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.

 

[Moppey]

Hmm pace ball winning ability and ball use. Midfield rotations from the bench

HB Smith - Balta - Brown
C Banks - McAuliffe - Campbell
R Nankervis - Taranto - Hotton
HF Clarke - Fawcett - Rioli.

Int Prestia - Hopper - Smillie - Lalor.

Need to get them all fit

 

[Mr Magic]

I would be disappointed if McAuliffe does not show something.


I know fitness is not everything but looks like he is actually trying to have a real crack so I hope it comes off for him.

plenty of opportunity for him if he can make a real dip

When I see McAuliffe come back looking more ripped, that instals belief at least with McAuliffe we could be on the right trajectory and hopefully that is indicative of many on the rest of our team members but it still has to be effort and application on the park, not just the gym

 

[Hank Heavenly]

Prestia
Hopper
Taranto
Ross
MacAuliffe
Sonsie
Smillie
Dow
MRJ

The 7 or so in the rotation will come from this lot in Rd1...

What it looks like by Rd20 who knows.

I do hope/think if they stay fit, Prestia and Hopper carry the load and become our two most important mids this year

 

[Michaels]

I'm throwing Tyler Sonsie heavily into the mix.

We have to roll the dice and give him bulk midfield minutes.

He was the the best in his draft class at stoppages and clearances.

 

[beema limapep]

I'm throwing Tyler Sonsie heavily into the mix.

We have to roll the dice and give him bulk midfield minutes.

He was the the best in his draft class at stoppages and clearances.

hmmmm......

 

[Michaels]

hmmmm......

I encourage everyone, Watch the video, re check the rookie me draft year reports on him, and ask yourself have we given him the best chance possible to play like he did in his draft year?

And to be fair, the reasons why we haven't are actually really valid and reasonable.

But now is the time to find out once and for all.

 

[tora tora tora]

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

We had 4 jacks at the club at one stage.
now 4 f**g Jacobs.

 

[tora tora tora]

I encourage everyone, Watch the video, re check the rookie me draft year reports on him, and ask yourself have we given him the best chance possible to play like he did in his draft year?

And to be fair, the reasons why we haven't are actually really valid and reasonable.

But now is the time to find out once and for all.

Sonz was great mid late 22. Sonz & Kmac2 were great in the middle in the VFL vs Suns early 2024. While Dow is running around in the 1sts.
Kmac2 getting AFL games ahead of him in the middle this year, I can't see a selection philosophy back flip in 2025. Kmac2 had no tank last year, that will have improved.

Now drafted Smilz, Lalor who will play some football.
then Ross? Dow?



We need goal kickers, be good if Sonz kicked more.

 

[Moppey]

Lalor and Smillie will play round one if they are fit. Can see no reason why Lalor wont be right by then. Not as if he is coming off an acl or off the bone hammy.
Smillie has already shone out.
Prestia Hopper and Taranto are certs. Thats 5 mids its likely only two more will be picked as that seems to be a bit of he norm for clubs in picking seven. Imo the last two would likely be McAuliffe who does add some real pace and Ross.
Sad fact is there is only Dow and Sonsie left as options thats the sum of what we have to choose from.

I think Brown, Smith, Clarke, Rioli, Banks and Campbell gives us pace and importantly good ball use on the flanks and wings.

With the injuries we have and now Balta's suspension i think Miller and Blight will be locks for the key back jobs. I would be playing either Bauer or Trainor as the third tall.

Lynch and Kossie will be locks for the key forward spots yes Kossie. I hope we play one of the young key forwards along side them as a third tall.

Vlastuin and Broad are certs and i think they will not look past Mansell and his experience.
That is 22 players and i think the last spot in the 23 will go to old scared of his own shadow Shortsteps.

 

[Moppey]

Sonz was great mid late 22. Sonz & Kmac2 were great in the middle in the VFL vs Suns early 2024. While Dow is running around in the 1sts.
Kmac2 getting AFL games ahead of him in the middle this year, I can't see a selection philosophy back flip in 2025. Kmac2 had no tank last year, that will have improved.

Now drafted Smilz, Lalor who will play some football.
then Ross? Dow?



We need goal kickers, be good if Sonz kicked more.

Be good if he grew a pair and stopped shirking. Be good if he worked on his running.