Summer sizzlers (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Summer sizzlers
Staff writers
Sunday Herald Sun January 31, 2010
 
WITH the first NAB Cup game 12 days away, Glenn McFarlane, Jackie Epstein and Japy Clark take a look at how each club is shaping up for the new season.


RICHMOND

NAB Cup: v Hawthorn (Aurora Stadium, Launceston), February 13

NAB Cup odds: $26

AFL flag odds: $81

Dynamic draftee:
Dustin Martin thrilled onlookers, beating Brett Deledio in a recent hard-ball training drill. He rode a bump, scooped up the pill, side-stepped Deledio and banged home the goal. Can't wait to see him in action.

Behind the eight ball:
Trent Cotchin is training twice a week and is aiming to play in Round 1 after battling a hip injury. Nathan Foley had ankle surgery this week and will miss the start of the season.

Muscled up:
Alex Rance is ripped and ready to run hard off half-back.

Changing position:
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has flagged one-time defender Graham Polak as a potential forward option. The mature-aged rookie spent some time there in his brief return last year.

Careers on the line:
Take your pick from Shane Tuck, Jordan McMahon, Troy Simmonds and Jake King. They all need big seasons.

Oldie but a goodie:
Ben Cousins starred in an intra-club hitout on Wednesday.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/summer-sizzlers/story-e6frf9jf-1225825077437

[Jacosh]

Dustin Martin thrilled onlookers, beating Brett Deledio in a recent hard-ball training drill. He rode a bump, scooped up the pill, side-stepped Deledio and banged home the goal. Can't wait to see him in action.

I like the sound of this, Side stepping Lids is no easy feat.

I just dont want him to get ahead of himself. Of course he will know that training and match day are two different things but i dont want to see him either getting hurt or burning out when he realises how much of a step up it is to play top level AFL.

[the claw]

sheesh i hope that is wrong. theres no way i want to see Alex Rance running of hb not with his skills and decision making. i hope hes being groomed to play tight one on one on the big blokes. and ripped or not he has a long way to go in this area.

[Hellenic Tiger]

People are forgetting with Rance is when he has been in the reserves especially in 2008 he was regularly amongst our best. Playing seniors last year under the "tutelage" of Dried Sultana and the lack of acumen from Jade also with a team that ha no motivation would have not helped him or any other kid coming through. He has the courage the Selwood incident proved this. I just feel the right nurturing and tutelage will go a long way to get this kid back on track. I blame Terry and Jade for his inability to kick more often than handball and his decision making with the type of gameplan or lack of they tried to get the players to use which then resulted in stagnant movement and a team bereft of anything positive.

[WA Tiger]

Great to hear that Martin continue's to live up to the hype we have created about him.... . Lets just hope he takes it into games, I have no doubt he will. Rance is and always has IMO going to be an asset to this club and our game plan. I also think that the staff writers in the Hun left about 6 names off the careers on the line list.

[tony_montana]

sheesh i hope that is wrong. theres no way i want to see Alex Rance running of hb not with his skills and decision making. i hope hes being groomed to play tight one on one on the big blokes. and ripped or not he has a long way to go in this area.

i agree with this, and with his agility i could see him recovering quickest and beating a lot of big fwds to the fall of he ball after the contest. KPD or bust for rance, have always thought this