THE Tigers had to change, be bolder, become stronger.
You can’t start with a 3-10 win-loss record, come home 9-0, get belted in the elimination final, and think another pre-season will rectify the damage on the field and in the heads. It’s one game, but it’s a positive one.
Taylor Hunt and Kamdyn McIntosh not only added depth to Richmond’s midfield last night, they controlled it.
MATCH: TIGERS CRUISE, BLUES SNOOZE
INJURY: DAISY’S SEASON HANGS IN THE BALANCE
McIntosh, in the No. 33 guernsey, was close to best afield. Never heard of him? He was drafted in 2012 and has dealt with shoulder and foot problems. Last night was his first game of senior footy.
Brandon Ellis, McIntosh and Hunt were the three dominant midfielders. One is a Geelong reject, another is 21 in two days and was a childhood star, and Ellis — well, he might be something special.
Ellis owned the midfield corridor. He has only two touches in the first quarter with Ed Curnow for an opponent. Curnow then gave up the tag — a strange move — and Ellis had 19 possessions in the second and third quarters.
The Tigers took control of the game in the second quarter, battled for a further two-goal lead in the third quarter, and comfortably held sway in the final term.
Depth might be one key to unlocking the magical mystery tour that is a Richmond football season, and Ellis, McIntosh and Hunt were far more effective than Cotchin, Martin and Deledio. That’s depth.
Another move was simple enough in its action, but devastating in its effect.
The Tigers’ rough and tumble half-back flanker Steven Morris was redeployed to a sort of half-forward missile role, and coach Damien Hardwick would’ve been rapt.
Morris will be a sore boy today, crashing and banged into 30 congested situations without any fear for himself and fear for his opponent. He was only credited with three possessions and four effective tackles, but pressure goes beyond actual tackling.
