Who’ll get Jack?
4:14:28 PM Tue 13 September, 2005
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
Can ‘Bowdo’ go back-to-back?
Will ‘Tucky’ manage to do in just 25 games what his illustrious ‘old man’ couldn’t in 426 games?
Could it be a first for ‘Richo’?
Or, is ‘Cogs’ poised to cap a bold comeback from serious injury and claim the top honor for a second time?
These are just some of the questions on the lips of the Yellow and Black faithful as the countdown to Friday night’s 2005 Jack Dyer Medal count, at the Regent Theatre’s Plaza Ballroom, moves into full swing.
This shapes as the closest – and most intriguing – Richmond Best and Fairest battle for many a year.
There appear to be four genuine chances to take ‘Jack’ home on Friday night – last year’s winner Joel Bowden, second-season Tiger Shane Tuck, prolific goalkicker Matthew Richardson and 2003 Jack Dyer Medallist Mark Coughlan.
If Bowden is successful, he will become the first player to win the Jack Dyer Medal in successive years since the great Dale Weightman in 1986-87. Almost impossible to believe now that Bowdo was actually dropped to VFL level with the Coburg Tigers early last season, in the midst of the worst form slump of his career . . .
Shane Tuck will carve out some interesting history of his own if he can capture the Jack Dyer Medal. His father, Michael, was a seven-time premiership player and captain at Hawthorn, but the club’s Best and Fairest eluded him throughout 20 seasons. Tuck junior may well be proudly displaying an AFL club B & F medal around his neck after just 25 senior games – and one full season of league football – to his credit.
A Matthew Richardson Medal win would be hugely popular with his legion of Tiger fans. ‘Richo’ has a mortgage on the Michael Roach Medal, having taken out the Club’s Leading Goalkicker award a staggering 10 times. On three occasions, he has finished runner-up in the Jack Dyer Medal – 1996, 1999 and 2002. Victory on Friday night would be a fitting reward for his wonderful loyalty to the Tiger cause, his determination, his persistence, and his consistency. He has embraced Terry Wallace’s coaching methods and produced arguably the most consistent of his 13 seasons at the game’s highest level in ‘05.
Mark Coughlan must have wondered at times last year if, indeed, he’d ever get through a full game of senior league football again, such was the debilitating nature of his groin complaint. It’s testimony to his professionalism, courage and desire that he not only played all 22 home-and-away games in the ’05 season, but is rated a strong chance for a second Jack Dyer Medal (to go with the one he won in such emphatic style in ’03).
To help you decide who will win the 2005 Jack Dyer Medal, here is a comprehensive statistical season analysis (courtesy of Prowess Sports) of the four main contenders . . .
Joel Bowden
• 22 games
• 508 disposals at an average of 23.1 per game
• 325 kicks at an average of 14.8
• 183 handballs at an average of 8.3
• 62 tackles at an average of 2.8
• 7 goals
• 21 clearances at an average of 1.0
• 54 inside 50s at an average of 2.5
• 137 rebound 50s at an average of 6.2
• 27 contested possessions at an average of 1.2
• 446 uncontested possessions at an average of 20.3
• 92 one-percenters at an average of 4.2
• 65 bounces at an average of 3.0
Shane Tuck
• 22 games
• 526 disposals at an average of 23.9
• 326 kicks at an average of 14.8
• 200 handballs at an average of 9.1
• 103 marks at an average of 4.7
• 87 tackles at an average of 4.0
• 10 goals
• 112 clearances at an average of 5.1
• 98 inside 50s at an average of 4.5
• 39 rebound 50s at an average of 1.8
• 98 contested possessions at an average of 4.5
• 417 uncontested possessions at an average of 19.0
• 91 one-percenters at an average of 4.1
Matthew Richardson
• 22 games
• 299 disposals at an average of 13.6
• 248 kicks at an average of 11.3
• 51 handballs at an average of 2.3
• 169 marks at an average of 7.7
• 54 contested marks at an average of 2.5
• 21 tackles at an average of 1.0
• 65 goals at an average of 3.0
• 44 behinds at an average of 2.0
• 76 inside 50s at an average of 3.5
• 77 contested possessions at an average of 3.5
• 206 uncontested possessions at an average of 9.4
• 46 one-percenters at an average of 2.1
Mark Coughlan
• 22 games
• 485 disposals at an average of 22.0
• 250 kicks at an average of 11.4
• 235 handballs at an average of 10.7
• 112 marks at an average of 5.1
• 115 tackles at an average of 5.2
• 8 goals
• 69 clearances at an average of 3.1
• 77 inside 50s at an average of 3.5
• 32 rebound 50s at an average of 1.5
• 90 contested possessions at an average of 4.1
• 411 uncontested possessions at an average of 18.7
• 98 one-percenters at an average of 4.5
http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=228887
