Life down back-You CAN teach an old dog new tricks.

[Rosy]

I'm an unashamed admirer of Andrew Kellaway and always have been but admit I was a tad concerned how the kick in rule and the resulting style of play would suit him.

To his credit Andy has evolved his game.  He's far more mobile now and covers heaps of ground continually making options and creating opportunities.  He must be really fit and it takes a decent opponent to run up the ground with him.

I thought Andy was awesome today and he must be so insiprational to the kids with his determination and acts of courage.

I also think our backline looks far more settled with Gas playing.

Joel and Paddy are super reliable and dependable leaders down there and really work well together.

Rainsey is the kind of player who'll get people through the turnstiles.  He's exciting to watch and would have to be right in the mix for the Rising Star award.  He puts in ever week. He said he works most with David King and I think the Kingy influnce is showing with the way our backline is functioning.

It's a real shame Newmo will be out of the backline for the rest of the season because we all know how good he's bene over a sustained period of time.

People tend to bag the backline when we lose but in reality they see the the ball far more than they should and are often made to look bad by the inadequacy of players further up the field.

A special congratulations to our backline today.  A wonderful effort. :clap :clap :clap

 

[Scoop]

Tend to agree Rosy.

AK is a throw back footballer who I too thought may struggles with the new rules but he is playing exceptional football. His commitment today at the contest was superb again today, almost breaking himself in two at one stage with the face slide.  Reads the play better then I give him credit for and has a knack for finding space.

Thought our whole backline was super today with Rainesy being the pick of the bunch.  For all of Andrew's improvement this year he showed me something else today. Courage. Courage in all different areas. At one time he backed into space with Roccas coming full pelt. Not a half hearted effort but threw himself backwards into the unknown. Then his attack on the ball and shirtfront of Pendlebury, with the ball. Hit the pill at 100mph, then the man and still come out with the ball only to cop a high one but he still had enough composure to try and getaway from the pack with the football and unloaded out to Richie Tambling.   An as a sidebar what about  young Richie getting thrown to ground by he of the Mt Everest nose A.Rocca? Bling bounced up and remonstrated, like a bird picking at a elephant but still he showed that wasn't going to cop that crap.  Was backed up by another Tiger but good on him for having a dip. 

Regardless of the score never let a opponent treat you as a inferior.

But back to Rainesy, the courage he showed today running in straight lines at the ball was eye opening.  I knew that he had improved but to see him displaying all these things today made me sit and take real notice of this young man.

Not since Mark Coughaln shot to promince have I seen a Tiger youngster show the commitment at the constest like ANdrew.

 

[Rosy]

almost breaking himself in two at one stage with the face slide.  Reads the play better then I give him credit for and has a knack for finding space.

I was worried he'd break his neck in that incident but he just hopped up and off he ran. Tough as. Spot on with the second comments.

 

[purepoweryouth]

Tend to agree Rosy.

AK is a throw back footballer who I too thought may struggles with the new rules but he is playing exceptional football. His commitment today at the contest was superb again today, almost breaking himself in two at one stage with the face slide.  Reads the play better then I give him credit for and has a knack for finding space.

Thought our whole backline was super today with Rainesy being the pick of the bunch.  For all of Andrew's improvement this year he showed me something else today. Courage. Courage in all different areas. At one time he backed into space with Roccas coming full pelt. Not a half hearted effort but threw himself backwards into the unknown. Then his attack on the ball and shirtfront of Pendlebury, with the ball. Hit the pill at 100mph, then the man and still come out with the ball only to cop a high one but he still had enough composure to try and getaway from the pack with the football and unloaded out to Richie Tambling.   An as a sidebar what about  young Richie getting thrown to ground by he of the Mt Everest nose A.Rocca? Bling bounced up and remonstrated, like a bird picking at a elephant but still he showed that wasn't going to cop that crap.  Was backed up by another Tiger but good on him for having a dip. 

Regardless of the score never let a opponent treat you as a inferior.

But back to Rainesy, the courage he showed today running in straight lines at the ball was eye opening.  I knew that he had improved but to see him displaying all these things today made me sit and take real notice of this young man.

Not since Mark Coughaln shot  to promince have I seen a Tiger youngster show the commitment at the constest like ANdrew.

Well said scoop.

 

[Anduril]

Top posts Rosy and Scoop.

Like the way our more experienced defenders are mentoring the young blokes too. When Chris went down Gas called  the boys into the huddle while they were attending to Chris, you could see the leadership group talking to the younger players.

 

[U2Tigers]

Top posts Rosy and Scoop.

Like the way our more experienced defenders are mentoring the young blokes too. When Chris went down Gas called  the boys into the huddle while they were attending to Chris, you could see the leadership group talking to the younger players.

Agreed very good posts.

Well done AK and to our Backline.

Maybe a good chance for Hartigan to get back in and prove himself.

 

[itsintheblood]

As sad as it is, I think newmans injury is a bit of a reprieve for gaspar. Newman is a massive loss.

 

[The_General]

Add to that Andy walking off with his arm around Dean Polo and having a chat after the game. Gave him a pat on the back, some words of encouragement.

Also read in an article somewhere that after Chris went down, Andy grabbed everyone together and said that they all needed to keep putting their heads over the ball just like Newman would.

Top stuff Andy. :clap

 

[Rosy]

Also read in an article somewhere that after Chris went down, Andy grabbed everyone together and said that they all needed to keep putting their heads over the ball just like Newman would.

Great to read. I guess he just doesn't know any other way. It will be a very sad day when Andy retires.

 

[johnson2richo2003]

Great to read. I guess he just doesn't know any other way. It will be a very sad day when Andy retires.

Agreed Rosella.In fact Chubba wouldnt look to out of place at the dinner table with St Francis

 

[Redford]

I still say our backline is crap. The numbers and the losses prove it over the years.

Andrew Kellaway is acceptable, but to my mind if we are gonna be a truly decent side the Gaspars and Halls of this world have no future.

Two out of our top 3 deficiencies are not having a classy CHB and a FB (Note: I don’t classify Bowden as a true or long term FB or CHB option…would be more of a sweeping hbf if we didn’t have to use him to plug the aforementioned gaps).

One win against Collingwood on a wet day does not change my opinion on this one iota......

 

[johnson2richo2003]

I still say our backline is crap. The numbers and the losses prove it over the years.

Andrew Kellaway is acceptable, but to my mind if we are gonna be a truly decent side the Gaspars and Halls of this world have no future.

Two out of our top 3 deficiencies are not having a classy CHB and a FB (Note: I don’t classify Bowden as a true or long term FB or CHB option…would be more of a sweeping hbf if we didn’t have to use him to plug the aforementioned gaps).

One win against Collingwood on a wet day does not change my opinion on this one iota......

True Red but this is about Chubba ;D

 

[Disco08]

Agree with everyone that Kellaway has been a great player. Red, I think acceptable is a pretty harsh description of him actually. He reads the play well and is as courageous as they come (like his brother). I agree with you on the fact that our CHB and FB cannot be Gaspar and Hall if we're serious about being contenders in the future. Thursfield looks like he can fill one of those holes however, and Bowden is holding his own against some good CHF's for the time being. I know he's been beaten soundly a couple of times, but the players that beaten him (Brown and Hall for example) have beaten far more renowned CHB's also. Recruiting a couple of key position players with good defensive abilitly this year will go along way to securing our future in this area.

One other myth that should be well and truly put to bed is that Andy is a poor kick. He isn't. His kicks consistently find targets and often open up atacking moves.

Now, let's just wait and see how long it takes for Diggler and/or Laff to come and belittle another great Richmond player.

 

[tha8ball]

I was at the game yesterday and on the way home i was chatting to a few mates (non tiger supporters) and i put myself into a bet - $200 that Andrew Raines will win a brownlow medal in his career. Im not the type to throw myself into silly bets howevere, i believe he is just the type of player that umpires look at and i think if he has one absolute ripping year he could pull it off before he finishes his career....this kid is unbelievable..... :clap to GM

 

[Redford]

I was at the game yesterday and on the way home i was chatting to a few mates (non tiger supporters) and i put myself into a bet - $200 that Andrew Raines will win a brownlow medal in his career. Im not the type to throw myself into silly bets howevere, i believe he is just the type of player that umpires look at and i think if he has one absolute ripping year he could pull it off before he finishes his career....this kid is unbelievable..... :clap to GM

Nothin' like going out on a limb.

 

[Disco08]

Did you bet $200 with your mates at even money 8ball? You know you could probably have got 25s+ at a bookie.

 

[Scoop]

Tend to agree with Red, the future RFC backline cannot contain all of Hall, Gaspar and Kellaway if we are to be contenders.

Maybe from now on you play Kellaway and who ever has the better match up out of Hall and Gaspar.