Signs point south for Tigers
09 March 2007 Herald-Sun
Mike Sheahan
RICHMOND and Terry Wallace knew it was going to be a long haul, hence the five-year pledge to each other.
Two years into the union, the road ahead remains both uphill and rocky.
The Tigers have climbed from 16th and last in 2004 to 12th in Wallace's first year and ninth last year.
That's progress, but much work remains.
While they won 11 of 22 last year, only two wins came against eventual finalists – the game of keepings-off at Telstra Dome against Adelaide (three points) and Collingwood in Round 13.
Eight of the other nine wins were at the expense of the teams that ended up filling the bottom five spots on the ladder.
No, the class of 2006 isn't going to go on and win a premiership. It needs new blood, bigger bodies, more skill.
Wallace will try to fast-track his youngsters this year, with Deledio and Raines two obvious building blocks for the future.
Polo is another likely type, but the next significant step will be determined by the batch of early draft choices, the generally skinny and largely untried names such as Meyer, Pattison, Oakley-Nicholls, Hughes and Riewoldt. All top 25 selections from the past three national drafts.
Add them to Deledio, Raines, Polo, Thursfield, Foley, Tambling and one or two others, and there's the future.
Which means Richmond may take a step back before ultimately moving forward and into contention.
Supporters won't need a reminder, but the Tigers have finished ninth five times in the past 13 seasons. That says more about the list than luck.
They have played finals only twice in that period, for a best finish of third in 2001.
That's why Oakley-Nicholls and company become so important.
The hope this year is based upon the return of Brown and Newman, both victims of broken legs in the past two seasons.
When Brown was injured in Round 10 in 2005, Richmond had won seven of nine, he had kicked 34 goals and the team was third on the ladder.
Now he is right again. As is Newman, who is critically important to a rebounding defence.
Only Carlton and Essendon conceded more points last year, so Polak's arrival as the new centre half-back also is significant.
Even his strongest admirers admit he was a major disappointment for much of his five years at Fremantle.
Those who should know say his attitude is much better at Punt Rd.
He is yet to vindicate his selection at No. 4 in 2001, but he might be another player who will benefit considerably from a change of clubs and a move interstate.
Confidence cures many ills in sport.
If Polak can hold centre half-back, and he'll get every opportunity, Joel Bowden will be able to do his thing from full-back, where he is so creative.
It's a scenario that doesn't bode well for Gaspar, who had a horror season last year, unfortunate at 30.
Unless he can reproduce his best, the Tigers will settle on J. Bowden at full-back and the promising Thursfield alongside him.
The Tigers again will depend heavily on Richardson up forward. He has topped the goalkicking every year bar two since 1993, an incredible performance. He will play up the ground if his back/hamstring allows, leaving Jay Schulz in front of goal.
Schulz has been in the system a while, but is yet to turn 22. He will need to get a wriggle on, though, after just 37 games in five seasons.
Brown, Newman and Polak will generate optimism, but confidence has been shaky since the team's terrible first-up performance at Geelong in the opening round of the NAB Cup, when Johnson and Simmonds were the only notable absentees.
That was the last thing the Tigers needed after the loss of Coughlan and the serious injury to Simmonds.
But, when the real thing starts, Richmond will front Carlton at the MCG in the first of five games in a row on its home ground.
If it is to surprise most of us with a bold showing this year, it must get away to a good start.
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