Tigers spoiled for choice to replace Ellis (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Tigers spoiled for choice to replace Ellis

Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
13 December 2019

Maurice Rioli Jr’s presence at Richmond training on Thursday was the perfect symbol for coach Damien Hardwick’s challenges ahead.

The stars on show ahead of the Christmas break revealed why pundits will spend the summer talking about the dynasty that awaits.

Alex Rance was surging through repeat sprints, Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin were inseparable on the track, and the Tom Lynch-Jack Riewoldt dream duo continued their summer education.

But around them were a dozen young players desperate to break into a side striving for its third flag in four seasons.

The selection logjam looks to be one of Hardwick’s greatest challenges.

With Brandon Ellis gone to the Gold Coast, half a dozen players on show are already eyeing his spot.

Talented kids Patrick Naish, Sydney Stack and Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, all of them 2019 debutantes, will push for that position, alongside Oleg Markov and 2017 premiership player Kamdyn McIntosh.

The idea of a fit Lynch ­setting his sights on 80 goals after a full pre-season will ­terrify defenders.

And then there’s other key forwards Noah Balta, Mabior Chol and Callum Coleman-Jones who were blending into match-play drills after showing glimpses of their potential last season.

Add in the returning Jack Higgins, Norm Smith contender Marlion Pickett, VFL grand final revelation Riley Collier-Dawkins, and second-year midfielder Jack Ross and there is genuine intrigue going into season.

Higgins won’t integrate into full training until after Christmas, but the effervescent forward was bouncing around in repeat-effort drills with the look of a player set for a Round 1 return following brain surgery.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-spoiled-for-choice-to-replace-brandon-ellis-as-maurice-rioli-jr-joins-tigers-stars-at-training/news-story/f9101050a38ef1d9f7e1486430796b1c

[mightytiges]

With Brandon Ellis gone to the Gold Coast, half a dozen players on show are already eyeing his spot.

Talented kids Patrick Naish, Sydney Stack and Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, all of them 2019 debutantes, will push for that position, alongside Oleg Markov and 2017 premiership player Kamdyn McIntosh.

It's not how it works but based on talent alone, Stack would be easily first choice out of that list to take over Ellis' spot.

Higgins won’t integrate into full training until after Christmas, but the effervescent forward was bouncing around in repeat-effort drills with the look of a player set for a Round 1 return following brain surgery.

Great news.

[yandb]

Stack and EMS haven't got the tank to play wing yet.

Macintosh,Oleg, Naish and Turner have.

[Andyy]

KMac for me would be first choice due to size, tank and runs on the board etc but I'd be happy to check out some alternatives if the kids are showing they're up to it. Not sure Markov has the talent or the toughness. Naish and Turner I have no idea. DES I think would be more of a HBF than winger?

[one-eyed]

CHAMPION DATA HOT SPOT: Wingers

With Brandon Ellis departing, it will be interesting to see who fills the other wing position along Josh Caddy, with Kamdyn McIntosh not playing a game at AFL level after Round 17, Patrick Naish only playing two matches and Oleg Markov playing two matches over the last two years.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the-biggest-question-facing-every-afl-club-in-2020/news-story/877d2173825b89665168eebbc83a6f2f

[georgies31]

Don't underestimate the kid Turner was great last year bottom age kid to.

[Diocletian]

 

[the claw]

Jack Ross on one wing and one of Bolton, Stack, Lambert or Pickett on the other.

[Diocletian]

Ross on the wing...

[1965]

Ross on the wing...

Hmmmm.
Might bookmark this one.

[Assange Tiger 😎]

Because you usually play inside midfielders with ordinary footskills on the wing in a team which uses wingers as defensive outlets from the back 50....

[the claw]

Ross on the wing...

Not such a silly idea you only need open your eyes.
Imo if Caddy can play wing just about anyone can. Statistically speaking hes already better than Caddy and McIntosh and with the club trimming him down a bit so he can play more outside a wing spot is beconing.

Because you usually play inside midfielders with ordinary footskills on the wing in a team which uses wingers as defensive outlets from the back 50....

So you think hes only an inside mid wow .His footskills are no worse than Caddy, McIntosh or Bellis for that matter and no worse than what Griggs was before them.

So what is Caddy if his primary role is not inside mid.

I dont get it here you have  19 YR OLD and you want him playing exclusively inside when we have a 27yo Caddy being given the cruizy run around role on the wing when he should be playing inside. But hey lets just throw the kid in the deepend.Maybe we throw the kid in the deepend because imo  thus far Caddy has been ordinary inside so we have to keep on finding new roles for him.

Talk about pidgeon holing a young player who has better attributes for the wing role than the incumbent.

Atm Ross is getting way more outside ball than inside has a good motor is a decent pace and he will win his share of ball to go with it.And he is no worse a kick than Caddy.
Take Caddy as slow as a wet wick the turning circle of the lusitania and he is not getting a whole heap of ball marginally more than McIntosh.
I suppose the blinkers go on when they are premiership players.

[the claw]

just on the title it was never going to be hard to replace him a horrid glass half full who should never have been getting games to start with.

[torch]

Pickett will be on that wing.

Graham/Ross to come in and play inside.