Two-up Tigers facing character test against Dockers Greg Denham
The Australian
May 02, 2011RICHMOND will know more about itself on Saturday night when it hosts an in-form Fremantle at the MCG.
That's the opinion of Tigers general manager of football operations Craig Cameron, who is in his third season of shaping a more competitive playing list.
After defeating North Melbourne in round five and Brisbane on Saturday night at the MCG -- the Tigers' first back-to-back wins since round rounds 12 to 15 last year -- Cameron believes his club's status as an improver this year will be better measured.
"Fremantle is a top-four club and it's an opportunity to show how much we've improved," Cameron said yesterday.
Richmond has not played in the finals since 2001 and last season, Damien Hardwick's first as senior coach, was winless for the first nine rounds. Before their latest two wins, the Tigers were beaten by Carlton, Hawthorn and Collingwood either side of a second-round draw with St Kilda.
Cameron believes that Richmond's better start to the season has been as a result of internal improvement, plus the success of new blood introduced at Punt Road.
The improvement within has come from defender Alex Rance and small forwards Robin Nahas and the previously maligned Jake King.
The specific recruiting of Shaun Grigg from Carlton, Bachar Houli from Essendon and delisted Melbourne forward Brad Miller have also provided the Tigers with more hardened personnel.
Despite an early three-match suspension, Rance has bounced back to become an integral member of the backline.
"His decision-making and his defensive work has definitely improved," Cameron said.
Against the Lions, Rance had 20 possessions, took 11 marks and made eight spoils.
"Nahas has been terrific as a high forward and his ability to run, combined with his defensive efforts, have been a feature," Cameron said.
Neither Nahas nor King were considered certain starters in Richmond's best 22 in the pre-season, but so far they have not missed a match they have been available to play in. "King's main job has been to keep the pressure up in our forward line, and the bonus has been that he's kicked goals as well," Cameron said.
In his five games since missing the opening round due to a suspension last season, the diminutive King has booted 11 goals, including three against Brisbane. In his previous four seasons, albeit mainly outside the forward 50m arc, King kicked 21 goals in 56 games.
Hardwick and his coaching staff deserve a pat on the back for their role reversals of both fleet-footed small men.
Miller, initially recruited as a back-up forward, has been good value in his three games for his work off the ball and his physicality in protecting star forward Jack Riewoldt.
Houli has added flexibility, mainly across half-back, as a runner who rarely misses targets, while Grigg, who is averaging 25 possessions for his second club, has added more depth in the midfield.
Despite answering several challenges from the Lions, Hardwick conceded: "We've still got a fair way to go. We didn't remotely challenge some of the top-four sides we played earlier, so we've still got a fair way to go."
Richmond appears certain to make at least one change against the Dockers with Shane Tuck in doubt with a rib injury after being crunched in the first half on Saturday night. The extent of his problem will be known today after scans are taken.
Certain to return is midfielder Daniel Jackson, who missed the Brisbane win due to a one-match suspension.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/two-up-tigers-facing-character-test-against-dockers/story-e6frg7mf-1226047996908
