The Tackle: Richmond needs to give Jack Riewoldt a chance to kick goalsMark Robinson
Herald-Sun
March 17, 2014NOT for the first time, Richmond took a knife to a gun fight.
Maybe they were still basking in their Punt Rd hitout against Essendon, when they were dominant, because they arrived at the Gold Coast thinking it was just going to happen.
At quarter-time, the Suns led 34-19. They won the contested ball 50-36. One team came to play.
The other team was hesitant instead of being aggressive.
It proved costly. The final margin was 18 points.
The Tigers improved after quarter-time — they won the contested ball 117-107 in the final three quarters — but have concerns in all areas.
On the morning of the game, coach Damien Hardwick spoke of the need to be aggressive and defensively strong, yet the Suns kicked an alarming 12.13 from 48 forward-50 entries. The Tigers scratched around for 10.9 from a healthy 58 entries.
What are they to do with Jack Reiwoldt?
Here’s a guy who won two Coleman Medals in so-so teams, seemingly being marginalised.
Hardwick said post-match Riewoldt and Ty Vickery were “below their best”.
Maybe if Riewoldt was given the pill, he might be able to have some impact.
Stats tells us inside-50 targets for the game were Vickery (14), resting midfielders Trent Cotchin (four) and Deledio (three), and Riewoldt (three).
Just three times to Jack, which is incredible for a player of his talents.
We are led to believe that nothing happens in football by chance, so we have to assume it was a coaching directive.
It didn’t work. Matthew Warnock’s job on Riewoldt was made easier because of the lack of delivery, while Vickery kicked two on Steven May, who was outstanding.
On a weekend when the AFL competition grew up, Gold Coast, similar to an amazing Greater Western Sydney, won with substance.
In the final quarter, when the Tigers peppered the ball inside 50, the Suns absorbed the pressure at the defensive end and when they ball, they kicked goals.
From nine entries, the Suns kicked 5.2. From 21 entries, the Tigers kicked 4.2
May was terrific. He had eight spoils in the final 30 minutes and in a game in which Ablett, Swallow, O’Meara and Prestia were significant, May was as important as any of them.
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