IT'S NOT so much that Richmond full-back Will Thursfield has gone 56 games without a goal, it's that he went 55 games without even the chance to drill one through the big sticks.

Unfortunately when the opportunity arose, against Geelong last Sunday, the defender tugged it wide.

Goal-kicking is not, Thursfield told richmondfc.com.au, something that has been a priority for him in his role as a key part of the Tigers' back six.

"No, in one word," he said with a laugh. "I haven't really done much work with it, but that doesn't really excuse the kick I put in on Sunday.

"It just came out of the blue, really - I was pretty excited to go down there, and then to get a mark in the first couple of minutes, I was very excited.

"That was the first time I've ever had a shot in Richmond colours.

"I've never even been in the 50 before, I reckon.

Thursfield has already started to work on ensuring goal-kicking is another string he can add to his bow.

"I actually had a few kicks at goal this morning (Wednesday)", he said. "I went out with a bag of balls".

And Richmond supporters will be glad to know that he did not miss too many, an achievement he is eager to share with his coach.
 
"Dimma (coach Damien Hardwick) wasn't in today - it's a day off - but I'll let him know.

"And I'll let him know that I'm keen to get down there again at some point and put an end to this run of no goals."

Having seen Geelong from both ends of the ground in the match, Thursfield said the Cats were the benchmark of the competition and their performance provided a goal to work towards.

"They're a super team - their midfield was amazing, and the backline is so hard, when it did go down there, they're just so good at marking it and running it out - that was something we looked at pretty heavily in the game review - how good they were at things.

"And that was without (Matthew) Scarlett and (Gary) Ablett - whoever plays the position just does their job.

"They know the style they want to play and they just do it. We'd love to be like Geelong some day."

Richmond has a chance to record its first win of the 2010 season when it travels to Adelaide to take on the winless Crows on Sunday.