We Should Smash Richmond

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

YES! people think we're hard! I've been hearing people calling us that on the radio as well.

Anyways, why are they in trouble if that's the case?

Viney, Jones, Vince, Dunn, Jetta even Angus has the makings. Collectively as a team no but we have a couple who are.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

Cotchin to receive the Dangerfield treatment .

[WhyAlwaysMe 237]

Not Good enough LH

Winning is what gains respect.

The rest are just losses.

Not true winning has nothing to do with respect

[old dee 24,028]

Not true winning has nothing to do with respect

I don't agree it has everything to do with it.

And if it does not than I want the hatred that winning brings.

I want to be hated like Hawthorn.

I want the MFC to be ruthless winners who take no prisoners and take no crap.

I have had nine years of the opposite and you can keep that.

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

The younger generation give us no respect and why should they.

To the older generation we lost most of our respect when Norm got the boot.

It has not returned.

Winning and climbing the ladder is the only way to restore anything

[hardtack 10,984]

I don't agree it has everything to do with it.

And if it does not than I want the hatred that winning brings.

I want to be hated like Hawthorn.

I want the MFC to be ruthless winners who take no prisoners and take no crap.

I have had nine years of the opposite and you can keep that.

I do believe you've been possessed by the spirit of WYL

[old dee 24,028]

I do believe you've been possessed by the spirit of WYL

Are we wrong?

[old dee 24,028]

The younger generation give us no respect and why should they.

To the older generation we lost most of our respect when Norm got the boot.

It has not returned.

Winning and climbing the ladder is the only way to restore anything

You have my vote Sir WYL

Losing is just for losers

[Spirit of 26 261]

The younger generation give us no respect and why should they.

To the older generation we lost most of our respect when Norm got the boot.

It has not returned.

Winning and climbing the ladder is the only way to restore anything

[praha 11,253]

It'll sure be interesting to see how Melbourne plays given the contest on Saturday.

We could either be absolutely stuffed and get run over, or really rough it up and keep it tight. I can't seeing us 'smashing' them though.

I honestly think that this is the type of games for BOTH teams that will determine how far they've come. If Melbourne wins this, they will have performed on a big stage and turned a corner.

If Richmond wins, well, they'll have played consistent footy at the start of a season for the first time in a while.

Richmond needs to win this if it wants to be a respected finals contender.

Melbourne needs to win this to turn a corner.

It's going to be epic.

[rpfc 28,967]

I like the reputation this team has developed in three weeks (well, 10 quarters) of footy; hardness and fight.

I don't think we are a better team than Richmond - in fact there would be only a couple teams we are better than - but I am warming to the attitude that we can bring to all teams save for the top 4; if you don't bring everything you have, you won't beat us.

So if Richmond bring everything then that is that, but if they don't - if it bleeds - we will kill it.

[DeeSpencer 26,523]

I hate these threads, as I feel it's just such hubris to declare us smashing anyone.

So I've changed my opinion of the word smash from a big victory to the meaning of smash in being physical and disciplined.

In that regard, then yes I agree we should smash Richmond.

We had 80 tackles against Adelaide. I'd love to see 80 in the dry against Richmond. As long as we still win the ball.

Richmond have a lot of talent, it's our job to go and pressure them like the Dogs did.

[McQueen 17,867]

I'm hoping for another melee, but with different players to share the fines around.

[Moneider96 1,045]

I have a good feeling we will win the contested possessions and win the game. Richmond are probably the softest team out there.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,460]

I hate these threads, as I feel it's just such hubris to declare us smashing anyone.

So I've changed my opinion of the word smash from a big victory to the meaning of smash in being physical and disciplined.

In that regard, then yes I agree we should smash Richmond.

We had 80 tackles against Adelaide. I'd love to see 80 in the dry against Richmond. As long as we still win the ball.

Richmond have a lot of talent, it's our job to go and pressure them like the Dogs did.

I reckon Richmonds talent is overrated and they are physically and mentally soft. Pressure them as hard as we did the Crows for four quarters and we should get up. Should be a good contest either way.

I thought Richmond was on the right track in 2013 but since half time in the Elimination Final (was there that day, awesome crowd) against Carlton they've just gone backwards. They need a new direction and unless they make significant improvements this year Hardwick should get the sack. Let's hope we are the club who can get the ball rolling on that front.

[WhyAlwaysMe 237]

its gonna be a wet windy nite game, low scoring, tight inside footy, if Roos picks our best 22 players we will loose again, if he picks the best 22 for the predictable conditions we'll be a 50/50 chance.The combination of Hoges, Dawes, Watts, VDB & possibly Pedo or Gawn is a certain fail.

[chookrat 4,268]

Can we translate that same sort of defensive consistency that we saw against Adelaide against Richmond? I'm not convinced that this team has the capacity to play well consistently, two weeks in a row. We haven't seen it for four years. I hope they prove me wrong.

Let's look at the stats:

Richmond averages 60 more possessions a game (387) and 20 more marks (98).

They lead the league in marks-inside-50 at 17.3, which is 10 more than we do (7.3). Adelaide averaged 19.5 marks inside 50 in the first two rounds but only had 5 on Saturday. That said the conditions didn't suit the forwards so it definitely made it easier for us.

We average 7 more clearances per game (40) but we both average 11.3 center clearances. This should be a good tussle between the midfield, but I hope the likes of Jones, Tyson, Kent and Bernie can rough the Toiges up a bit like they did the Crows.

We average 5 more stoppage clearances (28) and 4 more rebound-50s (40).

We average almost 20 more tackles per game (70).

It's just our capacity to get the ball forward inside-50 with good delivery that kills us: we're 17th for inside 50s with 42.7, whereas Richmond averages 55.

We're also not that efficient going forward: it's 4 inside 50s for every goal, compare to Richmond's 3.6 entries for every goal.

How can we win? We need to limit their marks inside 50, and translate our 40 rebounds per game (6th in the league) into goals. Richmond averages 5 more goals per game. Because of our inefficiency, if we permit Richmond too many marks inside 50, we'll need to rely on inaccuracy to keep us in the game, because we've really struggled to get the ball forward and score in rounds 2 and 3. Maybe playing on the MCG again will change this.

Tackle hard, win the stoppages, restrict their push forward and completely cut off the supply to their marking forwards. We can get on top of their mids.

My Tip: Dees by 123

I think our disposal and inside 50 stats will improve after this game.

[hardtack 10,984]

Are we wrong?

Not wrong at all OD... but a little realism is required as we are coming from a long way back and it's pretty obvious we are not going to win 22 games in a season. I want them to go into every game expecting to win, but in the event that a win is not the result, I want to be able to take pride in their performance.

[dazzledavey36 55,995]

Was told today that Brayshaw will play a full game on friday night.

[binman 44,735]

Was told today that Brayshaw will play a full game on friday night.

Tabasco?

[dazzledavey36 55,995]

Tabasco?

Cant say I'm a fan of it to be honest.

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

Was told today that Brayshaw will play a full game on friday night.

great. He has shown a lot.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Was told today that Brayshaw will play a full game on friday night.

deserves it.

[old dee 24,028]

Not wrong at all OD... but a little realism is required as we are coming from a long way back and it's pretty obvious we are not going to win 22 games in a season. I want them to go into every game expecting to win, but in the event that a win is not the result, I want to be able to take pride in their performance.

What you say is correct but I cannot tolerate the honorable loss syndrome.

A loss is a loss there is IMO nothing honourable about it.

It is just another bloody loss.

[M C 221]

What you say is correct but I cannot tolerate the honorable loss syndrome.

A loss is a loss there is IMO nothing honourable about it.

It is just another bloody loss.

You recognise that there is a difference between how we played on the weekend and how we played against GWS though right?