TEAM SELECTION AND MATCH PREVIEW - ROUND 5

[Deestroy All 14,266]

The zero in their loss column will be the main change. 

[Deeoldfart 8,065]

There was a suggestion on Casey radio last night that OMac did not return to the field after half time for similar reasons.  Probably BS, but it has also been suggested Hibberd had some back stiffness at training on Thursday. Maybe precautionary?

[jumbo returns 6,741]

2 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

There was a suggestion on Casey radio last night that OMac did not return to the field after half time for similar reasons.  Probably BS, but it has also been suggested Hibberd had some back stiffness at training on Thursday. Maybe precautionary?

Say it's not true....Hibberd is really, really needed right now

[dazzledavey36 55,360]

Apparently Dusty trained fine today.

I think he'll play tomorrow.

[Lucifers Hero 40,364]

I just hope the team isn't underdone re AFL match practice (excl JLT and VFL games). 

We will have 2 players who haven't played AFL since 2015 and with few games of any sort since recent injuries (JKH and Hibberd), 1 who has played 4 games since 2015 (Melksham) who seemed to hit the wall a bit last week and 1 who has played 1 AFL game (Smith) and seemed to tire.  The risk is they won't be quite sharp in their play and touch and the pace of AFL may cause fatigue in the last quarter. 

Having 1 or two underdone at AFL level is one thing but 4?   I feel we are setting ourselves up for 1 or more of them to fade at some stage in the game but we can't afford that.  Everyone needs to be switched on and firing for the full 120 minutes.  Richmond is winning by lurking and exploiting turnovers.  If our guys aren't sharp that is what will happen.

Would have preferred we eased underdone players in over several weeks. 

Edited April 23, 2017 by Lucifer's Hero

[Little Richard 6,265]

17 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Be better if he limped off the ground 20 minutes in. Never to be seen again....

'Never to be seen again' is a bit harsh. 

I'd just rather he was a late withdrawal. It always seems that when a player goes into a game (against us) under an injury cloud, they tear us apart.

[Sir Why You Little 37,134]

2 minutes ago, Luther said:

'Never to be seen again' is a bit harsh. 

I'd just rather he was a late withdrawal. It always seems that when a player goes into a game (against us) under an injury cloud, they tear us apart.

"Never to be seen again"...meaning the enemy is a man down

[Skuit 10,031]

Conflicted re. Dusty's potential non-inclusion. On the one hand I don't want the Richmond fans to have any excuses whatsoever when we thump them. On the other, planting a psychological worm that they can't win without Dusty would be fun.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

Should be merged with team selection IMO

[titan_uranus 25,045]

Dr Peter Larkins was on 3AW earlier this afternoon and said Martin still needed to train today and be assessed tomorrow to see how he's recovered. He also said he was leaning towards him not playing, rather than playing.

Take that how you will.

[DeeZone 10,135]

I am happy to see Hogan & Hibberd in the side, we need their class if we are to beat the Tiges who have been playing great footy in the first 4 rounds, I am not to sure about Kent & Bugg as outs but certainly agreed with Weed and Hannan who were both right off the mark last week. We let ourselves down last week and need a big lift on Monday night, it's up to the FD to get the mix right as we can't afford to drop to many more games. Go Dee's !!!

[rjay 25,093]

Apparently trained well and playing...

As I've said elsewhere, we don't need to be worried about Martin playing or not playing. We play what they put up with what we put up and we win or lose.

We can't be reliant on other teams injuries and I will be happier to not see these type of posts going forward.

Our team should be able to stand up to what any other side puts on the field and that's where I see us now.

[daisycutter 29,743]

ninthmond are a 40% better side with vickery out 

[McQueen 17,867]

Just looked again at the teams and potential match-ups for this game.

Granted I'm not a RFC supporter and know their list intimately like our do ours but really, they have a few good players and not much more. Their competition has been meek and tells you zero about the RFC's true capability this year.

If we don't win this I'll be completely amazed.

Time to pop an over-inflated yellow and black bubble.

[What 18,810]

17 minutes ago, rjay said:

 

We can't be reliant on other teams injuries and I will be happier to not see these type of posts going forward.

 

They are reliant on us missing Max Gawn.

We would obliterate them if he was available (not to mention Lewis.)

[junk 342]

This is a game we need to win.Our mid stock are being depleted with Gus getting another concussion,I think he will never play again.Who is going to step up?Perhaps Salem and/or Petracca need to become mids. Hogan back this week is good and the following week we get back Lewis,hopefully they won't get suspended again. The ruck comb or Watts and Spencer isn't too bad but it leaves the forward line a little week.Hopefully Hibberd can fire from day 1,we don't want another Melksham.O.Mac and Frost need to step hugely if we are going to make the finals.At this stage we still have too many passengers.Please coach lets have one Captain i.e LEWIS. Dees to win by 18 pts.

[dazzledavey36 55,360]

I know some were bit miffed with the JKH selection including myself but nice little article on JKH here. Seems he knows what the coaches want from him and we'll give it a red hot crack.

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-04-23/jkh-poised-about-longawaited-return

Good Luck JKH, Il back you in to have a good night tomorrow.

Edited April 23, 2017 by dazzledavey36

[Willmoy1947 4,140]

4 hours ago, Luther said:

'Never to be seen again' is a bit harsh. 

I'd just rather he was a late withdrawal. It always seems that when a player goes into a game (against us) under an injury cloud, they tear us apart.

He'll be one "happy chappy" when he's 35, wouldn't mind seeing him again then

[Go the Biff 3,442]

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I know some were bit miffed with the JKH selection including myself but nice little article on JKH here. Seems he knows what the coaches want from him and we'll give it a red hot crack.

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-04-23/jkh-poised-about-longawaited-return

Good Luck JKH, Il back you in to have a good night tomorrow.

Reads a bit like a job interview

[Wiseblood 24,637]

17 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I know some were bit miffed with the JKH selection including myself but nice little article on JKH here. Seems he knows what the coaches want from him and we'll give it a red hot crack.

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-04-23/jkh-poised-about-longawaited-return

Good Luck JKH, Il back you in to have a good night tomorrow.

It's a great article.  There are some really good quotes in there about the support of the coaches and how the club was able to get him through the tough times.  Yes, it's a puff piece in many ways, but it's still nice to hear of how far we've come as a club.

[loges 6,767]

59 minutes ago, rjay said:

Apparently trained well and playing...

As I've said elsewhere, we don't need to be worried about Martin playing or not playing. We play what they put up with what we put up and we win or lose.

We can't be reliant on other teams injuries and I will be happier to not see these type of posts going forward.

Our team should be able to stand up to what any other side puts on the field and that's where I see us now.

It was a whole 15 minute session

[sue 9,145]

1 hour ago, rjay said:

Apparently trained well and playing...

As I've said elsewhere, we don't need to be worried about Martin playing or not playing. We play what they put up with what we put up and we win or lose.

We can't be reliant on other teams injuries and I will be happier to not see these type of posts going forward.

Our team should be able to stand up to what any other side puts on the field and that's where I see us now.

Yes, our team 'should' be able to meet any opposition. But to not be interested in oppo teams missing some of their best players is just pretending to be tough.  If we were missing Gawn, Hogan and Lewis I suspect oppo teams would be happy with that and happy to bank 4 points.

Edited April 23, 2017 by sue

[Adam The God 30,421]

I reckon bottom of the table Hawthorn's win over West Coast says a fair bit about Richmond too, who should have lost to the hapless Eagles on the G and would have, if not for poor goalkicking.

[beelzebub 23,383]

1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

They are reliant on us missing Max Gawn.

We would obliterate them if he was available (not to mention Lewis.)

We still will. They're desperately playing games.

[Deeoldfart 8,065]

1 hour ago, McQueen said:

Just looked again at the teams and potential match-ups for this game.

Granted I'm not a RFC supporter and know their list intimately like our do ours but really, they have a few good players and not much more. Their competition has been meek and tells you zero about the RFC's true capability this year.

If we don't win this I'll be completely amazed.

Time to pop an over-inflated yellow and black bubble.

Agree totally McQueen.  Arguably, Richmond's best win so far this year was against WCE at the G, and having just watched the previously winless Hawks demolish the Eagles at the same venue, it's clear that Richmond have had a fairly accommodating draw to date.  I'm confident of a win, and a margin of 6 goals+ wouldn't surprise.