Mid-season report: Richmond
afl.com.au
By Mic Cullen
4:04 PM Wed 11 June, 2008
Overall mark: C+Win-loss: 3-1-7 WLLWDLLLWLL
Ladder position: 12th
Leading possession winner: Brett Deledio – 247 possessions
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Richardson – 27 goals
Season so far The Tigers are travelling much better this season, there's no doubt. Currently in 12th with a 3-1-7 record, at this stage last year they were 16th, and were 0-1-10. (A draw in each year – what's with that?)
The round-10 shellacking at the hands of Sydney and the second half against Adelaide in round 11 aside, the Tigers have played far more competitive football and have taken it up to the best sides in the competition, albeit without winning. After smashing Fremantle by 64 points in round four – by far the Dockers biggest loss of the season to date – the Tigers either lost (narrowly) to, or drew with, the top three teams in the competition before putting Essendon away with ease.
Bad news, though, for Mark Coughlan, being forced to travel to Germany for radical treatment on his hamstring, a result of two knee reconstructions.
Best win With only three wins on the board, this one is easy. In round four, the Tigers trekked the entire width of the country to take on Fremantle, and when they got there, they smashed them. Richardson started on the wing, but still managed four goals and 15 marks, while skipper Kane Johnson played the best match of his career. But for early inaccuracy (5.7 at the first break), the Tigers could well have won by a whole lot more.
B&F leader No doubt about it – Matthew Richardson is leading by the length of Punt Rd, as the move into the midfield has proved a masterstroke. Richardson won last year by a single vote from Nathan Foley, and while the midfielder will be right up there again, Richardson has been stellar. The 33-year-old not only leads the goalkicking at Tigerland, he's leading the marks (125, 51 more than Chris Newman in second), fourth for inside-50s and seventh in disposals.
Surprise packet Kelvin Moore is no youngster, having turned 24 at the start of the season, but he's cracked 10 games in a season for the first time in his five years at the club. And it's only round 11. Playing across half-back, his ability to provide both rebound and do a stopping job on opposition forwards has been a revelation. (Honourable mention to Richo, for his move into the midfield.)
Missing in action Mark Coughlan. The 26-year-old has suffered through two knee reconstructions that have kept him out since round 12, 2006. The midfield could desperately use his footy brain and skills, but he's just back from Germany, having all manner of substances injected into his leg by Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wolfhart, the doc who has fixed a multitude of European soccer players.
Coach's award (one-percenter player)Fourth in disposals, and fifth in tackles, Jake King is working hard in a Tiger defence that at times is being swamped by incoming ball. The 24-year-old has played 30 games, and at just 74kg and 174cm, the diminutive King makes up for it with endeavour. He has been a constant member of the team since being elevated from the rookie list last year.
Second-half story lines The Tigers have shown they can go close to the best teams, but can they start winning some of them?
Will Richo's knee stand up to playing a midfield role?
How good will Trent Cotchin end up being?
The run home: Round 12 - Melbourne at Telstra Dome
Round 13 - Port Adel at AAMI Stadium
Round 14 - Carlton at MCG
Round 15 - West Coast at Subiaco
Round 16 - Essendon at MCG
Round 17 - Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome
Round 18 - Geelong at Telstra Dome
Round 19 - Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Round 20 - Hawthorn at MCG
Round 21 – Fremantle at MCG
Round 22 – Melbourne at MCG
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