Nathan Foley [merged]

[Phil Mrakov]

Foley will be like a new recruit for us

[WilliamPowell]

Miles sounds like a find going on this. Did anyone see him in action during the interclub games? Is he any chance of pushing for a spot in our 22?

Seeing he is a rookie and there are others probably ahead of him in the pecking order (eg older bigger conditioned bodies) like Banfield. I would think that unless there is a long term injury in the 1st half of the year then answer is likely no.

[tigs2011]

Moving on from Foley - Miles sounds like a find going on this. Did anyone see him in action during the interclub games? Is he any chance of pushing for a spot in our 22?

The competition for spots is very promising. We should have a strong VFL team too 

Miles will win the Liston Trophy. Not dissimilar to Hallahan at Hawthorn IMO.

[lamington]

Richmond vice-captain Brett Deledio says teammate Nathan Foley can reclaim his best form

    Michael Warner
    Herald Sun
    February 12, 2014 9:00PM


“He was as filthy as you could be, as you can imagine. He’s been here as long as I have and was geed up and ready to go for the game.

I WAS SPEWING ALSO! Petterd was picked above Foley! It makes no sense!

[gerkin greg]

Matt Thomas will finish first and runner up in the Liston

[one-eyed]

Foley's fightback: finals axe drives 'Axel'
Jennifer Phelan 
afl.com.au
February 13, 2014

RICHMOND veteran Nathan Foley has put the hurt of being dropped for last year's elimination final behind him, producing his best summer on the track yet.
 
The 28-year-old returned from a torn Achilles in round seven last season but was omitted for the Tigers' first final since 2001.
 
The tough on-baller has since emerged from that disappointment and has set the standard for the Tigers' midfielders, along with captain Trent Cotchin, so far this pre-season.
 
"I'm sure it was disappointing for him and it was hard for 'Dimma' and us coaches to do that in the final," midfield and stoppage coach Danny Daly told AFL.com.au ahead of the Tigers' NAB Challenge clash with Melbourne on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
 
"I think mentally it was a challenge for him initially but he's got through it.
 
"I think the knowledge that he can train every day and do everything with the main group has helped him get through it and made him stronger."
 
Foley played every game in 2011 but was cut down but the partially torn Achilles tendon sustained at training in July 2012, which ended his year and delayed his start in the following season.
 
After going through a modified pre-season last year because of his rehabilitation, he's benefitted physically and mentally from being OK to face everything thrown at him this summer.
 
"'Axel' has probably had his best pre-season since I've been here," Daly said.

"With 'Cotchy', he's been one of our best two players over the pre-season in terms of their performance and the way they've done their pre-season.
 
"He hasn't had a full pre-season the last three years so just the ability to be able to train every day has really got him up and going.
 
"It's really good for Axel and I'm really pleased for him."
 
Foley has been named to face the Demons on Friday night in the Tigers' first of two NAB Challenge games.
 
They will play Collingwood in Wangaratta on February 22 before a practice match against Essendon on March 7.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-02-13/finals-axe-drives-axel

[Judge Roughneck]

Foley has the following covered...   grigg houli Jackson king Newman? Pettard

[gerkin greg]

Petterd yes

[mat073]

2014 and people are still expecting 2008 Foley to return. How quaint.

Fair point...opposition wouldn't even bother tagging Foley any more.

[tony_montana]

I reckon he'll smash it this season. The opposition, not his peg

[Diocletian]

I reckon he'll smash it this season. The opposition, not his peg

After watching the last quarter v Brisbane 2008 on "30 Minute Thrillers" this morning following the cricket,  it's easy to see why so many still desperately hang on to the Foley dream. Geez he was good that year. Kid was Judd-like at times but quicker. His kicking was better too. The player he always reminded me most of though was Paul Kelly.

Other interesting things I took out of/remembered from that game:

- 2008 Richmond better under last quarter pressure than the current model.

- 2008 Deledio contributed more in crucial moments than current Deledio does.

- Tambling when switched on could seriously play and should never have been played anywhere but HBF.

- Troy Simmonds was close to AA ruckman that year.

- No Richmond defender since has had a better year than Thursfield's 2008 season, even with the injury.

- 2008 was easily Jackson's best year before 2013 - and he was still a liability.

- I remembered why Bowden use to annoy me so much - all his fans & apologists will point to his match-winning goal but I point to his dicking around with the ball and trying to ice the clock 6 minutes out that opened the door for Brisbane to get back into the game and regain the lead in the first place as being a more typical example of his career.

- Jordan McMahon >>>>> Shaun Grigg.

[Coach]

Almost everything you have written is wrong there.

Can you tell me how/why we were better under Wallet in last quarters? I'm not sure that is correct. Same with Deledio as well please.
Thursfield was reasonable but Kel Moore had the best season of any of our defenders in 2008. Troy Simmonds was ok but AA? Not a chance. Good around the ground but he was a poo ruckman, let's be honest. Tambo wouldn't have reached expectations no matter where he played. Dan Jackson had a good season in 09 and was runner up in the B&F, clearly his best season before 2013.

And yes, clearly Bowden almost cost us the game by trying to slow the play down. Couldn't possibly have been Wallace moving him back behind the footy and telling him to change the tempo. Ignore his 4 goals like all his haters & bashers.

[Diocletian]

Bowden pulled that crap for most of his career under several coaches.

Kel Moore's 2008 was his best year, but still wasn't as great as made out by some and Thursield was comfortably better

I recall Jackson & Tuck both racking up the possessions in 2009 because oppositions allowed them to, as they weren't a threat. B&F results mean stuff all to me.

Never said Tambling was ever going to "reach expectations". Clearly he wasn't.

We stood up under pressure in the last quarter in at least 5 games that year - more than we have during Hardwick's entire reign.

[gerkin greg]

how was his withered leg? still withered? caro?

[Coach]

Bowden pulled that crap for most of his career under several coaches.

Kel Moore's 2008 was his best year, but still wasn't as great as made out by some and Thursield was comfortably better

I recall Jackson & Tuck both racking up the possessions in 2009 because oppositions allowed them to, as they weren't a threat. B&F results mean stuff all to me.

Never said Tambling was ever going to "reach expectations". Clearly he wasn't.

We stood up under pressure in the last quarter in at least 5 games that year - more than we have during Hardwick's entire reign.

Jackson was playing as a tagger and did it well I might add. He was rubbish for the next 3 seasons.

Can you name the 5 games? I don't really remember them that clearly. I certainly don't remember us playing finals in 2008.

Absolutely laughable to say Thursty was better than Moore that year. Moore took the best defender each week and did good jobs on the likes of Franklin & Jono Brown.

The opposition allowed Shane Tuck to rack up possessions? And here I was thinking he won mostly contested ball his entire career.

Bowden's crap got him in AA squads and won him B&Fs. I do agree that some B&F results can be dodgy but you don't finish top 5 almost every year like Bowdo did unless you can play.