Late changes loom as Tigers fly with storm insuranceNathan Schmook
AFL.com.au
May 20, 2016 12:53 PMRICHMOND could make multiple late changes for its clash against Fremantle at Domain Stadium, travelling with all three emergencies as insurance for stormy weather on Saturday night.
Emergencies Nathan Broad, Jacob Townsend and Oleg Markov all boarded the Tigers' flight out of Melbourne on Friday morning, alongside returning pair Trent Cotchin and Kane Lambert.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting damaging winds in Perth on Saturday night of up to 40 km/h, possible hail and up to 20mm of rain.
"Apparently it's eight-metre swells and 120-knot winds," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said with a laugh.
The Tigers, whose VFL team has a bye this weekend, could look to 'downsize' in the backline through the versatile Broad, or add more contested ball strength in the midfield with Townsend.
Markov, a 188cm forward who was drafted with pick No.50 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, is yet to make his debut but could be called on to make the forward line more versatile.
"Weather conditions we're unsure of … so we'll wait and see what the conditions are and make a couple of calls," Hardwick said as the team flew out of Melbourne.
"We've still got a few selection decisions to make going into this game that'll be made probably on the plane going over … and if there's a change to be made we'll make one."
Hardwick said the Tigers would be confident playing a contested game in the wet, but they wouldn't take the winless Dockers, whose average losing margin this season is 31 points, lightly.
"They're playing some reasonable football without getting the results," he said.
"It's going to be a tight contest, games against Fremantle always are.
"We're just looking to play a good game of footy against a side that is on their home deck and haven't played anywhere near the level they would like."
Ruckman Shaun Hampson was one of the unsung heroes in last week's one-point win against the Sydney Swans, winning his match-up with Kurt Tippett and giving the Tigers an edge in the midfield.
Five of the team's goals against the Swans came direct from centre-square clearances, with Hardwick pleased with the former Blue's tap work in the absence of No.1 ruckman Ivan Maric.
"He's been great. His tap work around the grounds has been very good and his centre-square dominance, we're getting some really good results from that," Hardwick said.
"He's 28, and if you ask one of my assistant coaches (former Port Adelaide ruckman) Brendon Lade, he didn't play his best footy until he was 30.
"He's getting better for us every week and he's gaining in confidence. Our players are very confident in what he can do."
Hampson's form has created competition for Maric, who is joint vice-captain but has struggled to perform since a pre-season back injury.
Hardwick said Maric was now moving the best he had since the injury but had been playing through pain.
"He's a warrior and he's been playing hurt. He will never say that to me but I can tell by the way he's been moving," the coach said.
"He's such an important player for us and a spiritual leader of our footy club, and when he gets back to his best form he'll certainly be a valuable player for us."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-20/late-changes-loom-as-tigers-fly-with-storm-insurance
