Suspensions and injury have depleted Richmond's ranks Greg Denham
The Australian
April 06, 2011 RICHMOND, with its most inexperienced defence in decades, is facing a Gold Coast-type boys-against-men scenario over the next fortnight against the might of Hawthorn and Collingwood.
Suspensions to key defenders Luke McGuane and Alex Rance and an ongoing injury to Kelvin Moore make the Tigers appear extremely vulnerable against the combined might of the power forwards of the Hawks and Magpies.
An improving Richmond was overrun late by Carlton in the opening round and drew with St Kilda last week, but its defensive depth will be put to the test this Saturday night at the MCG against Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, and again six nights later against Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes.
Left standing for the Tigers is 20-year-old key defender David Astbury, who is 195cm and 92kg, and will be playing his 20th senior match.
This weekend he will be opposed to either the mercurial Franklin (196cm and 102kg) or Roughead (193cm and 100kg).
The following week he will be forced into battle against either man mountains Cloke (196cm and 108kg) or Dawes (193cm and 105kg).
McGuane yesterday accepted a two-match ban for engaging in rough conduct against Farren Ray last week, while Rance will miss the next fortnight as part of his three-game sanction for engaging in rough conduct against Blues forward Jarrad Waite in the opening round.
Moore, who has played 84 games, had hip surgery last year which has taken longer to respond to than anticipated.
He is not scheduled to be available until later this month at the earliest.
The main options left to coach Damien Hardwick are not that enticing at the moment because players are either lacking in experience or not in great form in the VFL.
They include 67-game player Will Thursfield, who was almost traded to Fremantle last season, mature-age rookie elevation; David Gourdis in his second year; teenager Dylan Grimes, who played one game last season; or in desperation, former Melbourne key-position player Brad Miller, who was secured as a mature-age rookie more as a back-up forward even though he has played centre half-back with success in the past.
Dual best and fairest winner Brett Deledio yesterday backed Astbury to hold his own this week, adding that support would need to come from either Thursfield, Grimes or Gourdis.
"We've got our structures in place and guys are expected to know what they are. They should be able to slip straight in and be able to perform," Deledio said.
On the emerging Astbury, who started his career as a forward and kicked three goals against Melbourne on debut last year, Deledio said: "He's one of our only big tall backs down there after losing the other two, so I'd imagine he'd take Roughead or Franklin. We'll back him in. Disappointing, isn't it? Alex Rance is playing some good footy and so is Luke McGuane."
This season, Franklin has booted 4.10 from 37 possessions, while Roughead's 28 disposals have resulted in 4.2 in Hawthorn's combined score of 28.39 against Adelaide and Melbourne.
Richmond met the Hawks once last season in round eight and lost by three points. McGuane, Rance, Moore and Thursfield all played, with Franklin and Roughead kicking two goals apiece.
Collingwood has kicked 45.28 in wins over winless Port Adelaide and North Melbourne with a more accurate Cloke kicking 7.1 and Dawes 6.5 from his combined 46 possessions.
Hawthorn star midfielder Cyril Rioli yesterday accepted his one-match suspension and will miss against Richmond, which is certain to retain Jack Riewoldt, who took little part in last week's draw because of concussion.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/suspensions-and-injury-have-depleted-richmonds-ranks/story-e6frg7mf-1226034311611
