Burning questions for 2012: RichmondBy Nick Place
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Source: BigPond SportHas Richmond fixed its ruck problem?The response hasn't been very subtle to the failure of Angus Graham and Andrew Browne at centre bounces and around the ground last year. Adelaide big man Ivan Maric has been drafted in, along with Jack Riewoldt cheerfully telling the media that Graham will need to pull his finger out to meet the challenge. It goes without saying that having a ruckman who could give Richmond's elite midfielders first use of the ball would be a major improvement in 2012. Maric is promising aggression. Fans would also like more marks around the ground from their towering Tigers.
Can Kel Moore come back to save the defence?This is a surprisingly important key to Richmond's chances of making September. Eighteen months after he last played before being struck down by hip complaints that have since totalled six surgeries, it's easy to forget how well Moore was developing as a centre half-back. Matched with the startling improvement in now-settled fullback Alex Rance, if the 27-year-old Moore can return to where he was, suddenly the Tigers will have a spine to work from. The talk out of the club is that Moore could be back in the twos by Round 1, all going well, and starting to build toward a senior return.
Can Jack Riewoldt return to his best?Coach Damien Hardwick was smart in saying, pre-2010, that he wanted less goals from Jack Riewoldt, as part of a more multi-pronged forward structure. Yet even with the promised less goals, it was no secret the Tiger spearhead had a tougher 2010 than his breakout year before. The Tigers revealed post-season that Riewoldt had been carrying several potentially debilitating injuries, which, coupled with so much more attention from opposition defenders, had made life hard. A few clean-up surgeries later, Riewoldt has had a cautious pre-season and is leaner than last year, but just might have regained his mobility - such a large part of his game. If Ty Vickory and the other forwards can play well enough to demand genuine respect from the opposition, Jack only needs to be fit to do his job.
Just how good is the midfield?Since taking over at Tigerland, Damien Hardwick has been impressively ruthless with the playing list, and not afraid to turn over players in the search for a finals-worthy mix. In Trent Cotchin and Dusty Martin, he has two long-term stars already impacting games, plus Nathan Foley, and smart recruit Shaun Grigg. The question really remains on the support staff, as midfields rotate so rapidly in modern football. Daniel Connors and Shane Tuck, even Chris Newman and Shane Edwards, can all take turns on the ball, but which of the kids will develop the genuine motor required to be a midfield force? Hard-at-it, running recruit Brandon Ellis might find himself thrown in early, or might be used to free up Brett Deledio so Lids can move out of defence and into the guts where he can make an even greater impact.
http://www.bigpondsport.com/burning-questions-for-2012-richmond/tabid/91/newsid/84101/default.aspx
