Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter provides ‘Roar Vision’ with a concise appraisal of Melbourne’s key on-field attributes ahead of the big Anzac Day Eve clash at the MCG next Monday night.
Midfield contested-ball beasts
“They’re one of the best contested teams in the comp. at the moment. They’ve got a great mix, with some really good midfielders in there (Jones, Viney, Oliver and co.), so it’s going to be a big challenge for our guys.”
Oliver’s impact through the midfield
“He’s a powerful, young fellow. He did a bit of work with our VFL side two years ago, and we saw that ability. He has the ability to win the ball, but also, his vision and ability to be able to use it, is really high.”
No. 1 pressure team in the comp. and No. 2 for tackle differentials
“They’re impressive numbers . . . high in the contested and high tackle and pressure. We know that stacks up in most AFL games. So, again, this is going to be something that we’re going to have to be able to deal with on game day.”
No. 1 team in possession
“They’re a difficult team to defend against . . . A lot of their defenders are having high (numbers of), uncontested marks. So we’re going to have to spend some time setting up our defence really well, which will be important . . .”
The impact up forward of Petracca and Garlett
“Petracca’s a special player, and he’s just going to get better the more footy he plays. He also has the ability to go through the midfield, which we’ve seen over the last few weeks. He’s a difficult match-up for whoever’s going to get the job on the day. And Gartlett’s in the best form I’ve ever seen him in, and really dangerous. His pressure’s elite, and just his speed, in general . . . I certainly wouldn’t want to be back there one-on-one with him. I think that will be the biggest challenge. If you try to make it a foot-race with him, it’s going to be really difficult. So, I think anyone who plays on Jeff Garlett, has to be physical with him . . . We’re going to have to rely on good midfield pressure to be able to help our backs out.”
