Hats off to Francisrichmondfc.com.au
By Tony Greenberg
Wed 14 July, 2010While much has been made in the past of Richmond’s supposed shortcomings in the 2004 National Draft, the Tigers may just have hit the drafting jackpot a couple of years later.
The 2006 National Draft, which was Francis Jackson’s first as Richmond’s full-time Recruiting Manager, netted the Club Jack Riewoldt at pick 13 overall, Shane Edwards at pick 26, Daniel Connors at pick 58 and Andrew Collins at pick 73. In the 2006 Pre-season Draft, the Tigers selected Matthew White at pick five overall, while in that year’s Rookie Draft, they took Angus Graham with their first selection (pick five).
Those six players are all blossoming in 2010 under the first-year coaching guidance of Damien Hardwick . . .
Riewoldt leads the Coleman Medal race after 15 rounds of the home-and-season, with 58 goals - 43 of them having being scored in a scintillating burst during the past eight games. The 21-year-old spearhead, who has now played a total of 61 AFL games, booted a career-high 10 goals in Richmond’s Round 12 demolition of West Coast at the MCG. He is averaging six marks per game and has received a staggering seven nominations in the AFL’s official Mark of the Year competition. Even the most anti-Richmond person would have to acknowledge Riewoldt as the most improved player in the competition.
Edwards, 21, has played all 15 games this season, for a career tally of 62. He is averaging 17.6 disposals per game, racking up a career-high 25 possessions in the Tigers’ stirring victory over top-four team Fremantle at Etihad Stadium last Saturday night and also taking a career-high eight marks in that match. There’s no doubt that he is one of the most improved players at the Club this year.
Connors, 21, has bounced back strongly following his Club-imposed eight-match suspension early this season. He is averaging 23.6 disposals and 6.4 marks per game, in his seven senior appearances, gathering a career-high 35 touches against the Dockers last Saturday night. The week before, against the Sydney Swans, he hauled in a career-high 10 marks. He has now played a total of 17 league games, since debuting in 2007.
Collins, also 21, is averaging 16.5 disposals and just over one goal per game this season. He had a career-high 24 disposals in this year’s Round 5 clash with Fremantle at Subiaco. And, he was the inspiration behind Richmond’s come-from-behind victory over Sydney at the MCG in Round 14, with his last-quarter heroics. All-up, Collins has played 20 games since his AFL debut with the Tigers in 2009.
White, 23, is enjoying his best season of AFL football, averaging 12.6 disposals, 4.1 marks and 3.9 tackles per game. He has played a prominent role in Richmond’s resurgence over the past few weeks, with his ability to break the lines, and hardness at the contest. Last Saturday night’s game was the 65th of his league career.
Graham, 23, is also averaging 12.6 disposals, 4.2 marks, 4.1 tackles and 18 hit-outs per game. He has gone from strength to strength since assuming the Tigers’ No. 1 ruck mantle with the retirement of Troy Simmonds, providing the team with a strong presence at the centre bounces and around the ground. Graham has now played 26 games since his AFL debut in 2007.
Francis Jackson can be justifiably pleased, and proud, of how his 2006 draft selections are developing at Tigerland. Although it’s still fairly early days, they are all heading in the right direction and appear capable of being valuable members of the Richmond side for many seasons to come.
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