Tigers’ 2017 forward line focus (RFC)

[one-eyed]

Tigers’ 2017 forward focus

richmondfc.com.au
Feb 6, 2016

In the lead-up to the start of season 2017, richmondfc.com.au is examining how the Tigers will shape up this year across all playing lines. Our attention this week turns to the forward line, with Tony Greenberg taking a look today at the Club’s options in attack.

Richmond’s forward set-up for season 2017 is something of an unknown quantity, given the departures of proven goalkickers Brett Deledio and Ty Vickery.

Deledio, who joined Greater Western Sydney during last year’s AFL trade period, kicked 20 goals or more in a season five times throughout his time at Tigerland.

Vickery, who transferred to Hawthorn as a restricted free agent at the end of last season, also  scored 20 goals or more in a year on five occasions with Richmond.

The exits of experienced duo Deledio and Vickery, however, provides great opportunity for some young Tiger talent to firmly grasp.

Jack Riewoldt, who remains the linchpin of Richmond’s attack, is genuinely excited about the prospects of the youngsters he believes have the ability to fill the void up forward for the Tigers.

“With (coaches) Justin Leppitsch and Craig McRae, and (teammate) Shane Edwards, the four of us are trying to nurture this young, exciting group into a forward line that can be really dangerous in the near future,” Riewoldt said on SEN.

“We’ve got a couple of younger kids, who you wouldn’t see as your traditional key forwards because they’re 175cm, but they’re ballistic quick.

“They’ve been exciting through the pre-season, and we feel they can step up.

“I’m really excited about (small forward) Shai Bolton (the Club’s first pick in last year’s National Draft) . . .

“And a guy that has come on in leaps and bounds, after having a pretty good first season last year, who’s matured and become a real leader of a small group at the Club, is (small forward) Daniel Rioli.

“I think Daniel’s going to shine for us, and I’m pretty excited about him as well.

”Also, I think the addition of Toby Nankervis from the Sydney Swans, is going to be a big one for us in the ruck, but I’ve started to see a few things of him down forward, which I’m really liking . . .”

Although Riewoldt finished with his lowest goal tally in a season last year, since 2009 (48 goals), he remained a valuable contributor for the Tigers.

He spent more time up the ground, averaged 14.4 disposals and 6.4 marks, and still managed to be ranked fifth in the competition for total marks inside-50.

With 483 goals all-up in his 202 games with Richmond, Riewoldt clearly is one of AFL football’s best key forwards.

It will be interesting to see, in season 2017, if he has a role closer to goal, where he can apply more scoreboard pressure on the opposition.

The capacity for big Ben Griffiths to build on the solid gains he made during 2016, will be an important factor in Richmond boosting its forward-line potency.

Griffiths finished with the highest goal tally of his league last season (14 in 13 games), including a career-high five goals against Sydney at the MCG in Round 8.

At 25 years of age, Griffiths should be entering his prime as an AFL player, and there’s no doubt he has the build and skills set to be an influential focal point in attack for the Tigers.

A couple of other older players also shape as key members of the team’s forward structure in 2017.

Shane Edwards, a veteran of 187 league games, has shown he is quite capable of kicking goals and being a damaging forward.

The 28-year-old had a season-high return of 29 goals in 2012 and he booted 22 goals in 2014.  Last season, he scored 15 goals in 19 games.

Sam Lloyd, who turns 27 in March, was one of the success stories of a disappointing 2016 season for Richmond.

He played all 22 games, kicked 35 goals (second on the Club’s goalkicking list for the year), and has 58 overall from just 42 appearances at AFL level since his debut in 2014.

Although only 180cm tall, Lloyd is strong overhead, as well as being dangerous at ground level through his innate goal sense.

If Ben Lennon can parlay a productive pre-season into something significant this year, then the Tigers’ forward stocks will rise appreciably.

The Club’s first pick in the 2013 National Draft has had a bad run with injuries, and managed just nine goals from 19 senior games with Richmond. 

Lennon, however, looks to have the tools required to develop into a proficient forward.

He is a fine mark, a top-class kick, and has worked extremely hard to improve his fitness levels over summer.

The arrival at Punt Road of gun, mature-age midfield recruits Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy, should have a positive flow-on effect for the Tigers’ attack.

It will enable star midfielders Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin to be used up forward more frequently.  And, they’ve both proven in the past, exactly how effective they can be as forwards.

Martin averages nearly a goal a game (150 from 153 games) and has kicked 20 goals or more in a season five times, with a best return of 33 in 2011.

Cotchin has 101 goals from 173 games, with his highest tally in a season being 21 in 2012.

Caddy is coming off a career-high 21 goals last season (at Geelong) and has kicked 76 goals overall in his 95 games of league football.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2017-02-06/tigers-2017-forward-focus

[JP Tiger]

Jack is still our key, but get Rioli, Bolton, Edwards & Lloyd to make the forward half totally unpredictable.  I'd even use Dusty/Cotch as a mobile CHF's while using Griff to draw big opponents out of the way.  Forget the lumbering talls we have used too often, lets go small & use speed instead of size.   

[🏅Dooks]

Jack is still our key, but get Rioli, Bolton, Edwards & Lloyd to make the forward half totally unpredictable.  I'd even use Dusty/Cotch as a mobile CHF's while using Griff to draw big opponents out of the way.  Forget the lumbering talls we have used too often, lets go small & use speed instead of size.   

Smalls would need to learn how to make space. Would only work with precise kicking which cant be chopped off by taller opponents (which historically we are rubbish at.

[the claw]

Im always happy to put my opinion out on how we should go about it despite the dick head brigade.
Always been an advocate of three genuine talls just like most clubs are i just cant abide slow plodding dinosaurs in the role.
We need pace we need fwd pressure from that pace and we need goal kickers.

the way i would go is
FF: Bolton - Griffiths - Moore or Chol would probably want to rotate the last two in and out of the side and hope  yes HOPE one can make the step up.
HF: Rioli - Riewoldt - Lloyd or Lennon.We need the pace of Rioli, Bolton, and Moore or Chols outstnding athleticism and he is no slouch either.  but we can not afford to play two sml/med plodders in Lloyd and Lennon in the same fwd line it is this that has crucified us .I actually think Lennon has a huge upside and he would be my preference but Lloyd has not done a lot wrong and it would be up to Lennon to force him out.

They talk about how poor the fwd line has been then the simple solution is to try and then  persevere with something different.

[one-eyed]

Leppa’s leap of forward faith

richmondfc.com.au
Feb 7, 2017

Line update: Forwards Assistant coach, Justin Leppitsch provides an update on how the forward line is shaping up this pre-season.

Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch provides a snapshot of the Tigers’ forward line preparations, plans, personnel, and potential for season 2017 in this ‘Roar Vision’ exclusive.

Department of youth

“On average, it’s a pretty young group, the forwards, but having Jack (Riewoldt) there and ‘Griff’ (Ben Griffiths), tends to pump the age up a little bit . . . I’m really enjoying working with the young boys.”

Tall timber growth

“All of our young ‘talls’ are improving . . . (Todd) Elton, (Mabior) Chol and (Callum) Moore.  They’ve been really good to work with.  It’s hard for me to compare to last year, but I’m really impressed with their work-rate.  And they seem to be improving with every week . . . It’s a good sign.”

Riewoldt’s inspirational influence

“He’s been a great leader for us, Jack.  He really drives the whole thing, particularly this year.  He’s taken a bigger role again in that because he’s the most experienced (forward).  And he’s a really smart footballer and really well respected.  So he’s a really important player for us and a really important leader . . .”

Big Ben clocks on

“He’s just got back from his groin injury and surgery, Griff, and it’s good to have him out there.  He’s got an important role as that second ruck and forward.  It’s a tough role.  There’s a lot of running, and then you’ve got to go forward and give a contest as well.  So there’s a fair workload in it. I’m really looking forward to working with him a bit closer now that he’s back . . .”

Shining small-forward draftees Bolton and Stengle

“They’re brilliant, young boys . . . really impressive in their work-rate and what they want to give to the game.  I think Shai’s going to be a good one for those ‘Supercoach’ guys out there . . . I’ve got a feeling he might play some (senior) footy this year for the Tiges.”

Rising pool of Tiger talent

“The depth’s going to be really important for us this year, as it is in every year . . . We’ve got some good competition for spots.  Even a lot of the players the Tiger supporters wouldn’t know much about, like (Jason) Castagna and (Dan) Butler, they’re really fighting hard with the young draftees, along with some guys that have been around a few years.  So it’s a pretty exciting time for the Tiges. I think it (internal competition) is crucial . . . Often you go into a season and you’re not sure you’re going to have it, but I think we’ll have that, particularly early on in the season, while we’re an injury-free team . . .”

Forward focal points for 2017

“We’ve really got a defensive focus.  Defence and effort . . .  And we’re not shying away from the fact that we want to really measure our effort, and measure the contested part of our game, and measure how we want to pressure up the opposition.  You can focus on so many things as a coach.  You can look at your structure, you can look at your forward patterns . . . But I think the effort within our group’s the most important thing this year.  We’ve spent a lot of time on it, and what it looks like.  The last thing’s how we support each other as a unit, and how we look, and how we want to be perceived by the outside world.  We’ve spent a bit of time on that and I think we’ve made some good inroads with the boys.  Hopefully that filters through to the games and we can get some good results.”   

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2017-02-07/leppas-leap-of-forward-faith

[tdy]

I like Leppa as a coach our backs grew under him maybe our forwards will too.