Richmond Tigers v Melbourne Demons scores, results, fixtures, teams, tips, games, how to watch

Melbourne’s entries inside forward 50 have been horrendous.

Richmond’s haven’t been much better but with so many of their best players injured, including key forwards Tom Lynch and Noah Balta, we can give them an out. Not so the Dees, who have lofty ambitions this year.

It’s the same old problems for the club aiming to win a grand old flag. Yes, they don’t have top-end talent to kick to but even the very best forward would struggle with the delivery from the Dees thus far.

Take this for a sample from the second term. We had Christian Petracca, from a free kick in the centre square, hold the ball then dump it long and high, asking Max Gawn to outmark the entire Tigers defence.

Kysaiah Pickett missed Bayley Fritsch on a lead into space, kicking it too far in front of him and out on the full when he had plenty of room to work with.

Jacob Windsor, who has shown polish early in his career, had his pass cut off at true centre half-forward by Maurice Rioli. Later, he picked out Hugo Ralphsmith, except Ralphsmith is wearing the yellow and black.

The Demons would have worked all summer on improving what coaches now call the “connection piece” centre forward but on the evidence, so far they are not making much inroads.

If they are to be the contender they should be this year, they need to fix it quickly – starting now. Or they risk blowing this game.