Tigers tossing up taking a gamble on rookie
Caroline Wilson | March 24, 2009
THE eighteen-year-old son of a Mansfield farmer, Andrew Browne, could prove a shock inclusion into the Richmond side for Thursday night's AFL season opening blockbuster against Carlton.
The Blues, meanwhile, will today upgrade rookie Jeff Garlett onto the senior list in order to select him for the clash with the Tigers.
Richmond has until 5pm today to decide whether or not to promote 205-centimetre ruckman Andrew Browne from the club's rookie list into the senior team to take his place in front of a crowd expected to top 80,000.
Browne looks a strong possibility to be Richmond's only AFL debutant for the highly anticipated clash, in what would be an amazing transition from last year's Murray Bushrangers premiership team.
Browne, who came to the club weighing 105 kilograms but has shed at least four over the pre-season, also played in the ruck for the Victorian country team last season but would have been the first to admit he lacked the fitness for the game at the elite level.
A ferocious debate has been waged at the selection table in recent weeks with Browne — who did not make it into a Tiger NAB Cup or challenge team until week three of the competition — emerging as a genuine contender for the No. 2 ruck position in round-one behind Troy Simmonds and in front of Angus Graham.
As late as last night Terry Wallace and his match committee were said to be undecided but leaning towards Browne ahead of 21-year-old Graham, whose 2008 was severely hampered by a poor pre-season on the back of a broken ankle.
A training session early today was expected to see Wallace and his team make their final decision.
With Kayne Pettifer relegated to the long-term injury list at least until round two, the Tigers still have the space to promote a rookie.
The early pre-season form of former Port Melbourne speedster Robin Nahas has not warranted promotion and the Tigers will not make a decision on Graham Polak at least until Pettifer's return, which could be pushed back depending on how he recovers. Browne was taken as a project player by the Tigers in the rookie draft and it is unlikely he would have been selected at all had the Brisbane Lions not chosen Tasmanian youngster Bart McCulloch with their final draft pick.
The question mark remaining on Browne is his fitness and whether or not he can stand up to the pace of the game. Against that is his solid marking ability, strong body and determination to throw himself into contests.
His performance in the third week of the NAB Challenge against big Saints Steven King and Michael Gardiner won Browne a trip to Carrara 11 days ago where he shared ruck duties with Simmonds and Graham.
Carlton youngster Garlett, who is a cousin of Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin, is a small forward from Perth and is expected to be one of three debutants for the Blues. Fellow rookie Sam Jacobs is likely to play as is draftee Mitch Robinson. Former Demon Chris Johnson is also set to make his Carlton debut.
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