What's in store for the Tigers in 09'?

[Smyth94]

Richmond's fortunes will be decided how well their kids progress in 2009. You know what you're going to get with their senior/established players (Simmonds, Johnson, Brown, Richo, Bowden, McMahon, Newman etc).

How much can Cotchin improve in one season?

Can Cleve Hughes stay on the park for the whole season and score 30-40 goals?

Can Mitch Morton improve on his 2008 form?

Will Deledio take the next step?

Will Thursfield, Moore and McGuane get better?

If these things happen then the Tigers will be playing finals in 2009.

 

[Bosun]

5th or 6th,

They are building a good team. A midfield core of Cotchin, Foley, Deledio is going to win games, backline is progressing well and the only concern I see goal scoring options, Richo will need to have another big year, Morton and Riewoldt look the goods, they have shown they can kick bags of 4-5 the unknown is Hughes I saw he booted 6 in one game this year but didnt see him do much else.

Once Richo retires there could be trouble but Im sure the coaching staff are planning for it.

 

[MadDawg]

I still dont see too much in Richmond. There is a very real chance that Richo and Browny will decline this year, the ruck division is poor, the forwardline is workmanlike, the midfield is inconsistent but they do seem to have a good backline.
If everything does right maybe sneak into the finals but I do think they will just miss. 7-10th for mine but with a season highlight when they sneak a win off one of the top teams by playing Wallace Keepings Off.

 

[Jay-Z]

I think they should just sneak into the 8 in '09. They showed alot in the second half of '08 and if they can recapture that form and Richo has another good year they should be able to get enough wins to stop the run of finishing 9th. One thing is for sure though, if they don't make the 8 you can kiss Terry Wallace goodbye

 

[daffo]

09 = 09th position

 

[Not Bob Keddie]

Seeing the draw they got i would say the AFL want them around 5-6th. If they don't win 7 of the first 10 then they are gone as the draw gets harder after that.

 

[liamo]

i have a bad feeling that the tigers will we going places in the future

they have a very good backline in the making and lots of good players coming through around the ground. if they get a power forward or at least one that will kick bags

for next year 9th-7th but the future is bright

 

[Phil McCreviss]

For mine anywhere between 7th and 11th. Some good kids coming through but they will never reach the upper echolon of the top four until they have gamebreakers. They dont have a bona fide superstar who can take a game by the scruff of the neck. Cotchin will be fantastic and Deledio established himself last year and will continue on this year. There is a lot of hype (mostly from Tigers supporters) about Riewoldt and some of the other young forwards but they dont put the fear of God in to opposition defenses. And Wallace has a happy knack of crapping on players development.

 

[Richo Rules]

definetly need to make finals next year
finished strongly which was good including a win over the premiers hawthorn

just need some of the youngsters to step up
bowden and johnson will be playing their last years next year
and they could be replaced

its the other 3 im worried about
simmo, richo and browny they have at least 2 years left in them

we need guys to step up and take their spots which is saying something
and we need a good key forward

 

[peejay]

Seeing the draw they got i would say the AFL want them around 5-6th. If they don't win 7 of the first 10 then they are gone as the draw gets harder after that.

After round ten we play,

teams outside 8 this year
Eagles twice
carlton
essendon
melb

teams inside 8

Bulldogs @ the dome - tough game
saints @ the dome - tough game
Crows on gold coast - 50/50
North @ MCG - 50/50
Swans @ mcg - 50/50
Coll @ mcg - might be tough
Hawks @ mcg - tough game.

If we are 7 - 3 after 10 then you would reckon we would get to 13 wins required to make the 8.

 

[adelaide_40]

I think Richmond will be one of the teams fighting for the spots 6-8 I think they can make the finals but I dont know if they will.

 

[telsor]

People keep talking about the lack of a key forward, but I'm not sure thats as big an issue as some are making out.

We've spent a long time with Richo demanding the ball as our only real option, and riding the highs and lows with him as he gets double and triple teamed. It might be an over-reaction the other way, but I think a lot of Richmonds current forward focus is on finding ~4 guys to kick 30-50 each, each capable of being 'the target' as the need arises, with another bunch of players either kicking goals from the midfield or moving forward to make for a good matchup ( Polak/Schulz ).

If ( for example ) Morton is having a day out, isolate him 1 on 1 at FF.

Yes, we'd be better with a genuine contested marking option, but again, I think we'd be looking at someone for 30/40/50 goals, not someone out for the coleman.

 

[Madtiger2006]

People keep talking about the lack of a key forward, but I'm not sure thats as big an issue as some are making out.

We've spent a long time with Richo demanding the ball as our only real option, and riding the highs and lows with him as he gets double and triple teamed. It might be an over-reaction the other way, but I think a lot of Richmonds current forward focus is on finding ~4 guys to kick 30-50 each, each capable of being 'the target' as the need arises, with another bunch of players either kicking goals from the midfield or moving forward to make for a good matchup ( Polak/Schulz ).

If ( for example ) Morton is having a day out, isolate him 1 on 1 at FF.

Yes, we'd be better with a genuine contested marking option, but again, I think we'd be looking at someone for 30/40/50 goals, not someone out for the coleman.

We were the 5th highest scoring team in the league this season, so we don't seem to have a problem kicking goals. Reiwoldt will only get better and he's still only 19 I think

 

[apiro]

Interesting question and I suspect the answer lies in how Terry Wallace plays out the final year of his contract. Richmond need to establish their own game plan in the competition and stick with it rather than approach games on the basis of dismantling the opposition's plan. The latter approach will probably see them make the eight but defer their longer term goal of winning a premiership.

 

[telsor]

We were the 5th highest scoring team in the league this season, so we don't seem to have a problem kicking goals. Reiwoldt will only get better and he's still only 19 I think

Exactly, we moved Richo upto the wing and the rest of our forwards made up the slack without too much difficulty.

Sure, he still kicked quite a few, but it's far from the massive hole people are making out.

 

[Paul Kersey]

Should have made the 8 this year. Must make it next year.

 

[tigertiger]

We finished 1.5 games from 4th this year, with natural improvement we should not have to much difficulty winning at least 12 games and I am predicting 14 wins. I think if anything this year showed we have a life after Richo (god forbid that day ever comes) So we will finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th IMO.

 

[georgei boy]

would love it if they finished bott 4! i hate em, pointless team!!!!!!!

 

[SM]

Richmand 9th in 09.

 

[captain foley]

Richmand 9th in 09.

another brilliant Richmond finishing 9th joke.. and this 1 cant even spell

 

[JSFish]

Somebody please make the 9th joke again. One of the most comical jokes going around.

But seriously, some people are so stupid it's hilarious. Stat_Machine...do you realise the joke has been made 4 times in this thread now? To go with the 40 or 50 times in every other thread involving Richmond. You're not funny, you look like a dropkick.

Bottom half of the 8 by the way.

 

[SM]

My bad, I didn't realise, I replied straight off. I actually like the Tigers, my old man goes for them and I do have a soft spot for them, just thought the joke was begging to be made. Did feel like a tool when I read through the thread.

 

[Ron The Bear]

We must've done something right in the way we moved the ball forward this year - averaged more than 9 individual goalkickers per match, which was a club record. Clean supply made our forwards more dangerous.

The list is still imbalanced and the big question mark for mine is the lack of physicality which is needed to win big games & finals. Will be disappointed if we don't make the eight, but have learned not to expect too much.

 

[Monkeyboy]

Between 9-13.
Lack class. Backline young. Mids ok, forward line will need Richo and Brown to hold off fathertime.
I'll say 12th.

 

[loopy_cam]

Wouldn't be surprised to see them finishing 5th-8th.

Midfield looks pretty good without being outstanding. Backline is young and improving with good rebound. Morton, Riewoldt and Hughes should provide enough up front. Add the experience of Richo, Browny and Newman and they look a pretty good side.