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Richo, Stafford set to return for Tigers
By Linda Pearce
May 4, 2004
Matthew Richardson is two clear training sessions away from joining ruckman Greg Stafford among Richmond's inclusions for Sunday's game against Sydney at the SCG.
Both players have missed the three rounds since the Easter Monday loss to St Kilda, Richardson with a hamstring injury in the first quarter and Stafford through a suspension incurred for kneeing Jason Blake.
"Richo's just got to complete this week's training, and we'll have a look at it at the end of the week," assistant coach Darren Crocker said last night at Punt Road. "He should be right to pretty much train fully with the group through the week."
Meanwhile, Stafford, who played with the Swans for nine seasons, noted the difference in reaction between the two sets of supporters.
"Rather than walk away, the Richmond fans get quite vocal in their dissatisfaction when the team's not playing well," said Stafford. "You'd prefer that. In Sydney crowds would go from 38,000 to 15,000 depending on how you were doing."
While Stafford will return, there are no guarantees for demoted trio Joel Bowden, Ty Zantuck and Shane Morrison, all of whom played for the Tigers' VFL affiliate Coburg on Saturday.
Zantuck kicked six goals, and Bowden had 20 possessions, but there is a less pressing need for major changes after Richmond's first win in five weeks.
"The biggest thing we wanted from those guys - Joel, Ty and Shane - was to go back with the right attitude, and they all went back with a tremendous attitude to help those younger guys, and help Coburg to a win, which they did," Crocker said. "We'll have a look at all those selection issues tomorrow and Wednesday."
Crocker also warned of the cautionary tale of fellow struggler Carlton, which followed a win over West Coast with a record-breaking loss to Melbourne. The pressure on Richmond and coach Danny Frawley may have eased, however temporarily, but the immediate challenge is to maintain the standard.
"It's such an even competition that if you're 5 per cent off on a certain day you're going to leave yourself open, and that's what we want to try and aim towards is just consistency of effort," he said.
Crocker said he believed the Tigers had "turned the corner a little bit" through Friday night's one-point result against Hawthorn. "It's nice to come down and just be able to plan and prepare for Sydney this week, having come off a win."
- Phew good thing they plan to maintain the standard. If they play as they did against the Hawks I can't see how we could lose.
But who mans up Richo? I say James - but Leo was good on Lloyd - we just need him in rebound, too.
By Linda Pearce
May 4, 2004
Matthew Richardson is two clear training sessions away from joining ruckman Greg Stafford among Richmond's inclusions for Sunday's game against Sydney at the SCG.
Both players have missed the three rounds since the Easter Monday loss to St Kilda, Richardson with a hamstring injury in the first quarter and Stafford through a suspension incurred for kneeing Jason Blake.
"Richo's just got to complete this week's training, and we'll have a look at it at the end of the week," assistant coach Darren Crocker said last night at Punt Road. "He should be right to pretty much train fully with the group through the week."
Meanwhile, Stafford, who played with the Swans for nine seasons, noted the difference in reaction between the two sets of supporters.
"Rather than walk away, the Richmond fans get quite vocal in their dissatisfaction when the team's not playing well," said Stafford. "You'd prefer that. In Sydney crowds would go from 38,000 to 15,000 depending on how you were doing."
While Stafford will return, there are no guarantees for demoted trio Joel Bowden, Ty Zantuck and Shane Morrison, all of whom played for the Tigers' VFL affiliate Coburg on Saturday.
Zantuck kicked six goals, and Bowden had 20 possessions, but there is a less pressing need for major changes after Richmond's first win in five weeks.
"The biggest thing we wanted from those guys - Joel, Ty and Shane - was to go back with the right attitude, and they all went back with a tremendous attitude to help those younger guys, and help Coburg to a win, which they did," Crocker said. "We'll have a look at all those selection issues tomorrow and Wednesday."
Crocker also warned of the cautionary tale of fellow struggler Carlton, which followed a win over West Coast with a record-breaking loss to Melbourne. The pressure on Richmond and coach Danny Frawley may have eased, however temporarily, but the immediate challenge is to maintain the standard.
"It's such an even competition that if you're 5 per cent off on a certain day you're going to leave yourself open, and that's what we want to try and aim towards is just consistency of effort," he said.
Crocker said he believed the Tigers had "turned the corner a little bit" through Friday night's one-point result against Hawthorn. "It's nice to come down and just be able to plan and prepare for Sydney this week, having come off a win."
- Phew good thing they plan to maintain the standard. If they play as they did against the Hawks I can't see how we could lose.
But who mans up Richo? I say James - but Leo was good on Lloyd - we just need him in rebound, too.
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