Stop stargazing TigersJake Niall
The Age
April 24, 2015When Brett Deledio and Alex Rance were grounded or underdone last year, the Tigers were the competition under-achiever. As Deledio and Rance returned and revived, so did their team.
By the end of the home and away season, Rance was an all-Australian, while the more established Deledio had reminded all of his value and versatility, mixing midfield with forward duties. The Tigers had transformed from a 3-10 thigh slapper into a surging (12-10) finalist, albeit one that crashed badly in the elimination final.
Deledio missed Richmond's upset by the Bulldogs, last weekend's game in Brisbane and will be absent on Friday night for Tigers v Demons due to a calf injury. He has been virtually ruled out of the round five match against the Cats. That's a block of four games without him.
It was during the corresponding rounds of 2014 (rounds 3-6) that Deledio and Rance were absent, a period that saw the Tigers reach their early season nadir. Up until last Saturday's flogging of the lamentable Lions, they had lost eight of the nine previous games when the durable "Lids" – who had a troublesome Achilles last year – was unavailable.
Knowing what happened last year, many Richmond people will be fearful about the Anzac weekend game (they were beaten by Melbourne in their last encounter, after Tom Hafey's death) and, indeed, the following week. They shouldn't be. Deledio's absence can become a significant positive in the progression of a team that stalled in the first 10 quarters of 2015.
That the Tigers were so crippled by the loss of A graders last year was an indictment on their teammates. This year, the month or so without him presents an opportunity. If they can win the next two minus Deledio – as they should – this team will gain both confidence and momentum, while shifting responsibility to the next level of players, such as Brandon Ellis and Nick Vlastuin; for too long Richmond's fortunes have hinged on their feted five – Deledio, Rance, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt. To win against moderate opposition without one of that quintet surely isn't asking too much.
"He's a good player," said Richmond chief executive and ex-ruckman Brendon Gale of Deledio. "Obviously we'd rather have him playing ... (but) it's a good opportunity to test our depth."
Teams often develop and flourish as a consequence of losing a player – particularly once that gun returns and is infused into a more confident side. Essendon held up reasonably well without Jobe Watson in late 2014, when Dyson Heppell, in particular, assumed greater responsibilty. This year, the Bombers appear to be less dependent upon their skipper, who has returned (fit) to a more seasoned and capable team.
For the Tigers, the fixture is ideal for their Deledio-less period. They should best the Demons and a Geelong side that has a raft of injuries and banged-up older bodies. Brisbane, Melbourne and Geelong is a progression in quality and are precisely the games they have to win without an A grader if they're to graduate from fringe finals side into one (eventually) on the cusp of contention. For Carlton, the Wellington game, too, affords them a similar opportunity – winning without two of their best players (Chris Yarran and Chris Judd) against a weaker team and bolstering their fragile belief. Gold Coast's most – read only – spirited performance of 2015, meanwhile, was achieved without Gary Ablett at Geelong.
Blessed with five elite players, the Tigers only move upwards by successfully covering for one of them.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/stop-stargazing-tigers-20150423-1mrveq.html
