All Tiger eyes on Coburg . . .
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
11:17:38 AM Thu 19 June, 2003
For those Richmond fans craving their weekly Tiger fix during the
mid-season break, help is at hand . . .
Richmond's VFL team, the Coburg Tigers, is playing the Northern Bullants
(Carlton's VFL partner) at City Oval, Coburg this Saturday afternoon (June
21) at 2pm. And, the Coburg side is set to include up to 16 Richmond-list
players for what shapes as an intriguing contest.
"It's a really great opportunity for our supporters to get down there and
have a look at what will be a great representation of AFL players playing
for Coburg this week," said Richmond's Football Manager Greg Hutchison.
"We usually have about 10 players playing for Coburg, but this week we're
going to have around 16.
"Rory Hilton and Adam Houlihan, who both played in the AFL last weekend,
indicated earlier in the week that they were keen to go back and try to
find some form.
"Other players from our senior side last Saturday, who will play for Coburg
this week, are Tim Fleming, Kayne Pettifer, Craig Biddiscombe and Dave
Rodan.
Justin Blumfield, who hasn't played since severely damaging his thigh in
the Round 4 match against St Kilda at Telstra Dome, is a chance to resume
this week with the Coburg Tigers.
"It's line-ball at this stage whether he'll play this week for Coburg. If
he doesn't play this week we then have the bye in the VFL the following
week, which makes it hard for him," Hutchison said.
Two other Richmond players who will definitely line up for Coburg on
Saturday, are Ben Holland and Marc Dragicevic.
The pair have now played several VFL games on the comeback trail following
their knee reconstructions in 2002.
"Ben Holland was very good last weekend," Hutchison said.
"He played really well in the first half, got a bit tired after half-time,
but played forward and back, and kicked a couple of goals.
"Marc Dragicevic was the brightest we've seen him in a long time. He really
finished the game running pretty well and he looks the fittest he's been in
quite a while.
"If he performs well this week, he may be some sort of chance for senior
selection because there have been a number of players who haven't been
going that well in the AFL . . . it all depends on his form, which was
really good last weekend.
Meanwhile, in further news on the Punt Road injury front, luckless Tiger
'Braveheart', Duncan Kellaway has suffered another blow.
Kellaway, 30, suffered a ligament sprain in his foot during his first game
of the season for Richmond, against Carlton at the MCG last Saturday. He
will be sidelined for about a month.
Tiger captain Wayne Campbell and star Adelaide recruit Kane Johnson are
both expected to be available for the big Round 13 clash with Brisbane at
the Gabba on June 28 following their calf problems.
"We're hopeful that come the Brisbane game, we'll have only two players
(Darren Gaspar, knee reconstruction and Duncan Kellaway, foot) out injured,
which is good news," Hutchison said.
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
11:17:38 AM Thu 19 June, 2003
For those Richmond fans craving their weekly Tiger fix during the
mid-season break, help is at hand . . .
Richmond's VFL team, the Coburg Tigers, is playing the Northern Bullants
(Carlton's VFL partner) at City Oval, Coburg this Saturday afternoon (June
21) at 2pm. And, the Coburg side is set to include up to 16 Richmond-list
players for what shapes as an intriguing contest.
"It's a really great opportunity for our supporters to get down there and
have a look at what will be a great representation of AFL players playing
for Coburg this week," said Richmond's Football Manager Greg Hutchison.
"We usually have about 10 players playing for Coburg, but this week we're
going to have around 16.
"Rory Hilton and Adam Houlihan, who both played in the AFL last weekend,
indicated earlier in the week that they were keen to go back and try to
find some form.
"Other players from our senior side last Saturday, who will play for Coburg
this week, are Tim Fleming, Kayne Pettifer, Craig Biddiscombe and Dave
Rodan.
Justin Blumfield, who hasn't played since severely damaging his thigh in
the Round 4 match against St Kilda at Telstra Dome, is a chance to resume
this week with the Coburg Tigers.
"It's line-ball at this stage whether he'll play this week for Coburg. If
he doesn't play this week we then have the bye in the VFL the following
week, which makes it hard for him," Hutchison said.
Two other Richmond players who will definitely line up for Coburg on
Saturday, are Ben Holland and Marc Dragicevic.
The pair have now played several VFL games on the comeback trail following
their knee reconstructions in 2002.
"Ben Holland was very good last weekend," Hutchison said.
"He played really well in the first half, got a bit tired after half-time,
but played forward and back, and kicked a couple of goals.
"Marc Dragicevic was the brightest we've seen him in a long time. He really
finished the game running pretty well and he looks the fittest he's been in
quite a while.
"If he performs well this week, he may be some sort of chance for senior
selection because there have been a number of players who haven't been
going that well in the AFL . . . it all depends on his form, which was
really good last weekend.
Meanwhile, in further news on the Punt Road injury front, luckless Tiger
'Braveheart', Duncan Kellaway has suffered another blow.
Kellaway, 30, suffered a ligament sprain in his foot during his first game
of the season for Richmond, against Carlton at the MCG last Saturday. He
will be sidelined for about a month.
Tiger captain Wayne Campbell and star Adelaide recruit Kane Johnson are
both expected to be available for the big Round 13 clash with Brisbane at
the Gabba on June 28 following their calf problems.
"We're hopeful that come the Brisbane game, we'll have only two players
(Darren Gaspar, knee reconstruction and Duncan Kellaway, foot) out injured,
which is good news," Hutchison said.
