Mid-season report card: Richmond
afl.com.au
By Mic Cullen Tue 16 June, 2009
RICHMOND
Overall mark: CWin-loss: 3-9 (LLLLWLLLLWLW)
The run home
Round 13 St Kilda at Docklands (A)
Round 14 Adelaide at Gold Coast (H)
Round 15 Carlton at MCG (A)
Round 16 North Melbourne at MCG (H)
Round 17 Essendon at MCG (A)
Round 18 Melbourne at MCG (A)
Round 19 Sydney Swans at MCG (H)
Round 20 Collingwood at MCG (H)
Round 21 Hawthorn at MCG (H)
Round 22 West Coast at Subiaco (A)
Ladder position: 14th
Leading possession winner: Shane Tuck (336 possessions)
Leading goalkicker: Mitch Morton (24 goals)
Season so farFor Tigers fans, the season promised so much – the phenomenal Ben Cousins-driven build-up to the round one clash with Carlton was testimony to that. But it took just two hours for Richmond's season to implode, the 83-point thrashing at the hands of the Blues setting the scene for the season.
The Tigers did put in a much better effort the following week, leading Geelong at the last change, but then Steve Johnson turned it on and the Tigers lost, the first of a few close losses in the first couple of months.
In the past month, the pressure growing around coach Terry Wallace's position seemed to affect the team badly, and although the team managed to conjure a win over fellow cellar-dweller Fremantle in Perth, Wallace departed and Jade Rawlings took over.
Best winRichmond 13.14 (92) def West Coast 11.11 (77), Docklands
Not many to choose from here – the Tigers have only beaten North Melbourne, Fremantle and West Coast. Their best performance of the year would be to have led Geelong at three-quarter time at Skilled Stadium, but the win over West Coast in round 12 stands out. The Tigers started superbly, taking 12 marks inside 50 in the opening term, having averaged 16 per game for the year coming in. Their skills were a lot better, they hit targets at will, and looked a competent football side.
B&F leaderDaniel Jackson could stop playing now and win the B&F for this year. The level and consistency of his performance so far has been outstanding. In a year when few others have stood up around him, Jackson's ability to tag players and, in recent weeks, also go and win his own footy has been a standout. Nathan Foley and Shane Tuck would also be polling well.
Surprise packetRichard Tambling has had his critics across his first five years. But since being dropped to Coburg in round four, he has been on the up and up. His game against West Coast was clearly his best for the club, and his first term, when he collected 14 touches, including eight marks, 10 kicks (five long), two clearances, three inside 50s (including direct involvement in the Tigers first four goals), three rebound 50s and a tackle, will take a lot to top.
Coach's awardKing of the in-and-unders at Richmond is Tuck. He's leading the possession count at the Tigers because he's always putting himself in harm's way to get the pill. Not always the best user of the ball – but better than a lot in that department at Richmond – his ability to get the hard-ball is one of the reasons the Tigers are doing well in the clearances.
Second-half story linesCan Matthew Richardson make it back this year? As he told afl.com.au a couple of weeks ago, he's ahead of schedule and hoping to get back for the last month, so he can prove his undoubted worth for next year.
Can Tambling continue to play the way he has in the last few weeks? The 22-year-old has been criticised by Tigers fans for many faults, both real and perceived, over the years, but since being dropped, he's been playing as though his career depends on it.
What will happen with the coaching role? Richmond fans want a proper process to select the next coach, and they'll be happy with that. Can Rawlings make it his own with his performance in the second half of the year? It's as intriguing as ever at Punt Rd.
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