Demon Frawley draws first blood JAKE NIALL
August 9, 2010 ONE day, we'll look back and give James Frawley and Jack Riewoldt a scorecard and it will be said that one or the other had the edge, in the same way that Wayne Carey was beaten more often than not by Glen Jakovich and Stephen Silvagni bested the greats of his generation.
Score the first major battle - the first encounter when they've both had form and name recognition - to Frawley, who was perhaps the most influential player afield yesterday, if not the best.
Richmond went forward with greater regularity than the Demons. Despite a one-sided final term, in which the Demons booted six goals to two, Richmond finished with 11 more forward entries. The Tigers didn't convert their attacks into goals as easily as the Dees. In part, this was attributable to superior skill, but also to the Frawley-Riewoldt contest.
''Riewoldt's going to be just a star of the competition. I know he's almost there,'' said Demon coach Dean Bailey. ''But he's going to be a very, very good player. Chipper [Frawley] knew he had his work cut out. I think he sort of stuck at it and even at the end of the game they're both sort of battling hard for that last chance … I thought the contest was terrific and it's probably going to be one that's going to be around for a long time.''
Richmond, at this stage, does't really have another threatening tall target, although Mitch Morton - a middleweight, rather than big-bodied power forward - did his job yesterday. Hence the scoring burden on Riewoldt is excessive.
Frawley did not allow Riewoldt a single mark until time-on of the third term, when Riewoldt marked on the boundary and then booted his only goal. Frawley negated their aerial contests, in which he was assisted both by sloppy Richmond delivery and his experienced teammate Jared Rivers, who is expert in playing as the third man up and lending a hand, or timely fist.
''Jared Rivers came over a few times. It really lifts your spirits when there's someone coming over and helping you out a bit,'' said Frawley.
Next week's job shapes as a tougher ask than round one of yesterday's Gen Y duel. Frawley is the probable opponent for Lance Franklin, who can shred any defence and make any defender seem cumbersome. If ''Chipper'' (so named because his uncle Danny is ''Spud'') avoids the Buddy assignment, then he will get Jarryd Roughead, Hawthorn's inaccurate one.
''I played on Franklin a couple of times,'' said Frawley. ''He's a gun player, everyone knows that.
''I suppose any backman playing on Franklin-Roughead's got his work cut out for them.''
Frawley said it would be a collective effort from the Demons' defence - ''back-line boys will have to help each other out.''
Frawley's greatest physical asset is his closing speed, a trait he shares with his defensive teammate Colin Garland. The pair combined for 15 defensive rebounds yesterday. Frawley also is quick of mind and judges the ball well in flight. Perhaps most critically, he appears to have the competitive edge that seems mandatory for an elite key defender. To be a blue-chip defender requires a blue-collar mindset.
''The thing about Chipper is that he wants to learn,'' said Bailey. ''You know, he really wants to get better. He places huge expectations on himself. He would demand that he plays well every week. And when you're a young defender, you generally play on the best forwards, so you learn pretty quick.''
The Demons had several key performers.
Brad Green booted 3.3, inserting himself into the match at important moments, such as on the half-time siren when he took a splendid stretch mark and kicked a goal. No. 1 draft pick Tom Scully raised his game in the final quarter, when the scores were level, following a Morton goal from the boundary.
Aaron Davey had a hot patch in the third term, while Liam Jurrah booted 4.4 and Linden Dunn slotted 5.1; some of the latter's goals were cheapies, but he was important nonetheless. Nathan Jones, a late inclusion for Brent Moloney, was a busy bee around the ball. Cameron Bruce was steady.
The Tigers had fewer excellent players, with Daniel Jackson, Morton, Chris Newman and Ben Cousins among the minority of effective players. This was odd, considering the inside-50 count and early play favoured Richmond.
The section of the ground where the Demons held sway throughout was their defensive 50-metre arc. In building a team, Garland and especially Frawley will be pillars.
''They're gold to have,'' said Bailey. ''They'' are Melbourne's tall backs, Frawley in particular.
PLAYER WATCH
Tom Scully (Melbourne): In a game with multiple subplots involving individuals, Scully was clearly the most impressive of the top three selections in last year's draft. The No. 1 pick was a significant player in the final-quarter surge that gave the Demons the points, with 10 of his 25 possessions coming in the last term. His ability to win the ball made him among the better Demons.
Mitch Morton (Richmond): Morton has been out of favour for much of this season, with Damien Hardwick showing a clear preference for foot soldiers who follow instructions over flashy showboats. Morton's talent, though, is not in question and his two goals were specials - one from a hanger, the other a snap from the boundary. His work-rate - six tackles, 10 contested possessions - was closer to what the coach likes.
WHERE THE MATCH WAS WONAfter a Morton goal levelled the scores early in the last quarter, the Demons took command all over the field, used the ball efficiently, and turned what had been a very tight contest into a comfortable margin.
WHERE THE MATCH WAS LOSTThe Tigers had dominated the inside-50 count for much of the game and still finished 11 ahead in what is normally a critical statistic. For much of the first half, they didn't finish or use the ball as well as Melbourne. With Riewoldt nullified, the Tigers didn't have a menacing forward target.
BESTMelbourne: Frawley, Green, Dunn, Scully, Garland, Jones, Bruce, Davey, Jurrah.
Richmond: Jackson, Newman, Morton, Cousins.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demon-frawley-draws-first-blood-20100808-11q99.html
