A road more black than yellow
Rohan Connolly | March 16, 2008 - 4:00AM
What's in their favour? In the wreckage of a disastrous 2007 came at least a glimmer of hope late in the season via stirring victories over Collingwood and Essendon, portents for a hopefully brighter future. Jordan McMahon and Mitch Morton should help ease the dearth of class, Nathan Foley is a long-term leader of the Tiger midfield, Jake King a revelation as a small defender, and injury-riddled trio Mark Coughlan, Nathan Brown and Troy Simmonds are ready to deliver closer to their best more frequently.
What's not? The perennial problems persist at Punt Road, most notably a glaring lack of skill, some of the most senior Tigers their worst offenders in the turnover stakes. Lack of quality talls is a major issue, particularly in the ruck, where Simmonds has precious little support, Adam Pattison and Graham Polak willing but not able enough. The Tigers have been more than patient waiting for supposedly talented youth to emerge, but the likes of Richard Tambling, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Danny Meyer are sorely testing the coaching staff's patience.
Stepping into the spotlight? Though he already qualifies as a Richmond "name", Brett Deledio could make a mark this year as a fast-leading, goalkicking forward to which he was used with effect late last season. Will Thursfield increasingly looks a long-term option as a key defender with King alongside him mopping up. Dean Polo was derailed by injury in 2007 but should be able to pick up where he left off the season before, Luke McGuane impressed late last season in defence, and Kelvin Moore showed genuine pre-season improvement.
In their wildest dreams? The veterans Matthew Richardson, Joel Bowden, Kane Johnson, Brown and co. stay healthy and in form, ruckman Simmonds stands up and gives his on-ballers a genuine chance, and recruits McMahon and Morton lift the standard of ball use across the ground. Finals remain, though, a far-off goal.
The reality? Richmond's stocks of talent are simply too low to be able to compete with the bulk of the competition, let alone the likes of Geelong. Unless there's a raft of kids who emerge unexpectedly as a group, the Tigers just don't have the armoury. Bottom four looks likely.
ROBERT WALLS 16th I sense Terry Wallace and his team are keeping quiet, as they brace themselves for a long losing season. They field teams that are too small and, with sub-standard skills, continually turn the ball over.
ROHAN CONNOLLY16th Looks like the same, sad old story for the Tigers in 2008. Too few genuine stars, too few emerging to help them and too little skill across the board to compete with the big guns. Richardson, Brown, Deledio and the returned Coughlan can't do it all.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/richmond/a-road-more-black-than-yellow/2008/03/16/1205472187787.html
