This is an interesting list. It has a combination of experience and youth with the problem shared by all the teams below it. Richmond has a poor midfield.
The captain, Kane Johnson, has paid the price for years of heavy inside work and cannot lift his leg to kick. His kicks constantly fall short. At 19yo he was a star and a crock. He's got better at Richmond but his body is older than it should be. He is clearly the best midfielder at the club.
What's the list look like?
Joel Bowden
Patrick Bowden
Nathan G Brown
Travis Casserley
Mark Chaffey
Mark Coughlan
Brett Deledio
Nathan Foley
Darren Gaspar (vet)
Ray Hall
Brent Hartigan
Cleve Hughes
Chris Hyde
Daniel Jackson
Kane Johnson
Andrew Kellaway
Trent Knobel
Andrew Krakouer
Dean Limbach
Luke McGuane
Danny Meyer
Kelvin Moore
Chris Newman
Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls
Adam Pattison
Kayne Pettifer
Dean Polo
Andrew Raines
Matthew Richardson (vet)
Thomas Roach
David Rodan
Jay Schulz
Troy Simmonds
Greg Stafford
Richard Tambling
Will Thursfield
Greg Tivendale
Shane Tuck
Matthew White
Rookies
Angus Graham
Cameron Howat
Jeremy Humm
Still on the midfield, Mark Coughlan had injury concerns in 2005, again. His kicking was nowhere near as penetrating as in previous years (a sure sign of groin or back problems) and his running was not up to scratch, even though it had improved. He was often caught on his haunches while his opponent was free inside fifty. I have it on good authority that he had ankle injuries which have since been attended to. So an improvement in his running is likely. But MC is far too predictable when he gathers the ball. He takes it high on his chest, absorbs the tackle and pivots looking for a short handball. He's got to diversify his game. His tagging, when he could run was good.
Shane Tuck was one of the biggest improvers of 2005. His assault on the packs was as vigourous as it was consistent. But he did not use the ball with precision. His recipe was simple- hit the pack, bomb the ball. This recipe will be the key to his downfall unless he can change it. I believe he will.
This is where we strike trouble. Not only does Richmond have an average (at best) trio of strike midfielders, it's next tier is terrible.
Mark Chaffey surprised me in his first year in a midfield role, albeit strictly defensive. He was usually able to shut down his opponent even though he won virtually no clearances himself. He is another who can't lift his leg to kick. He's got nuts but his run is average and his use, poor. He was rested in the late stages of 05. Maybe he can keep improving. Ordinary #4 mid ATM
Chris Hyde was injured for most of 05. He is far too frail to play the inside roles demanded of him. He makes a poor balance with the others.
Greg Tivendale could once kick the ball 55m at will. Those days are long gone and (like Coughlan) he struggles for some time after a 50m kick now. He spent most of 2005 in defensive roles in a HBF/run-with role.
Five of Richmond's midfielders are stricken with injury and none is a star. They all lack finishing skills and most can't lift their legs to kick. It's not going to get better overnight.
Premiership Side:
FB- Vacancy, D.Gaspar, A.Kellway
HB- Vacancy, Vacancy, J.Bowden
C- S.Tuck, K.Johnson, M.Coughlan
HF- B.Deledio, Vacancy, Vacancy
FF- N.G.Brown, M.Richardson, Vacancy
R- Vacancy, Vacancy, Vacancy
Int: T.Simmonds, K.Pettifer, C.Newman, Vacancy
So, who's coming through to fill the empty slots?
Jay Schulz will continue his AFL apprenticeship at CHB. I believe he'll do well in this slot until he matures.
Brent Hartigan, if he can get his body right will bloom as a running HBF.
If these two can cement premiership slots, Richmond's backline looks complete for 2006 and the following season.
The three best mids at Richmond, Johnson, Coughlan and Tuck are not good enough for premiership slots ATM. Central to a side that finished twelfth, these blokes had the benefit of some of the best rucking in Australia. With poor results. So where is the improvement to come from.
Surprise! Brett Deledio gave the Tiges some much needed polish and run when he was winning in the midfield. If he can keep improving so will Richmond.
Chris Newman won as many centre clearances as Bobby Skilton in 2006. He used the ball with aplomb but he didn't win it. If he can just get some leather it will help the Tigers no end. He played tight for most games but in a few he was exposed defensively. He can get that right this season.
David Rodan is almost universally regarded as a loser. Having never played a senior game as an adult, his coaching panel has been his champion. He is a very different type to the other RFC midfielders and whatever he lacks in smarts, he can make up for in style.
The other huge problem area for Richmond has been its forward line.
P.Bowden may not be useless but he's not a forward. No help.
Richard Tambling has added some mass and he has glamour, something few other players from Punt Road offer. He could be a big comer this year. He'll play forward.
Pathettifer has been a fine decoy CHF (he relies on his marking outside the arc). His defensive work is well below the mark and his loose ball winning is poor. If he can improve these two areas he could be a very useful small forward. But ATM he lacks grunt and versatility. If he doesn't improve he'll be swatted by tall HBF's.
N.G.rown is unknown. Those leg breaks take a year plus to get over (as Darryl Cullinan). He's pivotal to the weak Richmond forward line. We'll know in May.
Richo is still the primo forward at Richmond. Much of his work hurts us- poor recovery, U turns, slow hands but he's a dominant marking forward and they are GOLD.
Rodan can give us some zip and goal smarts up forward if he comes up 90%. And Krakouer is still a better nett result than Petttifer. He'll do for now although he doesn't blend well with his slow team-mates.
Jackson, Polo, Meyer, Pattison and Limbach may yet find themselves in the mix in 2006. And Thursfield will play ones, you'd reckon.
Middle eight.
The captain, Kane Johnson, has paid the price for years of heavy inside work and cannot lift his leg to kick. His kicks constantly fall short. At 19yo he was a star and a crock. He's got better at Richmond but his body is older than it should be. He is clearly the best midfielder at the club.
What's the list look like?
Joel Bowden
Patrick Bowden
Nathan G Brown
Travis Casserley
Mark Chaffey
Mark Coughlan
Brett Deledio
Nathan Foley
Darren Gaspar (vet)
Ray Hall
Brent Hartigan
Cleve Hughes
Chris Hyde
Daniel Jackson
Kane Johnson
Andrew Kellaway
Trent Knobel
Andrew Krakouer
Dean Limbach
Luke McGuane
Danny Meyer
Kelvin Moore
Chris Newman
Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls
Adam Pattison
Kayne Pettifer
Dean Polo
Andrew Raines
Matthew Richardson (vet)
Thomas Roach
David Rodan
Jay Schulz
Troy Simmonds
Greg Stafford
Richard Tambling
Will Thursfield
Greg Tivendale
Shane Tuck
Matthew White
Rookies
Angus Graham
Cameron Howat
Jeremy Humm
Still on the midfield, Mark Coughlan had injury concerns in 2005, again. His kicking was nowhere near as penetrating as in previous years (a sure sign of groin or back problems) and his running was not up to scratch, even though it had improved. He was often caught on his haunches while his opponent was free inside fifty. I have it on good authority that he had ankle injuries which have since been attended to. So an improvement in his running is likely. But MC is far too predictable when he gathers the ball. He takes it high on his chest, absorbs the tackle and pivots looking for a short handball. He's got to diversify his game. His tagging, when he could run was good.
Shane Tuck was one of the biggest improvers of 2005. His assault on the packs was as vigourous as it was consistent. But he did not use the ball with precision. His recipe was simple- hit the pack, bomb the ball. This recipe will be the key to his downfall unless he can change it. I believe he will.
This is where we strike trouble. Not only does Richmond have an average (at best) trio of strike midfielders, it's next tier is terrible.
Mark Chaffey surprised me in his first year in a midfield role, albeit strictly defensive. He was usually able to shut down his opponent even though he won virtually no clearances himself. He is another who can't lift his leg to kick. He's got nuts but his run is average and his use, poor. He was rested in the late stages of 05. Maybe he can keep improving. Ordinary #4 mid ATM
Chris Hyde was injured for most of 05. He is far too frail to play the inside roles demanded of him. He makes a poor balance with the others.
Greg Tivendale could once kick the ball 55m at will. Those days are long gone and (like Coughlan) he struggles for some time after a 50m kick now. He spent most of 2005 in defensive roles in a HBF/run-with role.
Five of Richmond's midfielders are stricken with injury and none is a star. They all lack finishing skills and most can't lift their legs to kick. It's not going to get better overnight.
Premiership Side:
FB- Vacancy, D.Gaspar, A.Kellway
HB- Vacancy, Vacancy, J.Bowden
C- S.Tuck, K.Johnson, M.Coughlan
HF- B.Deledio, Vacancy, Vacancy
FF- N.G.Brown, M.Richardson, Vacancy
R- Vacancy, Vacancy, Vacancy
Int: T.Simmonds, K.Pettifer, C.Newman, Vacancy
So, who's coming through to fill the empty slots?
Jay Schulz will continue his AFL apprenticeship at CHB. I believe he'll do well in this slot until he matures.
Brent Hartigan, if he can get his body right will bloom as a running HBF.
If these two can cement premiership slots, Richmond's backline looks complete for 2006 and the following season.
The three best mids at Richmond, Johnson, Coughlan and Tuck are not good enough for premiership slots ATM. Central to a side that finished twelfth, these blokes had the benefit of some of the best rucking in Australia. With poor results. So where is the improvement to come from.
Surprise! Brett Deledio gave the Tiges some much needed polish and run when he was winning in the midfield. If he can keep improving so will Richmond.
Chris Newman won as many centre clearances as Bobby Skilton in 2006. He used the ball with aplomb but he didn't win it. If he can just get some leather it will help the Tigers no end. He played tight for most games but in a few he was exposed defensively. He can get that right this season.
David Rodan is almost universally regarded as a loser. Having never played a senior game as an adult, his coaching panel has been his champion. He is a very different type to the other RFC midfielders and whatever he lacks in smarts, he can make up for in style.
The other huge problem area for Richmond has been its forward line.
P.Bowden may not be useless but he's not a forward. No help.
Richard Tambling has added some mass and he has glamour, something few other players from Punt Road offer. He could be a big comer this year. He'll play forward.
Pathettifer has been a fine decoy CHF (he relies on his marking outside the arc). His defensive work is well below the mark and his loose ball winning is poor. If he can improve these two areas he could be a very useful small forward. But ATM he lacks grunt and versatility. If he doesn't improve he'll be swatted by tall HBF's.
N.G.rown is unknown. Those leg breaks take a year plus to get over (as Darryl Cullinan). He's pivotal to the weak Richmond forward line. We'll know in May.
Richo is still the primo forward at Richmond. Much of his work hurts us- poor recovery, U turns, slow hands but he's a dominant marking forward and they are GOLD.
Rodan can give us some zip and goal smarts up forward if he comes up 90%. And Krakouer is still a better nett result than Petttifer. He'll do for now although he doesn't blend well with his slow team-mates.
Jackson, Polo, Meyer, Pattison and Limbach may yet find themselves in the mix in 2006. And Thursfield will play ones, you'd reckon.
Middle eight.
.
