The 5 Year Plan: Richmond
aflinsider.net
January 11th 2007 22:31
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB S Tuck 29, P Bowden 30, C Newman 29
HB D Polo 25, G Polak 27, J Oakley-Nicholls 23
C R Tambling 25, B Deledio 24, A Raines 25
HF K Pettifer 29, J Schulz 26, N Foley 26
FF C Peterson 23, J Riewoldt 23, J Bowden 33
Foll T Knobel 31, D Connors 23, M Coughlan 29
Int: A Pattison 25, C Hyde 29, C Hughes 24, S Edwards 23
Outlook:The Tigers currently have a lot of young depth so in 5 years time they will have a good list. But they will be without Richardson then so the pressure will be on Riewoldt, Schulz and some of their other tall forward options. The Tigers may be without both Simmonds and Knobel then, and if they are still around they will be older and slower, so a ruckman is something they have to draft soon. Polak may be able to fill one big defensive spot but a couple more tall defenders will have to be found, the Tigers do have a few options there. The Wallace strategy of drafting smalls means that Richmond are in very good shape in that area, the Tigers will have one of the best midfields in the AFL in the future.
http://www.aflinsider.net/the-5-year-plan-richmond/
