Tigers won't risk Brown against old club
The Age
April 17, 2007 - 1:29PM
Richmond's Nathan Brown won't be risked against his former AFL club the Western Bulldogs on Friday night as the Tigers continue to fend off criticism over their recruiting.
Tigers coach Terry Wallace said Brown, who has had a stress reaction in the leg he broke badly two years ago, won't play against the Bulldogs.
"He's probably still at least a week away," Wallace said.
"It's been four weeks now and we said it was probably a four week injury.
"Obviously we're not going to take any risks with him.
"Nathan needs continuity in his footy when he eventually gets back to play."
Wallace was also forced to defend his club's recruiting following the Tigers' winless start to the season.
Critics have roasted the Tigers for recycling players in previous years rather than embarking entirely on a youth policy.
Former Melbourne star Garry Lyon was the latest to do so, suggesting the Tigers' list had slipped behind clubs such as Hawthorn which had put their faith exclusively in young players.
But Wallace said the Tigers remained on track for eventual success.
"We've got 30 of our 44 players who are under 24 years of age," Wallace said.
"Clearly some people in the media don't do their homework and don't look deeply enough about where those blokes are at.
"We're very comfortable with where we're at."
But the loser of the Tigers-Bulldogs clash at the MCG can expect added heat from the media blowtorch next week following what is shaping as a grudge match.
The Bulldogs, another club which has rebuilt through youth, are struggling with defeats in their past two matches after being widely tipped as premiership contenders.
There is also feeling on both sides with both club presidents critical of the other's club in recent weeks.
Wallace is also a former Bulldogs coach who left in acrimonious circumstances.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Tigers-wont-risk-Brown-against-old-club/2007/04/17/1176696813011.html