EXPECT MOSTLY SILENCE FROM PUNT ROAD
Inside Football - November 2009
By Russell Holmesby
Richmond icon Jack Dyer is credited with the famous line "I won't say something in case I say something."
It's an old gag, but it could well be the mantra that new coach Damien Hardwick adopts in the early stages of his coaching career. Somehow, you can't imagine the new coach replicating the "Tuesdays with Terry" sessions created by his predecessor Terry Wallace.
And while the ever-quotable Wallace made for good copy, the quieter approach is probably what is needed at Punt Road.
The cynics would have smirked at the suggestion in early October that Richmond was displeased by the lack of blockbusters in its fixture. This from a club that has had the worst performance record of any Victorian based side for the past quarter of a century.
By late in the month the Tigers had been appeased, but you have to earn your stripes as a club if you want blockbuster games and Richmond has a fair bit of work to do in the credibility stakes. This is the same club that thought the addition of Ben Cousins would be the icing on the cake and transform it into not just a finalist but a contender for loftier honours.
Cousins performed ably and honestly and the Tigers still finished nowhere in 2009. The reality of the club's situation became evident as the year wore on - there needed to be a complete rebuild and the club's intent became evident when veterans Joel Bowden, Kane Johnson, Nathan Brown and Mark Coughlan were eased out, and then Jay Schultz and Andrew Raines were traded. Others have fallen by the wayside since, which is appropriate, but leaves a void between the older, quality players and kids like Tyrone Vickery and Jayden Post.
Where will the lift come from? For starters Matthew Richardson missed the last 14 games and Nathan Foley missed the last seven. Trent Cotchin had a delayed start to the year and in his 10 games gave only glimpses of his capacities.
Tyrone Vickery needs more games under his belt and is a longer term project, but his partners in attack such as Mitch Morton, Jack Riewoldt and Robin Nahas must produce on a regular basis. Riewoldt needs to be aware that the coaching box has faith in him as he has the talent to become an excellent key forward.
The defence is capable thanks to the presence of Luke McGuane, Kelvin Moore and Will Thursfield, but in midfield the Tigers lack any depth whatsoever. That was where things really broke down last year as Cousins, Daniel Jackson and Brett Deledio had to carry the burden of a big workload that was exacerbated once Foley went down. There is also the matter of needing a ruckman who can make a bigger impression on a game than either Adam Pattison or Angus Graham did last year.
Hardwick has always been a realist and will fully recognise the magnitude of the job that lies ahead of him. Patience has never been an attribute associated with the huge mass of fans surrounding the periphery at Punt Road, but in 2010 they will need it like never before.
DRAFT PICKS: 3, 19,35,44,51,67,83,99,115.
THE ANALYST - NATHAN BURKE
No doubt Damien Hardwick will have a no-compromise approach to the Tigers in 2010. But will they be able to latch on to a game plan of some sort? That has been the Tiges' issue of late, just what style do they play? Expect some inconsistency as they grapple with following new team rules.
Inside Football Ratings
1. Daniel Jackson 124
2. Brett Deledio 122
3. Chris Newman 117
4. Shane Tuck 113
5. Richard Tambling 106
6. Luke McGuane 105
7. Mitch Morton 105
8. Dean Polo 99
9. Robin Nahas 97
10. Ben Cousins 93
Best and Fairest
1. Brett Deledio 190
2. Daniel Jackson 175
3. Chris Newman 162
4. Richard Tambling 152
5. Ben Cousins 145
6. Nathan Foley 128
7. Shane Tuck 124
8. Jack Riewoldt 121
9. Dean Polo 118
10. Mitch Morton 115
