Shane Edwards says Richmond has escaped AFL's no-man’s land to launch a dream premiership assaultRICHARD EARLE,
The Advertiser
29 September 2017HAVING endured a decade of disappointment, premiership grandeur would prove the ultimate Dreamtime at the ‘G’ for Richmond warrior Shane Edwards.
Richmond team-mate Daniel Rioli exudes indigenous royalty but Edwards will join trailblazers including Michael Long, Andrew McLeod, Michael O’Loughlin and Adam Goodes with a triumph against the odds over Adelaide.
“It is a bit of a buzz, surreal. We have to accept the hype, embrace the occasion and treat it like the other finals we have won this season,” said Edwards, son of former Central District spearhead Greg.
“Just to have family come over and be part of it is special, the whole experience in the change-rooms and build-up.”
It feels like “forever” since he arrived at Punt Road - flying so far under the radar few twigged to the heritage of Edwards, whose grandmother is from the Arunta people of Central Australia.
“It was a different time back then,” Edwards, drafted from Golden Grove in 2006, said.
“You just went about your business and no one asked you too many things. You don’t go around beating your chest when you are an 18-year-old but there is probably more support in the system now.”
Richmond failed to finish higher than ninth in Edwards’ initial six years at the club. A fall to 12th last season followed three years of straight September exits.
“It has been pretty tough at times,” concedes 206-game midfielder Edwards, at 28, the stalwart on Damien Hardwick’s list.
“It didn’t seem like it would happen for a while or even be a possibility.
“Some of the years we had where we finished fifth and went out in straight sets. You look at other teams and think what are we not doing right? We are trying our hardest. It’s just not coming.
“You do have those doubts especially after a season like last year. It was a bit of a debacle, went off the rails.”
Now, it feels like the Tigers have escaped Alcatraz.
Richmond’s been transformed by the emergence of Rioli, Dustin Martin’s elevation to Brownlow Medallist, Trent Cotchin’s inspired captaincy and Alex Rance’s defensive expertise.
The arrival midfielders Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy and ruckman Toby Nankervis was icing on the cake.
“We found ourselves in no man’s land but coming back this pre-season it was a totally different place, it was really vibrant, had fresh faces on and off the field,” said Edwards, noting the late-season impact of fellow Golden Grove school alumni and 19-year-old inside midfielder Jack Graham.
“The younger guys have matured a bit and it has all come about, pretty special. It takes a few things to fall into place like it does every year for teams.”
Rioli’s cousins Long, Cyril Rioli and uncle Maurice possess Norm Smith Medals and it’s all the genes says Edwards.
“He is from the royal family. I am 10 years older but learning off him at training, it is bit scary,” said Edwards of Daniel Rioli, who won the 2017 goal of the year gong.
Hardwick pipped Crows counterpart Don Pyke for coach of the year status. It was a stunning turnaround for the Richmond boss who narrowly escaped the axe last year.
Edwards is a rusted-on Hardwick man but knows from a decade in the industry that coaches can take time to peak. Hardwick finally has the firepower to match a revamped coaching model.
“Every year Dimma has transformed, added something, lost some other things. This year he is so relaxed, took the shackles off us offensively,” said Edwards, mentored by former Richmond skipper and dual Adelaide flag star Kane Johnson in his formative stages at Punt Road.
“He has had a vision a long time we just haven’t been able to execute it and this year we did it.”
It’s been the season where Hardwick and Martin have gone to another level with the Brownlow Medallist looming as Adelaide’s main road block to a third flag.
“He doesn’t feel like he is doing anything special when he is out there. It is just easy for him, it is poetry,” said Edwards of Martin.
“He is a deserving Brownlow winner. I was looking forward to his speech. I thought they would have some time up their sleeve!”
However, Martin can’t individually break a 37 year premiership drought and the Tigers aren’t content with making the AFL decider.
Hardwick has crafted the pressure game to go with Adelaide but the Tigers have no margin for error. Edwards noted the irresistible manner Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron combined for seven goals in the preliminary final crush of Geelong.
“They are in some really good form, good offensively and defensively. If we let them play how they want to play they will wipe us off the park,” he said.
“We are going to chip away and grind, can’t put a foot wrong.”
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/shane-edwards-says-richmond-has-escaped-afls-nomans-land-to-launch-a-dream-premiership-assault/news-story/9cc2a2b309f7b49032f9c08fcae91520
