RalphiusMaximus

The good folks on SEN were discussing Richmond's difficulties this year and said that all of their run and carry last season was generated from the HB line and this is where a lot of their scoring came from. Teams this year have been tagging the HB playmakers and zoning into their space to prevent them from generating that run and they haven't been able to work through it or switch to a plan B. We saw a few times togay they managed to get that running game going and they cut us to ribbons, but more often we were able to shut it down and force them to stop and start and when that happens their motion up-field ceases and they suddenly have nothing to pass to.

MY old Dad and I made a last minute dash to the 'G today. Missed a bit of the first quarter and had to hike a fair way to find a seat, but it turned out to be a great decision. Awesome game to watch. I note that today Howe was marking instead of trying to punch the bell. Many on here made that call after last week and it looks like the coaches agreed and told him to back himself in. That was just a great team effort from the boys, everyone put in and while there were a few truly shocking turnovers I don't think we had any passengers today. If we can cut out the fumbles in tight spaces and improve our f50 entries a bit we'll be able to take it up to some of the top sides with an attitude like that. I have to note that Cross is still looking like the recruit of the year. His assurance on the ground is amazing. He knows exactly where he needs to go, he demands the ball with real authority and he forces turnovers constantly.

15 of our players listed with Casey. Must suck being one of their players right now. I guess it's a good sign that our injury list is under control for the moment.

I agree that the game was lost by us rather than won by them. THe simple truth is that we didn't take our chances and they did. Generally, the chances they took occurred right after we had failed to take one of ours, and it was this fact that directly cost us, as we saw a six point lead turn into a five point deficit, then a chance to regain the lead suddenly turned into ten points down. I'm sure there were others, but these two stick in my mind due to their proximity to the end of the match and how close the game was at that point. What it all boils down to is that we let their negative tactics rattle us and we lacked the class and cohesion to work around them and finish cleanly.

Pretty sure Gawn was held out as the emergency for the seniors.

The channel 7 commentary team were talking about that and said the umps are trying to use a different technique and failing. Generally when they recall it and try again they go back to the old method and it works. Something about trying to do it side-on rather than directly over their heads.

I agree. We would have been better served to move Frawley back onto him and Howe up forward to give us an alternative marking target. Dunn could have gone the spare defender which is a far better role for him. Making those moves at 3/4 time could have won us the match. Of course, it could also have been a disaster. Hindsight is wonderful, but it's not infallible.

We can't blame the umpires for tonight. There was that one howler to gift them a goal, bu it wouldn't have happened if Jones had nailed his shot at the other end. Plus, it's not like we lost by that one goal. It may have been a momentum-breaker, but again that is more due to the Jones miss than the dodgy free. The fact is that when it really counted we weren't good enough. Also, I have to agree that Watts, while quiet, did lay a couple of very nice tackles. Brought Cooney down when it looked like he was about to score another goal and every other tackle had slipped off him. He probably could have had a free for that, but the umpire gave Cooney plenty of time to get the handball off. Still a great effort to tackle him.

OK. I was shouting at the TV over that idiotic free to Crameri, but in the final washup it didn't cost us the game. If anything, I would say Matt Jones' two missed shots in the last did that if anything did. Even beyond that, our continued poor passing into the forward line meant we weren't keeping scoreboard pressure on them. We should have been well up by half time. It's great to see how well our kids are coming on now. They are fearless, they are skilled and they are starting to figure out how to play at this pace and intensity. The future is looking brighter all the time. Also very nice to see how well our traded-in players are doing. They are all contributing and setting a great example for the young-uns. All in all, I think that tonight's result was about right for where the team is. We are pretty close to the doggies, but they have a little more polish and cohesion than us right now and in the end it was the difference. To our great credit, for large portions of the game they were reduced to piling bodies on the ball to stop us from using it. Given that they pride themselves on their ability to extract the ball I think that's a pretty good sign. I am disappointed that we couldn't pull it off, but not devastated.

The same old problem, we deliver really badly to our forwards. If we could fix that one issue, we'd be a ten goal better team.

Where was the man on the bloody line? Any other team in the league and that was intercepted and run out of the 50!

This may be the only game of the year where the frees run our way

Am I the only one thinking Dawes needed to take the shot rather than passing to Frawley?

Just call it a bounce, then he's tackled while bouncing and automatic holding the ball.

Think it was a striking charge from the VFL wasn't it? 1 week ban.

How long until the Davey lads are appearing on our radar?

They do, but I'm not sure he's your type.

Four years ago, but yes. In that case the MRP used their discretionary powers to determine that there was no case to answer and it never went to the tribunal. Why they didn't do the same this time is beyond me, and the basis for my repeated claims of cowardice and moral bankruptcy on their part. THey lacked the courage to make that call and instead passed it on to the tribunal, who have gifted us this travesty.

Read back a few pages, someone quoted the AFL rules on it. No new evidence unless it was not available at the time of the first hearing or something like that.

Nope. New evidence isn't normally allowed in an appeal. They have to show that the verdict was unreasonable. That I think they can do quite easily.

MelbourneFC Article I am rather concerned about one line in particular: "It is unlikely Melbourne will appeal the penalty." Seriously, if they don't appeal this I don't know if I can continue giving them my money. Part of what I expect from the club in return for my ongoing and often sadly misplaced faith and financial contribution is that they will stand up both on and off the field. To fold on this issue and allow themselves to be steamrolled again by the corrupt AFL system goes against everything I want this team to represent.

I think Viney's attack on the ball has to be right up there.

https://twitter.com/Joseph_Patamisi/status/463633751361085440/photo/1

Someone's started a petition. Get on it folks. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/let-jack-viney-play

I wonder if the AFL is going to start handing out fines to all those players standing up for Jack? That's their usual response to criticism from within. For that matter, when will they try to hand out fines to the fans who criticise them?