Watching last night's game 3 things really stood out:
- You can't kick 2.8 and win a final, no matter who you are. Richmond missed a lot of very gettable shots in that first half and it really cost them: convert a few of those and when they got 21pts down in the last they instead might have been in front.
- Richmond managed to win last year without a "real" ruckman, but teams have since worked them out: Grundy was huge over and over and they had no answer to Mason (but who does when he's on like that?).
- Dusty was underdone/undercooked/under a cloud and looked a little disinterested. And I don't think you can give up the ruck and then compete in midfield when you're not 100%.
Collingwood clicked massively - best DE they've had all year (or something close according to the stats); smashed the ruck; ran harder on the outside (Steele!!); tough at the contest (Adams) and potent up forward (Mason + DeGoey). Gonna take some beating if they can play like that one more time - can lightning strike twice?