Age 09 Footy supplement --- Connolly tips Richmond to finish 9th again

[one-eyed]

Guerillas in the mist
Rohan Connolly | March 22, 2009

... the populist bandwagons have been building around Collingwood, an industrious but not necessarily star-driven side, and two teams that failed to make the finals last season, and for whom the September wilderness has been an on-going theme, Carlton and Richmond.

But history shows that enthusiasm is hardly going out on a limb. There's been 15 seasons of AFL football since the final eight was introduced in 1994. In every one of them, at least one of the preliminary finalists has come from outside the previous year's top eight.

That's encouraging news for the Blues and Tigers, neither of which have contested finals since 2001.

Richmond has made most of the headlines this past off-season, courtesy of a certain former West Coast midfielder it picked up in the pre-season draft.

The signs for Ben Cousins at Richmond are encouraging so far, yet it's not all about the former Brownlow medallist. Richmond has built its midfield stocks significantly with the likes of Nathan Foley, Brett Deledio, Shane Tuck and Trent Cotchin. Cousins would certainly be considerable cream on the cake.

At either end, too, Richmond looks healthier these days. Matthew Richardson's successful shift to a wing last year had the added bonus of producing more capable goalkickers in Mitch Morton and Jack Riewoldt. And Will Thursfield, Kelvin Moore and Luke McGuane are forming an impressive defensive core.

ROHAN CONNOLLY'S LADDER

GEELONG

HAWTHORN

WESTERN BULLDOGS

COLLINGWOOD

NORTH MELBOURNE

ST KILDA

PORT ADELAIDE

CARLTON

Richmond

Sydney

Adelaide

Brisbane

Essendon

West Coast

Fremantle

Melbourne

Full article at:
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/guerillas-in-the-mist/2009/03/21/1237526387271.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

[richmondrules]

It really irks me that St Kilda has become one of those teams that people seem to expect to make the finals year in year out.

[Mr Magic]

It really irks me that St Kilda has become one of those teams that people seem to expect to make the finals year in year out.

It irks me more that we've become one of those teams that people seem to expect to miss the finals year in year out.

[Hellenic Tiger]

It really irks me that St Kilda has become one of those teams that people seem to expect to make the finals year in year out.

It irks me more that we've become one of those teams that people seem to expect to miss the finals year in year out.

What irks me even more is that the majority forget that St Kilda over 112 seasons are the worst performed least successful club yet thay journos heap the manifest of success on the newspaper reading masses regarding the Saints and people are gullible enough to believe it and 25 years of no success has stigmatised the Richmond Football Club from the media to the general public and through to the remainder of the football community. Yet the same people who believe the above dogma would proclaim Collingwood as likely premiers at this stage of the year even though their success is five time less than Richmonds.

[one-eyed]

Here's more from the hardcopy ............. please do not cut and paste elsewhere as I typed it out


ROHAN CONNOLLY'S LINE ON '09

WHAT'S IN THEIR FAVOUR?
It has been decades since the Tigers went into a season this full of hope, not all based on the recruitment of one B. Cousins. Skills have picked up considerably, they have emerging young talent at either end and a solid, reliable midfield group.

WHAT'S NOT?
Richmond scores heavily enough,but it concedes plenty at the other end, too. It isn't a great clearance or hard-ball winning team and laid fewer tackles last season than any rival. The Tigers
will need a lot more "grunt" to match the elite teams in the competition.

STEPPING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Alex Rance should get an opportunity in defence after a very solid year at VFL level. Angus Graham has impressed pre-season and could do plenty of ruckwork, and Daniel Jackson looks set for plenty of important run-with roles.

IN THEIR WILDEST DREAMS?
Cousins could be just the little push over the class barrier this team - already buzzing from a good finish to last season - has needed. Finals are the goal, top four still unlikely at this stage.

THE REALlTY?
The Tigers have plenty of experience across-the-board, but they have some still-raw players in some pretty important spots, which will take a toll occasionally, and find them out against the very best.

THE PREDICTION?
Oh no, it's a narrow miss again for the Tiges. 9th

[one-eyed]

EXPERTS' VERDICT

Robert Walls says: 10th
A team rarely gets an easier draw so no excuses in '09. The Tigers won 8 of their last 11 in '08, but only one of those was against a top-eight team. They have to get better around stoppages where they struggle for hitouts and clearances. Their tackling and foot skills also have to lift as Tiger turnovers drive their fans to despair.

GEELONG
HAWTHORN
WESTERN BULLDOGS
ST KILDA
CARLTON
COLLINGWOOD
BRISBANE
FREMANTLE
Port Adelaide
Richmond
Adelaide
Sydney
North Melbourne
Essendon
West Coast
Melbourne

Nathan Buckley says: 8th
The Tigers last half of '08 looked better than it was, even though the one top-eight team they beat then was Hawthorn. There's great leg speed everywhere and Deledio and Foley will be a handful for most sides. Success might rest with the oldest and youngest. Richo keeps on keeping on and Cotchin's injury status will have a fair bearing on their best.

GEELONG
HAWTHORN
ST KILDA
COLLINGWOOD
WESTERN BULLDOGS
CARLTON
PORT ADELAIDE
RICHMOND
North Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Essendon
Fremantle
Sydney
West Coast
Melbourne

[mightytiges]

Walls has Freo in his top 8   .

As for us sure we are poor tackling side (no dispute there) and in terms of hitouts because we didn't have a proper 2nd ruckman but I thought we were fairly decent as a side at stoppages  ???. It was once we got the ball that was the problem with our disposal.

You've got to love how our record against top 8 sides last year was brought up yet the Blues with a similar poor record wasn't  . Their backline and ruck depts are weak and they have no CHF. Not sure how they are certain top 8 material like Geelong and Hawthorn is. I still think they'll make it but it's no certainty. One serious injury to Fev away from it all going pear shape. Reading Walls' summary I'm surprised the Blues aren't flag favourites  .

Rohan mentions every year since the top 8 has been existence one side from outside the Eight the previous season comes from nowhere into the top 4. That's true. However he's left out, as they all have, that one side in the top 4 the previous year has always crashed out of the top 8.

[mightytiges]

Btw who did the player summaries ???

Cousins - Midfield, plays footy in between circus commitments. Apparently had a drug habit.

Tambling - Midfielder who comes on a little bit each year. By 2018 he'll be brilliant.

McGuane - Key defender. Plays hard but needs to get ball more often. Spot is not secure yet  ???.

JON - Utility moves like silk  ??? but struggles to get the ball at AFL level. Tigers will persist.

[WilliamPowell]

Btw who did the player summaries ???

Cousins - Midfield, plays footy in between circus commitments. Apparently had a drug habit.

Tambling - Midfielder who comes on a little bit each year. By 2018 he'll be brilliant.

McGuane - Key defender. Plays hard but needs to get ball more often. Spot is not secure yet  ???.

JON - Utility moves like silk  ??? but struggles to get the ball at AFL level. Tigers will persist.

I actually thought they wre pretty witty

A bit of sarcasm never hurt anyone 

 

[one-eyed]

All those who think Geelong, say "Aye"
March 24, 2009

NATHAN BUCKLEY

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, St Kilda, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Port Adelaide, 8. Richmond.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? In Australia.


ROBERT WALLS

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Carlton, Collingwood, Brisbane Lions, Fremantle.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? Hopefully still at Richmond, resurrecting his career.


GARRY LYON

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Carlton, North Melbourne.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? Entrenched at Richmond, but with the startling development that he has moved from his weatherboard house into a brick veneer.


CAROLINE WILSON

TOP 8: Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Collingwood, 7. Richmond, St Kilda.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? Playing for Richmond.


JAKE NIALL

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, St Kilda, 8. Richmond.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? At Tigerland, drinking tea with Tommy Hafey, wearing a (body-hugging T) shirt.


ROHAN CONNOLLY

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Port Adelaide, Carlton.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? At Richmond, playing great football.


GREG BAUM

TOP 8: Hawthorn, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Carlton, St Kilda, 7. Richmond, Brisbane Lions.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? At a New Year's Eve party.

BIG ISSUE: Excess handball.

SOLUTION: Blame Ben Cousins.


MARTIN BLAKE

TOP 8: Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Collingwood, St Kilda, Sydney, Adelaide, Carlton.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? Shopping for shirts on Chapel Street, splashing out with his fatter contract from Richmond.


PETER HANLON

TOP 8: Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Carlton, Collingwood, St Kilda, Port Adelaide, 8. Richmond.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? Still making "news" in the little paper for being spotted out eating dinner and drinking water.


EMMA QUAYLE

TOP 8: Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Carlton, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, 7. Richmond, North Melbourne.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? In a delightfully renovated, three-bedroom home designed for relaxed living, featuring stunning blackbutt timber flooring, solar-heated pool and marvellous bay views.

SURPRISE HEADLINE: Secret experiments reveal Richo really is getting younger.

BIG ISSUE: Whether Ben Cousins really should have opted for an off-the-plan two-storey penthouse apartment with an open-plan living area.


SAMANTHA LANE

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, St Kilda, Port Adelaide, North Melbourne, Carlton.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? In bronze at Punt Road.


DAN SILKSTONE

TOP 8: Hawthorn, Geelong, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, St Kilda, 7. Richmond, Port Adelaide.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? Sundance Film Festival


MARTIN BOULTON

TOP 8: Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Collingwood, St Kilda, Adelaide, Carlton, Sydney.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? In his second season at Richmond.


ANDREA PETRIE

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, North Melbourne, St Kilda, 8.Richmond.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? At Richmond signing on for another year.


JESSE HOGAN

TOP 8: Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Carlton, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, 7. Richmond, St Kilda.

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? Still being stalked by the Sunday Herald Sun.

SURPRISE HEADLINE: Bowden quits, Dream Team coaches distraught.


NICK SHERIDAN

TOP 8: Hawthorn, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Sydney, Carlton, 8. Richmond.

PREMIER: Richmond.

BROWNLOW MEDAL: Matthew Richardson (Rich), 107.

COLEMAN MEDAL: Matthew Richardson (Rich).

WHERE WILL BEN COUSINS BE IN 2010? At Richmond.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/if-you-think-geelong-say-aye/2009/03/23/1237656851694.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[tigersalive]

Lol, some classics from the Age journos, especially Hanlon, Baum and Quayle. 

And Nick Sheriden, whatever you say pal. 

Bit of humour goes a long way.