Developing Tigers ready to take next step Jason Phelan
West Australian
March 25, 2015Richmond are primed to hit the ground running early this season as the Tigers attempt to bridge the gap between them and last year's top four sides.
Coach Damien Hardwick is confident there won't be a repeat of the disastrous start to 2014, where his team lost 10 of their first 13 matches, before going on to claim a finals berth on the back of a stunning nine-game winning streak.
"We've got a fitter list compared to this time last year, which is really important," Hardwick said.
"We're further advanced than we have been previously.
"We had a lot of off-season surgeries last year - I think we had 15 ops compared to about five this year, which is always going to be an improvement.
"We're really excited, but the proof will be in the pudding.
"Every side comes out of the pre-season really happy with what they've done, but come round one all bets are off."
No-one at Punt Road needs reminding that the stirring winning run came to an abrupt halt with a humiliating elimination final loss to Port Adelaide.
After bowing out at the same stage to Carlton the year before, winning at least one final must be considered the pass mark for Hardwick's men in 2015.
The Tigers coach has high hopes for mature-age recruits Taylor Hunt and Kane Lambert, but he expects the natural progression of the younger members of his group to be the main driver of the team's success in 2015.
Hardwick is counting on the likes of Reece Conca, Ben Griffiths, Nick Vlastuin and Anthony Miles to lessen the gap between themselves and proven elite performers like Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt.
Then there's Dustin Martin.
The cult figure has excited fans with his game-breaking talents in five seasons playing predominantly in a forward role with bursts on the ball.
Martin has been the standout performer of the NAB Challenge and Hardwick is confident the 23-year-old is poised to take a big step forward in his development as an onballer.
"He's worked incredibly hard over three to four years now to improve his tank," he said.
"We always knew it was going to take a little bit of time, but he's moving as well as he has. His body composition has changed - you look at when he first started to where he is now - it just takes a while for that composition to change."
If Martin is to spend more time in the middle, his loss may be felt inside forward 50 where Riewoldt led the way with 61 goals in 2014, with Martin next best with 27.
Richmond passed the 100-point mark just four times last season and scored fewer points than four non-finalists, but Hardwick was delighted with the way his forward line combined when he put stronger line-ups out for the final two NAB Challenge games.
Griffiths looms as the preferred second tall option with Tyrone Vickery facing a make-or-break season as he tries to become the consistent foil to Riewoldt the Tigers crave.
It remains to be seen whether Richmond have the depth of experience and quality on their list to close the gap on last year's top four sides enough to challenge for the flag.
But with a bit more luck with injuries they should at least give the Tiger Army something to roar about this September.
RICHMONDCoach: Damien Hardwick
Captain: Trent Cotchin
Last five years: 15-12-12-7-8
Premierships: 10 (1920-21, 1932, 1934, 1943, 1967, 1969, 1973-74, 1980)
Key five: Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt, Alex Rance, Dustin Martin
One to watch: Alex Rance. The key defender enjoyed a standout 2014 campaign that saw him rewarded with All-Australian honours for the first time and he'll need to recapture that form if the Tigers are going to push into the top four. The Western Australian becomes a free agent at the end of the season and speculation over his future at Punt Road could become a distraction if it lingers too long into the year.
Ins: Butler (North Ballarat U18), Nathan Drummond (Murray U18), Corey Ellis (Western U18), Taylor Hunt (Geelong), Reece McKenzie (Northern U18), Connor Menadue (Western U18), Anthony Miles (Richmond rookie).
Outs: Aaron Edwards (delisted), Brad Helbig (delisted), Dan Jackson (retired), Jake King (retired), Brett O'Hanlon (delisted).
Best line-up:B: Steven Morris, David Astbury, Troy Chaplin
HB: Bachar Houli, Alex Rance, Nick Vlastuin
C: Shaun Grigg, Brett Deledio, Brandon Ellis
HF: Shane Edwards, Ben Griffiths, Sam Lloyd
F: Ben Lennon, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin
R: Ivan Maric, Trent Cotchin, Anthony Miles
I: Chris Newman, Dylan Grimes, Reece Conca, Jake Batchelor
Predicted finish: 8thBetting (William Hill)To win the flag: $26
To make the top eight: $2.10
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/afl/a/26793746/developing-tigers-ready-to-take-next-step/
