Tigers midfielder warns Suns ahead of big Cains clashMurray Wenzel
Saturday, July 13, 2013
The Cairns PostAWARE of the dangers a young Suns team possess, Richmond's Reece Conca has reminded everyone that they have a bit of talent of their own.
While the talk has been about silencing star Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett, the midfielder suggested the Suns should be more wary of what the sixth-placed Tigers can do ahead of today's match at Cazalys.
Both sides arrived in Cairns yesterday and had a light training session in front of the hundreds that turned up in their club's colours.
"Yeah, they are a young blossoming side with a heap of talent," the 20-year-old said as the Suns trained behind him.
"We've got a talented midfield ourselves ... they'd almost want to be a bit more worried about us than vice versa."
Also in their favour is the return of fabled ruckman Ivan Maric,who was a late withdrawal through injury last time the teams played in Cairns.
He missed last week's loss to the Kangaroos and will be provide a massive presence at the stoppages for the Victorian club.
"Ivan's a great player and his experience will help us midfielders," Conca said.
"To get on top of their talls in the ruck early; that'll help our cause. He'll contribute a lot to getting the win."
Recalled Sun Josh Hall will play his first senior game of the season on the same ground where he made his debut last year.
He will pinch hit in the ruck behind Tom Nicholls and admitted the sense of occasion had kicked in when he stepped back out on to Cazalys.
"Yeah it's a bit of deja vu. Last year I was very nervous, my legs were shaking and it's sort of ticked in again now," the Townsville product said.
"It's great to be back up here and I've got a bit of a group coming up to watch again."
Richmond are staring down the barrel of three straight losses at the venue after agreeing to move their home games away from the MCG.
However, Conca said there had been no talk among the players of breaking a hoodoo.
"It's dented our season (losing in Cairns to the Gold Coast) the last few years, but we're upbeat and positive and haven't harped on about it," Conca said.
"New team, new year and we're pumped to get the win."
Despite last week's big loss to the Kangaroos the Tigers looked in a good mood yesterday and the midfielder, who has overcome a foot injury this season to be back to full fitness, agreed they were ready to remedy that blemish.
"It was disappointing. We didn't play the way we'd like but we'll bounce back, we need to stick with what's worked," he said.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2013/07/13/245270_local-sport-news.html