Pre-Match: The Pies V Bitchmond - Comments here please

[Joel]

Payback time guys! Payback for the first up loss against Richmond earlier in the year.

Pies by 45 points.

Full teams:

http://www.magpies.net/nick/article/art ... 1091194004

[Cam]

Dunno about that, it could/should be a very close game - and we might lose if Richo kicks straight. Hopeful, but not real confident.

[Nath]

Cam, couldn't agree with you more.

[d9 tank]

A VFL side would be capable of beating the sides we are putting out on the park at present, so as pathetic as Richmond are they are definitely in with a chance.

All I hope to see is:

Shaw tag Johnson or Brown if he returns.

Rowe hopefully recover from injury in time and play close to a full game.

Shakelton or Crow get a shot for Presti depending on match-ups. Will most likely be the latter.

[Cannibal]

In the Ryche (sic) Shaw, thread, labrooy suggested he should pick up Nathan Brown. That was a good idea, because Brown is far more dangerous than Richardson and, as far as I am concerned, Shaw is now our no 1 tagger, arguably the most critical component of our on-ball brigade. Shut Brown down and Richmond are in a deep hole. Johnson and Bowden ought to be targets for Licca and Dutch to shut down because, although dangerous, it presents an opportunity for our guys to get their hands on the ball themselves. Richmond look a helluva lot weaker in midfield without Campbell and Coughlan, and we need to exploit that. Shut down the really dangerous guy but take risks against the others. I can see Johnno having a field day in the centre!

It's only Wednesday, so difficult to get down into the detail, but I also see huge weaknesses in Richmond in defence, so the loss of virtually all our key forwards might not be so bad. If we can shut down Richmond's on-ballers (as above), it should release Bucks to play forward again. This week, I think it more important for us to exploit their inexperience and lack of height in defence by using our experienced guys there. I'd like to see Woey spend more time up forward as well. Conditions might suit him playing in the centreline but I really like his marking strength and straight kicking. An opportunity for him and Bucks to kick a truckload each.

A thought from left field: maybe this is the ideal opportunity for Morrison to play his first game if Tarrant isn't fit to return?

With the loss of Presti, though, we are going to be going in against Richo with virtually an entirely new backline. On the good news front, though, Tex played on Richo in his first game for the club and did well. He forced Richo to go a long way out to get the ball. It would be essential for him to start there again and see if he can replicate/improve on that performance. Richo is dangerous in the goal square but is easily rebounded off and Tex has a bit of pace. I can see him running the ball right up through the half-back line every chance he gets. I think Crow will come into the side and may spend time in both defence and in the ruck. Richmond threw Hall into the forward line last week against Melbourne, so we need that extra flexibility.

In the ruck, I'd like to see us try to run Ottens off his feet, so mobility may be more important and thus Fraser may start on the ball. Richmond have no backup ruckmen with Stafford out, so if we have a rotation of Fraser, Crow and McKee, and perhaps one of them resting in the forward line as well, we could give Frawley an awful headache trying to match up.

In truth, despite having 7 blokes out with season-ending injuries, we look to have far too much superiority on virtually every line and should win this comfortably. The danger is clearly Richo, but contain him, double-team him if necessary, and we'll win this in a canter.

[piedys]

Payback time guys! Payback for the first up loss against Richmond earlier in the year.

I wouldn't SPIT on richmond.

Dyso

[Shades]

I agree.

Tag out brown (if he plays). keep a man on Richo, and a man in-front...richmond's stuffed.

It'd be great to see Rhyce take-out brown like he did Akermanis.

As long as we drop a man in front of richo we'll own him... if he gets crunched 3 times or has to take a long shot on goal from the boundary and misses he'll crack the sads and be out of the game....

[labrooy]

Richmond's height is a concern for us given our entire spine is out of action. However playing smart can counter that as Richmond are pretty p*ss poor when all is said and done. Our effort last week had ordinary skills but quite a bit of heart and that is probably all we need to win this week.

Tex on Richo is a certainty. However I think running Josh on the forward line to start and letting McKee take the centre bounce and then dropping back in front of Richo will make it hard for Richmond to score goals. They really don't have an alternative avenue to goal so stopping Richo has to be the number 1 priority.

We can and should win this game by 4 goals.

[favourites 2008]

J cloke lose in defence only way we can stop richo, i thinnk clemo will pick him up, eg soloman essendon.

[Joel]

I'm not saying it is going to be easy, I'm hoping it is going to be easy.

[peter_pies4ever]

The weather prediction for Saturday is morning fog then fine a top of 13. If rain was predicted i think this would have given us a huge advantage due to having a few injured talls.

[Culprit]

Who ever wins in the centre will win this game. Both sides are struggling. They are due for a win. We are a side that has a direction and a future.

Simply attending this game is for a social day out. If we win, good. If we lose, big deal.

[Johnson#26]

We SHOULD win, but it isn't a gimmie. Hopen we can blood Crowy while Tazza returns. Come on Pies, lets lift to knock the rabble into orbit!!

*Match review up tonight*

[Big T]

I would like to see Clement spend some time in the forward line, and keep Lonie rotating forward line / wing. Still aiming to win but start trialing sme different moves. McGough on the ball is a must for the rest of the year.

[Daks]

And it's official!. THE SHACK IS IN!!!!