Richmond Report CardJonathan Horn
Sportal
11/09/2010 This year's grade: C-Full report at:
http://sportal.com.au/afl-report-card-display/richmond-report-card-98431Likely departures:It's too easy to point the finger at and bag perennial whipping boy Richard Tambling but following a nothing sort of season, his tenure at Punt Road is shaky. He, along with Will Thursfield, who hasn't really stepped up as key defender and Dean Polo, who was virtually a permanent fixture in the VFL, could be used as trade bait. Backmen Kel Moore and Luke McGuane would also attract significant interest from clubs like Hawthorn, who are desperately in need of tall, key defenders while it would be a massive surprise if Jordan McMahon is still at the club in 2011.
Type of Players needed:There's talk that the Tigers are chasing Adelaide forward Chris Knights, who would certainly provide a nice foil for Riewoldt. But really, Richmond's needs are no different to any other emerging side - they need time, they need talls and they need tough players. They could do with a gun centre half-back and forward but who couldn't?
Likely improvement: The return of Nathan Foley, who missed the last 15 weeks with an ankle injury, should shore up an already strong midfield. A summer in the gym can only be a good thing for the promising, yet spindly trio of Graham, Vickery and Post. Connors was a revelation after his Sydney misdeeds and subsequent suspension and will only get better next year. If Mitch Morton remains on the list, the good form that he displayed in August will hopefully continue into season 2011. Ultimately, Richmond have a stack of players with three or four years of senior footy behind them who now need to step it up a notch if the side is to be genuinely competitive.
Finals next year?... with a Coleman medalist, the makings of a good spine and a very effective midfield, notching up 8-12 wins looms as a realistic target.
Full report at:
http://sportal.com.au/afl-report-card-display/richmond-report-card-98431