Likely OUTS for this round include the following:

A. Davey, J. Macdonald, S. Blease, B. Green, J. Bennell, J. McKenzie, C. Morton (Omitted),

C. Sylvia, N. Jetta, L. Jurrah, D. Nicholson (Injured)

T. Scully (Hip Pocket)

Very different side.

And the potential IN(S) are: Clark, Tynan, Magner, Couch. Sylvia was BOG in a losing effort and usually seems to play well against the Tiges. Hopefully Magner can make up for his loss, though I'd say it's unlikely. It will be very interesting to see who is selected this week and see how it differs from last year.

I think we are really missing Sylvia and an in form Moloney.

I think we are really missing Sylvia and an in form Moloney.

Exactly. We may not have that many players missing from our best 22, but the ones that are missing are our match winners (Moloney, Sylvia and Jurrah)

Exactly. We may not have that many players missing from our best 22, but the ones that are missing are our match winners (Moloney, Sylvia and Jurrah)

You're just making excuses. Unfortunately their better players are better than our better players.

In reality, there's no reason we shouldn't compete well today, aside from our woeful recent form. Doing a quick analysis of today's teams; we have 11 top 20 draft picks running out and they have 9, we have 9 x *80 game players running out and they too have 9 (I. Maric plays 80 today), we have 6 x less than 30 game players and they too have 6, we have 2 players representing us that have been on other club's lists and they have 6 - including two considered not good enough for ours, they have 5 top 10 draft picks today and we have 4, which is the only area they marginally shade us and is barely worth mentioning.

As I said, there are no excuses today. That said, games are won and lost in the midfield. They have Cotchin, Deledio (playing midfield this year), Martin, Foley & Tuck as their main 5, versus Jones, Trengove, Magner, McKenzie & Bail. They have the clear edge in class. This is about the time that Scully and Gysberts were to start influencing games. Their midfield stats are as woeful as ours this year, so if we can break even we're a chance.

* I used 80 games, because it's generally accepted that players play their best footy from about 80 games.

EDIT: btw I realise that draft picks don't determine the quality of your team, otherwise GSW would be sitting on top of the ladder, but this should be a close game, yet to all and sundry you'd think they'd call for a Royal Commission if Richmond loses. That's how badly we're going. Or so it seems. I'm not as concerned by the make up of our list as many.

Edited April 14, 201213 yr by Ben-Hur

Good analogy BH, pressure might be off us a bit today, might only be a couple of kicks in it.

Richmond vs Melbourne Round 3, 2012 – Team Stats

Total games played

Tigers - 1,566 1,287 (Last Time They Met, Rnd 14 2011)

Demons – 1,354 1,356

Games Average

Tigers - 71 59

Demons – 62 62

Height Average

Tigers - 187cm

Demons – 189cm

Weight Average

Tigers - 86kg

Demons – 89kg

Number of players by category

0-49 Games

Tigers - 9 / 23 (number of players/average games played)

Demons - 10 / 23

50-99 Games

Tigers - 7 / 72

Demons - 8 / 77

100+ Games

Tigers – 6 / 142

Demons - 4 / 127

Stats courtesy of footywire.com

Edited April 14, 201213 yr by Rusty Nails