TAR Hear the Tigers Roar: A recruiting story

[Pie 4 Life]

*Had to delist Mark Coughlan because of space

2008 PRE-SEASON DRAFT

Sam Power (SB) 25yrs, 72/0
Ashton Ratten (SB) 19yrs, 64/10
Jaymie Graham (TF) 26yrs, 71/0
Simon Hitchcox (OB) 20yrs, 68/15

While we were obviously restricted in who wer could pick, we've selected a few solid, consistent role players who can slot in through injury. Jaymie in particular could play an important role if a key forward goes down.

 

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2009 TEAM AS SELECTED BY ASSISTANT COACH

B: Chris Newman - Leigh Brown - Brian Harris
HB: Heath Shaw - Ben Rutten - Sam Power
C: Nick Dal Santo - Jordan Lewis - Danny Meyer
HF: Alan Didak - Josh Kennedy - Steve Johnson
F: Aaron Davey - Travis Cloke - Jaymie Graham
R: Dean Cox - Brett Deledio - Chris Judd
INT: Luke Hodge - Robbie Warnock - Henry Pycroft - Will Thursfield

A few changes this year, but still looking quite strong. The midfield in particular runs deep and that is quite impressive.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

RICHMOND HAVE INDIFFERENT START TO 2009

Richmond have not had the ideal start to the 2009 season, winning five out of 11 games, sitting 10th at the halfway mark. After sitting fourth at the same stage last year, the Tigers are five wins off top spot, where Geelong have a three win gap on second and a log-jam in the middle with only three wins separating fourth from last. Key defender Ben Rutten suffered a serious back injury and will be out for the season.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

RICHMOND FALL TO 12TH IN DISAPPOINTING SEASON

Richmond failed to make the finals after winning the minor premiership in 2008. Geelong finished on top with 17 wins, but Richmond only managed nine this season after 17 last year. The one positive was the combination of Josh Kennedy and Travis Cloke who booted 59 and 58 goals respectively. Chris Judd (25 possessions), Brett Deledio (24), Nick Dal Santo (22), Luke Hodge (20) and Jordan Lewis (19) controlled the middle. Richmond had the most possessions of any club, but finished 11th for contested possessions.

Steve Johnson made the All-Australian team in the right forward pocket.

 

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2009 RETIREES

Blake Caracella, 33yrs, 214 games

Just the one retiree for the Tigers, with Caracella hanging up the boots after four clubs and two premierships. We wish Blake all the best for the future.

 

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2009 DELISTEES

Aaron Davey (SF) 26yrs, 76/0
Brent Hartigan (SB) 25yrs, 71/0
Nathan Lonie (SB) 27yrs, 69/0
Kelvin Moore (TB) 26yrs, 71/0
Mitch Morton (OB) 23yrs, 72/2
Chris Newman (OB) 28yrs, 76/0
Will Thursfield (TB) 24yrs, 75/0
Robert Warnock (R) 23yrs, 69/2

2009 SIGNINGS

Nathan Bock - $199k (3)
Leigh Brown - $167k (2)
Jamie Charman - $350k (2)
Travis Cloke - $285k (3)
Dean Cox - $445k (3)
Jonathan Flight - $87k (2)
Curtis Forman - $118k (3)
Jordan Lewis - $485k (4)
Henry Pycroft - $75k (2)
Adam Springett - $74k (2)

Richmond has swung the proverbial axe at the contract table, delisting eight players including Aaron Davey, because of contract negotiations breaking down. Head recruiter Francis Jackson said this: "We felt Aaron's opinion of how much he was valued at, in comparison to our opinion was greatly differed and therefore we were unable to reach a settlement," he said. "We did feel we had a fair few players who were role depth players, but with younger players coming through, we thought for value for money, as this is a business, there were better options out there. "We have to be brutal in this industry."

 

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2008 TRADE WEEK

Danny Meyer (Richmond) exchanged for Luke Ball (St Kilda)
Chris Judd (Richmond) exchanged for Brendan Fevola and Eddie Betts (Carlton)
Pick 5 (Richmond) exchanged for Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Simon Hitchcox and Pick 53 (Richmond) exchanged for Max Bailey (Hawthorn)

Another busy trade period for the Tigers, losing Danny Meyer and Chris Judd to ease salary cap but pick up equally adept players in Luke Ball and Scott Pendlebury. The Tigers will also add Brendan Fevola and Eddie Betts to the forward line, while Max Bailey joins the club in exchange for 21 year-old Simon Hitchcox who has only managed the three games in as many seasons and wanted a fresh start.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

2008 NATIONAL DRAFT

#21 Logan Camilleri (Launceston) - Tall Forward - 191cm, 85kg - 65/6 (67 OV)

Logan might not end up a champion player, but for a tall forawrd, he has elite endurance, great speed, solid skills and can drag a mark down. While he's not overly strong, he can play at either end and is a good set shot for goal. Most importantly, he is consistent.

#37 Darius Wray (Murray Bushrangers) - Outside Midfielder - 178cm, 76kg - 64/17 (70 OV)

Darius is another player with good consistency, but also great skills with strong endurance and speed. While he isn't strong and doesn't find a heap of the footy, he uses it well and could be a good role player in the future.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

2009 PRE-SEASON DRAFT

Frank Spicer (TF) 20yrs, 71/27 (80)
Josh Drummond (SB) 27yrs, 71/0
Joel Patfull (TB) 25yrs, 68/0
Griffin Springett (SF) 18yrs, 67/4 (68)
Drew Coon (OB) 19yrs, 54/10 (57)

We picked up a real mixed bunch across the ground in the pre-season draft. Frank Spicer is good value for down the track if he doesn't succeed, Drummond and Patfull add strength to our defence, while Griffin Springett is the brother of key defender Adam Springett on our list. Drew Coon is an elite tagger with consistency.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

2010 TEAM LIST

Bailey, Max - 23yrs (R) 76/0
Ball, Luke - 26yrs (OB) 79/0
Betts, Eddie - 23yrs (SF) 75/0
Bock, Nathan - 27yrs (TB) 71/0
Brown, Leigh - 28yrs (TB) 70/0
Camilleri, Logan - 18yrs (TF) 65/6
Charman, Jamie - 27yrs (R) 76/0
Cloke, Travis - 23yrs (TF) 78/0
Coon, Drew - 19yrs (OB) 59/7
Cox, Dean - 28yrs (R) 74/0
Dal Santo, Nick - 26yrs, (OB) 83/0
Deledio, Brett - 23yrs (OB) 83/0
Didak, Alan - 27yrs (SF) 77/0
Drummond, Josh - 27yrs (SB) 73/0
Fevola, Brendan - 28yrs (TF) 83/0
Flight, Jonathan - 21yrs (TF) 68/1
Forman, Curtis - 20yrs (OB) 75/4
Graham, Jaymie - 27yrs (TF) 69/0
Harris, Brian - 28yrs (TB) 79/0
Hodge, Luke - 26yrs (OB) 81/0
Johnson, Steven - 26yrs (SF) 75/0
Kay, Bradley - 19yrs (SB) 66/4
Kennedy, Josh - 22yrs (TF) 79/4
Lewis, Jordan - 24yrs (TF) 78/0
Patfull, Joel - 25yrs (TB) 68/0
Paton, Corey - 19yrs (TB) 65/7
Pendlebury, Scott - 22yrs (OB) 81/2
Power, Sam - 26yrs (SB) 70/0
Pycroft, Henry - 20yrs (OB) 75/23
Ratten, Ashton - 20yrs (SB) 67/0
Riebe, Brandon - 21yrs (OB) 79/15
Rutten, Ben - 26yrs (TB) 77/0
Shaw, Heath - 24yrs (SB) 76/0
Spicer, Frank - 24yrs (TF) 76/2
Springett, Adam - 19yrs (TB) 64/11
Springett, Griffin - 18yrs (SF) 67/4
Starr, Casey - 21yrs (SB) 73/20
Wray, Darius - 18yrs (OB) 62/16

 

[Pie 4 Life]

2010 TEAM AS SELECTED BY ASSISTANT COACH

B: Josh Drummond - Brian Harris - Leigh Brown
HB: Heath Shaw - Ben Rutten - Sam Power
C: Luke Hodge - Nick Dal Santo - Jordan Lewis
HF: Alan Didak - Travis Cloke - Steve Johnson
F: Eddie Betts - Josh Kennedy - Brendan Fevola
R: Dean Cox - Scott Pendlebury - Brett Deledio
INT: Brandon Riebe - Luke Ball - Drew Coon = Jamie Charman

Another strong-looking team, very deep in the midfield, dangerous forward line and running defenders off the half-back flank. Excited about this year.

 

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RICHMOND RUE TERRIBLE START

Richmond has not been able to get its season going 11 rounds in, sitting on the bottom of the ladder with just three wins. Losing several key players to injury hasn't helped, but the team has changed so much over the past couple of years, it seems hard for the players to gel together.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

RICHMOND FINISH 12TH WITH INDIFFERENT FINISH

A shocking start to the season ended Richmond's hopes of finals, with the Tigers finishing with nine wins, which meant six wins from the last 11 matches. They finished one win out of the finals in a disappointing result for the club. Some of the key contributors:

Luke Ball - 22 games, 23.6 disposals, 5.3 clearances, 3.5 marks, 14 goals
Eddie Betts - 14 games, 12.4 disposals, 3.7 marks, 21 goals
Travis Cloke - 18 games, 14.3 disposals, 6.1 marks, 34 goals
Dean Cox - 22 games, 14.1 disposals, 7.9 marks, 15.2 hit-outs, nine goals
Nick Dal Santo - 22 games, 24.3 disposals, 2.5 marks, 6.3 clearances, 16 goals
Brett Deledio - 17 games, 20.8 disposals, 2.9 marks, 5.2 clearances, seven goals
Brendan Fevola - 18 games, 13.5 disposals, 7.6 marks, 48 goals
Luke Hodge - 22 games, 19.2 disposals, 3.5 marks, 2.7 clearances, six goals
Josh Kennedy - 22 games, 13.3 disposals, 6.8 marks, 56 goals
Jordan Lewis - 18 games, 16.3 disposals, 3.1 marks, 1.6 clearances, 10 goals
Scott Pendlebury - 6 games, 21.4 disposals, 2.1 marks, four clearances, one goals

Ben Rutten made the AA team at full-back. Luke Ball won the Brownlow Medal with 17 votes.