PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum

The Brownlow win of Chris Judd saw clubs, last year, recruit a supposedly ideal type of player. A 188cm, 84kg athletic midfielder than could run the lines both on the inside and outside.

Chris Judd became the model that we followed by recruiting Brett Deledio, and this year boasts the draft probability of players like Beau Muston, Shaun Grigg, Ryan Jackson and Scott Pendlebury.

But when Judd won his Brownlow, Westcoast were a fringe finals side.

This year has seen them transform from a fringe finals side into a genuine premiership contender. And who should be the Brownlow Quinella in a year that sees the Weagles near the crest of premiership success?

1. Ben Cousins, 27yo, 179cm, 79kg
2. Daniel Kerr, 22yo, 178cm, 78kg

Does the Weagles Brownlow and near premiership success indicate that players less than 180cm are a vital component?

In statistical terms, Cousins' & Kerr's contributions are:

Cousins: 16K, 9HB, 6M, 1Gl & 1T per game.
Kerr: 12K, 9HB, 4M, 1/2Gl & 3T per game.

Who of our team are similar types:

Chaffey: 28yo, 8K, 5HB, 4M, 2T, 0Gl
Krakouer: 22yo, 7K, 4HB, 3M, 4T, 1Gl
Rodan: 21yo, 5K, 5HB, 2M, 3T, 1Gl (2004 stats)
Roach: 20yo, 4K, 3HB, 0M, 1T, 0Gl
Raines: 20yo, 5K, 5HB, 3M, 1T, 0Gl
Foley: 19yo, 4K, 7HB, 1M, 3T, 0Gl
Tambling: 18yo, 6K, 3HB, 3M, 2T, 1Gl

Clearly none of these players are anywhere near the 20+ disposals a game that we need and the Weagles have. I believe that this is the single most important area that we need to improve in.

Chaffey, 28yo, is past the point of being able to get 20+ possies a game.
Krakouer, 22yo, if he had that ability should be showing it now.
Rodan, 21yo, injury ruined his opportunity this year, but next year the pressure will be on.
Roach: 20yo, looks a marathon away from the mark. Needs a miracle.
Raines: 20yo, Under big pressure in 2006 to double his possie rate.
Foley, 19yo, limited TOG and opportunity does not excuse the fact that next year there will be pressure on him to be near 20 possies per game.
Tambling, 18yo, showed glimpses, due to injury, but has the task ahead.

Some of you may be thinking that a player's age may have alot to do with this.
You are wrong.
Daniel Kerr,
18yo, 2001, 16 possies per game
19yo, 2002, 18
20yo, 2003, 19
21yo, 2004, 20
22yo, 2005, 21
You can see the progression. Kerr's been an overnight sensation for 5 years.  ;)
A genuine rover merely continues high possession rates from junior footy.
As said, if a rover doesn't have it by 20yo, he just won't have it.

This will be an integral issue for our club to get its mind around in the next few years because genuine rovers are not an issue that our club understands at all well.
And it will be vital for us to conquer this area if we are to become a genuine premiership threat.

As a final note, on the fact that the Brownlow Quinella were both under 180cm tall I'd just like to finish with one comment,

KISS MY ARSE, EVO!  ;)