AFL Football Round 1 - Tigers and Cats take the Points
Richmond coach Terry Wallace has certainly had his critics over the pre season, me included. But his young Tiger team showed that they may just have improved enough to suggest they are better than the 15th or 16th team that many are suggesting. Although we shouldn’t get to carried away it was a battle of the 15th and 16th teams on the ladder in 2007. A good sign for the Tigers was the fact that Carlton got of to a good start and the Tigers didn’t fall in a heap as they probably would have last season, they just kept battling away and eventually got the points. The Tiger fans would have come away feeling a bit happy than they have done in a while.
The Richmond Energizer Bunny
The Energizer Bunny Jake King was good for the Tigers as was Nathan Foley. Richo didn’t let me down with his SHOCKING first 2 shots at goal but ended with 5 and exploited the young Carlton defence. I thought Nathan Brown was outstanding when he moved into the middle and should spend some more time there. For the Blues, it looked very good early with Stevens, Simpson, and Murphy relishing a bit more freedom as the taggers went to Judd. But the lack of experience an strength in defense was a big difference. The were missing a few and desperately need them back to strengthen the side.
Missed Opportunity or Port Adelaide
You can never really get revenge on a Grand Final loss but Port Adelaide had a great opportunity to get their season off to the best possible start but cost themselves with inaccurate kicking. Geelong began the season in ominous form, missing 5 Premiership Players first up but were still I would say a class above Port. They looked a little underdone but their tackling and pressure was outstanding. People think of Geelong as an offensive side but they showed that they are willing to put the pressure on the opposition as well. Joel Selwood is going to be a star and his hardness and willingness to put his head over the ball was great. Chapman was at his best with 3 and James Kelly showed the depth the Cats have in the midfield.
Port Adelaide dominated the Ruck with the absence of Otttens and should have made more use of it. They missed a perfect opportunity there. Also is was very evident that they need some experience in the back half as Mooney and “Tomahawk” Tom Hawkins exploited this in the first half. Brett Ebert looked dangerous and Chad Cornes is an out and out GUN. The Power have a bit of work to do in the defensive half and will no doubt be working on that during the week. It was a good game to watch and Dave from Dave’s Football Blog is sorry he missed the game.
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Richmond fans will be more than a little bit happy after a win. Last year the first win didn’t come to round 12.
And to roll the Blebaggers who were even more arrogant than normal with one Chris Judd in the team was a huge effort.
It was an error riddled game as befitted 2 pretty dodgy teams.
One wonders about Carlton recruiting over the years. Richo always seems to towel up the Blues. Thornton is too short and too skinny to handle Richo and Jamison was way out of his depth yet Ratten left him there all night.
Not convinced that Murphy was the right player to Carlton to take as the no. 1 draft pick a few years ago. They need size they have plenty of midgets.
Richo was the difference. They may have well as suspended Fev because after 35 mins he seem to go missing and was not a factor.
Don’t agree that Brown was a huge factor. Seem to float around the field playing loose man in defense for awhile. He finished well for 3 goals but I thought guys like King, Foley, Pettifer, Schulz and (in the second half) McMahon put their hands when required.
And I was surprised at the performance of Nick Stevens.
Very soft I thought.
Avoided contact and played very much on the outside.
Was he still worried about his neck injury??
The Tiger
You must be pretty happy with the result?
You are right about Richo he seems to love playing the Blues!
I don’t think Brown was a huge factor either he just looked a class above when he moved into the midfield with his skills and delivery into the forward line. The Tigers need to get the ball in his hands a lot more.
The little “energizer bunny” Jake King was great!