Mid-season report: Richmond gets a C+ (afl)

[one-eyed]

Mid-season report: Richmond
By Mic Cullen
Wed 23 June, 2010


RICHMOND

Overall mark: C+

Win-loss: 3-10 (LLLLLLLLLWLWW)
Ladder position: 16th
Leading possession winner: Brett Deledio (337)
Leading goalkicker: Jack Riewoldt (48)

Season so far
At the midway point of the season, the side has already achieved more than most expected for the entire season. One betting agency paid out punters who had backed the team to win the spoon after just four rounds, but after a slow start, the Tigers are clearly not the worst team in the competition, as the last month has demonstrated. Three of the last four games were wins, and the fourth was a three-point loss to Hawthorn.

Medical room
The Tigers have had a terrific run with injuries this year, with vice-captain Nathan Foley the only major casualty, as he battles lower-leg problems. Trent Cotchin missed round six but has had a much better run with injury this year. Rookie Matt Dea is in a moonboot and is out indefinitely.

Best performance
While the Tigers have won three games, their best performance came in the three-point loss to Hawthorn in round eight. The Tigers had more kicks, more possessions, more marks, and a better scoring accuracy than the Hawks. Despite not getting the 'W', the match built belief that started translating into wins a couple of weeks later.

B&F leader
Brett Deledio could stop playing now and he'd win this year's best-and-fairest. The 23-year-old started his career as a small marking forward before heading into the midfield - the position Richmond had drafted him for - but has really found his niche across half-back. He leads the Tigers for disposals, is second in the league for long kicks and is 15th overall for rebound 50s.

Surprise packet
Jack Riewoldt is leading the Coleman Medal, which is a huge surprise given Richmond's fortunes this year. He has kicked less than two goals just once this year - a duck against the Bulldogs in round two - and booted a magnificent 10 against West Coast in round 12. He has the best hands in the AFL at the moment.

Coach's award
Shane Tuck wasn't even picked in the side early in the season but he has worked his way into the coach's good books. He's averaging 27 disposals a game, which is the best at Punt Rd, and is in the top 10 for contested possessions across the league. He was at Coburg for the first two rounds, but has been a fixture ever since.

Needs to step up
Jordan McMahon is in the last year of a three-year deal that got him a million bucks, but can't get a gig in the AFL side. Despite an underwhelming performance against the Gold Coast, he has been in the Coburg Tigers best at times this year and coach Damien Hardwick says if that form continues he will get a chance at AFL level.

Second-half story lines
The Tigers don't leave Melbourne again this season - can they win enough games to get off the bottom of the ladder?

Can the Tigers get a better spread of goalkickers? Riewoldt is terrific with 48, but then it drops away to Ben Nason with 12 and Robin Nahas with 10.

What's a pass-mark for the Tigers this year? Some would say they've already reached it, but maybe it needs revisiting.

The run home
Round 14 Sydney Swans at the MCG (H)
Round 15 Fremantle at Etihad Stadium (H)
Round 16 North Melbourne at the MCG (H)
Round 17 Collingwood at the MCG (A)
Round 18 Adelaide at the MCG (H)
Round 19 Melbourne at the MCG (A)
Round 20 Carlton at the MCG (A)
Round 21 St Kilda at Etihad Stadium (A)
Round 22 Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium (A)

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/96772/default.aspx

[wayne]

Three of the last four games were wins, and the fourth was a three-point loss to Hawthorn.

No, that was a loss to St. Kilda.

[Stripes]

One good thing about the sporting world writing you off as the worst team ever early in a season...anything you do slighty positive makes you an instant success!  Funny how Carlton, West Coast, Brisbane and Port are terrible disappointments this year yet they have won more games than us.

About time our list was spoken of in glowing terms. Good time ahead I say! 

[the_boy_jake]

Medical room
The Tigers have had a terrific run with injuries this year, with vice-captain Nathan Foley the only major casualty, as he battles lower-leg problems. Trent Cotchin missed round six but has had a much better run with injury this year. Rookie Matt Dea is in a moonboot and is out indefinitely.

Worth keeping in mind when considering how far we have to go I reckon.

[mightytiges]

C+ is generous for a bottom side. We've become the media's darlings after a few wins  .

Needs to step up
Jordan McMahon is in the last year of a three-year deal that got him a million bucks, but can't get a gig in the AFL side. Despite an underwhelming performance against the Gold Coast, he has been in the Coburg Tigers best at times this year and coach Damien Hardwick says if that form continues he will get a chance at AFL level.

???

Jordie's not going to get a chance at Richmond that's for sure .

[Hellenic Tiger]

C+ is generous for a bottom side. We've become the media's darlings after a few wins  .

Needs to step up
Jordan McMahon is in the last year of a three-year deal that got him a million bucks, but can't get a gig in the AFL side. Despite an underwhelming performance against the Gold Coast, he has been in the Coburg Tigers best at times this year and coach Damien Hardwick says if that form continues he will get a chance at AFL level.

???

Jordie's not going to get a chance at Richmond that's for sure .

May play round 22.

[mightytiges]

C+ is generous for a bottom side. We've become the media's darlings after a few wins  .

Needs to step up
Jordan McMahon is in the last year of a three-year deal that got him a million bucks, but can't get a gig in the AFL side. Despite an underwhelming performance against the Gold Coast, he has been in the Coburg Tigers best at times this year and coach Damien Hardwick says if that form continues he will get a chance at AFL level.

???

Jordie's not going to get a chance at Richmond that's for sure .

May play round 22.

Make it round 17 or 21 where he can't do any damage. Definitely not Round 19 

[Chuck17]

Doesn't deserve a send off game, pack him off to Port