Raines parts from clouds of '08
richmondfc.com.au
By Mic Cullen
Mon 12 January, 2009
IN TERMS of his career, Richmond defender Andrew Raines was flying.
Two seasons without missing a game had been followed by a great pre-season where he completed every session and was as fit as he’d ever been.
But then disaster struck, and in a flash his campaign was over.
In round two last year, the Tigers fell to North Melbourne by 41 points and were dealt an extra blow when Raines dislocated his kneecap.
"The most disappointing thing was that I was up and running, I’d had the best pre-season I’d ever had, I was in pretty good shape and then in round two the kneecap slides off the side of your leg and stuffed the whole year up," he told richmondfc.com.au.
"I didn’t think it was that serious at first, I thought it would be a three or four-week injury, and it ended up being 10.
"And then the more time you miss out, then you see the effect it has on the other parts of your body and I just went downhill from there.
"It’s very disappointing, but it makes you hungrier and makes you more determined to have a big year this year."
As one of the older players in the young brigade – 22 and with 53 games under his belt – Raines still sounds beyond his years when assessing the Tigers' 2008 season.
"I was very pleased and very proud of the boys," he said. "We didn’t quite get there – we finished in ninth again – so we didn’t get to the finals, which I was hoping to get back for but I was really happy with the boys.
"We’ve got a good crew together. I’m 22 and I’m one of the older young blokes and, if we all get to 25 or 26 years of age as a group, when we’re in our prime, then there’s some good times ahead.
"You can see what’s happened down at Geelong when that happens.
"We’re going somewhere as a group."
Coach Terry Wallace said that although Raines doesn't have the natural ability of some of his teammates, his intensity and resolve were clear strengths.
"He just had a horrific season, the kid just didn’t have an opportunity to get on the park," Wallace said.
"After the kneecap he lost a bit of size and shape to the leg, and so then he did a hammy and then did a thigh, so he had a wipe-off year.
"He started his pre-season back in August and he’s as fit as a mallee bull and pretty damned determined.
"To be honest, that’s how he needs to play. It is that attack on the footy, the intensity levels that he plays with and the real competitive nature that he plays with, that allows him to be a good player for us.
"I’m just very pleased to have him back, because he’s another number that puts pressure on everyone else."
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