titan_uranus

Not yet convinced. Improved that quarter but still struggling to stop then when they go forward.

When you think warning signs, you think that quarter. Ball spends heaps of time in our forward half but inefficiency and missed set shots mean we don’t capitalise. They break fast and score 6 times from 11 inside 50s. I do not like the look of this.

Agree with the majority, it's appalling. It used to be much better but as they've changed it over the years they seem to be focused on pushing videos down our throats. They've made more stats accessible to us, but the page is so incredibly terrible to use it's hard to actually be able to review the stats they're making available.

Indeed, across the first two rounds we had 56 scoring shots. I believe the only sides to generate more in those two rounds were Sydney and Port (61 each). Obviously if we keep kicking inaccurately it won't help so much, but we've been generating plenty of scoring shots, giving us good chances to win both games.

Big test IMO. We should win this game on paper and on form. That sort of situation doesn't usually bode well for us, but of course in 2018 the one thing we were reliable at was beating the bottom 10. It's 17 assuming GWS don't score. As they score, the margin will need to increase: currently we're +40 in points for/against, whilst Sydney is +109. So the more GWS score, the closer our margin will need to get to 60 to bridge that gap.

Aside from the impact on our attempt at finals this year, this is the big motivation for tomorrow. Get ourselves to 3-0 and sit alongside the Dogs and Sydney, and amongst contenders like West Coast, Port and Richmond, as the sides deserving of prime time TV.

Big chance for us tomorrow. We currently have the third best percentage in the AFL and sit third. A win puts us a game clear of 4th and opens up a two-game gap over most of the bottom 10 (depending on who wins out of Carlton-Fremantle and Geelong-Hawthorn). More importantly IMO, I'd love to see a win brought about by the same sort of football we've played over Rounds 1 and 2. So far only the Dogs and Sydney have been consistent through their three games. I'd love for us to stake a claim alongside them to be one of the better, more consistent, sides this year. Even if it's not accurate, I'd just like to feel like we're setting ourselves up early for a real tilt.

I suspect they just wanted to name him in the 18, reward for his much-improved game last week. The back six (May, Lever, Tomlinson, Hunt, Salem, Jetta) and forward six (TMac, Jackson, Fritsch, ANB, Pickett and Spargo) are settled. Langdon, Petracca, Oliver and Viney all get their midfield spots. So there's the last wing, which is probably where Jordon or Brayshaw start the game, or Jones gets named on the bench. In other words, it's signalling more than anything I suspect.

A reminder that it's early days: last year the Dogs, St Kilda and Geelong were all 1-2 after three games, but made finals. In 2019 Collingwood and Richmond were 1-2 and made finals (Richmond of course won the flag). And in 2018 Collingwood and Geelong were 1-2 and made finals (Collingwood a kick from the flag). So whilst teams like Brisbane, St Kilda and Collingwood are all going to be 1-2 this year, it's too early to write them off.

Good call IMO. Opportunities will likely come during the season for Melksham and Hibberd but not right now.

So, other than North, who else is going to finish bottom 4 this year?

Didn't take long, @Better days ahead.

A dodgy bump perhaps, but a win tomorrow would be the first time we've started a season 3-0 since 2005, a 16-year drought.

Top 5 picks since 2014: Gold Coast - 5 Sydney - 4 (5 if you include Heeney) Melbourne - 4 GWS - 4 Brisbane - 3 Carlton - 3 St Kilda - 2 Essendon - 2 Fremantle - 2 North Melbourne - 2 Collingwood - 1 Adelaide - 1 Port Adelaide - 1 Western Bulldogs - 1 Richmond - 0 West Coast - 0 Geelong - 0 Hawthorn - 0 It's far too early to draw any of those conclusions except maybe the Sydney one. I don't think they were tanking though, they had significant injuries last year.

I think today is more evidence of the changed way teams have to defend in 2021. Richmond's key defenders have traditionally had layers of mids/forwards rolling back to support them. They haven't had that today and have repeatedly been beaten as a result. McCartin at the other end, by contrast, has been pretty solid (Lynch has kicked 3 but I've liked McCartin's game). We know May and Lever (and Tomlinson) have been pretty good so far this year and our defensive set up has held up even against St Kilda's attempts to move the ball with pace. Hopefully our set up is able to be maintained, as I think some sides are going to find it hard to defend against sides with reasonable offensive abilities.

Ah thanks. Bell's the sub but yes, that's 6 of the 22 and the sub is the 7th. Naismith's injured but he's also Academy.

Yes they've been excellent, but Richmond have undoubtedly made it worse.

Heeney, Mills, Blakey, Gulden, Campbell. I think?

This is truly pathetic from Richmond. It's likely just a one off but the amount of lazy jogging, half-assed tackle attempts, ill-discipline and breakdown of structures is just baffling for a side with this much talent and only one or two players missing.

Richmond are responding to this like bad Melbourne would. They've sent their entire 18 up into their defensive 50. So every time they get a turnover and look to rebound, they take off and see no one in front of them. So their last two defensive half turnovers have resulted in zero points scored because they have nothing forward of centre.

It's worth bearing in mind that Sydney barely have an injury list: Fox, Naismith and Ronke, all average players anyway. Probably the best-placed side in the comp right now on the injury front. Funnily enough, I think Richmond would also be up there for shortest injury list right now (Prestia's gone down today though).

It's the blue print to beat anyone. They're belting Richmond in the centre and there are few to no defences that can withstand inside 50s coming in with no pressure.

Sydney's next two are Essendon and GWS. Even if they lose this from here, you'd expect them to be 4-1. Their repeat games are GWS, Essendon, Fremantle, St Kilda and Gold Coast. Really, really favourable list there, which happens when you finish bottom 4 I suppose.

As I said, Brisbane didn't show up in Round 1 and Adelaide is still Adelaide. It's easy to get carried away when a younger/rejuvenated squad starts a season well but it wouldn't have been surprising at all for them to slump today. The fact that they're not means they deserve to be rated. Richmond are getting pantsed in the middle and it's not just because Prestia is injured. No midfield pressure on Sydney means they can take their pick of forward half options, and that's without Franklin in the side. It's incredible that Tom Hickey is playing well. A journeyman in every sense of the word.

Been looking at scoring maps on statsinsider.com.au. Here's a comparison of heat maps of all our shots on goal from Round 1 2019 to date, compared with Richmond. Obviously Richmond have generated more shots through that time than us given our relative poor form, but we seem to generate too many shots from 30+ metres whilst Richmond are more central and closer to goal. Hopefully we see more shots from closer/straight in 2021 than this.