Richmond seeking to find spark against BulldogsCourtney Walsh
The Australian
APRIL 28, 2021 The biggest problem the Tigers have faced in relation to Dustin Martin in recent days has been trying to persuade the champion to relax.
That, of course, may change when they tackle the unbeaten Western Bulldogs on Friday night at the MCG without the most creative footballer in the competition.
But so rarely has Martin, who will be absent due to concussion, missed a match during a career that began in 2010 that he seemed at a loss as to what to do with himself.
Veteran Tiger Shane Edwards said Martin was still disappointed the concussion prevented him from having an impact against Melbourne last Saturday in what was his 250th match.
“I think he is still flat about the loss,” Edwards said. “Normally at training, and getting back for the next week, it moves him on, but he was still flat about us losing. He feels like he didn’t help us.
“We were like, ‘Mate, you have probably done enough for us. Don’t worry about it. Put your feet up. Make sure you are right. Your head is the most important thing.’
“Getting him to switch off now is important.”
The resilience of the 29-year-old is remarkable. It will be only the ninth time in his career that Richmond have played without him.
The Brownlow Medallist missed once last year in a match where the Tigers were well beaten by Hawthorn.
Back in 2019, Richmond won the two games he was absent but were beaten by Port Adelaide in the sole match he missed a season earlier.
Prior to that match, the Brownlow Medal favourite had not missed a game since a victory over the Saints in 2014.
The 29-year-old was sidelined for two games in 2012 and the only other match Martin has missed was in his first season in 2010.
It is impossible to replace the three-time Norm Smith Medallist given his remarkable skill set.
But he is not the only crucial absentee for the Tigers, who are in the eight only on percentage and still to find consistency in their premiership defence.
Best-and-fairest Dion Prestia is a month away from resuming after injuring a calf muscle, Kane Lambert will miss a similar length of time with a calf problem and Nick Vlastuin is still a fortnight from being available as he recovers from a knee problem.
The Tigers have shown in recent years an ability to overcome missing personnel to win, which Edwards said provides some comfort.
Richmond have three wins from six rounds and sit seventh. They also started in middling fashion before finding a spark last year, but Edwards said it was not the ideal position to be in.
“It could be better, that is for sure. We have had a few tough ones now and we have a few more to come, so we have to turn things around quickly,” Edwards told RSN 927.
“I suppose there is a level of comfort (with Richmond’s recent history) but at the same time, it was really hard last time to get back on the horse.
“I think we put together 10 in a row or 11 in a row to get back to third, but it is not a position we want to be in.”
The difference for Richmond is that having been the hunted for the past three years, to an extent they are now in a position to be the hunter given the Bulldogs’ brilliant start.
“This is two weeks in a row where we have come up against an undefeated team, so we had some good practice last week,” he said.
“Coming out, knowing you are going to be hunting them and the expectations are going to be on them, it gives the team a spark, and we had that a few weeks ago against Port Adelaide as well.
“We got to go away, our backs against the wall, and put in a really good performance, so I am excited. Both teams have injuries, so it is going to be a good game.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-seeking-to-find-spark-against-bulldogs/news-story/9779eed35f7201a6cbb225cad6c080eb
