I haven't read this thread.
I will do so shortly, but I didn't want to be influenced what others have written, so apologies if I'm merely repeating what others have said.
Very disappointing performance.
Going into the game it looked like a match that would be decided between our contested style & Richmond's uncontested style.In truth we were smashed in all facets of the game and if anything the scoreboard flattered us.
Richmond had an amazing 130 more disposals, won the contested possessions 141 to 114, the UCP to 273 to 167 and had 6 more clearances. JPK with 21 disposals was our leading ball winner.
Sometimes with a shellacking you just put your hands in the air and figure it we went so badly it was merely an aberration and don't dissect the loss too much. However IMO this match highlighted, once again, underlying problems that we simply must address.
It has nothing to do with the venue, even allowing for our shocking record at the MCG and not much to do with Richmond's style of play. Hawthorn uncontested style of play is not dissimilar to the Tigers and Launceston is also a large ground for example.
Our midfield has carried us this season and when they were beaten yesterday, the rest of our flaws were exposed. Leaving aside Goodes, JPK, Jetta and ROK are our leading goalscorers this year and once again Kennedy led the way with a couple of goals yesterday. We all know our forward line is dysfunctional, but until this game we got away with it. No longer. We lack both structure and players in form.
Reid was very poor. His workrate seemed down and he is either injured or devoid of confidence.Perhaps both.
White again illustrated an inability to read the play and get himself into dangerous positions.
McGlynn is out of form. He had 5 tackles, 11 disposals and a goal. The stats flatter him. Most of his tackles were in close, rather than chasing down the Richmond defenders. He also had a spell in the 4Q on the ball.
Everitt was about the one forward who actually managed to get into dangerous positions, but was rarely used. His forward pressure was poor and he missed far too many tackles.
The swap of ROK & Grundy in the 2nd half was to my mind ridiculous. ROK was OK down back, but we needed a leader on the fwd line. ROK will fill that role far far better than Grundy.
TDL brought some life to the team when he came on and was about the only player in the forwards who actually put the Richmond guys under pressure.
For reasons unknown we had a spare man back nearly all game.
Richmond's spare man, whether it was Newman, Houli or Grigg murdered us.
The Richmond backs had a field day (eg Newman 25, Rance 27, Grimes 24). For backmen to have numbers like that indicates the lack of physical pressure from our forwards.
We need to get a structure in place up forward and players who are prepared to work hard to close down the opposition and lock the ball in. Some guys who will kick goals would, you know, also be advantageous.
Walsh is potentially a big bodied FF, Morton is kicking goals in the reserves, TDL brought some life to the fwd line when he came on, Everitt was the only fwd who actually led to the right positions and ROK is still best up fwd.
It means no Reid, McGlynn or White.
The backline also struggled yesterday.
Richards had a down day, but why he wasn't put on Riewoldt first up I'm not sure.
Johnson was good.
Grundy, with LRT injured, remains a required tall.
But as I've banged on about all season, unless Malceski is bringing the ball out we lack run.
Smith on Nahas was fine, but Mattner is IMO struggling.
Too often now he is either left as the spare man or zones off to go 3rd up.
If he is going to play that role he needs to work both ways. 3 R50s is not enough for a guy who is free down back. When we swapped ROK & Grundy after HT, ROK became the loose man. Mattner looked lost as a one on one back.
Shaw's run is being sorely missed. He tagged Deledio who had 25 disposals. Shaw had 10 disposals. Shaw has become so focused on his tagging role he is not peeling off to provide an option when we have the ball.
Our midfield was beaten.They have carried us all year, so a down day can be excused. It was noticeable that we looked best when Jude went on the ball in the 3Q. Much as was the case V Hawthorn. Seaby was beaten, but not disgraced IMO. Bringing Pyke in as a second ruck and a marking option up forward would help.
I don't expect these changes to occur, but I think we need to bite the bullet to address our 3 problems; a dysfunctional forward line, a lack of run from defence and help for Seaby in the ruck.
IN Morton, Walsh, Pyke
OUT Reid, White, McGlynn
Shaw to the backline. Use Bird or Jack as our midfield taggers.
Mattner to the subs vest or out.
Back 6 of Richards, Grundy, Johnson, Malceski, Shaw, Smith
Deep Fwd, Walsh FF, FPs Morton, TDL. (High) HFs Everitt and ROK. Pyke to rotate through fwd & ruck. A 'resting' midfielder can also be used in the Fwd 50.
tl;dr We were crap. Same old problems resurfaced.Changes needed.
I will do so shortly, but I didn't want to be influenced what others have written, so apologies if I'm merely repeating what others have said.
Very disappointing performance.
Going into the game it looked like a match that would be decided between our contested style & Richmond's uncontested style.In truth we were smashed in all facets of the game and if anything the scoreboard flattered us.
Richmond had an amazing 130 more disposals, won the contested possessions 141 to 114, the UCP to 273 to 167 and had 6 more clearances. JPK with 21 disposals was our leading ball winner.
Sometimes with a shellacking you just put your hands in the air and figure it we went so badly it was merely an aberration and don't dissect the loss too much. However IMO this match highlighted, once again, underlying problems that we simply must address.
It has nothing to do with the venue, even allowing for our shocking record at the MCG and not much to do with Richmond's style of play. Hawthorn uncontested style of play is not dissimilar to the Tigers and Launceston is also a large ground for example.
Our midfield has carried us this season and when they were beaten yesterday, the rest of our flaws were exposed. Leaving aside Goodes, JPK, Jetta and ROK are our leading goalscorers this year and once again Kennedy led the way with a couple of goals yesterday. We all know our forward line is dysfunctional, but until this game we got away with it. No longer. We lack both structure and players in form.
Reid was very poor. His workrate seemed down and he is either injured or devoid of confidence.Perhaps both.
White again illustrated an inability to read the play and get himself into dangerous positions.
McGlynn is out of form. He had 5 tackles, 11 disposals and a goal. The stats flatter him. Most of his tackles were in close, rather than chasing down the Richmond defenders. He also had a spell in the 4Q on the ball.
Everitt was about the one forward who actually managed to get into dangerous positions, but was rarely used. His forward pressure was poor and he missed far too many tackles.
The swap of ROK & Grundy in the 2nd half was to my mind ridiculous. ROK was OK down back, but we needed a leader on the fwd line. ROK will fill that role far far better than Grundy.
TDL brought some life to the team when he came on and was about the only player in the forwards who actually put the Richmond guys under pressure.
For reasons unknown we had a spare man back nearly all game.
Richmond's spare man, whether it was Newman, Houli or Grigg murdered us.
The Richmond backs had a field day (eg Newman 25, Rance 27, Grimes 24). For backmen to have numbers like that indicates the lack of physical pressure from our forwards.
We need to get a structure in place up forward and players who are prepared to work hard to close down the opposition and lock the ball in. Some guys who will kick goals would, you know, also be advantageous.
Walsh is potentially a big bodied FF, Morton is kicking goals in the reserves, TDL brought some life to the fwd line when he came on, Everitt was the only fwd who actually led to the right positions and ROK is still best up fwd.
It means no Reid, McGlynn or White.
The backline also struggled yesterday.
Richards had a down day, but why he wasn't put on Riewoldt first up I'm not sure.
Johnson was good.
Grundy, with LRT injured, remains a required tall.
But as I've banged on about all season, unless Malceski is bringing the ball out we lack run.
Smith on Nahas was fine, but Mattner is IMO struggling.
Too often now he is either left as the spare man or zones off to go 3rd up.
If he is going to play that role he needs to work both ways. 3 R50s is not enough for a guy who is free down back. When we swapped ROK & Grundy after HT, ROK became the loose man. Mattner looked lost as a one on one back.
Shaw's run is being sorely missed. He tagged Deledio who had 25 disposals. Shaw had 10 disposals. Shaw has become so focused on his tagging role he is not peeling off to provide an option when we have the ball.
Our midfield was beaten.They have carried us all year, so a down day can be excused. It was noticeable that we looked best when Jude went on the ball in the 3Q. Much as was the case V Hawthorn. Seaby was beaten, but not disgraced IMO. Bringing Pyke in as a second ruck and a marking option up forward would help.
I don't expect these changes to occur, but I think we need to bite the bullet to address our 3 problems; a dysfunctional forward line, a lack of run from defence and help for Seaby in the ruck.
IN Morton, Walsh, Pyke
OUT Reid, White, McGlynn
Shaw to the backline. Use Bird or Jack as our midfield taggers.
Mattner to the subs vest or out.
Back 6 of Richards, Grundy, Johnson, Malceski, Shaw, Smith
Deep Fwd, Walsh FF, FPs Morton, TDL. (High) HFs Everitt and ROK. Pyke to rotate through fwd & ruck. A 'resting' midfielder can also be used in the Fwd 50.
tl;dr We were crap. Same old problems resurfaced.Changes needed.
