Young Richmond defenders Dylan Grimes and David Astbury determined to prove a point by: Matt Windley
From: Herald Sun
November 14, 2011 TWO of Richmond's most promising defenders have shot down suggestions the team's backline is its achilles heel.
Dylan Grimes and David Astbury, both 20, also insist youth is not an excuse at Punt Rd any more as the Tigers attempt to return to the top eight for the first time since 2001.
Coach Damien Hardwick appeared to support his young list last week, denying he would chase Zac Dawson, 25, who is now looking for his third club after 14 games at Hawthorn (2005-08) and 63 at St Kilda (2009-11).
Hardwick's team conceded 2396 points last season, the third most in the AFL, but had Grimes (hamstring), Astbury (knee) and Kelvin Moore (hip) watching for most of the season.
"There are always going to be people that suggest things like that when we're letting a lot of points through," Astbury said.
"But I suppose you have to look at (losing) blokes like Chris Newman (to a knee injury late in the year) and Kelvin Moore, who didn't play any footy last year, Dylan and myself who were out for most the season, plus little injuries like Jake Batchelor's shoulder and Luke McGuane's groin.
"You're always going to be vulnerable when you've got that many guys from one line out of the team.
"It's not something that we buy in to at all. We know that we've definitely got some depth in the backline and we form a team within a team back there."
Grimes agreed, saying the defenders who missed most of last season were among Richmond's best performed.
"We had blokes like Brett Deledio, Alex Rance, Bachar Houli and Chris Newman all poll very high in our best-and-fairest, so that just goes to show that our backs are actually playing some good footy," Grimes said.
"Internally, I think we've got a lot of confidence in the back six that we have and also the three or four that are fighting for a spot."
Richmond's list is one of the youngest in the competition, but Grimes said youth was not an excuse for poor performance.
"You never really accept that you're a young group and that it's OK (to lose) because we're developing," he said.
"I don't think we've ever used that as an excuse.
"I've got a lot of faith in the list that we have and I think that we're a good finals side, so I'm really looking forward to 2012 so that we can prove ourselves."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/young-richmond-defenders-dylan-grimes-and-david-astbury-determined-to-prove-a-point/story-e6frf9jf-1226193955282
