POST MATCH DISCUSSION: Melbourne vs Richmond - JLT 01

[Josh 1,420]

15 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Petty was very impressive with some of his intercept marking and neat ball use. Gkt the ball in his hands instead of Frost and Oscar who just butchered it today.

Keilty was the surprise for me. Was jumping over Soldo and Nankervis at time and was impressed with his marking. 

Jordan started slow but started to pick up the tempo in the 2nd half. Good signs to come.

I thought JKH actually played quite well?

I like Pruess as a deep forward.

Disagree, I thought Oscars kicking has improved out of sight

[Jaded No More 68,855]

Oliver was by far the best player out there. He is an absolute freak. Barely no pre season and after two shoulders operations. He is the player who will win us a premiership. Impacts every contest and barely misses a target. 

TMac looked horribly out of form/shape and slow. A massive worry as without Hogan he will be our biggest forward focal point. Preuss was disappointing. Does he have no tank or is he a little sore? Barely rucked for longer than 5 minutes. 

JHK, Wagner (Josh), Strech, ANB and Hunt as underwhelming as usual. 

I thought Hore was quite good as was Jordon (looks like a young James McDonald). 

I missed the first quarter. Can anyone tell me why Grimes was wearing a Batman mask?

[Adzman 2,154]

I watched the game from the comfort of my home courtesy of fox footy. Have to say we looked red hot in parts of the game, and ice cold in others. Gus and Fritta look in good form for preseason. Forward line looks like it's going to take some time to settle, and we will benefit if we can get Melky back into the side. Honestly I'm not sure what our forward 6 looks like going into the season, Spargs was off the boil and Jeffy is in trouble with his injury by the looks of it. Getting a functioning forward 6 will be Goodwin's biggest challenge for round 1. I'm keen to see what transpires there.

[TheoX 1,222]

Preuss looked like a guy who's played 8 games in 4 years, hopefully he improves during his surprisingly long 4 year contract.

[Dee Zephyr 19,267]

Only 6 more sleeps until the next game. Get some regulars back next week and off we go. Thought it was a decent hit out for us. Richmond might have dropped off in the last but it seemed we ran the game out fine. Some iffy disposal out of the back early on, we just need to limit the errors.

Petty only took 3 or 4 marks but liked his attack and clean hands. He plays like that again next week and he might be pushing for Round 1. 

Hopefully they are spot on with Jeffy’s assessment of only missing a couple of weeks. Looked lively early I thought. 

Some head shaking moments, some positives also, it’s getting real now.

[DeeSpencer 25,438]

Good:
- Oliver is still a star
- Gus isn't far behind either, although he has to stop with the poor turnover kicks
- Petracca at least started like the best player on the ground
- Excellent first quarter, nice effort to keep fighting in the last
- Petty, Keilty and Jordon showed a bit

Bad:
Where was the mental strength to hold the game up, switch, change angles etc to keep control of the ball?
There simply wasn't enough structure in the 2nd and 3rd to show that the back ups are well drilled and organised, that's a worry. 

Ugly:
1. The performance of the lower tier maturing players - Oscar, Frost, ANB, J Smith, Maynard, Hunt. Just very little from these guys

2. Where's the run? We weren't a good side out there today but we were hardly a young side either. The Tigers had 2 first year kids and a 2nd year tall, pretty much the same as we did. For the middle 2 quarters in particular the forwards and midfield couldn't get any pressure on the Tigers in transition. That's a big worry. We had 5 of 7 forwards from our finals series last year and plenty of rotations, why are they letting Houli and co run around us all day?

Then the backline was probably even worse in that regard. We couldn't stick with their smalls or provide any drive. It wasn't like Hunt, Hore, J Wagner and Jordon were butchering the ball constantly with bad kicks or poor decisions but more like they weren't even getting the ball and moving it on. Salem went back and steadied things up, as Lewis, Hibberd, Jetta, May etc should do as well I still have big concerns about where the half back run is. If Hunt doesn't get back to his best then we're relying on Hibberd and Salem (who can't be released in to the midfield) and maybe hoping KK can also bounce back. The lack of running defender depth makes little sense to me, every team should be well stocked in that position.
 

[DeeZee 7,361]

You can see why we recruited May and Lever, especially when you see Frosts lack of football nous 

[Sir Why You Little 36,955]

Don’t forget the coach may have given specific instructions to certain players, who are then playing unfamiliar roles. 

The score is irrelevant, it was a good game !

they fought it out

Edited March 3, 2019 by Sir Why You Little

[Deemania since 56 6,607]

24 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

accurate passing down the line

 Key absolute necessity, with too many doing the aerials and too few doing the groundwork.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Then the backline was probably even worse in that regard. We couldn't stick with their smalls or provide any drive. It wasn't like Hunt, Hore, J Wagner and Jordon were butchering the ball constantly with bad kicks or poor decisions but more like they weren't even getting the ball and moving it on. Salem went back and steadied things up, as Lewis, Hibberd, Jetta, May etc should do as well I still have big concerns about where the half back run is. If Hunt doesn't get back to his best then we're relying on Hibberd and Salem (who can't be released in to the midfield) and maybe hoping KK can also bounce back. The lack of running defender depth makes little sense to me, every team should be well stocked in that position.
 

How about we wait until we have our first choice defence out there before we worry about the 'run' being generated from there.  We were low on class and experience down there, especially with a kid like Jordon playing large amounts of the game on a half back flank, and five of our best defenders were out.  Sure, the run from there wasn't great today, but it's hardly a surprise with the team we picked.  Stink it up next week with most of them back and then you've possibly got a point.

[DeeSpencer 25,438]

7 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Oliver was by far the best player out there. He is an absolute freak. Barely no pre season and after two shoulders operations. He is the player who will win us a premiership. Impacts every contest and barely misses a target. 

TMac looked horribly out of form/shape and slow. A massive worry as without Hogan he will be our biggest forward focal point. Preuss was disappointing. Does he have no tank or is he a little sore? Barely rucked for longer than 5 minutes. 

JHK, Wagner (Josh), Strech, ANB and Hunt as underwhelming as usual. 

I thought Hore was quite good as was Jordon (looks like a young James McDonald). 

I missed the first quarter. Can anyone tell me why Grimes was wearing a Batman mask?

Had his nose splattered across his face a few weeks ago at Tigers training.

I thought Preuss was fine until half time. Not good. But fine. A back up ruck capable of getting some hit outs (had 19 by half time) and not entirely inept around the ground. If he really is 15kg heavier than Max then his fitness won't be ideal but it's also likely he'll struggle big time in 40 degrees in preseason. I never thought he would play round 1 unless he was dominant forward and the Weid was battling and that hasn't been the case. So he'll build at Casey. I wouldn't be worried playing him to rest Max at some stage through the year against a bottom side once he's got match fitness. Second half they clearly wanted a good look at Keilty who now seems ahead of Preuss if one of the key forwards gets injured, I'm glad they gave him a good chance.

[Smokey 4,388]

I’d be pretty concerned if I were a Richmond supporter, they only just got up in the end vs a very undermanned team.

We kicked 100 and with minimal damage injury wise. Put Steven May out there and we win that game. Add a few more and we do it comfortably.

Goody seemed to try a few new things, which in the end is all JLT is good for.

Plenty to like. 

[picket fence 17,034]

Petracca has not improved at all since last year

Missed a typically easy goal in the first quarter,

Then when game up for grabs and three dees calling for the ball up forward, Spears a pass to Richtank player who runs and delivers a gimme goal

Spare me the Hype on this Player

Too inconsistent!

[dieter 3,325]

I didn't watch any of it but it would seem that to be within 7 points with minutes to go with virtually half the side not playing - including such key personnel such as Gawn, Jetta, Viney, Hibberd, Melksham, May, Vandenberg, Hannan, Lewis, Jones and Lever - was a reasonable effort and  I can't see the reason for concern. In an ideal side Keilty, the 2 Wagners, Maynard, JKH, Petty, Jordan, Sparrow wouldn't have been called on. I understand Keity, Petty and Chander showed good signs...

Edited March 3, 2019 by dieter

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

8 minutes ago, Smokey said:

I’d be pretty concerned if I were a Richmond supporter, they only just got up in the end vs a very undermanned team.

Richmond will be there at the business end of the season, don't worry about that.

[Dockett 32 1,239]

Practice match so hard to draw to much from it ,but  Keilty, Petty and Jordan were a pleasant surprise.

Thought Hore was ok too.

Brayshaw and Oliver going to cause a lot of problems for others.

Gawn ,Viney , Lever May to change the dynamic.

Some second stringers still to grasp the opportunity or show they can step up, but l suppose this is the time to find out.

Overall an ok performance against quality IMO 

 

 

[Demon Disciple 12,063]

Can't be too displeased with the final result.

Our start was great, our second and third quarters were a worry, but liked that we fought back to within a goal in the last. With the players' we had out along with a horrid middle 2 quarters, we did well against a relatively strong Richmond side.

Hope Garlett's injury isn't too much of a concern, but otherwise, thought it was just what we needed (highlighting the areas we need to further focus on going into the season).

[picket fence 17,034]

Why do I feel a touch Melancholy and thnk this year will mirror the absolute disappointment that was...87??

Still  fair way to go. In spite of Outs!

[ding 5,126]

A couple of photos from the pre-game warmup

Edited March 3, 2019 by ding

[Ethan Tremblay 30,823]

1 minute ago, picket fence said:

Why do I feel a touch Melancholy and thnk this year will mirror the absolute disappointment that was...87?

Because you’re a negative nally. 

[Earl Hood 6,082]

I watched the first three quarters on my phone. The first quarter was very impressive, we looked great and moved the ball how we train. The next two quarters, well we were totally outplayed and our play did not resemble how we train in any way.  Very static ball movement, no system, reluctance to take chances. The delivery forward was deplorable and so it is not fair to critique TMac, JSmith or Weids to harshly. The setup did not provide much forward pressure either. 

I thought Preuss struggled in the centre bounces. Does not seem to know how to use his height and weight to his advantage at all. 

The tigers looked very slick in comparison. Once Dusty moved into the middle in the second quarter the game changed. He is a hard man to stop and in a JLT you are not going to tag him of course. 

In summary, no need to panic but plenty of potential weaknesses that need addressing. And we have 10 or so in the injury group that could help. 

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

4 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Why do I feel a touch Melancholy and thnk this year will mirror the absolute disappointment that was...87??

Still  fair way to go. In spite of Outs!

You said we'd miss the eight last year.

I've now never felt more confident.

[DeeSpencer 25,438]

10 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

How about we wait until we have our first choice defence out there before we worry about the 'run' being generated from there.  We were low on class and experience down there, especially with a kid like Jordon playing large amounts of the game on a half back flank, and five of our best defenders were out.  Sure, the run from there wasn't great today, but it's hardly a surprise with the team we picked.  Stink it up next week with most of them back and then you've possibly got a point.

My point is not that our first choice backline won't be better but that today was a demonstration of the list imbalance. 

Derm made the point in commentary that to beat the best sides you have to break the lines from half back, you can't just chip it around and hope to counter attack by ball use. His observation was Hunt was the only player like to break the lines and when you look at our first choice backline it's really only Hibberd - who's probably not as quick as he used to be - as the other line breaker. KK is an option but he's been training with the mids because we need that outside run in midfield as well. I really like Jordon but he seems another good size, hopefully good contested player with nice skills but not really someone who's going to beat opponents with speed.

We've got 45 list spots and we can't use one of them on a young back flanker who can run the ball?  

[McQueen 17,864]

Watched 3 quarters. 

Stretch is the greatest concern for me. Gets a bit of it but uses it so poorly I just can’t see him becoming a regular seniors player. 

Also not happy with what I considered too many short chips kicks that were turned over. Looked to be trying to centre the ball most times but there was a lot of it all over the ground and it looked amateur. 

And the bombs into the F50 still worries me.  

Edited March 3, 2019 by McQueen

[ding 5,126]

More images from early in the match