Tigers’ Flea Amigos have special buzzGLENN McFARLANE,
Herald Sun
March 30, 2017JACK Riewoldt has dubbed them “The Three Amigos”.
Richmond small forwards Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler have been tipped to play a big role in the club’s revival this season following a great start to 2017 against Carlton last week.
The three young cubs — each of them 182cm and below — have been charged with applying defensive pressure in attack this season. But they have also been urged to crank up the scoreboard pressure applied to opposition teams.
Each kicked two goals and had 15 or more pressure acts in the Round 1 win, and more is expected of them heading into Friday night’s clash against Collingwood.
Assistant coach Craig McRae praised the first-up efforts of Rioli, Castagna and Butler, saying it was a reward for their strong pre-seasons in forward defensive roles — an area the Tigers want to capitalise on this year.
“Daniel Rioli last year was a standout and now he has a couple of sidekicks to help him out as well,” McRae said.
“The game needs that pressure and forward-half turnovers, but the big thing with those roles is to put the pressure on and apply scoreboard pressure as well.
“It is only a small sample of the JLT Series and Round 1, but they have done well so far. There are going to be some ebbs and flows, but challenge is to remain consistent with your pressure.”
McRae, who played a similar role in his time with Brisbane, said the pressure applied by small forwards can be “infectious” for teammates.
“Jack (Riewoldt) had the (equal) most tackles he has ever had in a match (last week), it’s infectious, everyone buys into it,” he said. “All of a sudden the team is better for it.
“I am fortunate enough to see how hard those young guys have been working, the time and effort they put into getting better. They have worked on their kicking enormously. You don’t fluke these sort of things, it is all about the hard work you are willing to put in.”
McRae is confident 19-year-old Rioli, the smallest of the trio at 179cm, will become even more offensive this season after his strong debut season.
“He is impacting the scoreboard more than he did last year and getting the balance right (between defence and attack),” he said. “He is still a work in progress, but he is a great role model for our younger players with his enormous work rate.”
Twenty-year-old Castagna (181cm) was elevated off the rookie list last week to play his sixth game, and is working hard to grasp his opportunities.
And Butler (182cm), also 20, was a pre-season standout for the Tigers, rewarded for this with his debut match last week.
“If you had to rate pre-seasons, he (Butler) would be in the top two or three (at the club),” McRae said.
Daniel Rioli gets a lift from forward line mates Jason Castagna (left) and Dan Butler. Picture: David Cairdhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmonds-three-amigos-daniel-rioli-dan-butler-jason-castagna-playing-key-role-for-richmond/news-story/79446238fe3c59383428065ce1169e98