Lord Nev

Everything is going pretty well for us, this is the worst possible time to bring up something like biased umpiring if you know your MFC history...

Could we see Gus into Trac's role, TMac to the wing, given Weid and Brown are both in?

Current context is obviously different, just pointing out you may have been a bit loose with the facts binny. For the record, both of last years Grand Finalists were in the top 8 for team v opponent centre clearance differential. It's not a make or break stat, and you can't judge it on it's own without context, but I don't think either saying 'we should lose centre clearances to win' or 'we should dominate centre clearances to win' is an accurate way to put this discussion forward. IMO, at least breaking even in centre clearances will be vital come finals time.

To be fair though, the year we made a prelim under Goody we were 1st for team v opponent centre clearance differential...

It's an interesting point, for reference (have also listed out intercepts for interest sake): THE 'CLOSE' GAMES - CENTRE CLEARANCES Dockers (22 point win) MFC 10 FREO 12 (83 intercepts) St Kilda (18 point win) MFC 11 StK 14 (79 intercepts) Sydney (9 point win) MFC 4 SYD 17 (82 intercepts) THE 'NOT SO CLOSE' GAMES - CENTRE CLEARANCES Giants (34 point win) MFC 12 GWS 16 (89 intercepts) Cats (25 point win) MFC 13 GEE 10 (75 intercepts) Hawks (50 point win) MFC 12 HAW 15 (83 intercepts) Tigers (34 point win) MFC 10 RIC 9 (91 intercepts) Kangaroos (30 point win) MFC 15 NM 14 (71 intercepts) It's not a super strong pattern, but for mine what I take out of it is against the better teams we need to do better out of the middle. I don't think we need to dominate centre clearances to win, but, come finals time, I think we need to have it running a bit more evenly should we want to beat the top teams in finals style footy. We still rank highly (2nd) for team v opponent hitouts, but we're middle of the table (8th) for team v opponent clearances. We're 16th for team v opponent centre clearances, but I don't have the stat for centre hitouts to give that context.

Yeah for sure, hopefully the synergy all works with the 3 forwards (likely) in. Dogga is such a unique player hey?

I agree it's likely going to be Weid, but I think that's an oversimplification of Dogga's role this year. He's been closer to a midfielder IMO, averaging 14 disposals, 3 marks, 2 clearances, on top of the ruck work. I don't think either Weid or TMac have the same ability. TMac can run but doesn't have the agility or ground level skills, Weid doesn't read the play like a mid like Dogga does. I'm glad Weid will likely get a shot, but I think people might be underselling Jackson's importance to our performances so far this year.

Somehow he's had 15 hitouts this year tho...

Mate, the Tigers have admitted they were fighting, how do you think Bolton broke his wrist?

That's not what it said, that's how you took it. See above.

That's not what it said. It said "their culture are trash". Regardless of 'defending a female', punching on in a nightclub is not grown up behaviour nor a sign of good culture. There's plenty of examples over the last few years that indicate their off field culture is poor.

That's the one side of the story that has been granted media coverage so far. You're the one making assumptions that it's the full and correct story and is all as black and white (or black and yellow) as Richmond FC Inc. have made out. Juicebox is right to say you put yourself in risk of serious consequences when you decide violence is the way to deal with issues like this. Ask Patrick Cronin's family.

It's not a problem while we're winning, but it has the potential to become a reason we lose if we don't balance it up a bit. We don't have to dominate, but would be helpful to at least break even. We can't take things for granted, should May, Lever or Salem get injured or lose form it all of a sudden could become a big problem.

Ripper bloke, loved by his teammates, will always try hard.

Not really that interested in 'what ifs'. You could go back to his turnovers and holding the balls in the first half and say they cost us too. As I said, I thought he lifted in the second half and I don't think he'll be dropped. IMO some people might have been seduced by how much they saw him rather than what he actually did with it. He'll be better for the run, but the fawning over his game is over the top.

But... this thread is all about centre clearances....?

IMO you can't judge it accurately by total clearance differential because there will be different amounts of clearances in every game, and also we're specifically looking at centre clearances. For mine, team v opponent averages is the most accurate picture and Richmond were smack bang in the middle for that over the last 4 years. I wasn't arguing that break even is fine, I agree with that mate, just that I don't think the stats back up your assertion that Richmond were "bottom or near bottom" for centre clearances.

Richmond Center Clearances v Opponent Averages 2017 - 2nd 2018 - 15th 2019 - 11th 2020 - 8th That's an average of 9th, I wouldn't call that "bottom or near bottom of that table".

Goody also said: ""That means you're sucking up a lot of territory, so it's an area of our game we have to get better. We'll look at that, learn and get better, but it's important to get that right, you give up a lot of territory and have to move the ball from your back half, and that's not how we want to play." "It's an area we have to get better at. It's a big part of our game and lot of teams' games, so we have to get better at it."

There's also an article about this very thing from last night. https://www.afl.com.au/news/609197/the-concerning-stat-worrying-undefeated-demons-coach

It's not a new problem, we've been trending this way for a while. MFC Centre Clearances 2018 - 1st 2019 - 2nd 2020 - 13th 2021 - 17th Team v Opponent Averages 2018 - 1st 2019 - 3rd 2020 - 12th 2021 - 16th

Not 100% sure I follow the logic here... Presumably you're dropping Melksham for lack of pressure, yet you're saying play Petracca there to give him a 'light week'. Then you're saying we need 'more pressure and run' in the forward line. I would like to see either Sparrow or (fingers crossed) Viney in for grunt/clearances etc, but I don't think Melksham out and Trac forward to 'rest' is much of a chance to happen.

Nowhere did I say he'd be dropped, in fact I clearly stated I thought he wouldn't be. Have a good one.

24 of his 31 disposals were handballs, yet he had 6 clangers and 5 turnovers. His first half was very poor. Off the pace, poor decisions, caught trying to do too much. He lifted in the second half. I don't need to re-watch it just because I disagree with you.

"Fantastic" is overcooking it, but I don't think he'll be dropped.