The also-rans: where to now? Rohan Connolly
August 26, 2010School's out for summer. And after this weekend, for eight clubs propping up the rest of the AFL ladder, an extra month of spring as well.
For most, that will mean six months of soul searching. For a couple, like the hapless Essendon and a Port Adelaide still in caretaker mode, it might mean a bigger shakeup still under a new coach. But in 2010, not all the also-rans will go away empty-handed.
Three clubs in particular - North Melbourne, Melbourne and Richmond - will finish the season with plenty of optimism.
Richmond's year, if anything, has proved even more remarkable. Winless until round 10, early in the year the Tigers were being compared to the basket case that was Fitzroy in its death throes.
Not that much later, they'd won fi ve out of six, including the scalps of Sydney and Fremantle. And but for the vagaries of the match review panel, they'd possibly be ending the year with both a Coleman medallist (Jack Riewoldt) and a Rising Star winner (Dustin Martin).
RICHMOND (15th)VERDICT: Could still finish as lowas 15th, but significant and obvious gains have been made under Damien Hardwick.
POSITIVES: Plenty. A likely Coleman medallist in Jack Riewoldt, the year's most exciting debutant, Dustin Martin, and more likely kids Daniel Connors and Andrew Collins. Big improvement also from from Shane Edwards and even much-maligned anngry ant Jake King.
NEGATIVES: As they struggled to come to grips with a new attacking philosophy, the Tigers, at stages, looked barely competitive. Young side is still knocked out of the way too easily, and skills and decision-making come unstuck under physical heat.
WHAT THEY NEED: Time, mainly. Coach has the right formula and enough good kids to help bring it to fruition. A big summer spent on weights and skills should help a lot.
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