Richo says look out for the Tigers in AFL (SMH)

[one-eyed]

Richo says look out for the Tigers in AFL
Greg Buckle
February 9, 2012 - 6:54PM


Richmond goalkicking great Matthew Richardson says Jack Riewoldt can only improve after having a successful season in 2011 despite carrying injuries.

Riewoldt has resumed full training in the past fortnight following hip, finger and ankle surgeries.

Richardson says he has full confidence Riewoldt can have a huge year in the 2012 AFL season.

"No doubt. I don't think people realised the extent of his problems last year," Richardson told AAP on Thursday.

"I certainly didn't know.

"To have all those surgeries at the end of the year, it showed you how good a player that he is because he still managed to kick 62 goals which not many guys can do.

"He has only just got into pre-season. It might take him a few weeks to get going but he's a very good player, 140 goals in two years and having had those injuries.

"He's still got his best years ahead of him so I'm expecting he'll have a pretty solid year again."

Riewoldt, 23, has played 57 consecutive games for the Tigers dating back to round 10 2009.

Richardson said tall forward Ty Vickery's 36-goal effort in 2011 showed the Tigers had a strong combination with their marking targets.

"They were reasonably happy with their forward line last year," said Richardson, who was Richmond's leading goalkicker a record 13 times before retiring in 2009.

"Ty Vickery really came on in leaps and bounds. The midfield has got some real quality players in there now."

Richardson said some luck with injuries would allow the Tigers to improve their defence.

"The thing about their backline last year, they just couldn't get a consistent back six together," Richardson said.

"David Astbury went down and Dylan Grimes went down, two young guys who they wanted to play down there a lot.

"If they get those guys back out there fit and healthy and get some continuity into their back six, that's going to help them a lot."

Richardson said the Tigers, with 15th and 12th placings in Damien Hardwick's first two years as coach, were capable of claiming a spot in the top eight.

"It's no secret they're aiming to play finals," Richardson said.

"They've had gradual improvement in the last 24 months. If they get that again this year, they certainly should be knocking on the door."

The Tigers haven't played a finals game since 2001.

Richmond play Hawthorn and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on February 17 in the opening round of the pre-season cup.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/richo-says-look-out-for-the-tigers-in-afl-20120209-1rutc.html

[Stripes]

I have to agree with the Big Cho here! Jack has plenty of upside this year but may start off slowly given his interrupted preseason. He will still be the opposition defenders number one concern but with Vickery having had a strong year, he may find himself with less attention. My big hope is that Derickx steps into the forwardline as another tall target it will make up very hard to match up on. Additionally, if our talls can not take a mark, at the very least players such as King and Nahas will have a field day.

My biggest hope this year is for our midfield. In 2010 they were just not good enough at winning the ball at stoppages. A big factor in this was of course our lack of a competitive ruckman but hopefully that flaw has been addressed with Maric and our midfielders have a chance to compete against their opposition counterparts on a level playing field.

Based solely on their ages you could only realisitically expect the likes of Cotchin, Martin and Conca to improve. Edwards seems to have bulked up so this size should allow his to compete better around stoppages. Moving Lids into the center has to be a huge boast - he is just so damaging with the ball in his hands. With Cotchin typically taking the tag, Lids should enjoy much more freedom that wasn't afforded to him the last time he was in the middle. Foley too should step up again though I'm not sure whether he will every reclaim the form he had a few years back. Who knows though.

Jackson and Tuck seem necessary evils to me at the moment. Tucky is not a great decision making or desposer of the ball but he wins more footy than just about anyone else on our list. Jackson is an athlete who remains our best tagger but he has brain fades. I don't believe we will never march up the ladder with this two in the side but as stop gaps until younger players supersede them, I can live with honest efforts.

Our backline was an unstable mess last year. We had players falling by the wayside left right and center and while they were young developing players we struggled to cover them. Barring a repeat of injuries, this year we should have a more stable backline. Newman will remain in the backline - that's a given now and Houli will build from last year. Rance could get even better and Grimes will be given plenty of opportunity to cement his place as a tall defender. Morris could be just what we need to shut down those pesty like goal sneaks. Surely their is plenty of upside down back too.

Overall, trying to remain rational and unbiased (tough to do I admit) it's difficult not to see how we could not improve on last year but we have to keep in mind that most of the rest of the competition will improve too. But you can only control yourself I guess. I very hopeful this year.

[Mr Magic]

Poor Richo. Must bang his head against the wall seeing some of our young guns coming through.

[Dubstep Dookie]

Would be alot more depth coming through now than in his day....so I'd like to think anyways 

[The Big Richo]

I have to agree with the Big Cho here!

So you think Riewoldt is a pain in the arse as well?

[Ruanaidh]

I hope Dimma puts faith in the young backline this year and moves the likes of Lids/Houli/Newy up the ground where they can be more damaging. Sure we will leak goals until the backline boys knit but with Jack/Vicks/Lids/Martin in attack and Newy/Houli on the wings, I'd be confident to outscore any side.

My backline: Ellis/Rance/Grimes
                    Dea/Post/Batch

Backups: Astbury/Morris/Moore/Griffiths/Helbig/White etc etc

[Smokey]

I hope Dimma puts faith in the young backline this year and moves the likes of Lids/Houli/Newy up the ground where they can be more damaging. Sure we will leak goals until the backline boys knit but with Jack/Vicks/Lids/Martin in attack and Newy/Houli on the wings, I'd be confident to outscore any side.

My backline: Ellis/Rance/Grimes
                    Dea/Post/Batch

Backups: Astbury/Morris/Moore/Griffiths/Helbig/White etc etc

You had me until "any".

[Danog]

With more quality in the midfield, the ball will hopefully get to the backline less, putting the youngsters under less strain.

[tony_montana]

the best backline in the league is useless without decent defensive support from the other 12 out on field. All it takes is one dousche to not cover his territory up field and the overlap starts.

[Ruanaidh]

I hope Dimma puts faith in the young backline this year and moves the likes of Lids/Houli/Newy up the ground where they can be more damaging. Sure we will leak goals until the backline boys knit but with Jack/Vicks/Lids/Martin in attack and Newy/Houli on the wings, I'd be confident to outscore any side.

My backline: Ellis/Rance/Grimes
                    Dea/Post/Batch

Backups: Astbury/Morris/Moore/Griffiths/Helbig/White etc etc

You had me until "any".

I must admit I did stall at that point but decided, why not,  its only keyboard rhetoric.

[smasha]

Richo says look out for the Tigers in AFL
Greg Buckle
February 9, 2012 - 6:54PM


Richmond goalkicking great Matthew Richardson says Jack Riewoldt can only improve after having a successful season in 2011 despite carrying injuries.

Riewoldt has resumed full training in the past fortnight following hip, finger and ankle surgeries.

Richardson says he has full confidence Riewoldt can have a huge year in the 2012 AFL season.

"No doubt. I don't think people realised the extent of his problems last year," Richardson told AAP on Thursday.

"I certainly didn't know.

"To have all those surgeries at the end of the year, it showed you how good a player that he is because he still managed to kick 62 goals which not many guys can do.

"He has only just got into pre-season. It might take him a few weeks to get going but he's a very good player, 140 goals in two years and having had those injuries.

"He's still got his best years ahead of him so I'm expecting he'll have a pretty solid year again."

Riewoldt, 23, has played 57 consecutive games for the Tigers dating back to round 10 2009.

Richardson said tall forward Ty Vickery's 36-goal effort in 2011 showed the Tigers had a strong combination with their marking targets.

"They were reasonably happy with their forward line last year," said Richardson, who was Richmond's leading goalkicker a record 13 times before retiring in 2009.

"Ty Vickery really came on in leaps and bounds. The midfield has got some real quality players in there now."

Richardson said some luck with injuries would allow the Tigers to improve their defence.

"The thing about their backline last year, they just couldn't get a consistent back six together," Richardson said.

"David Astbury went down and Dylan Grimes went down, two young guys who they wanted to play down there a lot.

"If they get those guys back out there fit and healthy and get some continuity into their back six, that's going to help them a lot."

Richardson said the Tigers, with 15th and 12th placings in Damien Hardwick's first two years as coach, were capable of claiming a spot in the top eight.

"It's no secret they're aiming to play finals," Richardson said.

"They've had gradual improvement in the last 24 months. If they get that again this year, they certainly should be knocking on the door."

The Tigers haven't played a finals game since 2001.
Richmond play Hawthorn and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on February 17 in the opening round of the pre-season cup.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/richo-says-look-out-for-the-tigers-in-afl-20120209-1rutc.html

You don't say Captain Obvious.
Nice article marred by that smart arse comment at the end.

[Dubstep Dookie]

I hope Dimma puts faith in the young backline this year and moves the likes of Lids/Houli/Newy up the ground where they can be more damaging. Sure we will leak goals until the backline boys knit but with Jack/Vicks/Lids/Martin in attack and Newy/Houli on the wings, I'd be confident to outscore any side.

My backline: Ellis/Rance/Grimes
                    Dea/Post/Batch

Backups: Astbury/Morris/Moore/Griffiths/Helbig/White etc etc

You had me until "any".

I must admit I did stall at that point but decided, why not,  its only keyboard rhetoric.

Rupe, you wouldn't be particularly partial to cider per chance?

[Smokey]

I hope Dimma puts faith in the young backline this year and moves the likes of Lids/Houli/Newy up the ground where they can be more damaging. Sure we will leak goals until the backline boys knit but with Jack/Vicks/Lids/Martin in attack and Newy/Houli on the wings, I'd be confident to outscore any side.

My backline: Ellis/Rance/Grimes
                    Dea/Post/Batch

Backups: Astbury/Morris/Moore/Griffiths/Helbig/White etc etc

You had me until "any".

I must admit I did stall at that point but decided, why not,  its only keyboard rhetoric.

   Good answer.

[Ruanaidh]

I hope Dimma puts faith in the young backline this year and moves the likes of Lids/Houli/Newy up the ground where they can be more damaging. Sure we will leak goals until the backline boys knit but with Jack/Vicks/Lids/Martin in attack and Newy/Houli on the wings, I'd be confident to outscore any side.

My backline: Ellis/Rance/Grimes
                    Dea/Post/Batch

Backups: Astbury/Morris/Moore/Griffiths/Helbig/White etc etc

You had me until "any".

I must admit I did stall at that point but decided, why not,  its only keyboard rhetoric.

Rupe, you wouldn't be particularly partial to cider per chance?

I'm even more exuberant when 'on the ink'

[MADTIGER2010]

Midfield will be better this year:
Deledio will play alot more in the middle this year
Ellis is a ready made player and should get plenty of time in the centre square
Helbig and Conca are a bit bigger and fitter and should have more impact while rotating through the centre
Jackson is improving his composure with the ball
Maric will provide a good contest in the ruck and allow Browne, Derrickx and Vickery time to improve their ruck work in spurts

Forward line will be better:
Derrickx and Griffiths have had their best preseasons so far and will share the 3rd tall forward spot during the season
Deledio will rest up forward
Webberley will get more game time on the wing or half forward
Connors may shine as a forward

Backline will be better:
More game time for Post at CHB
Morris and Ellis can take the sneaky forwards
Batchelor and Grimes to continue improvement