2008 Previews – Richmond (sportal and footygoss)

[one-eyed]

2008 Preview – Richmond
footygoss.com
Posted Mar 10, 2008
Gavin Haines

2007 Position: Sixteenth

2007 Best and Fairest: Matthew Richardson

2007 Leading goal-kicker: Matthew Richardson (53)

2008 Best 22:

Backs: Newman Thursfield Bowden
H-Backs: Raines Polak Jackson
Centre: King Coughlan Johnson
H-Forwards: Pettifer Simmonds Brown
Forwards: Deledio Richardson Tambling
Followers: Pattison Tuck Foley
Interchange: Cotchin Morton Riewoldt McMahon


Terry Wallace begins his fourth year as Richmond coach under considerable pressure after the Tigers managed just three wins and a draw in a poor 2007 season.

Only five times in the past three seasons has the club managed to record wins over sides that have finished in the top eight and that statistic must change dramatically in 2008 for the Tigers to push up towards a finals berth.

Gun junior Trent Cotchin will hold the hopes of the Tiger faithful as the year progresses, while ex-Western Bulldog Jordan McMahon and former West Coast utility Mitch Morton add an extra dimension to both end of the ground.

Matthew Richardson is still capable of kicking 50 goals in the year, but Brett Deledio and Kayne Pettifer must increase their tallies for the Tigers to kick winning scores.

Nathan Foley’s 2007 performance was a highlight of a dark year for the club, finishing one vote shy of the club champion award, while Troy Simmonds’ and Mark Coughlan’s return from injury this year is a massive plus.

Two preseason beltings at the hands of Geelong and St Kilda have not made for comfortable viewing though. 

Eight of their first nine games are in Melbourne and at least four wins from that stretch should be a target heading into a defining year for last season’s wooden spoon recipients.

Player to watch: Richard Tambling

At the crossroads: Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls

Predicted finish: Sixteenth

http://www.footygoss.com/main/club_news/richmond/view/2008_preview_richmond/

[one-eyed]

Paul Gough (Tiger supporter) on Sportal gives his preview too.

http://sportal.com.au/AFL-opinion-display/afl-club-previews-richmond-44635

Click on the link for the full preview as we can't copy the full article but here's a snippet from it:

X-Factor: The Tigers simply must win early games this year otherwise the pressure and scrutiny on the club and in particular coach Terry Wallace could become unbearable. Few clubs have the ability to implode as spectacularly as the Tigers but they largely escaped scrutiny last year for their fall from ninth to 16th in what was Wallace's third year in charge.

Best 22:
B: McGuane, Thursfield, Raines
HB: Newman, Polak, Bowden
C: McMahon, Coughlan, Tambling
HF: Pettifer, Riewoldt, Tuck
F: Brown, Richardson, Deledio
R: Simmonds, Johnson, Foley
Inter: Pattison, Connors, Edwards, Polo

After Round 22: Sportal predicted finish: 15th. With a major query over their defence and the development of their young players generally, other clubs simply look more capable of climbing the ladder this year.