Graham earning his stripes at Tigerland
3:27:25 PM Wed 27 July, 2005
Chris Riches
richmondfc.com.au
Mark Graham’s eyes never left the ball.
Just a minute after watching star Tiger forward Matthew Richardson slot an inspirational goal to cut Port Adelaide’s lead in the last quarter to less than a goal – and silence the partisan home crowd at the same time – Graham was now watching, tracking a high kick towards the Power’s forward line.
For 30 metres Graham’s eyes did not deviate. Running back with the flight of the ball, tracking its trajectory, the veteran was defenceless against any opponent willing to charge out, run through him and contest the mark.
Yet, for what seemed like an eternity, Graham bravely, unerringly, ran back with the flight of the ball. As he had done all night, he was willing to put his body on the line to repel another Port Adelaide attack, to try and ensure Richmond’s comeback from seven goals down ended with a win.
And, as he launched himself front on into the charging pack, Graham may have, just for a fleeting second, thought he had succeeded – that he had the mark.
Alas, it wasn’t to be. Despite Graham’s bravery, the ball slid through his outstretched hands and popped into the arms of Power ‘crumber’ Josh Mahoney, who slotted it through for a goal.
This was the turning point for Richmond’s brave fightback to fall short.
Yet there was nary a Tiger supporter accusing Graham of making an error by dropping the mark. Instead, Richmond fans lauded the veteran’s courage, commitment and bravery.
For a 32 year-old, playing only his 17th game for the Tigers after being discarded by Hawthorn, winning such widespread approval among the Yellow and Black faithful is an achievement in itself.
Not that Graham hasn’t earned this new-found respect at his new football home. After a slow start to the season, the former Hawk has hardly put a foot wrong during the past 8-10 weeks, exhibiting the sort of professionalism, football smarts and courage that wins fans – as well as teammates – over.
We’ve seen it before at Punt Road – players coming across from other clubs and quickly becoming Tiger favorites through their fearlessness, courage, skill and commitment. Players like Paul Broderick and Michael Gale, Scott Turner, Leon Cameron and Chris Bond embodied the passion and heart that typified Richmond through brief patches of success through 1994-95 and 2001.
More recently we’ve seen it again, with the Club embracing recruits such as current captain Kane Johnson and injured star Nathan Brown like prodigal Tiger sons.
Perhaps we’re seeing it again with Mark Graham.
Richmond’s decision to pick up Mark Graham, a victim of Hawthorn’s youth policy, was initially viewed as a perplexing one by some Tiger supporters, who wondered why the Club wasn’t looking at its own young players to fill a defensive role, rather than recruit a player who would turn 32 before the start of the ’05 season.
Those doubts remained after a start to the season that was “just steady”; possibly due to Graham still coming to terms with his new surroundings, teammates and role at Punt Road..
However, a standout effort on Brisbane star Jonathan Brown, in Richmond’s nail-biting win at the Gabba in Round 9, was the spark that started to win many Tiger fans over.
Since that match, Graham has consistently stepped up to help shore up the Tigers’ backline – a role becoming increasingly important with All-Australian defenders Darren Gaspar and Andrew Kellaway currently sidelined through injury.
He has provided a wise head in Richmond’s defence – repelling many opposition attacks with a willingness to run and the ability to hit targets by foot, with what appears to be an awkward kicking style.
Not only that, but he has continued to win Tiger fans over with brave and courageous acts. In the past three weeks alone he has:
• Stood in the hole in front of leading Essendon spearheaded Matthew Lloyd – taking a thumping hit to the back in the process.
• Backed into contests to spoil passes to St Kilda’s reigning Coleman Medallist Fraser Gehrig – acts that could be considered nigh on ‘suicidal’ in some people’s eyes, and:
• Charged into an oncoming pack against Port Adelaide in an unsuccessful bid to mark.
These are not the acts of a veteran just marking time or playing out his career. They are what you would expect from a wide-eyed youngster, desperately trying to cement a place in the senior line-up.
Along with this courage, another element of Graham’s game that can’t be underestimated is his leadership. A consummate professional on the field and on the training track, Graham remains meticulous in his preparation each week and leads by example.
Graham himself summed up his attitude towards his place as a leader at Richmond in an interview earlier this month: "I just go about my business, go about getting myself right, train hard, and I suppose that way you lead by example for the younger guys without having to say too much," he said.
"(You lead) through your actions, how you conduct yourself on the training track, in the weights room, on the football field - that way you can lead by example. Hopefully, the guys have looked at how I've gone about the way I handle myself and, if they see that as a leader, then so be it."
That said, Graham’s leadership has become even more pronounced in the absence of Gaspar and Kellaway. Not only has he joined Joel Bowden as the quarterback of the Tigers’ defence, but his example can be seen rubbing off on teammates like impressive youngster Will Thursfield.
It’s these qualities that now have many Tiger fans not only lauding Graham’s efforts, but calling on this consummate professional to remain at the Club next season. And, right now, he is playing well enough to justify these calls.
Graham’s most immediate task, however, will be to help lead a depleted Richmond backline into battle against Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
A win would not only be the Tigers’ 10th for the season, but would most likely see them regain the spot in the top eight they relinquished last weekend, and be a step in the right direction towards September action.
And, for Graham, playing finals football with his new club would certainly be richly deserved . . .
www.yellowandblack.infohttp://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=218062=============
Very good article IMO - well done Chris
