Figures condemn Tiger defence
fox news
March 26, 2005
RICHMOND is headed for a club record 15th successive defeat against Geelong in AFL round one tomorrow, but another more obscure club record looms to embarrass the Tigers.
Should the Tigers concede more than 100 points tomorrow, it will be the 12th successive match in which they have done so.
Only once before in Richmond's history - in 1992 - had the Tiger defence been so consistently poor.
New coach Terry Wallace recognised the weakness, bringing in veteran Mark Graham from Hawthorn while relying upon improved performances from veterans Darren Gaspar and Andrew Kellaway in 2005.
"We had a couple of players in our defensive end of the ground who lost their way a little bit," Wallace said.
"Darren Gaspar had only been eight months off a knee reconstruction (in 2004), and he's had another summer to get himself right.
"I see his athleticism as that much superior to last year that it's not funny.
"Andrew Kellaway lost his confidence last season and he's back playing some good footy over the summer.
"We've added some more seniority in that area with Mark Graham coming down and I've played Kane Johnson more off half-back than midfield in the pre-season.
"It's more solid in its seniority and backlines need that."
Another change to the backline will see Joel Bowden moved away from centre half-back back into midfield, despite the good form he had shown in defence in 2004.
"He won the best and fairest playing at centre half-back but in the time he came back from Coburg the side didn't win a game," Wallace said.
"I very much believe that it's not what's good for the player, it's what's good for the team.
"Matthew Richardson had a fantastic year at full-forward, kicked 60 goals, Joel Bowden won the best and fairest, but Richmond weren't winning games.
"He can offer something as a half-back, but we've seen him as a ruck-rover and wingman in the past being a fair player for the club when they were in winning form."
AAP
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,12662016-23211,00.html