One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on November 14, 2011, 01:22:05 AM
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Young Richmond defenders Dylan Grimes and David Astbury determined to prove a point
by: Matt Windley
From: Herald Sun
November 14, 2011
TWO of Richmond's most promising defenders have shot down suggestions the team's backline is its achilles heel.
Dylan Grimes and David Astbury, both 20, also insist youth is not an excuse at Punt Rd any more as the Tigers attempt to return to the top eight for the first time since 2001.
Coach Damien Hardwick appeared to support his young list last week, denying he would chase Zac Dawson, 25, who is now looking for his third club after 14 games at Hawthorn (2005-08) and 63 at St Kilda (2009-11).
Hardwick's team conceded 2396 points last season, the third most in the AFL, but had Grimes (hamstring), Astbury (knee) and Kelvin Moore (hip) watching for most of the season.
"There are always going to be people that suggest things like that when we're letting a lot of points through," Astbury said.
"But I suppose you have to look at (losing) blokes like Chris Newman (to a knee injury late in the year) and Kelvin Moore, who didn't play any footy last year, Dylan and myself who were out for most the season, plus little injuries like Jake Batchelor's shoulder and Luke McGuane's groin.
"You're always going to be vulnerable when you've got that many guys from one line out of the team.
"It's not something that we buy in to at all. We know that we've definitely got some depth in the backline and we form a team within a team back there."
Grimes agreed, saying the defenders who missed most of last season were among Richmond's best performed.
"We had blokes like Brett Deledio, Alex Rance, Bachar Houli and Chris Newman all poll very high in our best-and-fairest, so that just goes to show that our backs are actually playing some good footy," Grimes said.
"Internally, I think we've got a lot of confidence in the back six that we have and also the three or four that are fighting for a spot."
Richmond's list is one of the youngest in the competition, but Grimes said youth was not an excuse for poor performance.
"You never really accept that you're a young group and that it's OK (to lose) because we're developing," he said.
"I don't think we've ever used that as an excuse.
"I've got a lot of faith in the list that we have and I think that we're a good finals side, so I'm really looking forward to 2012 so that we can prove ourselves."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/young-richmond-defenders-dylan-grimes-and-david-astbury-determined-to-prove-a-point/story-e6frf9jf-1226193955282
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I hope these two end up being quality defenders. both have some handy tools
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It's all fine and good to say that our back line not our achillies heel..... Until we have injuries because we have no depth to cover the taller players.
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It's all fine and good to say that our back line not our achillies heel..... Until we have injuries because we have no depth to cover the taller players.
Riewoldt and Vickery go down and how is our forward line going?
Cotchin and Martin go down how is our midfield going?
Rucks we know have been the achilles heal.
Think your comment applies for EVERY part of the side.
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Both have shown terrific signs of being potential A graders, now is the time to DELIVER :cheers
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It's all fine and good to say that our back line not our achillies heel..... Until we have injuries because we have no depth to cover the taller players.
But there are absolutely no excuses for not making finals in 2012
:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
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It's not our backline that is the problem, it's the overall team defence.
St. Kilda made Grand Finals with defenders like Blake, Dawson and Raph Clarke!!!!
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It's not our backline that is the problem, it's the overall team defence.
St. Kilda made Grand Finals with defenders like Blake, Dawson and Raph Clarke!!!!
spot on :clapping
enter Ross Smith
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It's all fine and good to say that our back line not our achillies heel..... Until we have injuries because we have no depth to cover the taller players.
But there are absolutely no excuses for not making finals in 2012
:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Not if you have the depth, there is not......but you keep accepting mediocracy if you want...as you do... :rollin :rollin :rollin
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It's all fine and good to say that our back line not our achillies heel..... Until we have injuries because we have no depth to cover the taller players.
But there are absolutely no excuses for not making finals in 2012
:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Not if you have the depth, there is not......but you keep accepting mediocracy if you want...as you do... :rollin :rollin :rollin
You raised the issue of depth and questioned our lack of it but still think no matter what we have to play finals
Can't have it both ways WAT
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tbh im not sure why rance would be left out of discussions I see this guy as the cornerstone of our next premiership tilt and amongst the BEST U21 defenders in the game ...grimes and astbury still have quite a way to get to rances level imho :shh
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tbh im not sure why rance would be left out of discussions I see this guy as the cornerstone of our next premiership tilt and amongst the BEST U21 defenders in the game ...grimes and astbury still have quite a way to get to rances level imho :shh
Agree with you about them still having a while to go to get to ARs level. I think Grimes & Astbury will be FB & CHB with Rance as 3rd tall in years to come though
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It's all fine and good to say that our back line not our achillies heel..... Until we have injuries because we have no depth to cover the taller players.
But there are absolutely no excuses for not making finals in 2012
:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Not if you have the depth, there is not......but you keep accepting mediocracy if you want...as you do... :rollin :rollin :rollin
You raised the issue of depth and questioned our lack of it but still think no matter what we have to play finals
Can't have it both ways WAT
Yep thats right, we have to play finals no matter what, still need the depth though. Need the depth so we can DEVELOP and IMPROVE..... :whistle
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With Batch down there too, and potentially Morris, our defence is developing a hardened, dour kind of edge.
I like it. :thumbsup
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I love the way these blokes talk as though they are competition guns instead of spotty schoolboys that still haven't made the grade.
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It's all fine and good to say that our back line not our achillies heel..... Until we have injuries because we have no depth to cover the taller players.
But there are absolutely no excuses for not making finals in 2012
:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
Not if you have the depth, there is not......but you keep accepting mediocracy if you want...as you do... :rollin :rollin :rollin
You raised the issue of depth and questioned our lack of it but still think no matter what we have to play finals
Can't have it both ways WAT
Yep thats right, we have to play finals no matter what, still need the depth though. Need the depth so we can DEVELOP and IMPROVE..... :whistle
time for developing and improvement is over
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what, no more improvement?
:outtahere
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what, no more improvement?
:outtahere
;) ;D :rollin