Forwards coach, Greg Mellor, discussing our forward line options ...
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Sub's mission to land impact richmondfc.com.au
19th January 2016Line update: Forwards Coach, Greg Mellor provides an update on the Tiger Forward line.The red-vesting of the AFL’s substitute rule for the 2016 season could have a positive impact for the club’s developing small forwards, according to Richmond Forwards Coach, Greg Mellor.
Since its inception at the beginning of 2011, the sub rule has, save for injury-cover, been a vehicle for injecting an impact player into the game in its latter stages.
In 2015 alone, Connor Menadue, Sam Lloyd, Kamdyn McIntosh and Nathan Gordon were charged on multiple occasions with coming on late, picking up the speed of the game, and trying to hit the scoreboard or lay a vital tackle, then having to keep their fitness at optimal levels for whatever role the following week would bring.
Now, Mellor believes these type of players will have a greater platform to consistently show their capabilities.
“I think the sub rule, the removal of that, will help the forwards, certainly in playing more forwards together,” Mellor told Roar Vision on Tuesday afternoon.
“In the past we’ve had that sub being generally either like a Lloyd or Lennon-type that played that role and they were only getting one quarter at most, and (the rule’s removal) certainly gives them greater opportunity to play the whole game time.
“I think working with the lesser number of rotations, they have greater flexibility to run through the midfield as well, too.”
At the other end of the height spectrum, a three-pronged attack featuring Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery and Ben Griffiths is central to the forward line planning this pre-season.
On display to great effect in wins last year over Fremantle, Sydney and GWS, Mellor believes that with an uninterrupted run at it, the trio can produce regular positives for the side.
“I think there’s a role for Jack, Ty and Griff,” he said.
“They’re three unique players that have different skill sets to each other.
“We didn’t get a great opportunity to see them all play on lots of occasions last year through injury and the way that we went at the start of the year.
“The games that they did play together… they showed that they could work really well, so we’re looking forward to seeing how that pans out.”
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2016-01-19/subs-mission-to-land-impact
