Webber

Richmond's good start to the season has been based on their ability to force and exploit turnovers.....no. 1 in the AFL thus far. Our lapses have been based on our inability to avoid making critical turnovers and being carved up on account. As ordinary on paper as they seem to be, this makes the Tiges our worst nightmare. If they get a hold of us, I fear it's going to get very ugly, and searching questions will be asked about our game plan and trajectory. Thus, a season defining game, even though I think we effectively cooked our season in last week's third quarter. Depends how much they've learnt from that. We're just a very young, talented, potentially great but enormously brittle team, so as we'll frustratingly see all season, ANYTHING could happen.

The problem is that yesterday's third quarter was season killing, because it revealed an absolute inability to maintain a defensive game plan under pressure. We are arguably the most brittle and easily exposed team in the AFL, and the good teams will exploit it mercilessly. No real advance on last year as I see it.

He's also a very good mark. Billy Stretch will be the player who is perenially left in the margins of discussions about our best players, but by my estimations he is already one of the first ten picked every week. And he's only gonna get better.

Looking forward to seeing Jake, time to be the bride. Maxy's marking hasn't been the best this year, where it has become a feature of Jake's game. Aside from the rucking, I'm thinking Jake could be more than up to it around the ground. Doubt we'll see any other changes.

Anyone imagining Alex Neale-Bullen will get dropped after a 28 disposal, 10 tackle game is simply irrational.

111 posts. Wow!

Love Josh Mahoney's attention grabbing refutation; 'That's not how we want to be perceived'. And yet there he was bringing attention to it. It is very clear that this group want to psychologically intimidate other clubs. It's a deliberate aura (Hawthorn-like) that they want to manufacture. And whilst Lewis and Hogan stupidly hurt our chances for on field success over the next 3 weeks, and in no way do I condone their behaviour, I have to (begrudgingly) admit that their actions help build that aura. Like it or not, a big part of success in footy is about physical intimidation and the psychological effect it carries.

He'd be mad not to move on. I guess the nagging thought for me is that considering Max's talents away from the ruck, how might the team go if Jake were doing 50% of the rucking whilst Max was hovering around the goals (and vice versa). Geelong have Mackie, Lonergan, Hansen and Taylor (if they play him where they should) who are all going to be dominant in the air against us if that's the way it comes in, which it sometimes will. Playing a small forward line in the hope we can use speed and precision for all our goals seems a little thin to me.

I suspect you're right ProDee, but it's a bit cruel watching Spencer wither on the vine. He's in good form, at peak age for a ruckman, and just isn't getting the chances he would at any other club. The price paid for sitting behind the AA ruckman I guess. Tell me you don't imagine the Max and Jake show might just be a winner though.

Two words..........Big Jakey! It's time.

How in any reality will Hogan not be suspended? It doesn't matter if he intended to hit him anywhere else, it doesn't even matter if he was provoked, the reality is plain for all to see; he punched Rowe in the head, off the ball, with enough force to put Rowe down and make him groggy. And he wasn't milking it or acting. If we want players in the AFL to be held to account for acts of violence outside the laws of the game, he gets at least a week. The disappointing aspect is that Hogan still struggles to channel his frustration into just playing motivated football. His default position is still to be [censored] off or a bit sooky. Opponents will take advantage of this, and so they should. I think his midfield spells might be the answer. He gets more of it and doesn't carry the weight of his own (and our) goalkicking expectations. And he's a scary beast for any opposition midfielder.

Not sure, all of them probably, but I'm sure that if Simpson was a Melbourne player, Demonland would have him at Casey next week.

Look at the TV vision. He didn't.

Hogan punched Rowe in the head. He has to go, and he should. Idiotic act. Lewis open palmed. Unless he's on a promise, should get off with a fine.

Reading this post match discussion so far; Brayshaw is slow and not up to AFL standard. Watts needs to be dropped. Viney and Petracca were bad and probably won't be too far behind. Imagine if selection were in the hands of some of the commentators here. OMac of course wouldn't have played after last week, or for the rest of the season. Pederson would play and never be dropped (this one really fascinates me). The level of kneejerk absolutist rubbish some of you spew is frankly hilarious. Those who just can't seem to work out that form is variable, particularly for the under 23 year old players. One week up, next down, maybe underwhelming for a few in a row. If you expect week to week or even month to month consistency from every player, you're going to be continually frustrated and angry.

All this Oscar bagging is odd to me. Considering how few games he's played, and how tall players always take longer to develop, I think Oscar's trajectory and early career form is actually really exciting. Particularly considering the clear simpatico he has with his brother. In a few years, we'll be talking about them as MFC legends in the vein of the Febey brothers.

Easy there, DemonAndrew, you risk letting sense and reality get in the way of a good old Demonland whipping boy frenzy.

Has a serious touch of someone who feeds on the occasion and the step up in pace/skills/physical demands. One of those who will play better at the highest standard. Kudos to Goodwin for having the moxie to trust that might be the case.

Both Watts and Hogan were getting pulled down in the marking contests. It's a sneaky method that's very hard for the umps to see in packs, but happened three times to Watts that I saw.

WJ's OP nailed it, but it's also worth simply considering whether the women's game is good to watch, leaving aside comparisons to the men's game. For mine, it definitely is. All the attractions of our game are still there, and as has been multiply repeated, this will only get better. Given the cross gender appeal that footy has enjoyed throughout its history, it's just surprising how long the women's game has taken to grab a fledgling place in the market. It's interesting to note that in the indigenous game of Marngrook, every game was started by a participating woman throwing the ball into play.

Depends on the extent of soft tissue damage, assuming the bone is unharmed. If he hasn't badly disrupted the ligaments securing the superior tib-fib joint, then it's a 2 to 3 week deal. Imaging this week will tell. Chronic instability is the thing to avoid.

Joel Smith was the big turn-up for me. Laid the best three tackles of the game, read the ball well and was constructive with his disposal. Dare I say his athleticism reminds me of Easton Wood. I think the brains trust have big plans for him. Sam Frost might be the one to make way.

Media typo. Dislocate the patella, not its tendon. A patella dislocation tears the tissue on the inside part of the knee as a result of the kneecap moving laterally (to the outside). There's also the potential risk of damage to the articulate surface of the kneecap (the underside). If all is well, he should make an uncomplicated recovery. Weightbearing load needs to be managed so as not to create irritability at the kneecap or potential instability. He'll be doing lots of bike and upper body work.

Reads the game very well, great awareness, elite athleticism and an excellent mark. Considering his lack of recent familiarity with the game, I think this guys upside is enormous. Very excited.

I reckon we've got a wealth of leaders now, just that apart from Jones, (and arguably Vince) they're all young. Gawn, Viney, Tyson and Brayshaw are all leaders, albeit Gus hasn't had much chance to show it yet. Hogan will be if he stops sulking and truly buys in, which he now should, and now there's Lewis. I hate to say it, but the whole competition can see us coming. Expectation, much?