Strategy What is the best Richmond midfield mix for 2025?

[partycorolla]

I would be concerned that playing taranto and hopper with a draftee, would see the developing mids solely used in a defensive role , given Taranto and hopper lack of defense . It’s a mistake many clubs have including Richmond have made in the past .
Need to develop their defensive game without smothering their flare and offensiveness .

Agreed although I actually see Hopper rotating with Taranto rather than being in there with him all the time. Ensure we have one strong bull in there and then rotate Prestia, McAuliffe, Ross, Smilie, Lalor through the other spots, and Sonsie when he gets games and Dow if he ever gets another game.

 

[Coach_Required]

i'm not putting much weight into both of those players, it is what it is. The only thing i will say, is that tt is competitive and can hit the score board, and I like his interviews, but appart from that I dont rate him as a footballer in the modern game..
Hopper has had his chances to show what he can do, this is his year OR bye, bye charlie brown.

He signed for 6 years though, could be 7. Even if he spuds it up again in 2025 we won't be delisting him. We are stuck with him, no other club will be willing to even trade for him.

 

[Vassp]

He signed for 6 years though, could be 7. Even if he spuds it up again in 2025 we won't be delisting him. We are stuck with him, no other club will be willing to even trade for him.

What are contracts worth if the player has no use or not performing? Hopefully he proves me wrong and has a great year.

what would upset me is if our Selection comity play him before developing our youth.

both Hopper and TT are in no mans land in regards to our next premiership window.. surely we are better off trading hopper at the end of the year him and taking the hit .

 

[Blinger]

What are contracts worth if the player has no use or not performing? Hopefully he proves me wrong and has a great year.

what would upset me is if our Selection comity play him before developing our youth.

both Hopper and TT are in no mans land in regards to our next premiership window.. surely we are better off trading hopper at the end of the year him and taking the hit .

If we are lucky they might be here for 1 chance, but now Taranto & Hopper are here, lets try & support them. They will also offer great protection for our future kids that are coming through. I'm looking at the big picture, not on any individual players, as that is how we won our past 3 premierships. We need a solid 30 players on the list with a few stars mixed in, as we are only as good as our weakest players.

 

[Coach_Required]

What are contracts worth if the player has no use or not performing? Hopefully he proves me wrong and has a great year.

what would upset me is if our Selection comity play him before developing our youth.

both Hopper and TT are in no mans land in regards to our next premiership window.. surely we are better off trading hopper at the end of the year him and taking the hit .

We will not be paying Hopper out 4 years worth into a 7 year contract even if he gives us nothing.

If you want to be upset then be upset at the club for offering such a stupid long contract.

 

[smurfin]

I reckon you only want 2 out of Tarranto, Prestia, Hopper in the centre. One could rotate from the bench.
Personally, I'd like to start the year with Sonsie as the 3rd centre midfielder and give him a really decent run (like Dow had last year) to see what he offers. Have him rotating with MRJ or Seth from the forward line perhaps.
McAuliffe and/or Ross also in the centre rotations, with the new recruits replacing whoever, whenever form demands it.

 

[Karp3_dm]

A rotation of Taranto, Prestia, Hopper, McAuliffe, Smillie, Lalor, MRJ, Ross, Sonsie, Dow

 

[THE_GUN]

He signed for 6 years though, could be 7. Even if he spuds it up again in 2025 we won't be delisting him. We are stuck with him, no other club will be willing to even trade for him.

Who really cares

Hopper is all ours and will be 60% paid out his contract in 2025 along with Balta , Taranto & Broad
He will be a great leader for the young players and looking like having a full pre season and fit as ever
too many people treating him like Cumberland / Castagna

Hopper is a gun inside bull and a good reason why we chased him

 

[Coach_Required]

Who really cares

Hopper is all ours and will be 60% paid out his contract in 2025 along with Balta , Taranto & Broad
He will be a great leader for the young players and looking like having a full pre season and fit as ever
too many people treating him like Cumberland / Castagna

Hopper is a gun inside bull and a good reason why we chased him

I'm answering a previous comment that indicated if he fails to perform in 25 then cya later. My point is he club won't get rid of him as he signed a 7 year deal.

Think you should read all posts before replying to mine for better context and understanding.

 

[sregit]

I can not understand why Taranto is mentioned as a bad pickup. FFS the guy was our best player in his first season and if not injured would have won the JD medal again in 2024. Hopper has thus far been a bad pickup but to put TT in the same category is just wrong. Why group them together when talking about our recruiting failure? If Hopper does not deliver in 2025, then our only option is to dump him in the ressies and hope he wants out. He'd have no draft value with another poor season. I'm hopping by mid 2025 that Hopper is showing something but if not he's in the 2's. No free ride. Rather play kids if his form is shite.

 

[Madtiger2006]

Hopper is more skillful than he’s been showing. Get him fully fit and he’ll be better

 

[DickieKnee]

I can not understand why Taranto is mentioned as a bad pickup. FFS the guy was our best player in his first season and if not injured would have won the JD medal again in 2024. Hopper has thus far been a bad pickup but to put TT in the same category is just wrong. Why group them together when talking about our recruiting failure? If Hopper does not deliver in 2025, then our only option is to dump him in the ressies and hope he wants out. He'd have no draft value with another poor season. I'm hopping by mid 2025 that Hopper is showing something but if not he's in the 2's. No free ride. Rather play kids if his form is shite.

Bombers will take Hopper.

 

[smurfin]

Bombers will take Hopper.

If we play him in the VFL they'll be all over him.

Is mid-season trading still on the agenda?

 

[Drunken Wookie]

Hopper is more skillful than he’s been showing. Get him fully fit and he’ll be better

He's a bit like Graham in that if he's even slightly off or injured his game suffers dramatically. When he's 100% he's a good player. Hoping he can stay fit this year and recapture a bit of that GWS form he's capable of.

 

[Madtiger2006]

Get lalor and smilie nice and fit for round 1.
Starting midfield of taranto lalor ross
Then rotate with hopper smilie mcauliff
How about that bitches

 

[Madtiger2006]

He's a bit like Graham in that if he's even slightly off or injured his game suffers dramatically. When he's 100% he's a good player. Hoping he can stay fit this year and recapture a bit of that GWS form he's capable of.

His composure is first class. He and Taranto need to be the leaders

 

[sregit]

His composure is first class. He and Taranto need to be the leaders

I agree that Hopper is capable and @ 700k is giving us nothing. It's time for him to put up. If he doesn't, then slam him in the 2s. His pride will be hurt and he'll either start to perform better or want out. Either way it's better than giving him games and him not delivering.

 

[smurfin]

Going to be an interesting year.
Ignoring wings and looking at centre square midfielders:

Established senior midfielders: Tarranto, Prestia, Hopper
Reasonably experienced: Ross
Possible pinch-hitting rotations from other positions: MRJ, Campbell, Green, Short....?
Hopeful new recruits: Lalor, Smilie, Hotton

Current second rung midfielders stuck between the established and the up and coming:
Dow, McAuliffe, Sonsie.

Until the new recruits are ready, there's actually not a real lot to work with.

Dow has had his chance but does he still have another level?
Will McAuliffe and/or Sonsie be given a decent run and grip it with both hands?
Which recruit will establish themselves as a permanent fixture first?
Will any of the "pinch-hitters" pleasantly surprise us with their form and become more permanent midfielders?
Will there be new pinch-hitters, such as Clarke, Alger, Mansell, Smith?

 

[tora tora tora]

I can not understand why Taranto is mentioned as a bad pickup. FFS the guy was our best player in his first season and if not injured would have won the JD medal again in 2024. Hopper has thus far been a bad pickup but to put TT in the same category is just wrong. Why group them together when talking about our recruiting failure? If Hopper does not deliver in 2025, then our only option is to dump him in the ressies and hope he wants out. He'd have no draft value with another poor season. I'm hopping by mid 2025 that Hopper is showing something but if not he's in the 2's. No free ride. Rather play kids if his form is shite.

TT great year 1. JDM winner, Injury affected in 2024. TT is the new king of pressure and runs. 14 tackles last round

Hopper 12 games in 2024. Needs a good injury run.

Last round Hops 7 Centre clearances, 13 clearances. Team has 60 inside 50s for 10 goals. Lose by 4 goals.

Need Lynch playing every game, Bauer to stay on the park, MRJ & Mansell etc to kick more goals.

 

[sante]

A rotation of Taranto, Prestia, Hopper, McAuliffe, Smillie, Lalor, MRJ, Ross, Sonsie, Dow

 

[_RT_]

I'm hoping for development to take precedence in 2025.

I want us to give the draftees/under 50 gamers the chance to develop without asking them to be the main players like they were asked to be in 2024 due to the injuries to our best mids.

For that to happen I'd like to see the following.

Midfielders: My starting midfield unit is Taranto Smillie & Prestia with Hopper Ross & McAuliffe as my ideal 2nd rotation. With the likes of Lalor Sonsie & Dow in the mix for the flanks/bench positions. With these set ups it gives the younger players (draftees/under 50 games) the opportunity to develop without the expectation that they need to be stars from day 1. We have quality experienced midfielders we can lean on to protect the kids early on and as they develop their understanding of the game plan and structures they can slowly be asked to do more and more.

Ruck: Nankervis to start with Ryan initially taking about 40% of the ruck and then building up over the year so that he can hopefully be the one taking the majority of the ruck in the latter part of the season as we ramp up expectations on Ryan to be the next number 1 ruck.