Tom Hawkins and the jPod only managed to score two goals this week…together. Damien Hardwick pulled out an ace by focusing on Ivan Maric’s role to drop back in defense but make no mistake about it the Richmond Football Club are developing one hell of a backline.
Dylan Grimes won a rising star nomination last week and I would be putting money on him to win the entire award right now. He reminds me of Dustin Fletcher. They have the same lanky physiques and both guys get the job done. What a bonus for our club if we had our own Dustin Fletcher to help us out for the next ten years, it might just get us a premiership one day.
Alex Rance is another guy who continues to get the job done each week. Rance battles the oppositions top forward and never have we had to worry about a snag of 10 being kicked against us. For those with the painful memory, remember what Ablett Snr, Dunstall, Lloyd, Carey, Lynch and every other dominant forward would do to our club on game day? It was a massacre but the bleeding has slowed down. We’re building a beauty of a defense.
Jake Bachelor, Steven Morris and Brandon Ellis are all beginning to work well off halfback. They’re rough and love impact. Steve Morris throws his body at every contest, Ellis tackles like a mad man and Bachelor reminds me of Joel Bowden.
The last time North Melbourne defeated Geelong; the Cats rebounded by smashing the Tigers by 157 points in what was probably the darkest day in our clubs history. Most of the football world felt that we had no chance this week. Damien Hardwick however argues that we’re better than that. The boys expect to win each and every week, that’s how you know we’re not defending on a prayer, we’re simply yet to take that next step from a good side to a great side. It’s a new feeling for me right now, Richmond are a good side that have matched it with the best. It’s time to beat the best and hopefully one day we’re the best. It’s what we’ve all been waiting for.
Looking forward to this Sunday at Etihad Stadium Tigermaniacs, see you there!
Follow me on Twitter @conmjj
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