Round 1 - Blues v Tigers (21 March) Pre-Game

[DJC]

Last year's wooden spooners (with their worst season in history) won't be beating last year minor premiers. And nothing that's happened in the off season changes that IMO.

So what has happened in the off season?

Richmond has added Lynch, Collier-Dawkins, Ross, Turner, English, Weller, Aarts, Townsend and Stack.  They lost Conca, Ellis, Lloyd, Miles, Stengle, Drummond, Griffiths and Hampson.  With the exception of Lynch (injured), and possibly Collier-Dawkins, their outs seem stronger than their ins.  Added to that is the impact of an underwhelming finals campaign, rule changes that affect their structure and tactics and a coaching panel whose message has always been relatively inconsequential and may be becoming just a little stale.

In contrast, we have dramatically improved our list to the point where there is genuine competition for spots in the 22 and last year's stalwarts - Casboult, Graham, Lamb, Kerridge, O'Brien, etc - are no longer with us or are on the list just to provide injury cover.  Our coaching group has been refreshed, we've got the best fitness guru in the business, and we've adapted quickly to the rule changes.

Will we win on Thursday night? It's a definite possibility