Richmond - The big improvers?

[Ozza]

I really enjoy watching Richmond play - great team to watch, and plenty of exciting players. But I think they are still at least another year off being a really good side.

They would need to defend better - across the whole ground, to be a top 4 or top 6 team. They are always heavily scored against. Even when they win - it tends to be 130-110.

A great free flowing game style to watch - but they aren't tough enough or stingy enough yet.

[G-Mo77]

I think they'll squeeze into the 8 next season.

I think they've done really well in the off season. I really like the addition of Chaplin in the backline, it was an area that needed work and they got a really good defender for virtually nothing. Knights is also a decent addition to the squad and cost them nothing. They added some experienced recycled players on the rookie list who extend their depth a little and kept their 3 top picks in this years draft in the process. I can't fault them in the off-season at all.

Anywhere from 6th - 9th is my prediction.

[Mofra]

Strange team - their midfield looks fantastic on paper, but is less effective than they shoudl be on match day. I still think their backline looks a little suspect

[G-Mo77]

Strange team - their midfield looks fantastic on paper, but is less effective than they shoudl be on match day. I still think their backline looks a little suspect

They're still thin there even with Chaplin. One of the key players go down and they'll find themselves in a spot of bother.

[DragzLS1]

Midfield is great its the backline and forward line that are just not good enough. Just do not have enough depth and will crash and burn come finals.. Same as Carlton and Essendon imo.

[Happy Days]

Of all the recycled players (i.e: the ones that you would expect to contribute immediately) that they have picked up, only Chaplin is worthwhile. Any improvement that they are to see is directly linked to how much improvement they can get out of their young midfield, which has to have some serious maturity issues to it.

[LostDoggy]

I'm changing to Richmond because i want to watch finals football

[Eastdog]

I'm changing to Richmond because i want to watch finals football

Don't worry M.R.M will be playing finals again soon. Richmond in the past 30 years haven't played in that many final series.

[EasternWest]

Don't worry M.R.M will be playing finals again soon. Richmond in the past 30 years haven't played in that many final series.

I think that was a play on words of the infamous Judas quote.

But I'd like to think you're right ED. Finals again sooner rather than later.

[Greystache]

Stache, what exactly do you mean by that? How does it manifest?

When you've had very little success such as they have you can develop a culture of celebrating small short term wins rather than considering where that victory sits in the greater scheme of things. In the Richmond example, if they were to beat Carlton in round 1 rather than using it as an affirmation they're on the right track and building on it, they're inclined to get so caught up in the celebration that they'll go out and lose the next 2 games to cellar dwellers and kill the moment they'd built.

[bulldogtragic]

Ninth would fill me with joy.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Their backline is pretty dependent on Chaplin - Im unsure Griffiths ever emerge as a real player

They have been developing nicely but need a few more to step up. Cotchin is an exquisite footballing talent, dynamic, line breaking, penetrating by foot. Martin when going is an explosive game breaker but lacks consistency.

Its a big year for them no doubt about it

Is Williams a good get for them as an assistant?

[Topdog]

Certainty to make the 8, piss easy draw. Wont do anything in the finals.

Carlton of 2010

[Remi Moses]

Gee the fans are talking it up.
But then again they get chatty often this time of year.

[always right]

Ninth would fill me with joy.

I'm with you but I have to concede they've developed a nice list with a midfield that threatens to become the best in the AFL. Their depth is improving each year and I think Chaplin is a huge get for them. I expect them to finish in the bottom four of the eight.

I hope I'm wrong. I envisage a sea of duffle coats (with Woosha Welsh on the back) being brought out of mothballs as the tiger faithful find their voice again.