I have a feeling he is going to have a big game tonight! 30 or so touches and 4-5 goals. Go Bam Bam!
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Vice-captain Daniel Rich is entering his sixth year, and after playing just two finals – both in his debut 2009 season – is looking for a change of fortunes.
"We all want to be there (the top) from the get-go, but the facts are it hasn't happened," Rich said.
"I can't speak for Rob, but it probably makes it (the wins) sweeter. Those losses wouldn't have made the wins as sweet as they are.
"We know we've got a long way to go, but there's only one way to get there, it's only hard work."
Heathcote said "persistence paid off" for Buffering, and believed it would for the Lions.
Daniel Rich, meanwhile, celebrated the end of 2013 by popping the question to his now fiancee Lauren.
Midfielder Tom Rockliff was also unveiled as the Club’s Vice-Captain, whilst Daniel Rich, Joel Patfull and Daniel Merrett will take up roles as Deputy Vice Captains.
BRISBANE LIONS
DANIEL RICH
With Simon Black retiring and Jonathan Brown in the twilight of his career, there's little doubt the mantle of most important now falls on Daniel Rich's shoulders. The deputy vice-captain gives a workmanlike Lions midfield something a little different, with his penetrating and deadly accurate left foot kick. Rich not only kicks inspirational long range goals, his delivery to the leading forwards in second to none. Rich's growing influence was obvious last year. When he missed six games with a shoulder injury, the Lions won just twice and were toothless against the Swans, Magpies and Blues. Once the 23-year-old returned, they fired, winning seven of 12 matches and almost sneaking into the finals. With Black now gone, Rich – along with Irishman Pearce Hanley – will receive the opposition's best tagger every week. He must continue improving for the Lions to have a good season. - Michael Whiting
BRISBANE LIONS
Daniel Rich
Gms Disp Eff Goals
2012 20 21.7 67% 20
2013 16 18.5 72% 13
Rich at his best is exciting to watch, and the Lions got some of it last season. But if Justin Leppitsch's new reign is to get off to a positive start, then they need more. The 2014 Champion Data Prospectus ranks Rich as ''Average'' - two rungs below elite. It's not all about the numbers, but we all know Rich is better than that. The Lions would love to see their vice-captain go from good to very good this year, if not great. He has already shown how important he is to this team. In the six games Rich missed last season, the Lions won just two and got blown out by the top teams. His return then coincided with the team winning seven of its last 12 games. Dealing with taggers is the challenge. After a stellar NAB Cup campaign, the shutdown men came for the 23-year-old early last year and cut off his supply. Rich had only five games where he had more than 20 touches, down from 16 in 2012. The Lions know they need to find their raking left-footer more of the ball, for there are few more damaging with it. Rich led the team for scoreboard impact after round 12 last year and topped the league for distance with each kick.
Agreed, from memory I believe that's how they operated during the golden years in the Lions midfield.I find myself feeling a bit hopeful about his influence this year with the training in blocking etc - much easier to get around a tag if you have friends helping you rather than trying to do it all by yourself...
I tend to think a fit Hanley in the midfield will be the biggest asset for Rich. Teams are reluctant to hard tag two players. If Hanley can play a similar role to Rich in terms of hitting the scoreboard and/or generating inside 50s, then he will draw the tag more often.
Without putting too much pressure on him, the other bloke who this may apply to is Mayes. He seems to be the other one in our best 18 who can change games by kicking goals from the midfield and generating forward momentum.
We may see Beams also doing this, and as other clubs know, if you leave Rockliff off the leash he'll rack up 30+ disposals at 70%+ efficiency.
I'm pretty sure I remember him doing this a couple of times during last season. Sometimes it came off quite well.or play more of an inside role