Taming the Tiger Triangle of Cotchin, Deledio & Martin (Adelaide Advertiser)

[one-eyed]

If those in Adelaide are happy to ignore Ellis' form then that's good for us.


Richmond’s Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin loom large for Port Adelaide in knockout final at Adelaide Oval

Josh Jenkins
Adelaide Advertiser
September 05, 2014

SADLY, the fairytale script went a little wayward and there will be no Showdown final at Adelaide Oval this weekend.

But while the Crows didn’t live up to their end of the bargain, a mouthwatering knockout contest between Port Adelaide and Richmond still awaits.

After its excellent start to the season, the Power has been headed to the finals for months.

Its opponent, Richmond, is an almost larger than life football club which has ridden a remarkable wave of energy, excitement and electricity during an amazing nine-game winning streak to steal a top-eight spot.

But which club moves deeper into September?

With good weather forecast the Adelaide Oval track should be as fast as ever, which both teams will enjoy.

The Tigers boast a trio of matchwinning midfielders who can rotate to full forward with great effect.

Captain Trent Cotchin leads the way in the middle and is the Tigers’ premier ballwinner but Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio have been the prime reasons for the Richmond resurgence.

While effective in the midfield, they have spent large chunks of their matches as stay-at-home forwards.

Martin has proved a deadly one-on-one match-up, highlighted by his game-clinching goals against Adelaide and Sydney.

Make no mistake, if Port can keep the Tigers trio out of the limelight it wins the game.

But the beauty of elite sport is not just knowing how to stop the opposition but being able to implement an effective plan to do it.

So who are the Power players who will be tasked with the job of stopping the star threesome?

Martin - one of the in-form players in the competition - is a big midfielder who is undersized against opponents when he plays from the goalsquare.

But what sets him apart from most others is his knack for winning contests against his direct opponent.

This makes Port’s do-it-all defender Tom Jonas the man for Martin.

Jonas and Martin are listed at similar heights and weights - Jonas is a centimetre taller at 188cm but a kilogram lighter at 89kg - but Jonas has the defensive skill set to counter Martin’s X-factor qualities.

Deledio has a different book of tricks that the Power must be concerned with.

The 2004 No. 1 draft pick possesses deadly speed and beautiful skills on either foot.

His turnaround in form has been the single biggest factor in the Tiger charge and in the do-or-die clash against Sydney he pounded it for 29 disposals and three crucial goals in a low-scoring game.

Deledio’s superb form is highlighted by his SuperCoach scores during Richmond’s nine-game winning streak.

Only once did he dip below 100 points as he won countless possessions around the ground as well as pushing forward to kick goals.

The final member of the Tiger triangle is captain Cotchin.

Often wrongly ridiculed for collecting too many disposals in defence and getting cheap touches around the back of teammates, Cotchin has proven his undoubted worth in the second half of 2014.

Much like Port’s skipper Travis Boak, Cotchin will need close attention throughout the match to ensure he doesn’t power the Tiger midfield to victory.

The hard-running Brad Ebert should be charged with this role, as his ability to play two-way football is one of the most valuable commodities in the AFL.

Cotchin is his team’s highest disposal winner and ranks in the top three for kicks, handballs, inside 50s, free kicks and tackles.

At his best, he is also a multiple goalkicker and if Ebert is able to quell his impact early on Sunday expect to see Cotchin join Martin and Deledio in spending time forward.

With 44 players on the field, it can be naive to think that just three players will determine the outcome of the match.

But for those who have witnessed all or part of Richmond’s miraculous run to the finals, it has become clear that if you stop the Tiger trio, you stop Richmond in its tracks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

PORT

Robbie Gray

Since his horrific knee injury two years ago, Gray has mirrored his club and risen to league-wide prominence.

Now a bona-fide midfield star, Gray has not forgotten his tricks as a small forward this year as he has still booted 34 goals.

Gray is also among Port’s top three in disposals and the AFL leaders in score involvements, meaning even as a midfielder he wins possessions in dangerous parts of the ground.

Justin Westhoff

Westhoff has not had the season many expected after he set the league alight early last year.

But Power fans know just what ‘The Hoff’ is capable of doing in big games.

A Showdown specialist and deadly in Port’s two finals last season, expect the running centre half-forward to exceed his 7.2 marks and 1.1 goals per match during the club’s finals surge.

RICHMOND

Dustin Martin

Since being drafted as the No. 3 pick at the 2009 national draft, Martin has displayed immense talent.

But until this year he only occasionally flashed it.

Now he has developed into an elite dual threat, winning the ball at ease in the middle along with banging home crunch-time goals.

At no stage on Sunday can Port afford to let Martin run free or it will pay a heavy price.

Jack Riewoldt

Few players personify the term matchwinner like “Jumping Jack’’.

A proven goalkicker and strong focal point, Riewoldt’s blend of agility, natural forward play and high marking means he is a match-up nightmare.

Mid-sized Power back Jack Hombsch could be tasked with stopping Riewoldt after some serviceable efforts when opposed to the likes of Lance Franklin and Nick Riewoldt in recent weeks.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/jenkins-richmonds-dustin-martin-brett-deledio-and-trent-cotchin-loom-large-for-port-adelaide-in-knockout-final-at-adelaide-oval/story-fnelctok-1227047645405

[Chuck17]

Few players personify the term matchwinner like “Jumping Jack’’.

A proven goalkicker and strong focal point, Riewoldt’s blend of agility, natural forward play and high marking means he is a match-up nightmare.

Umm isnt it Junk time jack?

[Owl]

what about miles, and foley and ellis?  don't they rate em?

[Stripes]

what about miles, and foley and ellis?  don't they rate em?

I think that is the best part about our midfield now. Lids and Dusty are allowed to be more 'cameo' players and not have to be at the coal face. Miles (Inside) and Ellis (Outside Run) have taken a lot of the grunt work away from Cotchin and Lids plus they have allowed Martin to roam more forward. Additionally Conca and Vlaustin can play both roles as well so while all the three players mentioned provide the additional polish to our performances, our standard does not drop off if the three of them under perform.

We are a much more even side than many believe. Probably the player we still do rely upon the most and can't not cover is Maric. Take Maric out of the game and hinder his output around stoppages and all of a sudden all our midfielders are playing reactive football.

[tony_montana]

Since being drafted as the No. 3 pick at the 2009 national draft, Martin has displayed immense talent.

But until this year he only occasionally flashed it.

biggest load of tripe comment - 3 of his first 4 seasons have been elite. wtf is it with journos? Have seen this comment several times now, they all jump on board and before you know it, misinformed opinions become footy folklore.

In his second season(2011) he averaged 22possessions and kicked 33 goals. In 2012 he had 55 yes 55 shots on goal, if he kicked straight could've been anything. Any coach in the afl would cream themselves to have a mid/fwd who gets that many opportunities. Last season his "off season" he posted 16 brownlow votes.

And deledio has been playing as a perma high HF for about 8-10 weeks now you dickwads. These clowns get paid to do this 

[MintOnLamb]

Since being drafted as the No. 3 pick at the 2009 national draft, Martin has displayed immense talent.

But until this year he only occasionally flashed it.

biggest load of tripe comment - 3 of his first 4 seasons have been elite. wtf is it with journos? Have seen this comment several times now, they all jump on board and before you know it, misinformed opinions become footy folklore.

In his second season(2011) he averaged 22possessions and kicked 33 goals. In 2012 he had 55 yes 55 shots on goal, if he kicked straight could've been anything. Any coach in the afl would cream themselves to have a mid/fwd who gets that many opportunities. Last season his "off season" he posted 16 brownlow votes.

And deledio has been playing as a perma high HF for about 8-10 weeks now you dickwads. These clowns get paid to do this 

I think you are out of whack with this comment, Remember this is an Adelaide journo, they have no interest in anything outside Adelaide, in fact some areas have just had electricity connected, so a lot of this journos info has obviously come via tom tom drums

[Owl]

what about miles, and foley and ellis?  don't they rate em?

I think that is the best part about our midfield now. Lids and Dusty are allowed to be more 'cameo' players and not have to be at the coal face. Miles (Inside) and Ellis (Outside Run) have taken a lot of the grunt work away from Cotchin and Lids plus they have allowed Martin to roam more forward. Additionally Conca and Vlaustin can play both roles as well so while all the three players mentioned provide the additional polish to our performances, our standard does not drop off if the three of them under perform.

We are a much more even side than many believe. Probably the player we still do rely upon the most and can't not cover is Maric. Take Maric out of the game and hinder his output around stoppages and all of a sudden all our midfielders are playing reactive football.

Forgot Vlaustin lol damn, he is a ripper, Concs is solid but seems a bit flatter this year

[tony_montana]

Since being drafted as the No. 3 pick at the 2009 national draft, Martin has displayed immense talent.

But until this year he only occasionally flashed it.

biggest load of tripe comment - 3 of his first 4 seasons have been elite. wtf is it with journos? Have seen this comment several times now, they all jump on board and before you know it, misinformed opinions become footy folklore.

In his second season(2011) he averaged 22possessions and kicked 33 goals. In 2012 he had 55 yes 55 shots on goal, if he kicked straight could've been anything. Any coach in the afl would cream themselves to have a mid/fwd who gets that many opportunities. Last season his "off season" he posted 16 brownlow votes.

And deledio has been playing as a perma high HF for about 8-10 weeks now you dickwads. These clowns get paid to do this 

I think you are out of whack with this comment, Remember this is an Adelaide journo, they have no interest in anything outside Adelaide, in fact some areas have just had electricity connected, so a lot of this journos info has obviously come via tom tom drums

fair point

[the claw]

Since being drafted as the No. 3 pick at the 2009 national draft, Martin has displayed immense talent.

But until this year he only occasionally flashed it.

biggest load of tripe comment - 3 of his first 4 seasons have been elite. wtf is it with journos? Have seen this comment several times now, they all jump on board and before you know it, misinformed opinions become footy folklore.

In his second season(2011) he averaged 22possessions and kicked 33 goals. In 2012 he had 55 yes 55 shots on goal, if he kicked straight could've been anything. Any coach in the afl would cream themselves to have a mid/fwd who gets that many opportunities. Last season his "off season" he posted 16 brownlow votes.

And deledio has been playing as a perma high HF for about 8-10 weeks now you dickwads. These clowns get paid to do this 

gotta agree. journos everywhere are talking as though martin has suddenly exploded which is just plain old rubbish.

in the main each yr in most categories there has been incremental improvement. in some key areas if anything hes gone backwards a tad.  two areas id like to see dusty get better in is win a bit more contested ball and actually lay more tackles and perform more 1%ers. he needs to add more of a defensive edge to his game and totally round his game out.
hes a very good player and im pretty happy we have him and hes been a very good player almost from day dot.
i reckon these journos find ways to justify their incompetence.

finally imo the most important players  in the run to finals has been miles, maric and  to a lesser degree foley in the middle and obviously rance down back.

[Chuck17]

I want to hear you say Rance is a gun

[YellowandBlackBlood]

I want to hear you say Rance is a gun

You're stretching it there Chucky!

[Chuck17]

I want to hear you say Rance is a gun

You're stretching it there Chucky!

I think he has it in him

[bojangles17]

Jr8 14 goals from last 3 games v PA