Richmond ready, and other AFL 2016 predictions Brett Geeves
Foxsports
March 14, 2016JOHN Hopoate’s first professional boxing fight was on the undercard of Geale v Mundine in 2006.
Hoppa’s opponent, stuff Faasolo, was just a civilian lining up at the tuck shop, waiting on a hot dog and a cola when he was asked to enter the ring and fight a trained athlete.
The result was ugly and stuff was knocked out in 47 seconds without throwing a punch.
It’s ‘understood’ stuff was at the Richmond v Port Adelaide NAB game and at three quarter time he popped out for a dart where he ran into Damien Hardwick who asked him to stand at full forward so as not to risk further damage to his already banged up list.
Conca (hamstring), Edwards (collarbone), Grigg (wrist/thumb) and Townsend (concussion) all sustained game ending injuries and with Deledio on a managed workload and the rest of the players continuing their standard rotations, there were, at many stages throughout the last quarter, only 15 men representing Richmond on the field.
It is reported that Hardwick requested that the game end with 10 minutes to go; but AFL operations Manager, Mark Evans, was having none of it citing broadcasting issues. Whilst we can appreciate that the game and its visual offering is important, the fans are also understating of the fact that the players’ welfare in a game that is not for points — and purely for practice — is of the utmost importance.
As fans, I think we would have respected the decision to stop the match with an eye towards ALL teams being at 100 per cent capacity for those clichéd season opening four points.
We won’t ever see a coach yelling for players to run from the field leaving themselves three short ever again. These were remarkable scenes for the game; yet completely understandable from a coach who is under enormous pressure for results this season. The Richmond story is well known, with their results in finals and love of ninth on the ladder the butt of many jokes for those who have the time to fill stuff with memes and commit to the daily feeding routine of their Tamagotchi.
The players that look like missing time are all important drivers to hoped early season success for the Tigers: Edwards and his unique goal sense. Grigg and his running capacity. The new face of Townsend and his big bodied midfielder attributes. Then Conca; who I believe is the key for Richmond. Outside of his one cheap indiscretion where he elbowed Devon Smith in the back of the head some 100 metres off the ball, he has proven himself to be a tackling-hard-nosed-bull with poised decision making and polished skills. He was showing great form as a running back pocket, so far in the NAB, who can offer support to Cotchin, Martin, Miles and Co in the midfield.
The Tigers are right on the edge of being a top four team. Jack Riewoldt is right on the edge of being the premium forward in the game. Trent Cotchin has shown enormous potential to be the premium midfielder in the competition. Alex Rance continues to show us that he can be the premium key defender in the competition. The Tigers have toyed with their fans by lurking around the outskirts in previous years and the actions of Coach Hardwick suggest that this could be the year the Tigers transition from soft snarling lovers of a belly scratch, to ruthless prowlers of the top four.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-outsider-brett-geeves-wraps-up-the-nab-challenge-with-predictions-for-the-2016-season/news-story/22a54cf4522b169b0d3acd66bc6cad82
