Fringe Tigers’ star performances prove Richmond, scarily, should only get betterFebruary 20, 2020 1:07pm
Tom Morris
FOX SPORTSOpposition clubs, beware.
Richmond’s intra-club on Thursday morning at Punt Road went off without a hitch. There were no new injuries and ample reasons for Tigers fans to dream big.
Not that any of this comes as a huge surprise, but there will be plenty of unlucky players at selection before Round 1.
Shai Bolton’s first half was electric, booting two goals and having a hand in several others. He was on the stronger yellow team, which was essentially Damien Hardwick’s best 22.
Bolton took a spectacular mark early and was a constant threat in the front half. “He was exceptional,” assistant coach Justin Leppitsch said post-match.
Teammate Riley Collier-Dawkins, who Hardwick said had put on 7kg over the summer, will be hard to keep out of the senior team. Ditto Sydney Stack, who booted two goals.
One of the shining lights in the weaker team was Oleg Markov, who finished with three majors and presented well all morning.
At half-time, Tom Lynch, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Bachar Houli and Shane Edwards swapped sides. All six have been selected in the Bushfire Relief match next Friday, which Leppitsch noted will allow the Tigers to give opportunities to half-a-dozen fringe players in the Marsh Community Series.
The change of line-ups meant the yellow side resembled the team Richmond is likely to take into its first Marsh Series match in a couple of weeks.
At three-quarter time, Houli and Cotchin took off their GPS monitors and boots, while the other four big guns played on. Houli had been slightly winded but smiled and took photos with fans before heading into the changing rooms.
The Tigers had a few teething issues early in the match with rotations, which prompted Hardwick to come down from the Jack Dyer Stand – where he was sitting next to assistants Adam Kingsley and Craig McRae – to the bench.
The stronger team began the match with three deep forwards and plenty of space in front of them: Martin, Lynch and Riewoldt. The latter two booted three majors between them, while Martin spent plenty of time on the ball and even in the back half, which is an area he rarely frequented in 2019.
Jack Higgins and Stack were on the ‘weaker’ team, but Leppitsch was impressed by their efforts.
“They performed really well,” the former Brisbane coach said.
“They could easily slot into our group and play regular senior footy this year. Jack was terrific and gets a lot of the ball. More importantly, it’s great to see him back.”
Marlion Pickett defied his light build several times in the clinches and looked every bit the player he was on Grand Final day last September.
There was one particular piece of play which had both benches applauding when Pickett, under serious duress, somehow saw Liam Baker 40 metres inboard and with his non-preferred foot, hit him on the chest.
“He is leaner,” Leppitsch said of Pickett.
“It’s his first AFL pre-season. Even at 27, the improvement you can get by being in the AFL season. He is still blind turning everyone which is good to see.”
Jack Graham played just the first term as he recovers from a shoulder injury. He’s unlikely to play against Collingwood next week but should be available for Round 1.
Nankervis played the first term in the ruck for the weaker black team and got through unscathed. He showed no obvious signs of the adductor injury that significantly impacted his summer. He then did some additional work on the sideline with fitness staff.
Kamdyn McIntosh ran laps pre-match as he recovers from a twisted ankle, while draftee Thomson Dow stayed at home due to illness.
BESTBolton, Martin, Pickett, Ross, Collier-Dawkins, Prestia, Castagna, Chol
GOALKICKERSCastagna 3, Markov 3, Bolton 2, Lynch 2, Stack 2, Riewoldt 2, Collier Dawkins, Aarts, Ross, Soldo, Chol, Martyn
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-richmond-intra-club-match-report-photos-shai-bolton-riley-collierdawkins-oleg-markov-sydney-stack/news-story/5b04608ac542adf247c6b9b92debc04f
