OSH Caddy has lauded the impact assistant coach Blake Caracella has made on Richmond’s game style as the pair try to topple their former side on Friday night.
The highly-rated Caracella has helped the Tigers inject a direct style of ball movement as well as beef-up their tackling and contested ball efforts over summer.
Caddy, who will return from a hamstring injury for the qualifying final, said the changes were designed to help Richmond play a brand of football that would win finals after “wiping the slate clean” at the end of last year.
The midfield tough-nut said many of Caracella’s tactical philosophies were brought across from his seven-year stint at Geelong, helping make Caddy’s own transition to Punt Rd much easier.
“Blake Caracalla came across at the same time and brought a lot of ideas along with him,” Caddy said.
“Some of the stuff the Richmond guys were learning (over summer) was for the first time and were only speaking about for the first time, some things I had been used to (at Geelong).
“For example, tackling and contested ball, it was something that Geelong had gone away from over the past few years but then last year something they really prided ourselves on.
“Richmond was something like the worst tackling team in the competition last year and the worst pressure team and a high disposal team and not so much a metres gained team.
“So, things like that. Little nuances and forward structure and things like that. They really changed things”.
Blake Caracella has given the Tigers a fresh look since crossing to Punt Rd. Picture: AFL Media
Blake Caracella in action for Essendon in 2002.
Richmond is aiming for its first finals win since 2001 and its second victory over the Cats in 22 attempts.
Caddy said he took a lot of confidence from the consistency of Richmond’s game style this season.
“We know what we are going to bring,” Caddy said today at a Merrywell charity event to launch the finals.
“We have had a couple of games (against) Adelaide and the St Kilda game this year where we haven’t rocked up, so to speak.
“Apart from that, the 20-odd other games we have brought it.
“If you ask people what Richmond is going to deliver, they will be able to tell you. That’s what we are focusing on this week and we believe it will stand up in finals.”
The loser of Friday night’s clash will take on the winner of the Sydney versus Essendon elimination final at the SCG on Saturday.Caddy said he was optimistic his move to the Tigers would bear rich fruit this season after he was surprisingly traded for pick No. 24 (Brandon Parfitt).
He said the excitement around Dustin Martin’s re-signing last week had added some momentum.
“Dusty’ is a bit of an enigma, because you don’t hear a lot from him but internally everyone loves him,” Caddy said.
“For him to show his commitment to the club it definitely gives everyone a bit of a pep-up and we can’t wait to see what he delivers this finals series.
“He is at a point where he wants to have some success as well, and he probably chose that over money or other factors.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/josh-caddy-lauds-blake-caracellas-impact-at-richmond-ahead-of-blockbuster-final-against-old-side/news-story/3d9a3907edfe43fc38463628ce2b4b0c
