Chapter 1: What is the significance of the Richmond vs. Essendon matchup?
Brenton Sanderson with our strategy session ahead of round 11. We thought we would do Richmond and Essendon because they'll get overlooked for most of the year. They're going to live in the bottom portion of the ladder. They play each other. So it's a like versus like game. And for all the negativity that swirls around it, you're going to play the glass half full here.
Yeah, I am. And I know a lot of Richmond fans. I know a lot of Essendon fans. So I've got on the phone this week and I've had some conversations with some people close to me around, if you're a Richmond fan, like what are you seeing? What are you seeing that, and forget about the narrative that it's a tough season and we've got a long rebuild ahead of us. What are some of the positives?
And I've done the same with the Bombers as well because it's been a tough couple of weeks for them. All right. Give us glass half full for the Tigers. Well, Tigers, first of all, I think we're seeing some encouraging signs and we are seeing some younger players ā being involved in a positive culture under Uzay. So I think we know now that he's a great young coach. The results are not there yet.
We know that. But there is some genuine excitement around the development of the club's youth. And yes, they've had some challenges with their injuries, and we know that. to the point where they have hardly got a fit 22 to select each week. But stuff like Bolter going into the ruck has been viewed as a positive.
We're seeing and we're hearing Tom Lynch's willingness to be able to involve his younger teammates. It's a really encouraging sign. So, I mean, there still are some areas of the game plan that they are doing poorly. So they are still getting inside 50s, but they're probably going to lynch too much. That's one of the focus areas that they've got to adjust because he is getting double teamed a lot.
So lower their eyes inside forward 50. Use some of the smaller forwards at ground level. The ball movement and transition defence has also been a concern. But I think what we're seeing is just... young men who are doing everything they possibly can to get a quality possession. And sometimes you've just got to rush a kick, surge the ball forward.
We're just seeing too many costly turnovers for Richmond because they're trying almost too hard, I think, at times. And then once the possession is lost, at the moment, Richmond are getting exposed defensively before their structure behind the ball is getting able to be reset. But I think... Richmond, despite all the frustrations, I can see a calm, patient, optimistic leader in Uzay.
And he's going to guide this young team through this rebuild. He provides great support.
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Chapter 2: What positive signs are emerging for Richmond this season?
And I think probably outside of the injuries, we're seeing patches, and it's not four quarters, but we're seeing blocks of Richmond where you can see a positive future. I think you can see they're on the right track. They just can't sustain it for four quarters at the moment. They're fading badly too often. And the really organized teams are taking control of Richmond too often.
But I think there's enough positive signs there. And I think they've got the right coach in place that the rebuild is on track. It's just slower than what Richmond fans would be hoping.
What have you got in the positives for Essendon?
Yeah, well, we heard from Brad Scott this week. And now the spotlight has turned to the Bombers. But... The young kids are the ones driving the standards at the moment. And you can see, Gerard, they're the ones that are hurting. I mean, they're all hurting, but you can see the disappointment in these young Bombers players when they lose and after the siren.
It's a great sign, I think, when you watch them play. I'm not seeing the young kids drop their heads in games. And when you hear the interviews with players post-game or the soundbites coming out during the week, They're saying how tight they are and how keen they are for success moving forward.
So, you know, despite the results and we are focusing on Essendon now, I reckon these young kids are built to the right stuff, the real young ones. I think we're seeing them fight and develop and they're not dropping their heads and you can see that they care.
This is the club that they want to stay at and I think we're going to see some positive signs from Essendon through the remainder part of the season.
All right, let's do the strategy for dream time. Brad Scott, what will he use against the Tigers?
Brad Scott against the Tigers. I just think if Essendon used the ball well transitioning through the middle and can execute that last kick to Caddy and May and Roby, Langford and Cox, I just think Essendon should be able to expose Richmond's depleted defence. But quite simply, Bombers, they must be harder at the footy than Richmond. That must be a given.
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Chapter 3: How can Richmond improve their defense after turnovers?
But he looks good around the contest. And as I said, maybe Blackstone on Balter, that might be a lever that Brad Scott's going to have to go to, just so he can be another big body with Balter around the ground. He's athletic enough to run with him, and he can probably keep him accountable. But I just think with Brad Scott, don't look for perfection in this game. Embrace the contest.
A bit of chaos ball in the front half. Bring Farrow up to the wing. Have Redman, McGrath, Pryor play on the smalls. And then, yeah, just back them in to get you the win. And, yes, they're going to have to make some tactical adjustments in-game. But I think it's the hardness, the physical element that they should be able to find a way to beat the Tigers in this one. Okay.
So who gets their second win of the season? Well, both teams are so depleted and it's hard to pick a winner, to be honest. They both should be feeling so desperate. I just feel like Essendon, you know, now they're the media focus. Richmond, and this is a crazy stats, but... Richmond have been younger and less experienced in all but one game they've played this season.
Essendon have been younger and less experienced in every game they've played this season. So this is a really young, inexperienced side. It's not an excuse. It's just simply where both teams are on their age experience profile. And it's the stage of development that both clubs find themselves in. I went to this game round 18 last year, Gerard.
This was one of the most horrible games of footy I've ever seen. This was Richmond six goals, 10 to Essendon four goals, 13. And I left at halftime and I never leave a game of footy, but I just don't want to see another game like that again. I just think we've got to see both sides that are desperate to win, take the game on.
I think Essendon can win this game and I think they should win this game, but there's going to be so much interest in this. And Friday night, the spotlight is on. So yeah, sit back, enjoy, and we'll see who gets the win.
I nearly asked the coaches they're in on Monday night. I thought, oh, I probably can't, but... Is it possible to come up with a spectacle to match the occasion, given the state that they're in and how dire the last game was? But it's probably not.
It's probably not. I think as a coach, you default to playing really good defense when you're struggling for form. I'd almost flip it to say, let's just take this game on. Let's play with offense. Let's hit the scoreboard and see where we get to. Because I think the fans deserve that and want that. They want to see some excitement.
All right, that's Dreamtime at the G, Friday night.
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