Anyone who saw Shane Edwards go about his business so impressively with Richmond in yesterday’s clash with Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, would struggle to comprehend that he hadn’t played for 11 weeks.
The veteran star playmaker, whose previous appearance was in the Round 5 victory over Melbourne on July 5, picked up the tempo instantly, and proceeded to be one of the best players on the ground, as the Tigers powered away to win by 44 points.
He finished the match with 18 disposals, an equal game-high eight clearances, three inside-50s, four score involvements, four marks, three tackles and 306 metres gained, much to coach Damien Hardwick’s delight.
“I think our Melbourne hub guys, Sammy Lonergan and our coaches, have done a terrific job of getting him up to speed . . . He did a power of work in the hub, as well,” Hardwick said.
“He didn’t look like he missed a beat. He’s probably going to be better for the run next week . . .
“He’s a high-quality player. He hasn’t played for a long period of time, so to bring him in at the business end is really important.”
