Richmond find team stability a helpGuy Hand
The Age
May 11, 2012 - 5:59PMWhile most AFL clubs are preaching rotation, Richmond say continuity in their team has been a major key to their 2012 improvement.
The Tigers have used fewer players than any other team this season - just 26 in six matches to date.
The return of experienced Daniel Jackson from suspension to replace injured Tyrone Vickery in Saturday's clash with Sydney at the MCG continues a policy of forced changes only.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believes stability has been important for those playing and it also means youngsters haven't been forced to step up too early.
"It's certainly been important - we might have played the fewest (players this season)," Hardwick said.
"For us it's great. But the thing we need to develop more is that our depth needs to get better.
"We've got a number of younger players on our list we need to improve, and probably the great thing about this year is we're not asking those players to play straight away.
"Years previous, we have, and now those players can develop in their own time at VFL."
Two wins in their opening six matches belies how competitive the Tigers have been - pushing Geelong and West Coast to the brink before falling just short.
Sydney go into the match with injury problems; dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes missing for one of the few times in his career with a quadriceps injury.
Key defender Lewis Roberts-Thomson is also out with a heel complaint.
Jesse White and Trent Dennis-Lane replace them.
The Swans' unbeaten start to the season was ended by Adelaide last weekend and history will be against them on Saturday.
They have lost their past eight matches at the MCG and Richmond have beaten Sydney in their past two encounters at the venue.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/richmond-find-team-stability-a-help-20120511-1yhyl.html
