Preview Richmond v Brisbane Round 20 (Sunday 31 July 3:20 @ MCG)

[Harris Specter]

I think it's a little dramatic to say that we haven't lost a game all season due to thr forward line dropping the ball. Sure, it may be potent with 3 tall forwards and elite crumbers but the rate at which the ball exits the forward 50 om rebound for the opposition has been clear to see for all.

Additionally, there are numerous occasions where the defence and midfield have stepped up, delivered to our forwards on a platter only for them to miss a set shot 25m out. Naturally the defence walk it out because we don't work hard enough to cover the area and defend their exit.

 

[Mighty Lions]

I think it's a little dramatic to say that we haven't lost a game all season due to thr forward line dropping the ball. Sure, it may be potent with 3 tall forwards and elite crumbers but the rate at which the ball exits the forward 50 om rebound for the opposition has been clear to see for all.

Additionally, there are numerous occasions where the defence and midfield have stepped up, delivered to our forwards on a platter only for them to miss a set shot 25m out. Naturally the defence walk it out because we don't work hard enough to cover the area and defend their exit.

agree to some of your post, but i still say we haven't lost a game due to our forwards not delivering. If the ball is bombed into the forward line like it is often (nowhere near our forwards) its only logical that the opposition backline have a much easier job to run the ball out of our forward 50. If the ball is put out in front of our talls, I back them 9 out of 10 times to bring the ball to ground at the very least to allow our smalls to pounce. Early in the season you might have seen the ball exit the forward line without any pressure occasionally but in the second 1/2 of the year we have significantly improved in that area. The key to most of that is for the players up the ground to take a look before they kick the ball in like a grenade out of a bunker.
Again I defend our forward group because I believe its our main advantage compared to other teams & our main weapon. Sure there have been times when our forwards have not worked hard enough to keep it in but....we are the best in the comp for scoring when it does come into our forward 50.
Our defensive group have been pretty good of late and I think with Kiddy back in this week, should be pretty difficult to score against. that said, its up to their team mates up the ground to pressure the opposition player with the ball so it doesn't come in lace out like you mention above. That makes a huge difference.

 

[Tom14]

I think it's a little dramatic to say that we haven't lost a game all season due to thr forward line dropping the ball. Sure, it may be potent with 3 tall forwards and elite crumbers but the rate at which the ball exits the forward 50 om rebound for the opposition has been clear to see for all.

Additionally, there are numerous occasions where the defence and midfield have stepped up, delivered to our forwards on a platter only for them to miss a set shot 25m out. Naturally the defence walk it out because we don't work hard enough to cover the area and defend their exit.

Would it shock you to learn that we have been pretty much the most accurate team compared to our expected score all season?

I can think of quite a few games where our accurcy gave us a bigger margin than it should have been (e.g. the first QClash where we kicked 21.6). It has regressed a bit in the last 5-6 weeks but we were going at a pretty unsustainable rate early this season.

 

[DashinD]

Is it just me or others as well who get so tired of the consistent negativity thrown out by some? Sure there is times when they(The club & or coach's & players) deserve a prod with something electric, but generally I want to support my team not drag them down whenever I can. It's also much more enjoyable to celebrate a win rather than criticize it wasn't good enough and search out situations that give them an opportunity to put s**t on them.

We are 3rd on the ladder (equal 2nd on points) with only 4 rounds of footy left to complete before finals....AND WE ARE PLAYING FINALS!!!

I dont always think glass 1/2 full but there is so much more glass half full opportunities for us as supporters this year than glass 1/2 empty but you wouldn't know that if you read our BF Board much......and I promise you it's much more fun to enjoy the success of this club rather than wallow in the few disappointment's they have delivered.

We had a horrible “supporters” behind us at the Gabba last week who constantly bagged our players, and the umps. Completely ruined the first half for us. Luckily we were in GA and moved at half time. Can’t imagine paying for a season ticket and being stuck in front of people like that.

 

[morsie]

We are a good team not a great team.If we are going to win the flag we will need everyone playing to near their best and a lot of luck.
Interesting exercise, how many of the current team would make our threepeat team?

 

[Nunez]

We had a horrible “supporters” behind us at the Gabba last week who constantly bagged our players, and the umps. Completely ruined the first half for us. Luckily we were in GA and moved at half time. Can’t imagine paying for a season ticket and being stuck in front of people like that.

Mooch remember that lady who used to be in our section and would non stop abuse players? She was on my bus on Saturday! Glad she's moved seats!

 

[davemc_lions]

agree to some of your post, but i still say we haven't lost a game due to our forwards not delivering. If the ball is bombed into the forward line like it is often (nowhere near our forwards) its only logical that the opposition backline have a much easier job to run the ball out of our forward 50. If the ball is put out in front of our talls, I back them 9 out of 10 times to bring the ball to ground at the very least to allow our smalls to pounce. Early in the season you might have seen the ball exit the forward line without any pressure occasionally but in the second 1/2 of the year we have significantly improved in that area. The key to most of that is for the players up the ground to take a look before they kick the ball in like a grenade out of a bunker.
Again I defend our forward group because I believe its our main advantage compared to other teams & our main weapon. Sure there have been times when our forwards have not worked hard enough to keep it in but....we are the best in the comp for scoring when it does come into our forward 50.
Our defensive group have been pretty good of late and I think with Kiddy back in this week, should be pretty difficult to score against. that said, its up to their team mates up the ground to pressure the opposition player with the ball so it doesn't come in lace out like you mention above. That makes a huge difference.

I often wonder if the guys do not lower the eyes or something kicking into our forward 50.
We great at converting forward 50's although we waste a few.
Some of our players might take a speccy pack mark, or a crumb or lock it in for a stoppage.
Although it can fly back out of their fast which gets past our defensive setups.

We have some fantastic lead up marks, not sure if it not lowering eyes, too packed forward line or whatever.
Charlie, Joe, Hipwood and Linc great on the lead and hit up. We do not seem to have the space sometimes.

Games we lost normally from the midfield not running hard enough, when a team scores quickly out of a centre bounce it not the forwards fault.

 

[Dalions]

I often wonder if the guys do not lower the eyes or something kicking into our forward 50.
We great at converting forward 50's although we waste a few.
Some of our players might take a speccy pack mark, or a crumb or lock it in for a stoppage.
Although it can fly back out of their fast which gets past our defensive setups.

We have some fantastic lead up marks, not sure if it not lowering eyes, too packed forward line or whatever.
Charlie, Joe, Hipwood and Linc great on the lead and hit up. We do not seem to have the space sometimes.

Games we lost normally from the midfield not running hard enough, when a team scores quickly out of a centre bounce it not the forwards fault.

Because we are so invested in our own team we tend not to judge or look at other teams in the same way.

As a team we rank reasonably well for marks inside 50, taking more marks inside 50 per game than 11 other teams with only Geelong, WB, Port, Bombers, Richmond and Sydney averaging more than us.

All bar Geelong who are a stand out the rest are averaging only up to half a mark more per game than us.

Geelong (14.7) standout, averaging basically 3 more marks inside 50 per game than us.
Port (12.6)
WB (12.4)
Essendon (12.3)
Sydney (12.1)
Richmond (11.9)
Lions (11.8)

We are going ok, but as with everything we could go better.
1 more mark per game and we are second on that ladder.

 

[davemc_lions]

Because we are so invested in our own team we tend not to judge or look at other teams in the same way.

As a team we rank reasonably well for marks inside 50, taking more marks inside 50 per game than 11 other teams with only Geelong, WB, Port, Bombers, Richmond and Sydney averaging more than us.

All bar Geelong who are a stand out the rest are averaging only up to half a mark more per game than us.

Geelong (14.7) standout, averaging basically 3 more marks inside 50 per game than us.
Port (12.6)
WB (12.4)
Essendon (12.3)
Sydney (12.1)
Richmond (11.9)
Lions (11.8)

We are going ok, but as with everything we could go better.
1 more mark per game and we are second on that ladder.

Thanks interesting where the dogs are.
If you look at marks inside 50
Hawkins 70, Max King 60, Jezza/Curnow 56
in the top 100
14 Charlie 39
24 Joe 29
39 Linc 20
45 McStay 18
71 Eric 14
80 Rayner 13
89 Bailey 11

Although look at marks on leads Jezza 37, Hawkins 35, Curnow/McKay 34, Buddy/Membrey 31.
Then Charlie 7th on list 31
McStay 12th on list 24
Joe 18th on list 20
Hippy 20th on list 18

Which sort of shows we have great lead up markers. Hence wonder why we do not hit up players more instead of bombing to a pack.

Also shows everyone picking on Eric saying he has been crap maybe look at the stats.
Might not be getting goals working hard to get the ball. 20th on marks on lead after 10 games back from ACL not really shabby

 

[M Malice]

Thanks interesting where the dogs are.
If you look at marks inside 50
Hawkins 70, Max King 60, Jezza/Curnow 56
in the top 100
14 Charlie 39
24 Joe 29
39 Linc 20
45 McStay 18
71 Eric 14
80 Rayner 13
89 Bailey 11

Although look at marks on leads Jezza 37, Hawkins 35, Curnow/McKay 34, Buddy/Membrey 31.
Then Charlie 7th on list 31
McStay 12th on list 24
Joe 18th on list 20
Hippy 20th on list 18

Which sort of shows we have great lead up markers. Hence wonder why we do not hit up players more instead of bombing to a pack.

Also shows everyone picking on Eric saying he has been crap maybe look at the stats.
Might not be getting goals working hard to get the ball. 20th on marks on lead after 10 games back from ACL not really shabby

Unfortunately we haven't got enough players with elite kicks and vision to dispose to advantage inside F50, McCluggage, Coleman and Zorko is about it.

 

[beardancer]

Thanks interesting where the dogs are.
If you look at marks inside 50
Hawkins 70, Max King 60, Jezza/Curnow 56
in the top 100
14 Charlie 39
24 Joe 29
39 Linc 20
45 McStay 18
71 Eric 14
80 Rayner 13
89 Bailey 11

Although look at marks on leads Jezza 37, Hawkins 35, Curnow/McKay 34, Buddy/Membrey 31.
Then Charlie 7th on list 31
McStay 12th on list 24
Joe 18th on list 20
Hippy 20th on list 18

Which sort of shows we have great lead up markers. Hence wonder why we do not hit up players more instead of bombing to a pack.

Also shows everyone picking on Eric saying he has been crap maybe look at the stats.
Might not be getting goals working hard to get the ball. 20th on marks on lead after 10 games back from ACL not really shabby

Very interesting. I wonder where we are for inside 50's compared to the opposition teams.

I found it!!! We're 5th overall, Geelong 20 Inside 50's per year better than us.

I would have thought our "formidable" forward line would take more marks inside 50 than Hawk and Jezza.

 

[rye]

Unfortunately we haven't got enough players with elite kicks and vision to dispose to advantage inside F50, McCluggage, Coleman and Zorko is about it.

i rate rich f50 entries more than i rate his kicking exiting the backline this year

im hoping the team can find a way to use rich's elite kicking further upfield in finals

there was an amazing kick he did on the weekend in the first quarter to advantage where only our player had the chance to mark it

 

[Mighty Lions]

We are a good team not a great team.If we are going to win the flag we will need everyone playing to near their best and a lot of luck.
Interesting exercise, how many of the current team would make our threepeat team?

Mate that threepeat team scenario will most likely never happen again...that is how lucky we were as supporters to be part of it. Once in a lifetime and probably another one after that.

 

[beardancer]

there was an amazing kick he did on the weekend in the first quarter to advantage where only our player had the chance to mark it

Yes! I was struck by it as well. The receiver couldn't avoid it if he wanted to. It would have gone straight down his throat. Some players have incredible vision.

 

[davemc_lions]

Very interesting. I wonder where we are for inside 50's compared to the opposition teams.

I found it!!! We're 5th overall, Geelong 20 Inside 50's per year better than us.

I would have thought our "formidable" forward line would take more marks inside 50 than Hawk and Jezza.

they have Rohan as well playing tall or Stanley. Actually Cats very sim setup to us in a number of ways.

 

[briztoon]

agree to some of your post, but i still say we haven't lost a game due to our forwards not delivering. If the ball is bombed into the forward line like it is often (nowhere near our forwards) its only logical that the opposition backline have a much easier job to run the ball out of our forward 50. If the ball is put out in front of our talls, I back them 9 out of 10 times to bring the ball to ground at the very least to allow our smalls to pounce. Early in the season you might have seen the ball exit the forward line without any pressure occasionally but in the second 1/2 of the year we have significantly improved in that area. The key to most of that is for the players up the ground to take a look before they kick the ball in like a grenade out of a bunker.
Again I defend our forward group because I believe its our main advantage compared to other teams & our main weapon. Sure there have been times when our forwards have not worked hard enough to keep it in but....we are the best in the comp for scoring when it does come into our forward 50.
Our defensive group have been pretty good of late and I think with Kiddy back in this week, should be pretty difficult to score against. that said, its up to their team mates up the ground to pressure the opposition player with the ball so it doesn't come in lace out like you mention above. That makes a huge difference.

On the bolded, this has been one of my gripes. We rarely kick to a leading forward. Part of that is down to our forwards rarely spreading, creating space for one of them to lead in to.

Our forward 50 can appear so crowded compared to some of the other better teams.

 

[martinson]

On the bolded, this has been one of my gripes. We rarely kick to a leading forward. Part of that is down to our forwards rarely spreading, creating space for one of them to lead in to.

Our forward 50 can appear so crowded compared to some of the other better teams.

That stands out like a sore thumb most weeks.

 

[Mighty Lions]

On the bolded, this has been one of my gripes. We rarely kick to a leading forward. Part of that is down to our forwards rarely spreading, creating space for one of them to lead in to.

Our forward 50 can appear so crowded compared to some of the other better teams.

This might surprise you a little but the forward line have a system they work to that is there to maximise their scoring opportunities when the ball enters the forward 50. This system varies from game to game depending on match ups from the opposition team.
I know you like to see the leading forward take a strong mark out the front of their opposition player & then goal. (so do I) but the system we have works no matter how much you would like to see that change.
We are considered one of the better teams, especially the forward team. Highest scoring team in the competition.

 

[KissKiss]

On the bolded, this has been one of my gripes. We rarely kick to a leading forward. Part of that is down to our forwards rarely spreading, creating space for one of them to lead in to.

Our forward 50 can appear so crowded compared to some of the other better teams.

Our game plan doesnt do that too often. So often we are bringing from stoppages/contests on the wing, or locking it forward, etc all of which tend to lead to congested forward lines. Then its often best to bomb it in and bring it to ground for the crumbers or get another stoppage when its as congested as we make it.

While we started the year with great forward entries from the back line, its really not been something we pull off a lot (or as much as we all wish we could).

 

[martinson]

Our game plan doesnt do that too often. So often we are bringing from stoppages/contests on the wing, or locking it forward, etc all of which tend to lead to congested forward lines. Then its often best to bomb it in and bring it to ground for the crumbers or get another stoppage when its as congested as we make it.

While we started the year with great forward entries from the back line, its really not been something we pull off a lot (or as much as we all wish we could).

I often think we have players would would be great on the burst lead ,Rayner ,Bailey , Charlie , McCarthy would all be hard to stop with space to lead in to leaving aside our talls but it's not a system we play or even try all that often.

There are times when what we are doing isn't working overly well but changing things up during a game is sometimes easier said than done

 

[3KZ is Football]

Phil flying into Dallas with your wife has proven problematic for high profile people such as yourself in the past.

Keep your Lions beanie on at all times.

Don’t drive past the book depository in an open car.

 

[a mayes ing]

This might surprise you a little but the forward line have a system they work to that is there to maximise their scoring opportunities when the ball enters the forward 50. This system varies from game to game depending on match ups from the opposition team.
I know you like to see the leading forward take a strong mark out the front of their opposition player & then goal. (so do I) but the system we have works no matter how much you would like to see that change.
We are considered one of the better teams, especially the forward team. Highest scoring team in the competition.

You keep saying we are the highest scoring team. Consistently, whenerver we play teams with good to great defences, such as Freo and Melbourne. There were teams also last year which we lost as well when it was billed as the highest scoring vs the best defence and we lost that one as well. Our forward line can't cope against these teams.

 

[Dalions]

You keep saying we are the highest scoring team. Consistently, whenerver we play teams with good to great defences, such as Freo and Melbourne. There were teams also last year which we lost as well when it was billed as the highest scoring vs the best defence and we lost that one as well. Our forward line can't cope against these teams.

I think the bigger problem is that the midfield has been smashed in these games and have barely been able to get the ball forward at all, or very slowly, making defending a very easy job.

 

[a mayes ing]

I think the bigger problem is that the midfield has been smashed in these games and have barely been able to get the ball forward at all, or very slowly, making defending a very easy job.

Melbourne smashed us in inside 50's, but with Freo, we beat them by 3 inside 50s. I was at the game and we had 20 scoring shots to their 24. We only lost by 14 points, but we had a few junk time goals which made the game look closer at the end.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Melbourne smashed us in inside 50's, but with Freo, we beat them by 3 inside 50s. I was at the game and we had 20 scoring shots to their 24. We only lost by 14 points, but we had a few junk time goals which made the game look closer at the end.

The margin was 17 points at 3/4 time and practically goal for goal in the last