I reckon Richmond deserve a little credit, they turned up with their season well and truly dusted and they came to play. Their pressure and tackline was good. Their efforts to push back hard to defend was really good and when they rebounded they looked quicker than us, they moved the ball well, ran in chains and looked to have us beaten on the outside at times.
Then their depth was tested about half way through. While their top end is quite good their bottom end is not and they ran out of gas.
Our class kept us rolling the whole game and our depth saw us steam roll over them in the second half.
Midfield rotations for us are the key. We bat really deep so we can keep our midfield fresh.
Thought we were losing in a few crucial areas in the first half. They outran us on the outside a big, they intercepted in defence. Cincotta had his colours lowered in the first quarter as did Pittonet, McKay and many of our forwards. But they were all able to turn it around.
Cripps - He's in career best form. Has to be in the Brownlow conversation. Massive numbers.
Acres - Acres was one of the few players who was good consistently for 4 quarters. I felt many of our guys had amazing bursts but also had quiet spells. When we were being challenged early he was all over this game. When we were killing it he was all over this game. He was awesome.
Newman - He was once again super prolific in defence. Talk of him being AA is definitely justified. Gets a heap of it, defends well one on one and he uses it so well.
Walsh - My biggest criticism of him is that he is an accumulator who doesn't have much impact. Gets a lot of ball at the back of the stoppages and back end of the field. Not recently. He's running through the contest, doing a heap of grunt work in there, his pressure was excellent, he got the ball in his hand a lot forward of the stoppage and gave us some real forward run. Rather see him have 25 possession games and heavily influence than 40 nothing possessions. He was outstanding.
Saad - Was again awesome for us. Such an important player. One of the few we have with genuine pace and uses it to hurt the opposition. His runs and accurate kicking is just great.
Cerra - A quiet return for Cerra as expected knowing his history of coming back slow after time off. Minutes manages. His game was solid. We know he will build on it.
Kennedy - His game was up and down. He's in good form. It's a shame he got injured, hopefully all is good on this account. He's really played his role well lately.
E Hollands - He's an out and out gun. We waited a bit to inject him into the middle of the ground and when we did it helped turn things. He doesn't need a lot to help turn a game. He gets it in dangerous positions. He uses it really well.
McGovern - Had a lot of the ball but he had a dirty day. Fumbles and a few contested ball losses. Looked like someone who had been given a week off training.
Pittonet - He probably lost the ruck contest and started slowly but he came good as the game went on. He's not at the level of TDK but if your second ruck can come in and do that well then we have to be happy.
Cowan - Nearly consider this a breakout game. Just kept getting it and putting his body on the line. His frame is still pretty light but he is having a crack. I trust him with ball in hand. He's going to become a really good player for us.
McKay - Started poorly but it's almost like giving him a run in the ruck switches him on. Goes in there, has an immediate impact then takes it forward to mark and kick goals. Finished the game strongly.
Boyd - Not involved much early but it was a strong start and a great game. His ball handling impressed me and of course his kicking and defending did as well.
Weitering - Took some really good intercepts and again was solid. It's been a really slow start to the season for him and he's come good late. Looks strong and confident.
Fantasia - Only a matter of time before he really hit the scoreboard. He's been doing things right and his work rate has been good without scoring goals. This was his day.
Fogarty - Another who rarely hits the scoreboard had a day out. All snaps probably helps, he's not the best kick but it's nice to see another who works hard get some reward.
Kemp - Had some good moments, was fairly solid. I don't think he did enough to make the Marchbank or Kemp argument go away. But we can rely on him pretty well and that's fine with me.
Williams - He was solid. Another quiet game but he is another who doesn't need much of it. His ball use is really good and he's another strong body at ground level up forward.
Owies - Had a dirty day skillswise, dropped a couple of sitters. Not clean today.
Cincotta - Was given a bath early and it was looking like the experiment was about to have it's first failure. He ended up finishing pretty well. He kicked a couple, he kicks well to the forwards, he's strong at ground level.
Hollands - Didn't get much of it but gets to all the right places, halves his contests and helped the defence well. I'd say he's doing the minimum and basics well but he's probably not exempt from competing players. However we don't really have any wingers bashing the door down. With no injuries it would be Docherty but he is out.
Curnow - Probably a day off for him, he was poor. Lost a lot of one on ones, we went too him and the ball came back the other way a bit much, He's probably playing sore.
Hewett - Came on late. He's not a tactical sub, he's an injury sub. Didn't get the opportunity to do much.
Then their depth was tested about half way through. While their top end is quite good their bottom end is not and they ran out of gas.
Our class kept us rolling the whole game and our depth saw us steam roll over them in the second half.
Midfield rotations for us are the key. We bat really deep so we can keep our midfield fresh.
Thought we were losing in a few crucial areas in the first half. They outran us on the outside a big, they intercepted in defence. Cincotta had his colours lowered in the first quarter as did Pittonet, McKay and many of our forwards. But they were all able to turn it around.
Cripps - He's in career best form. Has to be in the Brownlow conversation. Massive numbers.
Acres - Acres was one of the few players who was good consistently for 4 quarters. I felt many of our guys had amazing bursts but also had quiet spells. When we were being challenged early he was all over this game. When we were killing it he was all over this game. He was awesome.
Newman - He was once again super prolific in defence. Talk of him being AA is definitely justified. Gets a heap of it, defends well one on one and he uses it so well.
Walsh - My biggest criticism of him is that he is an accumulator who doesn't have much impact. Gets a lot of ball at the back of the stoppages and back end of the field. Not recently. He's running through the contest, doing a heap of grunt work in there, his pressure was excellent, he got the ball in his hand a lot forward of the stoppage and gave us some real forward run. Rather see him have 25 possession games and heavily influence than 40 nothing possessions. He was outstanding.
Saad - Was again awesome for us. Such an important player. One of the few we have with genuine pace and uses it to hurt the opposition. His runs and accurate kicking is just great.
Cerra - A quiet return for Cerra as expected knowing his history of coming back slow after time off. Minutes manages. His game was solid. We know he will build on it.
Kennedy - His game was up and down. He's in good form. It's a shame he got injured, hopefully all is good on this account. He's really played his role well lately.
E Hollands - He's an out and out gun. We waited a bit to inject him into the middle of the ground and when we did it helped turn things. He doesn't need a lot to help turn a game. He gets it in dangerous positions. He uses it really well.
McGovern - Had a lot of the ball but he had a dirty day. Fumbles and a few contested ball losses. Looked like someone who had been given a week off training.
Pittonet - He probably lost the ruck contest and started slowly but he came good as the game went on. He's not at the level of TDK but if your second ruck can come in and do that well then we have to be happy.
Cowan - Nearly consider this a breakout game. Just kept getting it and putting his body on the line. His frame is still pretty light but he is having a crack. I trust him with ball in hand. He's going to become a really good player for us.
McKay - Started poorly but it's almost like giving him a run in the ruck switches him on. Goes in there, has an immediate impact then takes it forward to mark and kick goals. Finished the game strongly.
Boyd - Not involved much early but it was a strong start and a great game. His ball handling impressed me and of course his kicking and defending did as well.
Weitering - Took some really good intercepts and again was solid. It's been a really slow start to the season for him and he's come good late. Looks strong and confident.
Fantasia - Only a matter of time before he really hit the scoreboard. He's been doing things right and his work rate has been good without scoring goals. This was his day.
Fogarty - Another who rarely hits the scoreboard had a day out. All snaps probably helps, he's not the best kick but it's nice to see another who works hard get some reward.
Kemp - Had some good moments, was fairly solid. I don't think he did enough to make the Marchbank or Kemp argument go away. But we can rely on him pretty well and that's fine with me.
Williams - He was solid. Another quiet game but he is another who doesn't need much of it. His ball use is really good and he's another strong body at ground level up forward.
Owies - Had a dirty day skillswise, dropped a couple of sitters. Not clean today.
Cincotta - Was given a bath early and it was looking like the experiment was about to have it's first failure. He ended up finishing pretty well. He kicked a couple, he kicks well to the forwards, he's strong at ground level.
Hollands - Didn't get much of it but gets to all the right places, halves his contests and helped the defence well. I'd say he's doing the minimum and basics well but he's probably not exempt from competing players. However we don't really have any wingers bashing the door down. With no injuries it would be Docherty but he is out.
Curnow - Probably a day off for him, he was poor. Lost a lot of one on ones, we went too him and the ball came back the other way a bit much, He's probably playing sore.
Hewett - Came on late. He's not a tactical sub, he's an injury sub. Didn't get the opportunity to do much.
