We meet again

If you are like me, chances are if you are reading this then you are also a little odd, you've spent a this week flicking between confident, terrified and excited.

I remain confident that if we play our best tomorrow then we'll win, where my confidence starts to get a little iffy is when I think about will we be able to produce our best on such a big stage? That's the question I remain unsure about.

If we line up with both Conca and Griffiths (and I remain unconvinced they both play even after yesterday) then every single chip we have is on the table. The three key forwards, our best midfielders and a settled defence, they're all out there. I reckon we'll win, but what happens if we don't? Let's hope it doesn't get to that.

So much has been written this week that I don't need to go into too much detail. Greg Baum and Martin Flanagan both produced wonderful pieces on what Richmond is about (#TeamFairfax). And I'm not even remotely clear headed enough to contribute anything fresh, two weeks is far to long to know your finals opponent.

What I'll leave it at is: if we turn up, we win and that Dusty is my tip to blow it all apart.

Votes from last week (and a reminder that everything from here is double votes):

5: Brett Deledio

4: Alex Rance

3: Trent Cotchin

2: Shaun Grigg

1: Dustin Martin

Leaderboards

The Benny:

31: Dustin Martin

27: Alex Rance

26: Trent Cotchin

25: Bachar Houli and Anthony Miles

23: Brett Deledio

18: Shaun Grigg

17: Jack Riewoldt and Taylor Hunt

16: Shane Edwards

15: Brandon Ellis

13: Nick Vlastuin

12: Troy Chaplin

9: Kane Lambert and Ty Vickery

8: Dylan Grimes, Ivan Maric and Kamdyn McIntosh

6: Jake Batchelor

5: Ben Lennon

3: Chris Newman and Ben Griffiths

2: Sam Lloyd

1: Steven Morris and Shaun Hampson

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award:

25: Bachar Houli and Anthony Miles

18: Shaun Grigg

17: Taylor Hunt

12: Troy Chaplin

8: Ivan Maric

1: Shaun Hampson

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player:

9: Kane Lambert

8: Kamdyn McIntosh

Joel Bowden's Golden Left Boot:

25: Bachar Houli

18: Shaun Grigg

12: Troy Chaplin

6: Jake Batchelor

3: Chris Newman

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:

9: Kane Lambert

That wasn't your grandfather's Essendon

Excuse the brevity and tardiness on this, I've been working on a piece that I hope might get picked up elsewhere in the next week and have spent the time I'd usually spend on this writing that.

It would have been nice to bank a bit more percentage, although that seems a pointless now that Sydney only have to get past the Gold Coast but we did what we had to.

The conditions looked pretty ordinary and that may work in our favour if we come across some rain in the finals.

Because our VFL team stinks this weekend is the last chance to get game time and run into the fringe guys, my guess at the next in line would be:

Tall forward: McBean
Small forward or flanker: Gordon
Pure midfielder: Thomas
Defender: Astbury
Ruck: Hampson

That's already looking a bit sketchy just on those names so we are in a bit of strife if swine flu goes through the joint. Smarter people than I are paid to work out such things but I'd be keen to learn how they plan to keep those guys fit. Is it within the rules to tee up an unofficial VFL practice match with North?

What more can you say about the game other than we got through it without any injuries? Much like when we played them late in 2013 they were gassed and it was all a bit pointless. In order, my positives were:

1. No injuries
2. McIntosh and Lennon lead the charge
3. Some rest for Cotchin
4. Titch started to find his groove
5. Thomas got through another game and showed he's ready to go if we need him
6. Goddard looked sad again

Changes for next week

All the talk is that North are going to rest a players. Because of some baffling maths we are a game ahead of them but half a chance to play in Adelaide whereas unless they dung on us from an almighty height on Friday night they're just about assured of playing in Melbourne next week. So we are ahead of them on the ladder but it's more important for us to win. Is that the most Richmond thing ever?

It's likely that Goldstein would be top of their list for a break, which opens up the opportunity to give Maric the same. I reckon Dusty and Jack look tired so they'd be on my list, but in all honesty who knows what their data is telling them?

This is half guess, half statement what I'd do.

In: Hampson and Conca (if he's fit, we may as well find out now)

Out: Maric and Newman (both rested)

Might be worth tucking a few emergencies away just in case they go full Ross Lyon tank and open up a few extra opportunities to rest our guys.

The votes

5: Kamdyn McIntosh

4: Ben Lennon
3: Nick Vlastuin
2: Anthony Miles
1: Bachar Houli

Unlucky: Grigg (who seems to be on this list every week), Lids, Ellis and Thomas probably head the list

Leaderboards

The Benny:

30: Dustin Martin

25: Bachar Houli and Anthony Miles

23: Trent Cotchin and Alex Rance

18: Brett Deledio

17: Jack Riewoldt and Taylor Hunt

16: Shane Edwards and Shaun Grigg

15: Brandon Ellis

13: Nick Vlastuin

12: Troy Chaplin

9: Kane Lambert and Ty Vickery

8: Dylan Grimes, Ivan Maric and Kamdyn McIntosh

6: Jake Batchelor

5: Ben Lennon

3: Chris Newman and Ben Griffiths

2: Sam Lloyd

1: Steven Morris and Shaun Hampson

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award:

25: Bachar Houli and Anthony Miles

17: Taylor Hunt

16: Shaun Grigg

12: Troy Chaplin

8: Ivan Maric

1: Shaun Hampson

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player:

9: Kane Lambert

8: Kamdyn McIntosh

Joel Bowden's Golden Left Boot:

25: Bachar Houli

16: Shaun Grigg

12: Troy Chaplin

6: Jake Batchelor

3: Chris Newman

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:

9: Kane Lambert