Our old friend Kim Hagdorn has also joined the 'Richmond recruited for finals' media bandwagon.
Richmond recruited for finalsBy Kim Hagdorn
Sports News First
12 December 2012 01:12PM ESTRICHMOND appear to have added last bits of an ambitious finals plan with recruitment of mature rookies to their playing list for next season.
Tigers recruiters snatched hard-core defensive on-baller Sam Lonergan, versatile all-rounder Ricky Petterd and travelled former Geelong and VFL ruckman Orren Stephenson in the last collection of players ahead of the 2013 premiership race.
The Tigers also added another midfielder with Cadeyn Williams with their fourth selection and pick 40 overall in the rookie selection process.
But the apparent calculations in adding crucial experience and toughness around the ball with experienced AFL campaigners, despite Petterd’s injury woes, should be considered a highly strategic injection of just the sort of grunt personnel that coach Damien Hardwick wants to round out a distinct finals push.
The Tigers had already added vital experience and proven hardness in strategic zones to bolster deficiencies in Hardwick’s finals blueprint through October’s historic trade period.
Former North Melbourne hard nut Aaron Edwards was secured to bolster marking and goal-scoring power in support of dual Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt, while veteran Port Adelaide backman Troy Chaplin and vastly experienced Adelaide Crow Chris Knights have all landed at Punt Road.
The famous Tigers remain one of the game’s biggest under achievers.
Richmond have played finals just twice since losing the 1982 grand final to traditional arch rivals Carlton.
It is more than a decade since the Tigers last savaged any action in September in 2001 under then coach Danny Frawley when they lost a preliminary final and had also made it into the last four in ’95 under John Northey.
The famous "yellow and black" have also endured frustration at finishing an agonising ninth on six occasions since introduction of the final eight system in 1994.
Injection of the type of personnel and varied playing expertise in Richmond’s post-season recruiting is decidedly pointed at making finals in 2013 as opposed to development of a young and evolving list.
It appears time to deliver on expectations at Tigerland.
Hardwick and his advisors and especially the introduction of uncompromising former senior AFL premiership coach Mark Williams as senior assistant, the Tigers clearly in finals planning.
Lonergan's presence has to be perceived as a potential enforcer around the crucial stoppages to create leverage for match-winning on-ball dynamos Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio to have freedom to generate clean movement away from congestion.
Lonergan, 25, has played 79 senior games in his seven seasons on the Bombers list and his most credentialed talents are assignments to run-with designated dangerous opponents, or clearing passage for gun Essendon on-baller Jobe Watson.
Petterd offers diversity as a pack-breaking on-baller or outside winger and high floating half-forward with handy finishing skills running onto goal-scoring chances, while Stephenson, even at 30, presents vital ruck relief to powerhouse big on-baller Ivan Maric.
The Tigers have an especially awkward fixture draw, with distinct potential to win enough home-and-away engagements to stake a September play-off berth for only a third time in 30 years.
They start with a big opening six weeks with a traditional launch against the Blues in Round 1 at the MCG, then back to the “G” next week against St Kilda before an Etihad Stadium showdown with possible strugglers Western Bulldogs.
It’s then a crucial block of three consecutive projected top-four contenders with Collingwood at the “G” in Round 4, Fremantle over in Perth just six days later and then back at the MCG to confront Geelong on May 4.
The Tigers will hit the Blues, Saints, Fremantle, Bulldogs and Essendon twice in their 22-match schedule and have 13 games on their hallowed MGC turf.
Winning games the Tigers are probably expected to win as well as taking vital premiership points from other borderline finals contenders is likely to determine Richmond’s September fate on the back is such vigorous recruiting.
St Kilda, North Melbourne, Essendon and probably even last season’s preliminary finalists Adelaide, should all be outfits the Tigers need to beat to stay ahead of some of those genuine top eight contenders.
http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/12/12/richmond-recruited-for-finals/
