Classic read this week:
RICHMOND
INJURIES
Jake King (toe) 7-9 weeks
Chris Knights (knee soreness) test
Chris Newman (calf) 4-6 weeks
David Astbury (knee) indefinite
Jake Batchelor (Achilles soreness) TBC
Trent Cotchin (ankle) test
ON THE BLOCK: This could be a long list. Skipper Trent Cotchin (ankle) is confident he’ll be right to play despite coach Damien Hardwick taking a more conservative approach. So many players were disappointing against Melbourne and for many it’s a serious trend. Troy Chaplin and Bachar Houli are leaders at the club but they aren’t showing it on the field,
Ty Vickery is Ty Vickery, Shaun Grigg can find the pill but butchers it, Ben Griffiths shows signs but can’t put four quarters together, Brandon Ellis has stalled in his development and Steve Morris might not be able to cut it at this level. There will be one forced change against the Giants with luckless defender David Astbury — one of the few Tiger improvers this year — out with another knee injury.
ON THE CUSP: Damien Hardwick says he will reward VFL form so you can put the house on Anthony Miles being promoted from the rookie list to take on his old side. He had another 32 touches against Box Hill on Saturday as did Matt Thomas — and at least you can rely on those two to put their heads over the ball. Dylan Grimes will replace Astbury while Ricky Petterd and Brad Helbig were in the best again and Ivan Maric got through a half OK, but Hardwick says he needs a couple more weeks to be ready for AFL action.
AL PATON’S FORECAST: Oh boy. Forget finals calculations, the Tigers need to figure out how to play a winning brand of football. The slick transition that made Richmond great to watch in 2013 has disappeared, but then it’s hard to get the game on your terms if you can’t win the footy in the first place. Maybe some players thought the improvement curve of the past four years would continue and forgot that requires hard work. Some hard questions will be asked at Punt Rd this week and if there isn’t a response against GWS
there could be a nationwide power failure as microwaves go into a membership-frying meltdown.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/th...tion-in-round-10/story-fndv7pj3-1226922729390