RICHMOND 2013 PRESEASON PREVIEW:afloffseason facebook page - AFL Free Agency, Trade, Draft & Season News
January 9Best 22B: Morris Chaplin Grimes
HB: Newman Rance Ellis
C: Foley Tuck Martin
HF: Knights Vickery S.Edwards
F: King Riewoldt A.Edwards
R: Maric Cotchin Deledio
Int: Grigg Conca Houli
Sub: Nahas
Emg: Batchelor Jackson Vlaustin
Predicted Best & Fairest: Trent Cotchin
Predicted Leading Goal Kicker: Jack Riewoldt
Potential Break Out Players: Dustin Martin, Reece Conca, Tyrone Vickery
Potential Rising Star: Nick Vlaustin
Predicted Ladder Position: 10th
The Offseason:The Tigers Off-Season started with the signature of Mark Williams as a new assistant coach and announced that they are set to embark on improving its development program and will enter a stand-alone reserves side in the VFL from 2014. Former club champion Wayne Campbell was also announced as Coburg’s coach for 2013, before the transition to the stand alone team next year. But as much as the good news of the development side of things was coming along, new recruit Aaron Edwards spent four hours in a police cell after being picked up for being drunk in a public place after big day drinking at the Cox Plate – which wasn’t the greatest start to a new career with the Tigers. Ricky Petterd also brought unwanted attention to the club, for his role - or lack of – in the Boxing Day shenanigans at the MCG which he was recently cleared of any wrong doing.
Trade/Draft/Free Agency:Before we get stuck into this, it needs to be said that Richmond’s recruiting over the past two years has been as good as both Sydney and Collingwood’s. The demons that have followed Richmond and their recruiting staff for the better part of a decade can be buried, because Richmond’s recruiting, and drafting has been absolutely impeccable.
Richmond entered October and November with a clear list of boxes to tick off. A key defender – tick; a roaming medium size half forward – tick; a small crafty forward – double tick; an insurance ruckmen – tick; and a ferocious on-baller-come tagger – tick. Put all this together, and you’ve got considerable depth. Richmond have been criticised in recent times for their lack of depth, and that too can now be flushed down the toilet as Troy Chaplin, Chris Knights, Aaron Edwards, Ricky Petterd, Orren Stepehnson and Sam Lonergan. Knockers believe that it smelled of desperation, others thought that the “moneyball” approach was simply not Richmond’s style – but whichever way you look at it, the amount of senior players coming into the club can only improve things, rather than derail them.
The draft also delivered some gems, and by gems, I mean diamonds. Nick Vlaustin is the star of the pack, the first round pick who captained Vic Metro to yet another successful National Champion win. But it’s the later picks in Kamdyn McIntosh, Liam McBean and my favourite of the bunch – Matty McDonough who will provide plenty of highlights for many years to come.
The Draft, Trade and Free Agency period was a major success for Richmond, who executed the perfect mix of young talent and mature age players – and if the likes of Shaun Grigg, Bachar Houli and Ivan Maric are anything to go by – it’s quite possible that we are yet to see the best of Lonergan, Petterd, Chaplin, Knights, Edwards and Stephenson.
The Draftees:The Tigers had been linked too Nick Vlaustin for the majority of the 2012 Off Season and it was for good reason. The Tigers picked the future star with Pick 9, and is seen to be somewhat of a Chris Newman successor, playing a similar driving force role from the backline. Vlaustin is like a bull at a gate, ferocious, tenacious, he is a natural leader who prides himself on his ability to win the contested ball. He will bleed for the jumper, and is the type of bloke that wear’s his heart on his sleeve. He will make the tiger army very proud.
Young key defender Kamdyn McIntosh, has the ability to play on Small and Tall Defenders and is very much in a Dale Morris type of role. He is versatile and creative, and in saying that – he always has a team first attitude, and dominated for WA in the National Championships. He had some big scalps, namely over Joe Daniher, Tim Membry and Kristian Jaksch.
Liam McBean is very much a project player, and is super agile and athletic. At 202cms, he could be forgiven for struggling to get around the ground – but he does so with ease, even playing a lock down defensive role throughout the Championships, as well as stints in the ruck were his freakish pace really stood out. Bean by name, and beanpole by nature – don’t expect to see loads of him at the moment, he will be groomed in the VFL before he gets his opportunity. And onto my favourite – Matty McDonough.
There were stars galore for South Australia in 2012, and it was by far their best outfit for decades. McDonough is the type of player who could quite easily step into the senior line up in 2013, and trouble the likes of King, Nahas and both Edwards boys for small forward stardom. It’s a lot of pressure I’m putting on this young bloke – but the things that he is capable will justify that. McDonough is a dead eye on goal – very much a Stephan Milne player who can destroy teams if you allow him too much space. He is super cool under pressure, and likes to kick the miraculous goals. His forward pressure is something that Dimma will adore, as he makes quite a bit of a splash when tackling and bumping people off the ball.
What To Expect:The heat is on for the Tigers, and really - it's Top 8 or bust for Richmond in 2013. They have one of the best young lists in the country, and will have to come up with the goods if they are to push out the likes of Carlton, and Essendon for a top 8 position this year. They’ll also be contending with the likes of North Melbourne, Geelong and Fremantle if Carlton and Essendon both look on track to make the 8. It’s a lot to ask of Dimma’s men – but I made the call last year in preseason to say that Richmond won’t make the finals in 2012. I was right, and I will be right this year by not saying anything as of yet! Without getting carried away – Richmond have the ability to finish as high as 5th, and that in all honesty is realistic. Most would agree that Richmond’s list is in better shape now, than it has been for 20 odd years. Big call, yes – but this young group, led by new Captain Cotchin has the markings of a Premiership in the new few years!
With that aside, I have the Tigers finishing roughly 10th, as Essendon and Carlton are a little bit further ahead in their development.
For the Tigers to make the finals Dimma would love to get a fully fit and functioning Tyrone Vickery up and running to really support Jack up forward. The midfield benefits from an equally fit and firing Nathan Foley, and just how good would it be for Grimes to go injury free this year? It’d also be ideal to have David Astbury available, too. The development of Ellis, Rance, Griffiths, Conca and Morris will be paramount, whilst the incoming recycled players will also want to put their best foot forward – especially Chaplin, Knights and Edwards who all look set to play quite a chunk of the season.
With all the hype aside, for Richmond to be serious finals contenders this year, they need to win those close games, and there were several times in 2012 where the Tigers lost games by under 1 goal, that really could’ve been the difference between playing finals, and ultimately not. Injuries also played a vital factor, and it robbed the Tigers of continuity which was quite evident in their game. Another factor that will go a long way to ensuring finals action in 2013, is the bogey team. Yes, it’s Gold Coast. It’s happened twice now, it can’t happen a third. Richmond just have to beat the Suns – and given that they sold those games to raise revenue – it’s starting to look increasingly bad – as was the publicity last year when Karmichael Hunt kicked the goal that won Gold Coast the game last year. Sorry to bring up old wounds, but I’m sure as a Richmond supporter – the past 30 years of pain and suffering far outweighs two – and I’m gonna say it! – ugly, embarrassing, poo poor loses.
I don’t support the Tigers at all, and for those asking – I follow Collingwood. But with that aside, things are becoming exciting for the young cubs, as Richmond look to a new era in 2013. The “Richmond Way” has become extremely appealing, and watching the raw passion unfold from long suffering fans, as well as the players – it’s something that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!
There really is no better song in the AFL, when you hear a packed MCG roar, quite literally “YELLOW AND BLACK!” – it’s great, and it’s time we saw this club play finals and write their own history.
The sooner that clubs such as Richmond, Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood can all be playing finals simultaneously – the better!
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