McMahon gets Rawlings' backingrichmondfc.com.au
By Jennifer Witham | Sun 02 August, 2009
RICHMOND coach Jade Rawlings was confident his much-maligned midfielder Jordan McMahon would convert his after-the-siren shot at goal that won the Tigers Sunday's clash against Melbourne.
Rawlings said he thought the siren was about to sound as the ball floated through the air from Richard Tambling's boot to the arms of McMahon, and that the Tigers were "gone".
"I stood up and I didn't know how to feel," he said of his reaction as McMahon lined up.
"I backed him in because he's a good kick. A few times today he made some bad decisions, but 40m out, right in front, he's pretty reliable in that situation.
"To have the courage to go back and kick that goal was excellent.
"I thought he was close to our best player. Number 32 [Ben Cousins] was pretty handy but I thought McMahon across the course of the whole day was the one that continued to try and threaten the game."
Rawlings praised McMahon for not only having the composure to kick the goal, but also for his response to his lengthy stint in the VFL this year.
"He was well and truly aware where his career sat three weeks ago, and I don't think he was satisfied that it looked like Coburg for the rest of the year," he said.
"He's made some significant changes to how he approaches his footy, and how he actually plays on match day."
Rawlings said he was disappointed with the way his players got carried away with last weekend's five-point win over Essendon.
"It should be euphoric after the game. It should be one of the greatest feelings you've ever had," he said.
"Unfortunately, because we couldn't play the way we've become accustomed to play over the last six weeks … there was a bit of positive press and blokes got some articles and things were going OK.
"That's what happens. It's like the cricketer who makes 100 in his first innings, and goes out thinking the ball is going to be in the same spot at the same timing, and he gets knocked over for a duck.
"I thought we played terrific style [last week], we got commended by you guys for how we played, we got caught up with it in ourselves, and then we rolled out this performance that for most of today was ordinary".
Rawlings said he didn't read into any of Melbourne's second half structural changes, and that he was more concerned about where his side was at.
"They had some good tactical moves going on in the middle where their forwards would start in the centre bounce and duck forward, and we were getting caught in the cross-over," he said.
"I think they were a bit sore towards the end too, so that forced their hand to make some certain moves."
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