Preview 2018 1st Qualifying Final: Richmond v Hawthorn, 6 September 2018, 7.20pm @ MCG

[Mrzohs]

This might sound an oversimplification but I have a theory on beating the Tigers. Be prepared this likely my longest post. I posted one like this before in 2015 on how the Eagles Web worked and how to defeat it which I believe Gerard Healy or David King copied three days later. So feel free to copy again guys.

If you look at the overall stats for the teams they are very similar. Except hitouts which are clearly in our favour and points for which is in their favour. So obviously they score more despite going into the fifty about the same number of times. So why is that if marks inside fifty are identical? There are a number of reasons:

1. Better delivery
2. Better positioning in the forward line
3. Better conversion due to both of the above.

I think it's the third but influenced more due to item 2 than 1. Let me explain. When the ball goes into the Tiger's forward line they mark it around the same number of times as we do (and we are not marking many these days). So how could they convert so much better? It's because they do what we used to do and what Collingwood also does. Don't always try to mark the ball. This is crucial! Let me say that again. DON'T ALWAYS TRY TO MARK THE BALL!

This is what we used to do so well but have moved away from quite a lot. But we need to be aware that Tiger's do it and we need to utilise it too. Why? It creates surprises and provides easy goals to quality crumbers. If you watch Richmond and Collingwood they have one target in the best position go up for the ball and three players prepare to crumb. I call it the triangle (a diamond is used during stoppages). A triangle because they'll have a crumber ready on either side of the contesting teammate going up for the ball and a third will position either in front or behind the contest. Usually it's in front but sometimes behind if the ball is a long launch. Now the contesting player needs some awareness to bring down the ball to one of those teammates even if he can mark it. This creates doubt in the mind of the defenders and instead of just worrying about the mark they will second guess that the ball might be palmed or tapped to the advantage of a crumber. Further if you position yourself in such a fashion you can tap on to other teammates knowing where they might be even without taking a proper look. This will work better when you start to judge each other's movements with experience.

So the other side of this is to defend it and be really well drilled in repelling it. The way to do that is to set a diamond defence around the contest. One on each side of the contest. But the trick is to judge the flight well and co-ordinate with your teammates to ensure the front of the diamond is aligned with the flight of the ball. If you can manage to do this well you will have a defender reader in all dangerous drop zones. It's also important to ensure only one person flies for the ball. If a pack then two but no more than that otherwise it's going to be difficult to have numbers on all sides. This takes away Richmond and Collingwood's methodology (which has been copied from the Hawks of 2013-2015). This is why we don't do it as much since opposition defences became prepared for it in 2016. But it might be a good time to bring it back. But otherwise at least be prepared to defend it well.

I believe if we can do this well we will beat Richmond.

Spot on I have noticed some of our players try to do this just not as much as they could.

A key to this is poisiting in the forward line using the whole 50meter arc, we need the pockets to spread right out near the boundary line.

 

[Glenhope]

Start the game already. I hate the bye.

 

[Pessimistic]

Worst scenario a nail biting loss then a tough final against an energised emerging Melbourne. Much like 2016
Against a win and a more predictable home game against Collingwood Sydney or West Coast.

 

[thejockey]

Fantastic for our young men. I really hope they are not overwhelmed. We need some strong leadership early to prevent Richmond from getting off to a flyer. If we are level or in front at 1/4 time we will be in with a shot imo.

Spoke with two Richmond mates today. Both said they would have preferred anyone else but us. They are not all cocky and smug by the looks of it.

My Dad and most of my family are Richmond supporters , they are cr@pping themselves.
They think Clarko is going to mesmerize their whole side .

 

[realhawk]

Off course not. He is captain.

Plus he is still playing much better football than Schoenmakers.

 

[JAGER2WORPEDO]

Not sure about dropping miles for this game. Am I the only one here who prefers brand over Frawley ? Brand less injury prone and decent mark as well. Reckon he’ll be a gun if he played 22 games in a row.

 

[JAGER2WORPEDO]

In: Sicily Ceglar
Out: Mirra Shoey
Would be a solid team

 

[Pessimistic]

Trying to remember if titch had a good one v the tigers in finals 2016. He had a great finals series all round

 

[Pessimistic]

In: Sicily Ceglar
Out: Mirra Shoey
Would be a solid team

Brand for Frawley? Seems certain

 

[grumbleguts]

Trying to remember if titch had a good one v the tigers in finals 2016. He had a great finals series all round

Titch never played the tigers in 2016, tigers weren't in the finals, And in 2017 sydney didn't play richmond.

https://afltables.com/afl/seas/2017.html#fin
https://afltables.com/afl/seas/2016.html#fin

 

[local hack]

I have a feeling Clarko is going to roll the dice here. Win and a prelim at the G v Pies or a Sydney team, which sounds very very winnable. Lose and it’s a tough run v Dees then wce in Perth. Big risk with fours changes:
In - Frawley, sic, Howe, Ceglar
Out - Mirra, Shoe, Brand, Miles
The last three very stiff.
Could not be more pumped for a game!

 

[Pessimistic]

The commentary in build up always emphasises the hawks like to keep the ball, and this time it’s Richmonds manic pressure and run.

It tends to imply the hawks aren’t so solid in the contests but they certainly are, and the youngsters come from that mould.

I also think the tigers like to get the ball out of the contest as quick as possible for outside run. As well as matching the grunt, you need to hang back and cover the exits.

Of course if we nail all our inside 50s, all the rebound in the world won’t help a team.

 

[MinerBoy]

Worst scenario a nail biting loss then a tough final against an energised emerging Melbourne. Much like 2016
Against a win and a more predictable home game against Collingwood Sydney or West Coast.

My worst scenario involves Geelong.

 

[Pessimistic]

I have a feeling Clarko is going to roll the dice here. Win and a prelim at the G v Pies or a Sydney team, which sounds very very winnable. Lose and it’s a tough run v Dees then wce in Perth. Big risk with fours changes:
In - Frawley, sic, Howe, Ceglar
Out - Mirra, Shoe, Brand, Miles
The last three very stiff.
Could not be more pumped for a game!

Don’t discount the possibility of a collingwood win on the road

 

[Pessimistic]

My worst scenario involves Geelong.

Where’s Razor?

 

[JAGER2WORPEDO]

Brand for Frawley? Seems certain

Yeah but I was just naming the Ins I’d bring in. I’d keep brand over Frawley

 

[Pessimistic]

My Dad and most of my family are Richmond supporters , they are cr@pping themselves.
They think Clarko is going to mesmerize their whole side .

I reckon Hardwick been able to pull moves on Clarko more than the other way around

 

[Pessimistic]

Yeah but I was just naming the Ins I’d bring in. I’d keep brand over Frawley

Brand played VFL. Very well too

 

[HTT]

Trying to remember if titch had a good one v the tigers in finals 2016. He had a great finals series all round

We didn't play finals in 2016 but we were so shit he probably still played a good final against us anyway.

 

[JAGER2WORPEDO]

Brand played VFL. Very well too

I’m a big fan of brand, saw the vfl game against port, played very well like you said. His stiff to get dropped been very good in the absence of Sicily. Can’t wait till we get a full season of brand. His a confidence player that needs to play continuous games to improve.

 

[KOLOKOTRONIS]

I’m a big fan of brand, saw the vfl game against port, played very well like you said. His stiff to get dropped been very good in the absence of Sicily. Can’t wait till we get a full season of brand. His a confidence player that needs to play continuous games to improve.

Definitely a confidence player who needs continuity. Will only improve next season. May get a chance in a final this season.

KOLOKOTRONIS

 

[Hawks1994]

I'm not expecting any of the guys who played on Saturday to get up for Thursday night. It was a fairly tough contest, and would have taken a bit out of them, even Howe who only played a limited amount of time

Can't wait for team announcements and of course the opening bounce

 

[Isaba]

Howe looks sloppy in the contest today. Not for mine.

Dad Joke Day was yesterday, Dude.

Good thing its nearly tomorrow!

PS: The words "Dad" and "Dude" do not go together. I prefer "Dork" when combined with "Dad".

 

[Isaba]

I reckon Hardwick been able to pull moves on Clarko more than the other way around

I wonder if Richmond fans' Wicks will be Hard if Hardwick pulls some moves?

 

[Ranj Sri Lanka]

I have a feeling Clarko is going to roll the dice here. Win and a prelim at the G v Pies or a Sydney team, which sounds very very winnable. Lose and it’s a tough run v Dees then wce in Perth. Big risk with fours changes:
In - Frawley, sic, Howe, Ceglar
Out - Mirra, Shoe, Brand, Miles
The last three very stiff.
Could not be more pumped for a game!

This will be the team - I think so too. Plenty of run (Smith/Worp/Howe/Nash) and tackling (Ruff/Howe/Nash/Popi) and marking power (Ceglar/BB/Gunston).