In the lead-up to the start of season 2017, richmondfc.com.au is examining how the Tigers will shape up this year across all playing lines. We kick off this week with the defence and, today, backline coach Ben Rutten provides an assessment of several of the Club’s defenders, as well as outlining the group’s overall focus for the upcoming season.
Importance of a settled backline
“(David) Astbury, (Alex) Rance, (Dylan) Grimes, (Jake) Batchelor . . . and Stevie Morris, hopefully, won’t be too far away. All of those guys have played a fair bit of footy together, and that continuity and experience is invaluable when you look at a back six.”
Oleg Markov and Jayden Short
“Oleg and ‘Shorty’ (Jayden Short) played some good footy at the back-end of the year last year, so they’re going to be important again . . . They’re good personalities to have in the backline. They add some good energy and excitement to the group.
Bachar Houli
“Bachar’s had a pretty uninterrupted pre-season so far, which has been great . . . He’s obviously a hard runner, hard trainer and really important to our backline. But, as with all our players, we like to make sure they’ve got some real flexibility and versatility the way they play. We know Bachar can play through the wings, and even half-forward as well. We’re looking forward to a full season out of Bachar.”
Alex Rance
“’Rancey’ (Alex Rance) is a really influential figure within our footy club . . . What he does for us at training, and on match-day as well, is important. But the rest of the guys around him are making sure that their leadership’s improving as well, so we’re not so reliant on Alex.”
Draftee defender Ryan Garthwaite
“Ryan’s a good, young guy. He’s a competitor and he’s a good learner as well. So he’ll do well.”
Defensive group’s 2017 focus
“We just keep continuing to work on the fundamental stuff that makes us a good defence . . . We’re looking for incremental improvements. We won’t necessarily get huge improvements in any one area, but everyone’s just chipping away at slowly improving and becoming more consistent.”
