The luxury that gives tigers an undisputed edge a fit and firing reserves team still in the huntSeptember 18, 2017 11:47am
Sarah Olle
FOX SPORTSRICHMOND has a luxury heading into this weekend’s preliminary final that separates them from the three other clubs that remain in the hunt for the 2017 premiership.
The Tigers’ reserves are fit and firing and will take on Port Melbourne in the VFL grand final at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. And the impact of this is twofold.
Firstly, it gives a number of AFL-listed players an opportunity to put their hand up for selection.
And secondly — should Richmond progress through to the grand final — any such inclusion will have the benefit of being match-hardened, having played the weekend before in the VFL grand final.
If injury strikes Geelong, GWS or Adelaide, however, the incoming player may not have played a competitive match for up to a month, although Adelaide’s reserves and GWS’ reserves took part in a scratch match the Saturday after the qualifying final.
With Richmond’s list at optimal health, a plethora of AFL-listed players have led the Tigers’ VFL ascension, with a 65-point thrashing of the Box Hill Hawks catapulting the club into the grand final.
Sam Lloyd, Oleg Markov, Anthony Miles, Shai Bolton, Tyson Stengle, Shaun Hampson and Corey Ellis are just some of the players who’ll be looking to impress on Sunday — particularly if Richmond defeat GWS to secure a spot in the AFL grand final.
The 2017 JJ Liston Medal winner Jacob Townsend has shown it’s possible for a Tiger to force his way into the team.
And Tigers’ VFL coach Craig McRae believes it’s possible that another player could follow suit.
“Sam Lloyd’s form over the last month has been sensational, Anthony Miles continues to rack them up, Jayden Short, Oleg Markov, Corey Ellis and Shai Bolton; there’s a few waiting for opportunities,” McRae told SEN.
“This time of the year there’s normally a lot of band aids being put on and a lot of injections, but we are very fortunate we only have one injury on our list at the moment.”
Hampson’s strong VFL form has sparked debate surrounding Richmond’s structure, and whether or not the Tigers should opt to play another tall.
Toby Nankervis has admirably shouldered the ruck load all season and could arguably benefit from Hampson’s inclusion. As could Jack Riewoldt, who has played a lone hand as a key marking forward.
But McRae gave a strong indication Damien Hardwick would stick to his tried and tested formula — namely, of playing and trusting his smalls to get the job done.
“We’ve got all the talls in our VFL side. It’s been something we have talked about in match committee and it’s been well debated,” McRae said.
“Maybe we are ahead of the curve, who knows. We are creating an enormous amount of pressure in our forward line and it’s making a huge difference.
“It’s a challenge at VFL level because all those talls are playing with us now but at the moment it’s working for us.
“The speed of the game is enormous; it’s gone to a new level this year.”
While Richmond emerged from its qualifying final triumph injury-free, small forward Jason Castagna went goalless and fumbled throughout.
While he has played every match this season, it’s possible Bolton or Stengle could come in as a like-for-like replacement, with both players in strong VFL form,
“They’ve been so terrific in their growth in their first year here,” McRae said.
“Tys has probably been more consistent over the whole journey of the VFL this season, kicking over 30 goals and impacting consistently, whereas Shai has just had unbelievable moments of brilliance in our season.”
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