One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on September 13, 2015, 03:48:04 AM
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Richmond’s Ben Griffiths set to play in elimination final against North Melbourne
Herald-Sun
September 13, 2015
RICHMOND’S desperation to avoid a third-straight September failure looks set to be aided by Ben Griffiths’ swift recovery from a nasty finger injury.
The tall forward trained wearing a protective glove on his left hand at Punt Rd yesterday and looks set to take his place against North Melbourne at the MCG.
Griffiths, 23, had surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his ring finger seven weeks ago but has recovered ahead of schedule.
Sports medical expert Dr Peter Larkins yesterday said it was “an 8-10-week injury every day of the week for most players”.
The injury was similar to Matthew Lloyd in 2002, who also returned wearing a glove and was famously targeted by Western Bulldogs defender Steven Kretiuk.
Griffiths, fellow inclusion Reece Conca and emergency Steven Morris all trained with the senior Tigers yesterday.
Unlucky omission Ben Lennon appeared despondent as he hit Punt Rd earlier with a group of players overlooked for today’s blockbuster.
Conca has battled constant hamstring injuries this year and has played just two AFL games after five in the VFL.
He hasn’t played at any level since Round 19 but has been training at full capacity for nearly a month and the Tigers like his pace and clean ball use.
Veteran defender Troy Chaplin left the track early yesterday but also looks set to line up in today’s blockbuster.
Coach Damien Hardwick will lead the Tigers into the finals for the third consecutive season for the first time since 1971-75.
But while that golden run delivered two premierships under legendary coach Tom Hafey, today’s Tigers are still shooting for the club’s first September victory since 2001.
Hardwick’s side led at every change only to be mowed down by a Chris Judd-inspired Carlton two years ago and last year the Tigers were ambushed by Port Adelaide.
Hardwick is the Tigers’ third longest serving coach behind Hafey and Tony Jewell but is still chasing a breakthrough September win.
The Tigers finished the home-and-away season 15-7 and with a percentage of 123.1 — their highest since 1982.
Hardwick said his side was much better placed to win a final than 12 months ago, owing to a splash of new players, improved maturity and organic growth.
Griffiths was tested with a series of one-on-one contests against David Astbury yesterday and seemed to mark the ball with comfort.
“Ben ruptured the tendon in his ring finger on his left hand that allows him to bend his finger in towards his palm,” Larkins told 3AW.
“It’s the most important tendon in the whole hand, it’s an 8-10 week injury every day of the week for most players after surgery to repair it.
“Ben Griffiths is six weeks down the track, he had a boxing glove on his hand (to protect it last week).”
Griffiths will partner in-form spearhead Ty Vickery and superstar Jack Riewoldt in attack as the Tigers try to stretch the Kangaroos’ backline in today’s expected sunshine.
“Ben trained Tuesday and got through and we thought he might be a chance. He then trained really well on Thursday and did everything asked of him,” Richmond assistant coach Brendan Lade said.
The Tigers smashed a depleted North by 41 points last week, ending a run of five-straight losses.
Richmond has not beaten North Melbourne at the MCG since 2006.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmonds-ben-griffiths-set-to-play-in-elimination-final-against-north-melbourne/story-fndv8t7m-1227524201185
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Since when does Conca have pace?
Shocking decision that.
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How many times have we played them at the G since 2006
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LAST FIVE TIMES
R15, 2013, North Melbourne 19.14 (128) d Richmond 8.18 (66) at Etihad Stadium
R17, 2012, North Melbourne 15.13 (103) d Richmond 14.15 (99) at MCG
R24, 2011, North Melbourne 15.14 (104) d Richmond 13.13 (91) at Etihad Stadium
R5, 2011, Richmond 17.10 (112) d North Melbourne 14.19 (103) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2010, North Melbourne 15.13 (103) d Richmond 7.11 (53) at MCG
Prior to that
2008 40 pt loss at the G
2009 draw at the G
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Since when does Conca have pace?
Shocking decision that.
X2
And if he gets injured and we lose, there will be manure at punt rd
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Since when does Conca have pace?
Shocking decision that.
X2
And if he gets injured and we lose, there will be manure at punt rd
Shame on us. Especially if its early too just like 2013 final.
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Im worried about not having Lloyd in. Betts, Le Cras, Walters he ain't, but we need a guy who can kick 3-4 from 5-6 kicks.
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Agree watching the finals so many small forwards have excelled... We dropped our only 2...
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Dimma has hardly made a change in the back half all year.
Lloyd has either been super sub or played and kicked 3.
Why tinker with it now?
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Im worried about not having Lloyd in. Betts, Le Cras, Walters he ain't, but we need a guy who can kick 3-4 from 5-6 kicks.
This was exactly my concern, unless having Conca back in the middle means that Edwards spends more time forward to play the role.
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Doesn't matter..we have Martin and Lids that can slaughter a backline better than Betts anyday
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Agree watching the finals so many small forwards have excelled... We dropped our only 2...
Edwards is our best small forward. I'm happy with playing the best team the coaching staff see as the best. The guy that worries me the most is Newman. Go tigers!!
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Agree watching the finals so many small forwards have excelled... We dropped our only 2...
Edwards is our best small forward. I'm happy with playing the best team the coaching staff see as the best. The guy that worries me the most is Newman. Go tigers!!
Lennon in for Newman would have been perfect.
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How will we go in the hot weather?
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How will we go in the hot weather?
Hopefully better than lolnorf!
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Agree watching the finals so many small forwards have excelled... We dropped our only 2...
Edwards is our best small forward. I'm happy with playing the best team the coaching staff see as the best. The guy that worries me the most is Newman. Go tigers!!
well, the talls need to be clunking their marks or we could be seeing a lot of their defenders cleaning up the crumbs and hurting us with a fast rebound.
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Agree watching the finals so many small forwards have excelled... We dropped our only 2...
Edwards is our best small forward. I'm happy with playing the best team the coaching staff see as the best. The guy that worries me the most is Newman. Go tigers!!
Lennon in for Newman would have been perfect.
It would have been professional.
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Worst selection decision of all time
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hopeless today. Where was Lennon?
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Dud. need someone else to support jack and vickery
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Lennon should have played and Lloyd as well.
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lennon yes, lloyd no
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lennon yes, lloyd no
Yep. BG was embarrassing today.
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Absolute fail.
And now Lennon will probably be miffed and leave.
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What the hell were they thinking? Stuffing terrible decision >:(
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Hadn't tampered with the team since about round 7.
Finals coaching manual.
Rule A. Never bring in an underdone player.
Conca was okay. Griff even if he kicked his two goals from the first quarter was a huge gamble. It backfired and Lennon would have been more than handy today.
2013 Nick Duigan
Last year we kicked against the wind away from home.
This year selecting an underdone Griff when Lennon was clearly the better choice.
Next year coaxing Newman out of retirement.
Eff me. :-\
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Shocking today but it was not his fault he was picked when he was so underdone. Very poor decision in such an important game. Hasn't played a match in 7 weeks FFS. What were they thinking?
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Absolute fail.
And now Lennon will probably be miffed and leave.
If he sooks up......see ya! if not, work hard so you play in the next one.
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Griffiths and 2nd rounder for Carlisle.
Chaplin out. Carlisle to our back line.
Get it done.
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Nah Griffiths to Carlton for Armfield because we need another bloke with tatts who looks like a sicko but plays like a cardboard cut out come finals time.
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What a calamity it was selecting this bloke. Was a liability today.
Seriously I have lost count how many " easy " shots from 30 m out he has sprayed this year.
Give Mcbean a go next year ffs
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Trade
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Trade
Yes l would trade him.
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Trade this bloke and see what we can get.
Injury or no injury he is weak as pee!!!
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watching the replay he just smashed into Rewoldt & Hardwick cracked it & subbed him for it. Lennon should have played
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Trade
Yes l would trade him.
Brissy for Redden.