Richmond is looking forward to turning pre-season training and tutoring into practice, when it takes on Adelaide in Friday night’s JLT Community Series match at Etihad Stadium.
“We’re focusing on ourselves and what we’ve done over the pre-season,” Tigers assistant coach Justin Leppitsch told Club great Matthew Richardson in a ‘Roar Vision’ interview.
“Obviously, like everyone else, we’ve put four months of work into the way we move the ball, how we defend . . . all those sorts of things. So, we just want to see those things come out.
Tiger trio to pull on yellow and black
“They’re (the Crows) a terrific fast ball-movement team and it’ll really test our defence and the stuff we’ve worked on over summer . . .
“We’re going to play a pretty good team through the JLT Series, so, hopefully we can be really competitive for our fans.”
Leppitsch declared there are still a few spots up for grabs in the Richmond side that will play Carlton in the blockbuster 2017 season-opener on March 23, with form throughout the JLT Community Series extremely important for those on the fringe of selection.
“We’ve got a lot of even spread, when it comes to talent, at this point in time,” he said.
“They’re all training well and showing bits . . .
“It’s going to be difficult picking a team, and it was this week.”
Leppitsch, who is Richmond’s forwards’ coach this year, has been working diligently with his group of players on increasing the pressure they apply to the opposition.
“We haven’t been a team that’s turned over a lot in the front half, and it’s been a real focus for us,” he said.
“We’ll pick our team accordingly, in that part of the ground.
“So, it’ll be a bit of a different look, I think, the forward line, than what we’re used to in the past.”
Leppitsch paid tribute to fellow Tiger assistant coach Blake Caracella for his productive work during the pre-season period.
JLT Community Series Game Day Hub
“Blake’s taken over a lot of our ball movement stuff . . . He obviously brings a really good bit of IP from Geelong and what they do there,” Leppitsch said.
“He’s a very smart guy and really astute in this area . . .
“I think there have been some great things done there. I won’t give too much away . . .
“It’s not all about moving it fast, and it’s not always slow . . . It’s moving the ball smart. And I think Blake’s brought that right blend.”
