Preview: Fremantle v RichmondThe Age
March 4, 2012 Patersons Stadium, today 8.10pm (Melb time)
RICHMOND has obviously worked on its forward pressure, in fact its defensive pressure all over the ground. Everyone at Richmond has something good to say about new assistant coach Ross Smith and the impact he is already having re-working the defensive structures. The Tigers have the small forwards, the likes of Jake King and Robin Nahas, to hunt down running defenders and cause turnovers.
There were some positive signs down back, too. Steven Morris and rookie-listed defender Brandon Ellis are likely prospects and looked just that in the first round of games. Richmond plays Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne, Geelong and West Coast in the first five rounds a season-shaping stretch so the Tigers can't afford to hit round one in anything less than top gear. Building to that through the NAB Cup, then, becomes crucial and their form takes on more relevance.
The Dockers are also honing their defensive system under new coach Ross Lyon. It will take a while, maybe most of 2012, but the club is confident the existing talent coupled with Lyon's gritty, no-nonsense style will make the Purple Haze difficult to play against this year. The coach wants to get game time into his likely round one line-up so key defenders Luke McPharlin and Alex Silvagni come in. Ruckman Jon Griffin will also play, as Aaron Sandilands will step out after a half, and skipper Matthew Pavlich might also limit himself to two quarters. Key forward Kepler Bradley has also been named.
KEY ABSENTEES
DOCKERS: Missing at least six, possibly eight, of their best 22. David Mundy is running 13 kilometres every second day on return from ankle surgery to be right for round one. Michael Barlow is in a similar boat, but is more likely to be ready for the start of the season, with the club backing off his workload during the past two weeks.
TIGERS: It's vice-captain Trent Cotchin's turn to sit out and he will be joined by fellow midfielder Nathan Foley, Shaun Grigg and Daniel Jackson, as well as defender Dylan Grimes. Brett Deledio's hamstring strain keeps him sidelined for another week, while Reece Conca is serving a three-week suspension.
Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/preview-fremantle-v-richmond-20120303-1uadw.html#ixzz1o6jGTIySPreview: Fremantle v Richmond2/3/2012
Jonathan Healy
SportalWE THINK: Freo are always hard to beat at Patersons Stadium and we see no reason to jump off them in this one. Important ruckman Aaron Sandilands is set to play his first game of the year, while the Dockers already have many of their experienced players up and running. Richmond's young brigade of players - led by Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Steven Morris and Brandon Ellis - will fight hard for the visitors, but it should be the Dockers getting the points in this one. Fremantle by 33 points.
Read more: http://www.sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/preview-fremantle-v-richmond-164235