Tigers to stick as Kangas fall
10 May 2005
Herald Sun
Garry Lyon
A THIRD of the season gives us enough evidence to try to come up with an answer to some of the most asked questions of the year.
Can Richmond sustain its form and retain its position in the eight?
Did the Kangaroos catch the competition napping at the start of the year, and are they about to be exposed as a good, ordinary side destined to be inactive in September?
I have seen the Tigers play live only twice. I watched them get smashed by Geelong in the first game of the season, and on Saturday I saw them smash Carlton. The turnaround was quite remarkable, and I'm not talking about the scoreboard.
The first thing that strikes you is Richmond's skill level. You can do all of the tactical planning you like, but if you can't execute the plan then it is a simple waste of time.
Much has been written about the "ugly" nature of today's game. And a lot of it has to do with players tending to look sideways when they win possession.
And the main reason they do it is because it's the "safest" place to go.
If your field kicking is not up to scratch, then kicking wide is your security blanket. If you kick the ball too far in front of the leading player, then there is no immediate down side, because the ball will either run towards the boundary line and eventually be picked up by the player, or trickle over the line for a throw in.
It won't show up in the turnover column, and while it won't thrill the key-position forwards, in the eyes of many players it is a far better result than having the ball in the hands of the opposition.
Neale Daniher used to say, "own the corridor and you own the game". It is so right. It is the most valuable real estate on the field. And it isn't cheap. You pay for it with your courage to bring the ball back into the middle, with your skill to get it there and with the cooperation of every player.
The Tigers owned a lot of it on Saturday. And they did it because the likes of Chris Newman, Joel Bowden, Kane Johnson, Nathan Brown and Mark Coughlan were skilful and brave enough to look inside and hit targets.
Once possession is taken in the middle of the ground, the field becomes a forward's oyster and a defender's nightmare. Richardson, Simmonds, Stafford and Brown can lead to the left, the right, straight up the middle, or demand the ball long to the goalsquare.
The improvement in the Tigers' foot skills was evident when they went forward. The supply was first rate, the forwards were hungry to present because they knew they were better than even money to get it and the relative predictability of the entry allowed Andrew Krakouer to position himself for any spillage. Five goals for him, 23 for the team. Pretty simple.
Of course, it helps if you have a bit of "star" power at work. The Tigers have it in a couple of different guises. Richo and Darren Gaspar have All-Australian honours to boast about when they are old and finished. Whereas in the past that may have seemed imminent, it now seems some way off. Gaspar's return to form is timely, and critical. He made a mess of Lance Whitnall on the weekend.
Teams that play in finals need a dragon slayer. Tredrea, Brown, Pavlich and Gehrig are the big fire-breathers. Gaspar looks ready for that challenge.
Coughlan is a star. So is Brown. It makes such a difference when you have that quality of player. Coughlan's return has allowed Brown to spend more time forward, where he does his most damage. Add the youth and pace of Deledio, Tambling and Krakouer and the Tigers are well on the way to a September showing.
If that eventuates, the biggest star of all may well be found in the coach's box. Terry Wallace has done a remarkable job with last year's wooden spooners.
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