Wallace hails tyro Browne
richmondfc.com.au
By Jennifer Witham Wed 25 March, 2009
RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace believes the sudden rise of young ruckman Andrew Browne is a "great story", with the former Murray Bushranger going from a developing rookie to a round one starter this week.
Browne, 18, was selected by the Tigers with pick 39 in the 2009 NAB AFL Rookie Draft last December and thrown an opportunity with his new side in week three of the NAB Challenge series.
The poise and composure the ruckman showed in his two summer hit-outs prompted Richmond to elevate him to senior status this week, and for the coaching staff to name him in the team to face Carlton on Thursday night at the MCG.
"It's a great story for a young player who two or three weeks ago wasn't in our consideration or on our radar for a round one selection," Wallace said on the eve of the season opener.
"We picked him up later in the rookie draft as a ruckman and he got an opportunity in round three of the NAB Cup when we played all our young players.
"It wasn't that he had done anything particularly special up until that stage. He had been going along adequately.
"He performed really well in NAB three so we took him along to NAB four and he did a good job in that game as well, so we've decided to give him the opportunity to play."
Wallace said he doesn't expect his players to be overawed by the sell-out crowd and big stage mentality surrounding Thursday night's game, which will now be broadcast live into Melbourne on Channel 10.
"We've had a few of these. We had a dress rehearsal last year with a big game and a big build up, but this has been bigger again," he said.
"We expected the huge crowd, we expected the massive build-up and it hasn't let us down from that aspect.
"We're just hoping that both sides put on a great display for the people. It's wonderful to see the people of Victoria come out and support what's a fantastic game and we're really looking forward to it."
He also said the Tigers are expecting Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola to play despite the bruised heel he picked up in the Blues' final practice match in Bunbury.
"With the type of injury he's got, you can jab them and put some local in," he said.
"We would expect him to play. He hasn't had the perfect build-up in relation to being able to train for the last week and a half fully, but good players overcome these things."
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