That is not a commentary on the narrow loss today, although the side cannot continue to let games slip.

There are supposed to be 18 players per side, for the second quarter today West Coast had 21 men on the ground. The extra three were wearing red shirts and black shorts, they're commonly referred to as umpires. They are a complete and total blight on the game. They only have to be able to do 3 things: bounce the ball, throw it up and make correct decisions. The 3 men officiating today were severely deficient in all of those. Richmond were denied 3 goals in the second quarter due to poor umpiring.

They're completely untouchable, they're not accountable, players and coaches can't speak about them or criticise them, even the media is discouraged from being critical. They have feelings apparently, well so do players, but they can be publicly pilloried. The umpires officiating today owe the Richmond Football Club and it's supporters a public apology, but they are not going to give it. All 3 of them should be banished to country football for a few weeks, but even if they are, no one will ever hear about it. The standard simply has to improve, because it is not acceptable and it is ruining a great game.

Player review:

1. Rory Hilton, largely a forgotten man since his knee injury, people were comparing him to Brown and hoping he would be the answer, he wasn't and he was never going to be, but he can be a useful option in the forward line.

2. Darren Gaspar, didn't see as much of him as usual, but as none of West Coast's larger forwards had no real influence on the game he held them pretty well.

3. Brett Deledio, for Richmond possibly the best on the ground. He matures with each outing, his speed is breathtaking and he does things that a player of his youth and inexperience should not be able to do.

5. Troy Simmonds, this bloke is becoming a real concern. He regularly drops marks that he should swallow and when he does mark it his kicking for goal and general field kicking is not of an AFL standard. Possibly it's a confidence thing, but he better get his head right or he'll be playing for Coburg and Adam Pattison will have his spot.

6. Mark Chaffey, he tries hard and he does things to the best of his ability, but he's small and slow. Can't see him surviving to the end of the season.

9. Wayne Campbell, because he's a lot taller than he looks and he can also take a strong mark he's being used as a forward option.

10. Greg Stafford, coming back from a 3 week injury and was very rusty, spent most of the game on the bench. In hindsight it would have been better to keep Schulz in for another week.

11. Joel Bowden, beaten early, but he was not alone there. Recovered to be a valuable ball winner in the second half and rebound from defence.

12. Matthew Richardson, when the game was there to be won and the delivery improved the big fellow stood up. Kicked 5 goals for the game and delivered a bone crunching tackle that resulted in a valuable goal.

13. Trent Knobel, this bloke has really impressed me, battled manfully against West Coast's ruck division virtually single handed and he's worth a mention for a shepherd that created a goal for the Tigers.

15. Kayne Pettifer, was a passenger for a half, but used his strength and guile to become a dangerous forward after half time.

17. Kane Johnson, one player who lifted after half time and got the Tigers back into the game.

20. Ray Hall, the big man showed what his side had been missing for the past two weeks, shut down the dangerous Edwards when no one else could and blunted a number of West Coast forays forward.

21. Shane Tuck, got a lot of the ball and was one midfielder who was prepared to play when many of his team mates went missing.

23. Daniel Jackson, didn't have a lot of influence on the game. Did a few nice things, but needs to work on his disposal skills.

24. Mark Coughlan, was beaten for the first time this season, but being shaded, only just, by the games premier midfielder Chris Judd is nothing to be ashamed of.

27. Andrew Krakouer, he didn't get a lot of possessions and only one goal, but his sheer persistence was one of the factors that dragged the Tigers back into this game. Earned his spot.

31. Chris Hyde, after the injury spends a lot of time on the bench. Does well when he has the ball, but I wonder if the helmet he's wearing affects his vision.

32. Greg Tivendale, he gets a lot of the ball, but he cannot kick, or at least he can't deliver the ball into the forward line with any reliability.

34. Mark Graham, in and out of play, does his best, but it may be time for him to make way for a younger defender.

35. Chris Newman, one of the few losers today. Phil Matera is a slippery customer, but allowing him 5 goals was a luxury Richmond could not afford.

39. Andrew Kellaway, added yet another entry to his prodigious file of courageous marks and linked well from the back line to the middle of the ground.