This is hard but I'm going to try!

[mjp]

Richmond are 100% in rebuild mode...but do they have a pathway to win this week?

1. Lean into their Midfield Grit: Prestia, Taranto & Hopper
Despite a challenging season the #1 tier of Richmond mids are a more than competitive unit. Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper have been prolific, with Taranto leading the team in contested possessions (166) and Hopper closely behind (152). Dion Prestia has come back and showed why he was the heartbeat of 3x premiership wins. That said - managing his workload within games remains a priority and you can almost see the Tiges "BURST" with his TOG.

Nankervis remains a strong presence in the ruck and will provide their smalls with opportunities.

2. They have some emerging Small Forwards: Campbell & Rioli Jr.
Richmond has turned to emerging talents in the forward line this year and Seth Campbell has stepped up impressively, kicking 9 goals in his first 5 games of the 2025 season, showcasing his goal sense and agility. Maurice Rioli Jr. continues to apply relentless forward pressure, a hallmark of Richmond's game plan. Likewise, our small defenders have not exactly been 'lights out' and if these guys get chances around the feet of Tom Lynch, well, they could score some early goals. Oh...and if Lynch decides to start marking it, look out.

3. Defensive Stability: Vlastuin, Balta, Broad
Richmond's defense, anchored by Nick Vlastuin, Balta and Broad, provides experience and composure. When they've played well the Tiges have controlled the game from half back before releasing to their young runners.

While Richmond faces an uphill battle, several factors could tilt the game in their favor:

• Midfield Contests: Leveraging the experience and strength of Prestia, Taranto, and Hopper to win clearances.
• Forward Pressure: Utilising the agility and tenacity of Campbell and Rioli Jr. to pressure the Bulldogs' defense.
• Defensive Resilience: Relying on the stability provided by Vlastuin, Balta and Broad to thwart the Bulldogs' attacking plays
• Youthful Exuberance: Harnessing the energy and unpredictability of emerging players to inject momentum.

That's actually all I've got.

I'll try to do better next week!

[Bulldog Joe]

What you are really saying is that we need to come prepared to play.

Take them lightly and we could be in trouble.

[Happy Days]

I’m willing to go to the Docklands during the most depressing hours of the week, we better smash them.

[Bornadog]

• Midfield Contests: Leveraging the experience and strength of Prestia, Taranto, and Hopper to win clearances.

Richmond currently sit near bottom for clearances and Bulldogs top two, so I am not worried about their midfield. But then again Pies sit 16th

Richmond has played a couple of good games, but can't score and give up easily. Get ready for another smashing.

[Mofra]

We have Sam Darcy.
He is a freak.

[DOG GOD]

Their mids are adequate for sure. Nankervis has played well against English coz English doesn’t like the bigger bodied rucks. Balta should destroy Naughton, but they don’t really have anyone for Darcy, but down the other end, a player like Lynch could also have a day out against us, especially if JOD is he’s opponent. If Neale (Geel) can kick 5, so can Lynch.

These are the games we tend to lose when things are looking up.
being at marvel, we SHOULD win, and I’d expect on paper, it should be by 40+ if we are legitimate.

however, we have lost to WC with a worse team than Richmond’s at marvel when our season was on the line. So a loss could happen.

id expect a 6-7 goal win
or a 1 goal loss

let’s see how we turn up mentally, and if the return of JUH has had an effect.

[Bornadog]

Their mids are adequate for sure. Nankervis has played well against English coz English doesn’t like the bigger bodied rucks. Balta should destroy Naughton, but they don’t really have anyone for Darcy, but down the other end, a player like Lynch could also have a day out against us, especially if JOD is he’s opponent. If Neale (Geel) can kick 5, so can Lynch.

These are the games we tend to lose when things are looking up.
being at marvel, we SHOULD win, and I’d expect on paper, it should be by 40+ if we are legitimate.

however, we have lost to WC with a worse team than Richmond’s at marvel when our season was on the line. So a loss could happen.

id expect a 6-7 goal win
or a 1 goal loss

let’s see how we turn up mentally, and if the return of JUH has had an effect.

Some comments DG:
* Is Balta playing, he has a curfew for night time - maybe he plays half a game and goes home.
* English has been very aggressive this year.
* Lynch can kick what he wants but they won't know what hit them.

[comrade]

If mjp is this confident, we should win by 100.

[azabob]

Rioli is a fringe player this year. Only played five games.

Not sure what’s happened but he’d be a good trade target.

[Eastdog]

No such thing as easy games. Need to be ready and get right into it to set the game up in our favour. Tigers have been very competitive this year and you can argue they are going better at the moment than the Saints are.

[Raels_d]

We should win and win comfortably but that saying any team that does not commit 100% can easily be beaten. Fingers crossed we are completely switched on.

[DOG GOD]

Some comments DG:
* Is Balta playing, he has a curfew for night time - maybe he plays half a game and goes home.
* English has been very aggressive this year.
* Lynch can kick what he wants but they won't know what hit them.

balta? No idea…when’s his curfew? 7pm ? Not sure Bornadog

hmm I still don’t see what you see with English. I still see timid moments, especially centre bounces. Hope he holds his own against Nankervis.

hope you’re right on the 3rd one

[Grantysghost]

We could break our all time winning margin record this week.

128 points v North in 2021.

It's a chance.

[Bornadog]

balta? No idea…when’s his curfew? 7pm ? Not sure Bornadog

hmm I still don’t see what you see with English. I still see timid moments, especially centre bounces. Hope he holds his own against Nankervis.

hope you’re right on the 3rd one

You know we are the number one ranked team for Centre Clearances, and that is with one less game than many other teams and Tim is ranked 2nd with 27 compared to Xeri's 31. Nankervis is ranked 8th with 18 - (stats are for ruckman)