Richmond recruits shineBy Kim Hagdorn
Sports News First
31 January 2013 02:37PM ESTRICHMOND continue to showcase a batch of experienced recruits with bustling forward Aaron Edwards refining his new duties in tandem with chief scoring force Jack Riewoldt.
Only key defender Troy Chaplin and hard-core defensive on-baller Sam Lonergan are not in full training ahead of one of the most anticipated seasons for the Tigers in more than a decade.
Chaplin, 26, headlined a crop of mature Tigers imports when he crossed from Port Adelaide as a free agent last October and turned in an encouraging rehabilitation running session alongside Lonergan at Punt Road on Wednesday.
Chaplin is in final stages of recovering from knee problems just as he ended his 140-game playing days with Port.
Edwards, 28, was in full operation as an extra prime forward scoring avenue with Riewoldt as the Tigers swung through a slick 90-minute training session.
Other experienced recruits Chris Knights from Adelaide and Ricky Petterd settling in from Melbourne, were also conspicuous with tidy midfield displays.
Knights and Petterd add crucial depth of midfield grunt and running powers to ease anticipated heavy opposition scrutiny on Tigers on-ball prime movers Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio.
Experienced ruck back-up Orren Stephenson was another imposing figure as the Tigers inject crucial support for cult figure big on-baller Ivan Maric.
An apparent emphasis in match assimilation from coach Damian Hardwick and his new assistant Mark Williams was defensive strategy around stoppages and concise, slick movement into scoring zones with Riewoldt and Edwards prime targets.
Hardwick engaged a high priority on accurate foot disposal to retain possession and astute decision making in ball movement.
The Tigers launch a season of his anticipation with a vital and traditional Round 1 blockbuster against arch enemy Carlton at the MCG to kick-off the new premiership campaign on Thursday March 28.
It is a significantly confronting opening month for the new look Tigers with St Kilda and then Western Bulldogs after the Blues, before a showdown with genuine finals hopefuls Collingwood at the MCG in Round 4 and a Perth trip to take on Fremantle a week later on April 26.
It's then back to the “G” for another crucial showdown with Geelong in Round 6, before a succession of Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Essendon and another trip back to Perth to tackle West Coast on Monday night of June 3 ahead of a Tigers' bye in Round 11.
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