Increased strike-power up forward, shapes as a key factor in Richmond’s quest to take the next step in season 2015.
The Tigers had five players finish with 20 goals or more this year – Riewoldt 61, Martin 27, Vickery 23, S. Edwards 22 and Deledio 20 – with captain Trent Cotchin close by on 18.
Ben Griffiths, who won the Club’s Most Improved Player award in 2014, following a breakout season playing as a key forward/relief ruckman, kicking 12 goals himself, is confident there is scope for further significant growth in the Tigers’ attacking half.
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“My first two years at the Club, Jack (Riewoldt) was the leading goalkicker by probably 45 goals . . . Good teams have a good spread of goalkickers, and we started to see that (within Richmond’s line-up) this year,” Griffiths told Tiger great Matthew Richardson in a ‘Roar Vision’interview.
“‘Dusty’ (Dustin Martin), with his ability to go one-on-one in the goal square, is probably No. 1 in the AFL, there’s ‘Lids’ (Brett Deledio) now playing on the half-forward line, and we’ll have the development of Sam Lloyd and Ben Lennon, who played across half-forward as well.
"I think it’s really exciting.
“The last six rounds of the year, the feedback we heard from other clubs was that our half-forward line was our most damaging line.
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“If we can improve that, work better together, there’s no real ceiling to what we can achieve.”
Griffiths also singled out Jack Riewoldt for special praise in helping him become a better player . . .
“Jack’s feedback, during training and after training, was really important to my development,” Griffiths said.
“His football nous is probably the best at the Club. He knows the ins and outs of the game plan, and he really knows what he’s talking about.
“So, to have that in my corner, is really good.”
Tigers good as goal
Increased strike-power up forward, shapes as a key factor in Richmond’s quest to take the next step in season 2015.