Webberley earning his stripesrichmondfc.com.au
By Mic Cullen 5:05 PM Wed 19 May, 2010RICHMOND'S Jeromey Webberley is the latest in a long line of Tasmanian Tigers.
Royce Hart might be the most famous, but current CEO Brendon Gale is also a Taswegian, and several of the current team hail from the Apple Isle.
Webberley, who booted a crucial 50m goal for Clarence in the Tasmanian Football League final last year, has now played two matches for the Tigers after being taken at pick 67 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
He says he loves playing for Richmond, but admits that he was given some pretty clear direction from coach Damien Hardwick about what he had to do to get a spot in the team when he arrived at the club.
"My defensive game was letting me down at the start of the year, but that's been a real focus of mine in the VFL and now I've transferred that to AFL," he told richmondfc.com.au. "Defensively my game wasn't up to scratch but I think it's starting to get there.
"That's been my focus for my first couple of games, just to get my defensive stuff right and go from there.
"You can always add your offence to that, because the club already knows you can play offensively, but it's the defence you have to get right first.
"Everyone can charge hard forward, but it's the better players who can run harder back, so that's a real indicator and key for us."
Richmond lost by less than a goal to Hawthorn on the weekend, pushing them right to the wire - unlike in round one in the NAB Cup, when the Hawks smashed the Tigers by 73 points.
The Hawks had several high-profile players returning to the side, along with the debut of Port Adelaide premiership player Shaun Burgoyne, who made his way to Waverley in the off-season.
Webberley said the team knew it was heading in the right direction, irrespective of the number in the 'W' column on the ladder and the result of individual games.
"The young boys were devastated, obviously, but it's a step in the right direction," he said.
"Everyone knows, from the players right up to the coaches, where we're at - very very disappointing, but at least it was a step in the right direction.
"Hopefully we can build on that from last week and hopefully come out with a win against Essendon."
After the initial disappointment, the 21-year-old said there were good signs from the game.
"It was super-encouraging, especially with Buddy (Franklin) and Sam Mitchell and the others coming back in ... To have them in and still push them right to the limit was a huge effort from the boys.
Webberley said time in the VFL was an indicator that everyone at the club, no matter what their standing in the game, would be given the opportunity to play when form dictated, but also that nobody was an automatic selection.
"I think it is earning your stripes - if you look at our team, there are probably some players out who have a lot more ability than some of the others, but because the others have earned their stripes and are doing all the right things, that comes first.
"It's about building a culture, and I think Dimma (Hardwick) has obviously gone about building a culture around the club, and having the right people around the club to make it successful.
"You've got to have the right characters around the club to build on, so that's been a huge focus."
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