The Mid Season Review

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

Who'd have thought it

11-2 going into the bye. What a performance

For me the highlight has been the overall team performance. A few stand out performances in some games but on balance everyone doing their job and in the main doing it well week in and week out.

The Brisbane win was my highlight. It was against a full strength team who were on a winning streak. Bulldogs win was good but I thought their tactics of going wide almost gave us the win.

Individually the two players who have impressed me are Jordon and Spargo. Not the best on ground but two relative fringe players who have established themselves firmly within the best 22.

So 9 rounds to go..7-2 would be nice guaranteeing top two

Would like to see another goal avenue emerging who delivers 20 goals over the remaining rounds. Could it be Bedford or perhaps the great man Spargo.

Anyway let's enjoy it because these times may not come again.

After all it is an Olympics year and the last time it was in Japan we know what happened.

[drdrake 3,187]

Great start to the year, I think the development of Spargo, Jordon, Pickett, Rivers, Jackson and the return to form of TMac have been the real pleasing aspect of this year.  TMac made a choice to fight for his spot and great for us he did this, his last 2 years were terrible and we hope that he can maintain his form into the back half of the season as he is the real barometer from the team.

Back line has been great, mids we still lack a bit of disposal polish and need to get better with clearance work, forwards have looked good, we seem to have them go missing a bit whether that is due to supply issues or structure our forwards can go through halves of footy and rarely touch the ball.

The loss on the weekend hopefully will focus the team on what they need to do over the next 3 months.

From this position of 11 and 2 it will be disappointing if we don't finish top 4

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

It easy to be dismayed by the recent loss, but i know everyone of you Demonlanders would have taken 11-2 at the start of the year. What is even more impressive is the scalps we have taken along the way. Undefeated against top 8 teams is an indication that we can really up the intensity when required.

I love watching the emergence of some of our young players in Rivers, LJ, Spargo, Jordon and Kozzy. Consistency for young players is always a challenge but showing us what they can produce gives us a taste of what is to come. 

The bounce back of TMac and even ANB is truly a testament to the team first mentality. For most improved  i think Jordon takes those honors and will be smokey for the Rising Star.  

Coaches award - is it no surprise that Melksham has that wrapped up! (joking joking). If this was decided on role playing then i think Brayshaw has to feature as does Oliver and Langdon.

We have a very difficult 2nd half of the draw (WC in Perth, PA in Adelaide, Cats in Geelong) so anything better than a 5-4 should guarantee us a spot in the top 4 and in years gone past would have us in top 2 as well. 

I think Oliver is clearly in front from an individual performance perspective with Trac, Gawn, Lingers and Lever to round out the top 5. 

Its no secret our forward line is probably the area that is most under scrutiny.  The time for experimentation is over and we need to focus on settling on a forward 6 to take us into the finals and having a tilt at the flag. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

19 minutes ago, CYB said:

 anything better than a 5-4 should guarantee us a spot in the top 4 and in years gone past would have us in top 2 as well. 

 

If we're to win a flag, history (from 2010 onwards) says that the premier goes at least 6-3 in the last 9 games and goes into a finals campaign with rock solid form.

Richmond have gone 8-1 and 9-0 and 7-2 in the last 3 flags, in the run home to finals.

The average record is 7-2. Even the Dogs who had a patchy home and away season in 2016 went 6-3 in their last 9 games before finals.

A 5-4 record would suggest inconsistencies and not the very strong form you'd want to carry into the finals.

It's fantastic we've banked the wins but we need to maintain this rate, and most certainly not drop games to Hawthorn, GWS, GC and Adelaide on the run home. 

[dazzledavey36 55,359]

33 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

If we're to win a flag, history (from 2010 onwards) says that the premier goes at least 6-3 in the last 9 games and goes into a finals campaign with rock solid form.

Richmond have gone 8-1 and 9-0 and 7-2 in the last 3 flags, in the run home to finals.

The average record is 7-2. Even the Dogs who had a patchy home and away season in 2016 went 6-3 in their last 9 games before finals.

A 5-4 record would suggest inconsistencies and not the very strong form you'd want to carry into the finals.

It's fantastic we've banked the wins but we need to maintain this rate, and most certainly not drop games to Hawthorn, GWS, GC and Adelaide on the run home. 

What a great stat.

Just shows how important it is to banks the wins in the 2nd half as much as it is in the first.

Start it off by getting a win against the bombers.

Edited June 16, 2021 by dazzledavey36

[BW511 2,688]

Very happy with the change in attitude over the past 6 months from individual to a team based approach. I have been big on that for a while now. Richmond have not won flags because of their stars, they have a full squad of people playing their role.

The big thing for me is finding the best forward setup and getting it working consistently.

As mentioned above, the start has put us in a great position to make a real charge towards finals. Let's hope we can hit the finals cherry ripe and Burgo has everyone fit and healthy

Edited June 16, 2021 by BW511

[DeeZone 10,130]

Also very happy with 11- 2 start, it has been a bit surreal to actually expect to win each week and a much bigger let down when we lose. Given what the team have delivered I am expecting a 7 - 2 or at least a 6 - 3 run home. We just need to sort out our forward line, that is the key to finishing top four.

[rpfc 28,779]

It’s a great platform and wholly enjoyable to witness. Best win was Lions and Tigers with Dogs and Cats wins just behind them.

I think we will need to go 6 and 3 at least to get a home final in the first week. As we have seen anyone can beat anyone; but GWS, Haw, Adel, and GC should be Ws if we bring our effort.

Ess, PA, WB, WCE, and Geel we will need to bring our effort and execution to win but we can most definitely win a share of those.

We should start to build into some form and it starts with Essendon.

[dazzledavey36 55,359]

24 minutes ago, BW511 said:

Very happy with the change in attitude over the past 6 months from individual to a team based approach. I have been big on that for a while now. Richmond have not won flags because of their stars, they have a full squad of people playing their role.

The big thing for me is finding the best forward setup and getting it working consistently.

As mentioned above, the start has put us in a great position to make a real charge towards finals. Let's hope we can hit the finals cherry ripe and Burgo has everyone fit and healthy

Pre Collingwood game I would have said yes. But I saw far too much of this on the weekend from the same individuals that have been the main culprits in the past couple of years. 

I don't have concerns that it's crept in, but this certainly needs to be pulled back in line with team attitude mantra that's made us great this year.

Have faith the coaches will drive this hard over the break.

[BW511 2,688]

5 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Pre Collingwood game I would have said yes. But I saw far too much of this on the weekend from the same individuals that have been the main culprits in the past couple of years. 

I don't have concerns that it's crept in, but this certainly needs to be pulled back in line with team attitude mantra that's made us great this year.

Have faith the coaches will drive this hard over the break.

Absolutely, that was a real jolt back to the old ways - which also highlighted our general improvement in this area.

Keeping things glass half full, we have managed to keep the egos in check for most of the season and that's pleasing.

If we are to believe that everyone has bought in to the idea, Monday's game will be the slap everyone needed and away we go.

 

 

[Guest]

I am very satisfied upon reflection, though my perceptions might be clouded by the embarrassing performance on Monday.

The approach so far we have taken is something that I rarely have witnessed in my time supporting Melbourne in that it is a holistic one.

Mostly, we have previously relied on one segment of the field with one line being defective. Back in the early to mid '00s, we had a B midfield, a B+ to A (if we are being generous) forward line and a C defense. The team of the late 80's was basically a team of honest B grade triers but there was very little silk on the field (Garry Lyon excluded). 

Right now, we have A talent on all lines; something I haven't experienced in my time. That being said, if one area falls down, the whole game plan becomes vulnerable. Each position on the field is symbiotic on the others, and the team should best remember that. Against the Crows, we were off 5%, they played out of their skins and we lost at the death. Against Collingwood, we were down nearly 10%, they played out of their skins and the game was over 7 minutes into the last quarter. In both games, midfield pressure and pragmatic, first option offense weren't as prevalent as previous weeks. In that, there is a lesson.

One thing that gives me cause for optimism is what Jake Lever said after the game. While he pointed out that what we had was a good foundation for the second half of the year, he was emphatic that we hadn't achieved anything substantive. The manner he delivered that line reminded me of when Daniel Cross was interviewed after we got toweled up by West Coast by 90 points in Roosy's second game. At that time, I was taken aback by Crossy basically drawing a line under the 'well at least they tried' and 'the players are sorry and hurting' school of thought to explain away heavy losses. He looked right in Burgo's (Matt not Darren) eye and said, 'bugger that. I want blokes who want to win.' It was so un Melbourne-like that it made me take notice. While the year was a write off  as we basically still had the legacy of a mentally scarred playing list dotted with VFL and suburban league quality players, we at least proceeded to be competitive in the vast majority of games.

Jake's declaration was similar. I can only hope that it is a genuine declaration of where we stand. 

Edited June 16, 2021 by Colin B. Flaubert

[Red But Mostly Blue 4,547]

A great start to the year!

LOVED:

- The buy-in, belief and confidence from the boys.

- The continued rise of youngsters such as Jordon, Rivers, Spargo, Jackson, Kozzie and even ANB.

- The impact and dependability of Clarry, Trac, Langdon and Salem, as well as Gus. 

- Our defensive fortress, including the leadership of May and Lever.

- The return of TMac.

- Making statements against top 8 sides.

- Some interesting coaching moves. Goody has improved, and benefited from improved company.

- Although we've been winning, we're nowhere near potential still. We're going to be scary good when we do.

DID NOT LOVE:

- Starting games slow! 

- We have not resolved our KPF issue. Is it Brown? Weid? Both? Neither???! Imagine another 2-3 goals a game! (this would have turned the Pies and Crows games)

- The dropped games against bottom 8 teams, especially the Pies (I know asking for 13-0 is a lot, but just imagine!!)

- Viney's '2-4 week' injury becoming yet another 2 month blowout. 

- Max has seemed flat for quite a number of weeks now.

Looking forward to restarting after the bye with a bang. We need a solid win against the Bombers (they have been traveling ok, we can't start flat - we assumed the win against the Pies and it cost us) and reminding the competition that they're going to have to beat us to win the flag. It'll be great to get Viney back, we miss some of that backwards run, sort out our forward structure and fix our first halves. 

Very excited! Go Dees!

[Docs Demons 1,792]

If you had of told me pre season we would be 11/2 at the bye I would have committed you to the looney bin. Very happy and the 2 losses have been by only 1 and 17 points when we played crap. Will take it to the bank and look forward to the next phase. 

[Hopeful Demon 1,517]

1 hour ago, RedButMostlyBlue said:

Max has seemed flat for quite a number of weeks 

Gawn has set ridiculously high expectations. He probably hasn't been as outstanding as he was in the first 6 or so games of the season but I still think that he was among our best in our wins against the bulldogs and Brisbane. We just need to accept that he's not going to have an extremely dominant game every week.

[titan_uranus 25,044]

3 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

If we're to win a flag, history (from 2010 onwards) says that the premier goes at least 6-3 in the last 9 games and goes into a finals campaign with rock solid form.

Richmond have gone 8-1 and 9-0 and 7-2 in the last 3 flags, in the run home to finals.

The average record is 7-2. Even the Dogs who had a patchy home and away season in 2016 went 6-3 in their last 9 games before finals.

A 5-4 record would suggest inconsistencies and not the very strong form you'd want to carry into the finals.

It's fantastic we've banked the wins but we need to maintain this rate, and most certainly not drop games to Hawthorn, GWS, GC and Adelaide on the run home. 

The key, though, is who we beat vs who we don't beat in these final 9 games.

If we beat all of Port Adelaide, West Coast, the Dogs and Geelong, and finish top 4, but drop a few games to the lesser sides, I suspect we'll still have a degree of confidence that in our first final we'll be able to win.

Conversely, if we go 7-2 but we drop the games to Geelong and the Dogs for example, we might not have that same confidence.

Generally though I agree, 11-2 is a great platform but history suggests form in the run home is more important than form in the first half of the year.

[Red But Mostly Blue 4,547]

3 hours ago, Hopeful Demon said:

Gawn has set ridiculously high expectations. He probably hasn't been as outstanding as he was in the first 6 or so games of the season but I still think that he was among our best in our wins against the bulldogs and Brisbane. We just need to accept that he's not going to have an extremely dominant game every week.

This is true, 'flat by his standards' could be more appropriate. I still reckon he was pantsed against the Pies, but to be fair he was not alone there!! It's a tough gig being such a star, you're scrutinised a lot more!