rfctigerarmy
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
From the Richmond Official Site:
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
10:25:25 AM Wed 4 September, 2002
2002 season record: Seven wins, 15 losses. Position: 14th.
2001: 16-9. Third.
What went right: When a team slips 11 places on the ladder in one season it’s obvious not much went right for Richmond in 2002. But the Tigers did unveil some exciting youngsters with David Rodan establishing himself as potentially one of the most exciting players in the competition by playing every game in his debut year. And in his second season Mark Coughlan, during the second half of the year, began to give the Tigers some of the midfield grunt so badly lacking in recent years while Ty Zantuck established himself as a regular player and Greg Stafford showed promise in his first season at Richmond after leaving Sydney.
What went wrong: After a strong pre-season campaign and a thumping first round win over Collingwood, the Tigers were being hailed premiership material. But from the moment champion forward Matthew Richardson suffered the first of several hamstring injuries the following week, the Tigers season went off the rails. And when Ben Holland suffered a season-ending knee injury two weeks later, the Tigers had suddenly lost their forward and defensive linchpins of last season. The loss of Richardson and Holland for most of the season also meant extra responsibility for Brad Ottens and Darren Gaspar respectively – an added burden neither could cope with. As a result the Tigers’ entire game plan collapsed and a team which built its success last year around a tight defence and a powerful attack – despite its midfield weakness – suddenly had no defence and an attack that was so impotent the team did not kick 100 points in a match between rounds one and 19. The problems in attack and defence then further highlighted the midfield inadequacies with both Joel Bowden and Greg Tivendale disappointing – in particular their ability to continually waste goalscoring opportunities – with too much responsibility resting on skipper Wayne Campbell, who again gave his all despite a couple of below-par games.
Who stepped up: Zantuck became a regular in defence capable of playing on both tall and small forwards. Coughlan, blessed with plenty of courage and an ability to win the hardball, he looks capable of soon becoming the side’s premier midfielder.
Missing in action: Leon Cameron – looked a shadow of the player that was a key factor in the rise of 2001 and even his usual accurate kicking deserted him. Clinton King – struggled to match the impact he made late last season and spent a lot of time in the reserves. Brad Ottens – was serviceable but had nowhere near the impact expected of him and seemed to struggle with added responsibilities in the absence of Matthew Richardson. Paul Hudson – made no impact after crossing from the Bulldogs and retired. Darren Gaspar – heavily criticised throughout the season mainly because his output did not match his status as one of the club’s highest paid players.
Rising Star: David Rodan – played every game in his debut season and not only averaged almost a goal per game but lifted the team and the Tiger army on many occasions with his ability to run with the ball and break tackles.
Best performance: Round One v Collingwood. It says much about Richmond’s season that this was as good as it got for long-suffering Tigers’ fans all season. Coming off a successful pre-season campaign, in which the club finished runner-up to Port Adelaide, the Tigers humiliated their arch-rivals with Richardson and Ottens unstoppable in attack.
Worst performance: Round 14 v Carlton. This was the night that broke the hearts of all Richmond fans. Playing a team that until that stage had won just one game for the season, the Tigers wasted numerous opportunities through a lack of skill, confidence and poise to go down by a point in a match it should have won easily. The match summed up the Tigers’ fall from glory after their great 2001 season.
Off-season shopping list: Midfielders, midfielders and more midfielders. The Tigers are well off for key position players with Richardson, Ottens, Stafford, Ray Hall, Darren Gaspar and Ben Holland but badly need more players that can win the hard ball in the all-important centre bounces and around the ground stoppages. Mark Coughlan looks one such player and skipper Wayne Campbell always gives his all but they badly need help.
Danny Frawley’s summary: “Finishing third last year flattered the group however we think we are better than where we finished (14th), but it’s all in the mind. I just have to tune them in and make them feel a little uncomfortable with themselves because it’s just not good enough. We have let a lot of people down this year after big expectations.”
AFL.COM.AU’s suggested membership motto for 2003: It’s time to get the passion back in the Tiger army.
this is my longest post!
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
10:25:25 AM Wed 4 September, 2002
2002 season record: Seven wins, 15 losses. Position: 14th.
2001: 16-9. Third.
What went right: When a team slips 11 places on the ladder in one season it’s obvious not much went right for Richmond in 2002. But the Tigers did unveil some exciting youngsters with David Rodan establishing himself as potentially one of the most exciting players in the competition by playing every game in his debut year. And in his second season Mark Coughlan, during the second half of the year, began to give the Tigers some of the midfield grunt so badly lacking in recent years while Ty Zantuck established himself as a regular player and Greg Stafford showed promise in his first season at Richmond after leaving Sydney.
What went wrong: After a strong pre-season campaign and a thumping first round win over Collingwood, the Tigers were being hailed premiership material. But from the moment champion forward Matthew Richardson suffered the first of several hamstring injuries the following week, the Tigers season went off the rails. And when Ben Holland suffered a season-ending knee injury two weeks later, the Tigers had suddenly lost their forward and defensive linchpins of last season. The loss of Richardson and Holland for most of the season also meant extra responsibility for Brad Ottens and Darren Gaspar respectively – an added burden neither could cope with. As a result the Tigers’ entire game plan collapsed and a team which built its success last year around a tight defence and a powerful attack – despite its midfield weakness – suddenly had no defence and an attack that was so impotent the team did not kick 100 points in a match between rounds one and 19. The problems in attack and defence then further highlighted the midfield inadequacies with both Joel Bowden and Greg Tivendale disappointing – in particular their ability to continually waste goalscoring opportunities – with too much responsibility resting on skipper Wayne Campbell, who again gave his all despite a couple of below-par games.
Who stepped up: Zantuck became a regular in defence capable of playing on both tall and small forwards. Coughlan, blessed with plenty of courage and an ability to win the hardball, he looks capable of soon becoming the side’s premier midfielder.
Missing in action: Leon Cameron – looked a shadow of the player that was a key factor in the rise of 2001 and even his usual accurate kicking deserted him. Clinton King – struggled to match the impact he made late last season and spent a lot of time in the reserves. Brad Ottens – was serviceable but had nowhere near the impact expected of him and seemed to struggle with added responsibilities in the absence of Matthew Richardson. Paul Hudson – made no impact after crossing from the Bulldogs and retired. Darren Gaspar – heavily criticised throughout the season mainly because his output did not match his status as one of the club’s highest paid players.
Rising Star: David Rodan – played every game in his debut season and not only averaged almost a goal per game but lifted the team and the Tiger army on many occasions with his ability to run with the ball and break tackles.
Best performance: Round One v Collingwood. It says much about Richmond’s season that this was as good as it got for long-suffering Tigers’ fans all season. Coming off a successful pre-season campaign, in which the club finished runner-up to Port Adelaide, the Tigers humiliated their arch-rivals with Richardson and Ottens unstoppable in attack.
Worst performance: Round 14 v Carlton. This was the night that broke the hearts of all Richmond fans. Playing a team that until that stage had won just one game for the season, the Tigers wasted numerous opportunities through a lack of skill, confidence and poise to go down by a point in a match it should have won easily. The match summed up the Tigers’ fall from glory after their great 2001 season.
Off-season shopping list: Midfielders, midfielders and more midfielders. The Tigers are well off for key position players with Richardson, Ottens, Stafford, Ray Hall, Darren Gaspar and Ben Holland but badly need more players that can win the hard ball in the all-important centre bounces and around the ground stoppages. Mark Coughlan looks one such player and skipper Wayne Campbell always gives his all but they badly need help.
Danny Frawley’s summary: “Finishing third last year flattered the group however we think we are better than where we finished (14th), but it’s all in the mind. I just have to tune them in and make them feel a little uncomfortable with themselves because it’s just not good enough. We have let a lot of people down this year after big expectations.”
AFL.COM.AU’s suggested membership motto for 2003: It’s time to get the passion back in the Tiger army.
this is my longest post!
damn ppl get in b4 me!
