One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on March 24, 2011, 04:58:43 AM
-
Nervous trio excited they have earned their stripes
Emma Quayle
March 24, 2011
(http://images.theage.com.au/2011/03/23/2248431/tigers_main-420x0.jpg)
Jake Batchelor, Reece Conca and Brad Helbig make their AFL season debuts against Carlton tonight. Photo: Pat Scala
THIS time last year, Reece Conca's average Thursday read something like this: get up, go to university where he had begun studying psychology and commerce, later off to train with his WAFL side, then home for his mother's cooking. The thought of training and playing with an AFL team was still a long and stressful wait away.
The past few months have felt a little quicker. In November, Conca was drafted with the No. 6 pick. In January, he trained fully for the first time, a more patient player after overcoming an ankle problem and graduating from rehab.
Last month, he wore his No. 30 Richmond guernsey for the first time, playing in the club's first pre-season game, and on Tuesday he was sitting in a team meeting - feeling a little nervous, a little hopeful and yet confident - when told that he and fellow draftees Jake Batchelor and Brad Helbig would make their AFL season debuts against Carlton.
Advertisement: Story continues below It felt good. ''It's that old cliche; I was trying not to think about it too much, but it's always in the back of your mind. It was good to get it over and done with, and just find out,'' said the 18-year-old, who had suspected in the past week or so that he was a good chance to get picked.
''There had been a bit of talk about it, but it was still a good feeling to know. I had a bit of everything - excitement, relief and butterflies in the stomach. Now I'm just excited and looking forward to it. It's a weird thing, because I look back now and time has gone pretty quickly. You think about all the training and everything we've done to reach this point and it has been pretty long and slow and gruelling.''
While Conca arrived ready to go - he will add, said coach Damien Hardwick yesterday, speed, agility and beautiful foot skills to the young Tigers side - Helbig, a tough, strong ball-winner from Mark Ricciuto's hometown of Waikerie in the South Australian riverland, has strengthened his case in the past few weeks, while Batchelor, a defender from the Dandenong Stingrays, has looked increasingly comfortable since his first day of pre-season training.
They will play alongside two other new Tigers, although Shaun Grigg and Bachar Houli, traded from Carlton and Essendon last October, already know what senior football feels like. Already Houli has made an impact on Richmond's off-field fortunes - he's sold 64 club membership packages to family and friends.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/nervous-trio-excited-they-have-earned-their-stripes-20110323-1c6qt.html
-
Richmond and Carlton to debut draftees
Bruce Matthews
Herald Sun
March 24, 2011
(http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2011/03/23/1226027/021027-richmond-debutants.jpg)
Richmond Football club Debutants Brad Helbig, Reece Conca, and Jake Batchelor. Source: Herald Sun
RICHMOND has selected its top three draft picks to face Carlton in the opening game of the season at the MCG.
The Tigers wasted no time thrusting Reece Conca, Jake Batchelor and Brad Helbig on to the big stage.
Coach Damien Hardwick also called up former Blue Shaun Grigg and ex-Bomber Bachar Houli to boost the midfield, but could not find room for Shane Tuck, who played 20 games last season and finished fifth in the club's best-and-fairest.
Carlton turned to mature-age recruit Nick Duigan to reinforce an injury-depleted backline that will be without Paul Bower (ankle) and the suspended Michael Jamison.
Ed Curnow and former Cat Jeremy Laidler will be the Blues' other new faces.
Hardwick said Conca, a No.6 selection in last year's draft, had been a revelation at Punt Rd.
Conca was named at half-back.
"He's got elite speed, elite agility, (he's a) beautiful kick of the footy, and, more importantly, he's really competitive," Hardwick said.
Defender Batchelor, a left-footer, was recruited from Dandenong Stingrays while Helbig was a forward with West Adelaide.
Hardwick said the experience of Houli and Grigg was critical "to take the burden off some of our younger midfielders".
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/richmond-and-carlton-to-debut-draftees/story-e6frf9if-1226027021984
-
Jeep seem to be getting a nice early return on their investment. Logo being plastered all over the papers. :thumbsup
-
Geez we are a young side Brad Helbig still has braces. :thumbsup
-
Geez we are a young side Brad Helbig still has braces. :thumbsup
what's the point of braces when more than likely like many other players he'll have his teeth knocked out? He can rip his lips open with a good knock in the face.
-
Geez we are a young side Brad Helbig still has braces. :thumbsup
what's the point of braces when more than likely like many other players he'll have his teeth knocked out? He can rip his lips open with a good knock in the face.
I'd expect him to wear a pretty decent mouth guard lol
-
So how did we all rate the debuts of our three 2010 draftees - Conca, Batchelor and Helbig?
-
conca = silk and courageous
helbig and bachelor are hard at it and were great fir 1st gamers, fantastic games by these boys
-
Alot to like about all 3 boys.
Conca has really good skills and will be a classy player. :thumbs
All three I feel have done enough to retain their places for next week. :thumbsup
-
Debutants, young and old, look at home in the AFL
Will Brodie
March 28, 2011 - 3:25PM
Reece Conca Richmond Midfielder 15 d, 6, 1t
Midfield hope who played mostly in the back half and won the ball adequately in traffic.
Jake Batchelor Richmond Half Back 13 d, 3 t
Left-footer who appeared at home at the level, rarely rushed.
Bradley Helbig Richmond Utility 10 d
Quiet but respectable opening from the pic no.47.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/debutants-young-and-old-look-at-home-in-the-afl-20110328-1cd08.html