[ad_1]
Four-time premiership player Jordan Lewis has urged Richmond to make an “honest” assessment of its list early in the season after a “pathetic” performance in its season-opener.
The Tigers have confirmed three “tough” inclusions ahead of Thursday’s bout with Carlton after falling disappointingly to the Suns.
Having trailed by as many as 67 points against Gold Coast in Opening Round, the Tigers lost by 39 points against Damien Hardwick’s new outfit.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
It creates a tense atmosphere around Richmond’s preparations for Thursday night, as the Blues catapult from a rousing victory against the Lions.
“Our players were embarrassed with the way that we started. We reviewed that, we had to review it really quickly,” senior coach Adem Yze told reporters on Wednesday.
“We had a bit of a cleansing session over in the Gold Coast and got that out of the way, so that when we walked back in the building here we (could) focus on Carlton. Our players have done that really well.”
‘Patheric’ Richmond had to make changes | 02:18
Yze and his match committee omitted recruits Jacob Koschitzke and Sam Naismith in mildly surprising moves, with ruck-forward Samson Ryan and defender Sam Banks also dropped for the Round 1 blockbuster.
Mark Robinson argued Koschitzke didn’t deserve to keep his place in Richmond’s side after managing just four disposals and two marks against the Suns.
“He didn’t deserve to (keep his spot),” said Robinson on Wednesday night’s edition of AFL 360.
“Koschitzke looked terrible last week. Like, terrible. He couldn’t survive (selection), there were no excuses of it being (his) first game at the new club.
“Seeya, you’re out. He didn’t earn his spot, he can’t keep it.”
Conversely, the Tigers reintroduced talismanic goalkicker Tom Lynch alongside superstar Dustin Martin, captain Toby Nankervis and improved pressure forward Rhyan Mansell to combat Carlton.
“Tough, tough, tough,” Robinson said of Richmond’s inclusions.
Lynch’s game time to be managed | 01:53
“That was pathetic. They looked soft. They looked in such disarray. They were getting beaten up by the Gold Coast Suns.
“Nankervis, their captain — big, strong-armed ruckman. He’ll be suspended twice this year because he always does. Dusty, he doesn’t clock people, but he plays a pretty robust sort of game. They’ve got their captain back. Lynch is the big-bodied forward.
“To me, straight away, they look tougher with their starting lineup. Whether they are good enough (to win), that’s going to be the question of Richmond every week.”
Lewis, though, was far from optimistic about the Tigers’ prospects this season, pressing the club to review its squad early in a season where he doesn’t think the yellow and black will be near contention.
“They’ve got a tough draw coming up,” Lewis told AFL 360 on Wednesday. “Gold Coast (last) weekend, Carlton, Port, Sydney, St Kilda, then West Coast.
“If you’re 1-5, is it a really early snapshot of where the future lies with this side? I think, like a lot of sides that have had success, there comes a period of time where you need to be honest and assess where the list is at and where the club is at, and as quick as you possibly can make a decision.
“So, I think in the next four or five weeks it is not out of the ordinary to maybe change direction if they don’t see themselves as genuine contenders, which I don’t think they are. Let’s start to see what we’ve got underneath the senior crop that have been so good.
“Let’s start to look at the future and not necessarily play the senior players that have been so good.”
Retorted Robinson: “They haven’t got the talent underneath.”
Martin (32 years old), Dylan Grimes (32), Marlion Pickett (32), Dion Prestia (31), Tom Lynch (31) and Nathan Broad (30) — who have all been named in Yze’s side for Thursday night — are each at least 30 years of age, with Kamdyn McIntosh, Nick Vlastiun and Nankervis all to hit 30 during the season.
Richmond’s Opening Round was 26.2 average years old — older than the sides Gold Coast, Melbourne, GWS and Sydney trotted out last weekend.
The Tigers selected five youngsters within the first 30 picks in the 2021 draft — though only Josh Gibcus (pick No.9) has been named to play the Blues after Banks (No.29) was dropped.
Carlton vs. Richmond is scheduled for 7:30pm AEDT on Thursday.
[ad_2]
Source link