Angus Graham [merged]

[Tigermonk]

The ruckmen are moving around the ground alot more and are getting more involved in the play.
Also becoming a problem up forward for others sides 

Still need them to push back harder & defend but that will come in development

[Chuck17]

Watching the replay and the half time melee my opinion on Gus went up even further with seeing him take on Merrit, Staker and some other Lion hack

[one-eyed]

Islander cream of the crop
ADAM SMITH
July 01, 2010

KING Island might be famous for its cheese and beef, but one of its best exports is set to help Richmond's AFL revival.

Ruckman Angus Graham has assumed the No. 1 mantle at the Tigers following the retirement of Troy Simmonds, and the 23-year-old's form is starting to turn heads.

With the likes of Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio feeding off his tap work and fellow Tasmanian Jack Riewoldt up forward, if the 201cm, 106kg Graham can continue the improvement he has shown in the past two seasons his future at Punt Rd looks bright.

One of two King Island footballers to reach AFL level in recent times, the other being Barry Brooks who was on St Kilda's list from 2003-07, Graham played 16 matches last year. After missing the first seven of 2010 he has returned to the side which has won three of its last four outings.

In the first of those against Port Adelaide at a drenched AAMI Stadium in round 10 he laid an incredible 14 tackles, while against Brisbane a fortnight ago he had a career high 23 disposals and 12 marks.

"I thought I did that [become the No. 1 ruckman] a bit last year, I played 16 games and had a relatively good year but obviously the last month or so I've really kicked on and started to improve my footy and be more consistent," Graham said yesterday.

"Last year I wasn't as consistent. I feel like I'm starting to do that and getting more confident so hopefully bigger and better things are to come.

"It's time to step up. Simmonds stepped aside and I've been playing OK. It is time for me to take the next step, take the reins and be a consistent player."

Graham's path through the junior ranks in Tasmania was not like most.

He left Currie, the largest town on King Island, in grade nine to follow his brother and sister to Assumption College in Victoria.

While playing for Calder in the TAC Cup, he also represented Tasmania at the national under-18 carnival in 2005, before being rookie listed by the Tigers.

The following season he made his debut against Geelong at Skilled Stadium, but managed just two games before an ankle injury.

The injury was not enough to stop him being promoted to the senior list at the end of 2007 and after spending 2008 on the sidelines recovering, he has added 24 games to his tally.

"After the Hawthorn game in round eight, [coach Damien Hardwick] pretty much said our season starts now," Graham said.

"We've put up a ladder every week from round eight to show where we sit, so we can see how we are travelling compared to the rest of the competition.

"Once we got used to the game plan and started being competitive, our aim was to be a top eight team for the rest of the year so we have something to build on for the year after.

"It's all about building a winning culture for the rest of the year," Graham said.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/01/155861_afl.html

[one-eyed]

The Mercury article is also in today's Herald-Sun

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/angus-graham-beefs-up-richmonds-future/story-e6frf9jf-1225886917244

[cub]

Man, Don't know what to make of Gus. Made a turn last year then did a U bolt. Was attrocious early this year 'and I mean BAD'!  Since he has come back has been super dooper.
Will he be the next in line for Cult hero status at Punt Rd? He's on his way.

[cub]

Not that the super Freo Mongo isn't a test for any ruckman, but Mongo has a chance to show if he has really stepped up this week. Could go a long way to deciding the game, Big Test!

[one-eyed]

Kangaroos ready to test Graham
SAM LIENERT
July 18, 2010
 
IMPROVED Richmond ruckman Angus Graham can expect another physical test against North Melbourne today after copping a battering in last weekend's AFL win against Fremantle.

Graham's emergence as the Tigers' No. 1 ruckman during the past two months has been a key factor in Richmond's form surge, after he failed to break into the side for the first seven rounds.

He performed valiantly against Dockers giant Aaron Sandilands last round, despite copping two huge bumps, both of which left him doubled over in pain.

Kangaroos ruckman Hamish McIntosh said he and ruck partner Todd Goldstein would be out to test Graham's recovery at the MCG today.

''I saw he got a few heavy knocks, so I guess you've just got to go in there and compete pretty hard and see how he's feeling,'' McIntosh said. ''It looks like he's trained pretty fully this week, so he's not too sore. But I'm sure Goldy and I will try to compete pretty hard and jump pretty hard.''

With McIntosh and Goldstein both in good form, the Kangaroos' ruck strength will be important if they are to break Richmond's four-match winning streak and keep their own finals bid on track.

North's hopes of snatching a spot in the eight received a double blow last round, when it lost to finals rival Sydney and lost key forward Drew Petrie for the rest of the season.

That means McIntosh and Goldstein will need to again double as forward targets, something they are becoming accustomed to, given Petrie's season-long injury woes.

''It's given myself and Todd more time to go forward and over the last few weeks we've managed to get a few scoring shots and have a bit of an impact,'' McIntosh said.

The Roos have also lost dangerous small forward Lindsay Thomas (knee) and Cruize Garlett (calf), replaced by Aaron Edwards, Gavin Urquhart and Nathan Grima.

Richmond lost Daniel Jackson to suspension and Ben Griffiths and Ben Nason to injury, but regained Ben Cousins and Richard Tambling and included defender Luke McGuane. McIntosh acknowledged the Richmond clash had become huge, after losses to Geelong and Sydney.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/kangaroos-ready-to-test-graham-20100717-10f8v.html

[one-eyed]

Graham throws his weight around
ADAM COOPER
July 31, 2010 - 9:49AM
 

Richmond's Angus Graham feels better for throwing his weight around this AFL season, but it hasn't all been one-way.

The Tigers ruckman feels he is starting to have a physical impact in games, but it was three weeks ago against Fremantle when he was the one nursing bruises.

"Adam McPhee got me a beauty in my ribs and Rhys Palmer got me one when I wasn't looking," he said.

"I felt a bit like Justin Koschitzke when he didn't see it coming (the Saint was famously poleaxed by Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa in 2006).

"I was pretty sore but my body's holding up OK.

"I'm playing with a lot of niggles but the demand is a lot higher and I'm copping a battering.

"But there's only five weeks left.

"That's how it goes being a big bloke. You've got to put your head over the ball.

"You're jumping into people, you cop those knocks and you just get used to it."

Fortunately for Richmond, Graham has been on the receiving end less than he was last year, when he lacked the strength to compete against the league's best big men.

After adding five kilograms to his 201cm frame over the pre-season and maturing physically, the 23-year-old feels he can hold his own in stoppages.

"The fact I can push a few of the bigger ruckmen around has really helped me," said Graham, who has strung together the past 10 games and is now Richmond's No.1 ruck following the retirement of Troy Simmonds.

"I came into the team at a good time, when we'd won a few games, so that always helps," he said.

"When we were winning I got my confidence up and the team's confidence is up.

"I've been taking more marks in contested situations and crashing packs.

"I feel like I'm dominating more and have more of a presence than last year when I was up and down."

Simmonds' departure also meant Graham had to quickly adjust to life with responsibility,. But he said he had thrived under the pressure of performing and was enjoying the chemistry he had formed with his midfielders.

Graham, Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin have had their moments at stoppages this season, although the latter will be missed (suspension) for Sundays game against Adelaide at the MCG.

"We're winning a lot of stoppages, so as a group we're pretty excited that if we stay together for a while hopefully we'll be as good as Geelong," Graham said.

"We've got the confidence that we can be a good midfield team."

This has been a difficult campaign for Richmond, but Graham said Tigers coach Damien Hardwick had stressed the need to finish off the season strongly.

"We want to make the finals next year so it's important for us as a team to finish off the season well and get a few wins under our belts and take some confidence into the off-season," he said.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/graham-throws-his-weight-around-20100731-1106y.html

[one-eyed]

Apart from going for the same mark as Jack that one time, a welcome return to form from Gus on Saturday with 32 hitouts clearly ahead of his Saint opponents - McEvoy only had 16 hitouts and Patto 12.

[3rogerd]

has improved and maligned unfortunately.

[one-eyed]

Gus training through the break at Punt Rd according to Mitch Farmer's twitter

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I like the idea of a 200cm 100kg+ giant working his absolute backside off to be incredibly fit for 2011.

[the claw]

lol still maintain hes ordinary. who knows some times they  take big leaps buy usually they dont have such deficiencies at 23.

[Oiafi]

That's great claw. The kid can only do the most he can and if he's putting in the hard yards then a big thumbs up to him. 

Whether or not he makes it, at least he seems to be doing his utmost to give it his best shot.

[WilliamPowell]

That's great claw. The kid can only do the most he can and if he's putting in the hard yards then a big thumbs up to him. 

Whether or not he makes it, at least he seems to be doing his utmost to give it his best shot.

Think he realises that his spot in 2011 isn't a given. With interchange rule changes, bringing in a mature age ruckman in DerykX... I think our number 1 ruck spot is up for grabs;w ould appear Gus knows it too

Good on him for putting in the extra work