We continue our look at the 2011 AFL with a look at the Tigers, who just don’t seem to have much roar.
Team: Richmond Tigers
Homeground: MCG (100,000)
Coach: Damien Hardwick
Season 2010: 15th P-22 W-6 L-16 24pts 73%
2011 squad: David Astbury, Jake Batchelor, Andrew Browne, Reece Conca, Daniel Connors, Trent Cotchin, Matt Dea, Brett Deledio, Tom Dereckx, Shane Edwards, Mitch Farmer, Nathan Foley, David Gourdis, Angus Graham, Ben Griffiths, Shaun Grigg, Dylan Grimes, Brad Helbig, Bachar Houli, Daniel Jackson, Jake King, Dean McDonald, Dustin Martin, Luke McGuane, Kelvin Moore, Mitch Morton, Robin Nahas, Ben Nason, Chris Newman, Jayden Post, Alex rance, Jack Riewoldt, Troy Taylor, Will Thursfield, Shane Tuck, Tyrone Vickery, Jeromey Webberley, Matt White. Rookie list: Pat Contin, Robert Hicks, Ben Jakobi, Brad Miller, Jamie O’Reilly, Nick Westoff.
Arrivals: Jake Batchelor (2010 AFL Draft), Reece Conca (2010 AFL Draft), Tom Derrickx (2010 AFL Draft), David Gourdis (rookie elevation), Shaun Grigg (traded from Carlton), Brad Helbig (2010 AFL Draft), Bachar Houli (2010 AFL Pre-Season Draft), Dean McDonald (2010 AFL Draft).
Departures: Andrew Collins (traded to Carlton), Ben Cousins (retired), Tom Hislop (delisted), Jordan McMahon (delisted), Dean Polo (delisted), Troy Simmonds (retired), Richard Tambling (traded to Adelaide), Adam Thompson (delisted).
Season preview: There is little doubt the Tigers will improve this year. They have a group of promising youngsters coming through with the likes of Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Dylan Grimes. Martin was particularly impressive for the Tigers last year, finishing fourth in the best and fairest and scoring the club’s third highest Brownlow votes.
Richmond fans have a lot to look forward to especially with recent draft picks, Reece Conca and Jake Bactchelor. There has been a lot of hype around Conca, who looks to be a complete midfielder, and should make an impact at AFL level straight away.
Richmond had a dismal 2010 campaign. They were last in the league for contested marks and hit outs, third last for handballs, fifth last for tackles and second highest for free-kicks against.
With that in mind Damien Hardwick will want the team to up the ante this year, and work harder on sacrifice and support with a team-first mentality. The Tigers need to work for each other and this means hitting targets on a regular basis and playing disciplined football.
Since Troy Simmonds’ retirement, Angus Graham has slotted into the role of number one ruckman. He played 15 games last year and will look to build on his solid performance.
Richmond fans will be looking forward to Nathan Foley’s return, after his terrible run with injury. With Foley fit and firing alongside Deledio, Martin, Tuck and Edwards, the Tigers midfield starts to look dangerous.
The Tigers will be hoping Ben Griffiths or new recruit Brad Miller can have a strong season to give them more options up forward alongside Jack Riewoldt.
At this stage it is the Tigers defence that’s letting them down. Players such as Will Thursfield and Alex Rance have to make an impact this year. Established players such as skipper Chris Newman, Shane Tuck and Brett Deledio carry too much of the club’s work-load.
Richard Tambling was traded to the Crows which could be good news for the Tigers, considering the 24-year-old’s poor form last season.
But the Tigers have lost a few experienced heads in Cousins and Simmonds while young talent Andrew Collins was traded to Carlton. Former Bomber, Bachar Houli has been given a chance and will want to prove he deserves to wear the yellow and black.
The Tigers will have to fight for another year or two but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Richmond’s time is coming but for now we predict the boys down at Tigerland will finish 13th.
Main man: Brett Deledio. He’s one of the best midfielders in the AFL, though he played a different role last season running off half-back. Averaged 25 disposals a game in 2010 and received his first nomination for the 40-man All-Australian squad.
Deledio brings tenacity and precision to the young Richmond list. Deledio is arguably Richmond’s best player, a leader at the club and a tenacious footballer.
X-Factor: Jack Riewoldt was one of the most improved players in the competition last year. The 22-year-old won the Coleman Medal (78 goals), Richmond’s best and fairest and was named at full-forward in the All-Australian team.
He had the second most contested marks in the league, averaged 3.5 goals a game and kicked three bags of six, including a career-best 10 goal haul against West Coast. Richmond fans will be hoping for another stand-out season from the dominant forward.
Predicted 2011 finish: 13th
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