Tiger trades raise hopes
Murray Middleton
Written on Tuesday, 09 October 2012 08:32
The big winners of free agency to date have been Richmond. Last week the Tigers managed to lure Chris Knights and Troy Chaplin from the City of Churches. The fact that Richmond has been able to land the likes of Chaplin and Ivan Maric in the past two seasons suggests that the club's 'big four' status may be re-emerging after a 32-year hibernation.
Troy Chaplin probably hasn't received the exposure that he deserves in Victoria because of the relative anonymity of his former football club. On paper, he will be the Tigers' sixth best player in 2013 (behind Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin and Ivan Maric). He will not only sure up their defence, he will also aid the development of Alex Rance and Dylan Grimes by reducing their workload.
Chaplin's emergence as a strong-bodied defender in 2007 played a huge part in Port Adelaide's surprise Grand Final appearance. While the 196-centimetre former basketballer never looked like a natural footballer, he was able to regularly lock horns with some of the competition's most intimidating power forwards - Fraser Gehrig, Barry Hall, Jonathan Brown – and hold his own.
In neglecting to match Richmond's four-year contract offer, Port Adelaide Football Manager Peter Rohde alluded to the bone-on-bone discomfort in Chaplin's knee. It's difficult for outsiders to speculate as to the structure of a stranger's knee. If Chaplin's knee is anywhere near as bad as Jade Rawlings' knee was when he joined the Bulldogs in 2004, then Port is well within their right to pinch pennies. If it isn't, then Chaplin should prove to be a great acquisition at Punt Road.
Like Chaplin, Chris Knights has been in the system for just shy of a decade. He was a prolific midfielder for the Crows in 2007 and 2008, averaging 22 disposals over 38 games. In 2009 he chimed in with 43 goals as part of a versatile Adelaide forward line. In retrospect, his success in front of the sticks, coupled with the emergence of Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane, probably cost him his spot in the Crows' midfield.
If Knights can recapture the form from early in his career, he will slot into the Tigers' midfield rotations nicely alongside Cotchin, Deledio, Martin, Foley, Tuck and Grigg. Knights and Chaplin will also add two left footers to a side desperately short on southpaws (there is currently only four in their best 22). In the past two seasons Hawthorn has illustrated the importance of having a dexterous lineup.
In Damien Hardwick's three seasons in charge Richmond has won six games, eight games and ten games. In 2012 they comprehensively defeated both grand finalists. The only blight on the club during Hardwick's reign has been their propensity to suffer 'honourable' defeats. Although this might seem like something that will be rectified with the passing of time and a maturing playing group, it is imperative that they start to win the close ones in 2013. Otherwise the doubts (and the doubters) will snowball.
While the recruitment of Chaplin, Knights and potentially Greater Western Sydney's Dom Tyson will definitely improve the team's roster, they must play finals in 2013. Even if they were to lose an Elimination Final, as with North Melbourne, the experience that they would gain would be invaluable. However it isn't a foregone conclusion. To do so they will not only have to dislodge one of this seasons' top eight teams, they will also have to leapfrog a Mick Malthouse-coached Carlton and a Brendon Goddard-infused Essendon lineup.
Any talk of a top four finish seems fatally misguided. It is a quantum leap to go from outside the top eight into the top four. While West Coast and Adelaide have managed to do it in the past two seasons, both clubs have enjoyed the luxury of turning their interstate home ground into a fortress (West Coast went 12-1 at home in 2011 and Adelaide went 12-2 at home in 2012). This dominance won't be possible at the MCG.
The football landscape would be both unrecognisable and intriguing with a formidable Richmond side. One senses that the annual round one encounter with Carlton at the MCG will be crucial in determining Richmond's fortunes in 2013. Should they prevail, Damien Hardwick will be forced to contend with something that no Richmond coach has dealt with in a long time: genuine hope.
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