Tigers excel around the Tan * Bruce Matthews
* From: Herald Sun
* January 05, 2011 11:24AMSEVEN players recorded personal best times today when Richmond became the latest AFL club to resume training following the Christmas-New Year break.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said he was delighted with the physical and mental attitude of his players to start the preparations leading to next month's NAB Cup competition.
Midfielder-forward Matt White won the time trial around the 3.8km Botanical Gardens Tan in an impressive 13min 12sec.
And the coaching staff were delighted to see a leaner Jack Riewoldt among the early finishers to the gut-busting first test of the new year.
Riewoldt has shed kilos to become more agile in a bid to play further up the ground this season.
Trade acquisition Brad Miller, who has already impressed the Tigers with his leadership qualities, backed up the talk with a solid finish among the leading pack and the former Demon looked fit and eager for his second AFL start.
Notable absentees included midfielders Trent Cotchin and Nathan Foley who didn't risk recent achilles tendon and ankle injuries on the Tan's hard surface.
Hardwick said the pair were training with the rest of the group at Punt Road Oval and were on track to be ready for the opening round.
He said the Tigers' coaching group had discussed the new substitute system to be introduced by the AFL this season and first used during the NAB Cup. All clubs are waiting to be briefed by the league on exactly how the interchange innovation will work.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/richmond-time-trial/story-e6frf9if-1225982318159
