TIGERS NEED BALANCE BETWEEN OLD AND NEW
OLD TOWN ROAD
THE Tim Taranto-Jacob Hopper heist from GWS was spectacular. But to return to flag contention, the old blokes need to maintain the rage. They are all triple-premiership heroes, but Dylan Grimes got lost against Cam Zurhaar and it cost them a late-season win in 2022. Trent Cotchin has been repurposed as a forward, while Jack Riewoldt admitted he nearly retired before the GWS pair arrived.
As Geelong coasted to the 2022 premiership, it was plus-30s Joel Selwood, Isaac Smith, Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Hawkins leading the charge. Do Grimes, Cotchin and Riewoldt have the fire still in the belly for one more defining campaign?
GUN-SHY SHAI
DUSTIN Martin’s dominance of three grand finals was characterised by unerring accuracy – 2.2, 4.0 and 4.0.
Shai Bolton might be the heir to Martin’s throne, but for all his glorious ball-winning abilities, the only query on his status as a top-five player in the competition is: can he stop squandering his chances?
Last year’s 43.41 included a 0.5, a 2.5 and a 4.5 in a year where he also had over 15 total misses at goal.
If he can fix that query, Bolton has the football world at his feet.
ARE THE KIDS ALL RIGHT?
DAMIEN Hardwick says the most exciting part about Richmond is its future. So how quickly can those kids influence the 2023 season? There are plenty of them – Josh Gibcus, Sam Banks, Tom Brown, Judson Clark, Tyler Sonsie, Maurice Rioli, Hugo Ralphsmith and Samson Ryan. Ruckman Ryan looks a strong marking target, while Sonsie, Rioli and Gibcus made an impact last year. A club that has lost premiership players including Jason Castagna, Kane Lambert, Bachar Houli, Shane Edwards, Josh Caddy and David Astbury in recent years needs the pipeline of talent to continue.
WHERE DOES DUSTY PLAY?
IT took just a half against Melbourne in the only official practice match for the club’s plans to play Martin deep all year to come unstuck.
As the Demons’ midfield took over, it was apparent Martin’s brilliance was needed in centre bounces.
So his positioning will be a work in progress in those early rounds when Richmond takes on quality opponents including Carlton, Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, Sydney and Melbourne in the first six weeks.