Strategy What is the best Richmond midfield mix for 2025?

[Morro]

Assuming everyone is fully fit,

TT plays forward/mid 60/40 - Yes I know he came to play midfield, he also came to win a flag, shit changes.
Hopper plays pure inside mid/bench with better coaching instructions - no more forward experiment and told to feed the runners/better users - fully fit, he will make so many people on here eat their words, big if though.
Prestia plays mid/bench rotating with Hopper - no more forward experiment

The kids then fill the rest of the spots based on performance / pre season etc.

McCauliffe - based on early reports has worked his ass off, he gets first crack
Smiles - plays fwd/mid - 70/30
Lalor - Forward with a run on ball occasionally
MJR - HHF with stints on ball
Sonsie - mid/bench - play him in the guts ffs
Taj - will play late in the year in the VFL IMO
Dow - only if knocking the door down in the VFL
Ross - will play wing

 

[Vassp]

Assuming everyone is fully fit,

TT plays forward/mid 60/40 - Yes I know he came to play midfield, he also came to win a flag, shit changes.
Hopper plays pure inside mid/bench with better coaching instructions - no more forward experiment and told to feed the runners/better users - fully fit, he will make so many people on here eat their words, big if though.
Prestia plays mid/bench rotating with Hopper - no more forward experiment

The kids then fill the rest of the spots based on performance / pre season etc.

McCauliffe - based on early reports has worked his ass off, he gets first crack
Smiles - plays fwd/mid - 70/30
Lalor - Forward with a run on ball occasionally
MJR - HHF with stints on ball
Sonsie - mid/bench - play him in the guts ffs
Taj - will play late in the year in the VFL IMO
Dow - only if knocking the door down in the VFL
Ross - will play wing

Ross cant play wing.
Hopper better show something this year. im not expecting much tbo.
TT i agree with, 60 for/40 mid
the kids is a hard one to pick, just wait and see who wants it more and who is ready.

 

[tora tora tora]

Ross cant play wing.
Hopper better show something this year. im not expecting much tbo.
TT i agree with, 60 for/40 mid
the kids is a hard one to pick, just wait and see who wants it more and who is ready.

watch first 90 seconds of this final, discuss Ross can't play wing

Match Replay: Brisbane v Richmond

The Lions and Tigers clash in the Second Elimination Final of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

of course not a patch on the beautiful football, perfect space occupation by the other winger, still at the club and still just a couple of seasons off 300 games.

 

[Morro]

Ross cant play wing.
Hopper better show something this year. im not expecting much tbo.
TT i agree with, 60 for/40 mid
the kids is a hard one to pick, just wait and see who wants it more and who is ready.

Well he has and he can, and he can very well for that matter.

The rest I agree with 100%

 

[Dr Tigris]

I'd expect our core midfield to be Hopper, Taranto, Prestia with others coming into add speed and to get experience. The obvious ones to me are Ross, Short, Sonsie McAuliff, Dow and MRJ. Dow doesn't add speed or X factor, so is likely to rely on injuries to get game time. Then the new guys Lalor, Smilie get time to learn. Hotton might get games down the track. I also reckon Campbell might be good in the middle.

So lots of players to carry the load.

And outside we have some good potential in Banks, Ralphsmith etc.

However, that list is
1) either slow or needs experience - with some guys like Short and Ross who should fill the holes (if we are lucky). So you would expect spotty performance just due to the player profiles. If Sonsie and McAuliff can play mostly to the AFL level that will be a huge help.
2) not experienced in our new game plan. It should take some time to learn how to execute it, and we should expect both excitement and despair this year.
3) hopefully more about development for the future than winning here and now. So some experiments with players (MRJ, Campbell) and giving game time to the new recruits. that will likely cause some losses and poor midfield performance. But if in 2 - 3 years they are dominate=ing then I am all for it.

Long story short - Our core midfield should be Hopper, Taranto, Prestia, and then a focus on development and drilling the new game plan in. Expect sun, clouds, rain and storms this year.

 

[Vassp]

watch first 90 seconds of this final, discuss Ross can't play wing

Match Replay: Brisbane v Richmond

The Lions and Tigers clash in the Second Elimination Final of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

of course not a patch on the beautiful football, perfect space occupation by the other winger, still at the club and still just a couple of seasons off 300 games.

rotfl, got Ross mixed up with Graham, um but still ross is a push for wing.