Shane Tuck brings maturity to the Tigers' young list by: Courtney Walsh
From: The Australian
November 11, 2011 FOR a player placed three times in Richmond's club champion award, Shane Tuck has long presented as a troublesome selection for the Tigers.
Never has there been any doubt about the ability of the 29-year-old, who was yesterday granted another year on Richmond's list, to win the ball. The son of AFL games record holder Michael Tuck has averaged almost 24 touches a match from 140 games.
That is better by one than AFL champion Chris Judd's average from 222 matches. This year's Brownlow medallist Dane Swan has picked up 25 a game.
Unlike those stars, Tuck was unable to command a regular game this year, given the priority coach Damien Hardwick placed on his Tigers retaining possession of the ball.
Tuck's extension comes at a time his troubled brother, Travis, is hopeful of another chance given his recovery from the drug problem that led to him to becoming the first player to record three positive strikes.
While Tuck has always been able to win the ball, his use of it has been questionable at best.
At a time when accuracy of possession is increasingly valued -- new Collingwood director of coaching Rodney Eade this week described it as a premium -- it is a chief weakness.
Richmond's general manager of football Craig Cameron yesterday said Tuck and Daniel Jackson, the hard-bodied but suspension-prone Tiger, were retained given the maturity they offered a young list, of which only six players have more than 100 games of experience.
"The value they provide such a young playing list through their experience at the game's highest level, their strong bodies around the contest, and capacity to win their own ball is something we certainly appreciate," he said.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/shane-tuck-brings-maturity-to-the-tigers-young-list/story-e6frg7mf-1226191890775
