RICHMOND
By Compiled by Zac Milbank
Adelaide Advertiser
Fri 18 Feb 2011, Page 89
THE RUB
THE Tiger is stirring.
Or so Richmond's membership campaign this year will have you believe.
After a 15th placing last year under rookie coach Damien Hardwick, the Tigers are searching for greater improvement in 2011.
But where is it going to come from?
Breakout seasons from Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt and No.3 draft pick Dustin Martin were not enough to prevent Richmond from registering a 0-9 start.
Should the outstanding pair produce the same again this year the Tigers are going to need others to stand up and share the load.
Captain Chris Newman, Brett Deledio, Shane Tuck and Daniel Jackson will again form a senior core to build around but virtual recruit Nathan Foley - provided he has shrugged his debilitating ankle injury - should be one Tiger to lift his output.
Recruits Shaun Grigg (Carlton) and Bachar Houli (Essendon) add extra depth to the midfield while veteran forward Brad Miller - selected in the rookie draft - provides insurance for Riewoldt in attack.
First-round draft pick Reece Conca moves smoothly through the midfield while mature-age ruckman Tom Derricx (23, 205cm and 99kg) could also make an impact in his first season at Punt Road.
"He moves very well, he controls the ball very well and he's just a really good, solid player," Hardwick said of West Australian Conca.
"He's really going to complement our midfield."
Just how much the new Tiger cubs - and clearance king Foley - produce will decide how close Richmond comes to playing in September.
SUPERCOACH GEM
Daniel Connors
$416,400
DEFENDER
No player in the competition improved his average points per game more than Connors in 2010. The Tigers' half-back went from 33.9 to 85.6 and while this has seen his price increase significantly, there's no reason why the left-footer can't step up another notch in 2011.
Only played 14 games last year and with some continuity in his game, could rack up even bigger numbers while streaming from defence. If you're looking to save money when selecting your topend defenders then Connors is your man.
PREDICTION TO FINISH: 14th
DARK times were predicted at Tigerland upon Damien Hardwick's appointment at the end of 2009, supposedly because of a lack of talent on the list.
And by round 10 last year, the critics were sitting pretty as the Tigers languished in 16th with an 0-9 win-loss record, prompting one betting agency to pay out on Hardwick's men winning the wooden spoon.
While this unenviable finish was avoided by one place at season's end, there was enough to suggest Richmond could push further up the premiership ladder in 2011.
Now with a Coleman Medallist and a potent-looking midfield, the Tigers will aim to sneak into the top eight for the first time since 2001.
But they may have to wait another 12-24 months before this happens, especially considering the back six at Tigerland has no track record of restricting the best teams in the competition.
WHAT'S HOT
COLEMAN Medallist Jack Riewoldt. The Tigers unearthed a bona-fide superstar when the cousin of St Kilda's Nick commanded the respect paid to his relative with a league-leading 78.39 in 2011.
Worked hard on his set shot kicking for goal, which now complements his incredible athleticism when marking overhead.
The Tigers midfield, bolstered by Dustin Martin last year, should be even stronger this year with the return of Foley and a fit Trent Cotchin, who has completed his first full pre-season since arriving at Tigerland in 2007. Throw in the class of Brett Deledio, No.6 draft pick Reece Conca and hard-working pair Shane Tuck and Daniel Jackson and Hardwick has some genuine ability to work with.
WHAT'S NOT
THE forward line support for Jack Riewoldt.
Forget the high-flying Tiger's output last year and the next best contributor was Andrew Collins - traded to Carlton in the off-season - who kicked just 15 goals in 2010.
Opportunist forwards Robin Nahas (13) and Mitch Morton (12) were disappointing to say the least while the midfield also contributed very little on the scoreboard.
Richmond's leaky defence is also a significant concern, conceding an average of 106 points per game last year.
Disgruntled Will Thursfield was close to joining Fremantle during the trade period but has since pledged his loyalty to the yellow and black while Luke McGuane was another key defender to endure a poor season.
Improvement from this pair, together with the development of David Gourdis and Alex Rance, should assist the Tigers backline.
HIS TIME
TRENT COTCHIN
IT'S easy to forget Trent Cotchin was a No.2 draft pick.
The smooth-moving Tigers midfielder had been continually restricted by injury since being drafted in 2007, before managing 17 of his 42 AFL games last year.
This continuity allowed the 20 year-old to show signs of why he deserved to be snapped up so early three years ago. Cotchin finished 12th in the league for clearances and 15th for contested possessions en route to being placed seventh in the best-and-fairest.
But there is more to come. For the first time, Cotchin has completed a full summer training schedule without being placed on a modified program.
This has the clean-skilled on-baller primed to reach his talented potential in 2011.
THE DRAW
MARCH 24
v Carlton, MCG
APRIL 1
v St Kilda, MCG
APRIL 9
v Hawthorn, MCG
APRIL 15
v Collingwood, MCG
APRIL 24
v North Melb, Etihad
APRIL 30
v Brisbane, MCG
MAY 7
v Fremantle, MCG
MAY 15
v Bulldogs, Etihad
MAY 21
v Essendon, MCG
MAY 28
v Port, TIO
ROUND 11
Bye
JUNE 12
v Sydney, SCG
JUNE 18
v Brisbane, Gabba
JUNE 25
v Melbourne, MCG
JULY 2
v Carlton, MCG
JULY 9
v Essendon, MCG
JULY 16
v Gold Coast, Cazaly's
JULY 24
v Geelong, Etihad
ROUND 19
Bye
AUGUST 7
v West Coast, Patersons
AUGUST 14
v Sydney, MCG
AUGUST 21
v Melbourne, MCG
AUGUST 28
v Adelaide, AAMI
ROUND 24
v North Melb, Etihad
(date TBC)
