Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
1:19:14 PM Wed 8 January, 2003
Richmond will boast an impressive list of potential ‘nine-point’ players going into the upcoming Wizard Cup competition.
One of the most interesting changes made by the AFL to ‘spice’ up the pre-season series has been the introduction of nine points for a goal kicked outside the 50-metre arc. Under this new rule, the player must have his back foot on or beyond the 50-metre arc if shooting on the run and the player on the mark must be on or beyond the 50-metre arc if the kicker is taking a set shot (the ball can bounce through).
The Tigers appear well placed to capitalise on this goalscoring variation in the competition which kicks off in late February. A check of the Club’s playing list reveals several players who will relish the opportunity to have a crack at the nine-pointers – most of them power-laden left-footers.
Here’s Richmond Football Manager Greg Hutchison’s assessment of the Tigers who are set to thrive in the nine-point zone . . .
BRAD OTTENS
“Brad from a set shot from outside 50 will give it a real nudge. He’s definitely a very accurate kick . . . the only question is if he can get the distance because you’ve actually got to kick it about 55-60 metres (taking into account the man on the mark). He’d certainly go close, though.”
JOEL BOWDEN
“Definitely Joel Bowden on that sweeping left foot, getting the handball, running and banging them through from outside 50 . . . he’ll like the look of those nine-pointers. Joel has tried a few set plays over the past couple of seasons where he has crept up to a team-mate taking a set shot from about 50 out, received the handball and then let fly – and it’s worked pretty well. So, it makes sense that Joel will be looking for the nine-point goals because he’s such a prodigious kick of the ball.”
MATTHEW RICHARDSON
“Matty Richardson obviously is a thumping kick from outside 50, so I’m sure he’d be happy to try and score some nine-pointers and really get the Yellow and Black fans involved.”
AARON FIORA
“Aaron, potentially, could be in the same boat as a Joel Bowden. He’s certainly able to penetrate from outside 50 with that left foot.”
LEON CAMERON
“Leon is clearly technically capable of doing it, but I’m not sure we’d want him in a position where he was going to have a lot of shots there. But he might be one who could have a go at it . . .”
RAY HALL
“Big Ray Hall is a good, long kick of the ball also. If he plays in the ruck, he’ll get an opportunity because he’ll push forward and have a chance to run and have a shot at it.”
GREG TIVENDALE
“Another left-footer, who I have visions of running and bouncing through the middle, and having a ping from outside 50. He’s certainly capable of getting the distance.”
Hutchison said there could be another couple of Richmond players who may also stake a claim in the nine-point zone, but that at this stage the Tigers were well satisfied that they had the armory to exploit this radical Wizard Cup innovation.
“We’ll just have to get the coaching staff to work on some of these set plays, because I’m sure that nine points on offer will be quite exciting and provide a boost for the whole competition,” he said.
richmondfc.com.au
1:19:14 PM Wed 8 January, 2003
Richmond will boast an impressive list of potential ‘nine-point’ players going into the upcoming Wizard Cup competition.
One of the most interesting changes made by the AFL to ‘spice’ up the pre-season series has been the introduction of nine points for a goal kicked outside the 50-metre arc. Under this new rule, the player must have his back foot on or beyond the 50-metre arc if shooting on the run and the player on the mark must be on or beyond the 50-metre arc if the kicker is taking a set shot (the ball can bounce through).
The Tigers appear well placed to capitalise on this goalscoring variation in the competition which kicks off in late February. A check of the Club’s playing list reveals several players who will relish the opportunity to have a crack at the nine-pointers – most of them power-laden left-footers.
Here’s Richmond Football Manager Greg Hutchison’s assessment of the Tigers who are set to thrive in the nine-point zone . . .
BRAD OTTENS
“Brad from a set shot from outside 50 will give it a real nudge. He’s definitely a very accurate kick . . . the only question is if he can get the distance because you’ve actually got to kick it about 55-60 metres (taking into account the man on the mark). He’d certainly go close, though.”
JOEL BOWDEN
“Definitely Joel Bowden on that sweeping left foot, getting the handball, running and banging them through from outside 50 . . . he’ll like the look of those nine-pointers. Joel has tried a few set plays over the past couple of seasons where he has crept up to a team-mate taking a set shot from about 50 out, received the handball and then let fly – and it’s worked pretty well. So, it makes sense that Joel will be looking for the nine-point goals because he’s such a prodigious kick of the ball.”
MATTHEW RICHARDSON
“Matty Richardson obviously is a thumping kick from outside 50, so I’m sure he’d be happy to try and score some nine-pointers and really get the Yellow and Black fans involved.”
AARON FIORA
“Aaron, potentially, could be in the same boat as a Joel Bowden. He’s certainly able to penetrate from outside 50 with that left foot.”
LEON CAMERON
“Leon is clearly technically capable of doing it, but I’m not sure we’d want him in a position where he was going to have a lot of shots there. But he might be one who could have a go at it . . .”
RAY HALL
“Big Ray Hall is a good, long kick of the ball also. If he plays in the ruck, he’ll get an opportunity because he’ll push forward and have a chance to run and have a shot at it.”
GREG TIVENDALE
“Another left-footer, who I have visions of running and bouncing through the middle, and having a ping from outside 50. He’s certainly capable of getting the distance.”
Hutchison said there could be another couple of Richmond players who may also stake a claim in the nine-point zone, but that at this stage the Tigers were well satisfied that they had the armory to exploit this radical Wizard Cup innovation.
“We’ll just have to get the coaching staff to work on some of these set plays, because I’m sure that nine points on offer will be quite exciting and provide a boost for the whole competition,” he said.