Tiger finds form with Coburg
VFL by Melissa Ryan
June 22 2003
Mixed fortunes prevailed for the six Richmond footballers sent back to Coburg yesterday to resurrect their struggling form and rediscover their confidence, with Adam Houlihan delivering a worthy effort after voluntarily dropping himself.
Houlihan bookended his performance with a strong start in the forward line - as Coburg set up a 29-point lead by the end of the first term - and a cool finish as he combined with Ben Holland in the back line in the last term to grimly contain the Northern Bullants and hold on for a nine-point victory.
He finished with 26 touches and two goals, and his efforts were noted by the Richmond coaching panel.
"Houla started very well," said assistant coach Darren Crocker. "He had a little bit of a flat patch there in the second quarter. But when you just needed a cool head late in the game, he was the cool head that when we got the ball in his hands he made the right decisions and we were just able to slow the play down and hold it up for us."
But for the most part, the sextet's efforts in the VFL were overshadowed by Holland and Marc Dragicevic, both on the comeback trail from knee reconstructions and both searching for senior spots.
David Rodan played two-and-a-half quarters in his first VFL match, having had groin soreness during the week, while Craig Biddescombe and Tim Fleming worked solidly. Kayne Pettifer kicked two goals and Rory Hilton, who had also volunteered to return to the VFL, struggled to have any great impact on the game.
"Biddescombe I thought was serviceable on a wing," Crocker said. "I thought Hilton showed that he just needs to regain some confidence. He didn't come back and dominate at this level. It's harder than what they sometimes expect, coming back, but he took steps forward and I thought Pettifer was the same.
"Kayne's played a little bit at this level so he knows what it's all about and I thought his game was OK."
Rodan alternated between the forward line and the midfield - giving him greater freedom than he has had at senior level - and Crocker said the Tigers had been encouraged by his limited efforts.
For the Northern Bullants, Justin Davies played his second game since returning from Shepparton to deal with personal problems, while Carlton rookie Laurence Angwin - who has been sidelined with a neck injury - kicked two goals and was among the Bullants' best.
"He's missed a lot of footy but he can play. We're a little bit excited about him for the future," football manager Col Kinnear said.
VFL by Melissa Ryan
June 22 2003
Mixed fortunes prevailed for the six Richmond footballers sent back to Coburg yesterday to resurrect their struggling form and rediscover their confidence, with Adam Houlihan delivering a worthy effort after voluntarily dropping himself.
Houlihan bookended his performance with a strong start in the forward line - as Coburg set up a 29-point lead by the end of the first term - and a cool finish as he combined with Ben Holland in the back line in the last term to grimly contain the Northern Bullants and hold on for a nine-point victory.
He finished with 26 touches and two goals, and his efforts were noted by the Richmond coaching panel.
"Houla started very well," said assistant coach Darren Crocker. "He had a little bit of a flat patch there in the second quarter. But when you just needed a cool head late in the game, he was the cool head that when we got the ball in his hands he made the right decisions and we were just able to slow the play down and hold it up for us."
But for the most part, the sextet's efforts in the VFL were overshadowed by Holland and Marc Dragicevic, both on the comeback trail from knee reconstructions and both searching for senior spots.
David Rodan played two-and-a-half quarters in his first VFL match, having had groin soreness during the week, while Craig Biddescombe and Tim Fleming worked solidly. Kayne Pettifer kicked two goals and Rory Hilton, who had also volunteered to return to the VFL, struggled to have any great impact on the game.
"Biddescombe I thought was serviceable on a wing," Crocker said. "I thought Hilton showed that he just needs to regain some confidence. He didn't come back and dominate at this level. It's harder than what they sometimes expect, coming back, but he took steps forward and I thought Pettifer was the same.
"Kayne's played a little bit at this level so he knows what it's all about and I thought his game was OK."
Rodan alternated between the forward line and the midfield - giving him greater freedom than he has had at senior level - and Crocker said the Tigers had been encouraged by his limited efforts.
For the Northern Bullants, Justin Davies played his second game since returning from Shepparton to deal with personal problems, while Carlton rookie Laurence Angwin - who has been sidelined with a neck injury - kicked two goals and was among the Bullants' best.
"He's missed a lot of footy but he can play. We're a little bit excited about him for the future," football manager Col Kinnear said.
