Senior Coach - Damien Hardwick
Defensive Analyst - Ross Smith
Defenders Coach - Justin Leppitsch 
Midfield Stoppage Coach - Brendon Lade
Midfield Spread Coach - Danny Daly
Forwards Coach - Mark Williams
Development Coach - Greg Mellor 
Leadership Development and Opposition Analyst- Wayne Campbell

I don’t know a whole heap about coaching in the AFL so I will have to keep this relatively short. Unlike players, you can’t really see directly how a coach is performing, however you can judge somewhat based on the results of the team. Here are my short thoughts on each of the Richmond coaches listed above.

Damien Hardwick – The senior coach took over the reins of the club for the start of the 2010 season after the unsuccessful stint of Terry Wallace and in that time Hardwick has overseen a huge overturn of the players on the Richmond list. Hardwick seems to have gelled wonderfully with his players and the love that the players have for their coach can be seen clearly when Hardwick was presented with a birthday cake during the middle of a press release.

The mantra for Damien in his two years to date has been youth, youth and youth. Quite often Hardwick has even played younger players over more able but senior players for the sake of development. Hardwick has also spent time coaching from the sidelines as well as from the box as he looked to give his young players instant feedback where possible.

In 2012 though things are about to change. Hardwick has already stated that the focus of the club is to shift from development of players to winning games and this now means that games will no longer be gifted to younger players. At a minimum Hardwick will be hoping to see an improved win-loss record on last year’s performance but in all honesty Damien will be hoping for a finals berth. Nothing develops players quicker than a few finals games and all involved at Richmond are desperate to reach that mark sooner rather than later.

Ross Smith – Forget Ivan Maric or Steven Morris, the defensive analyst Ross Smith is perhaps the biggest Tiger recruit for the 2012 season. Ross has brought his talents across from Hawthorn. It was at that club that both Hardwick and Smith had worked together before, bringing a premiership to the Hawks. Smith is highly rated by many and will no doubt help Richmond with their defensive structures and strategies. It’s too early to judge Ross yet but hopefully by the end of the season we will have seen a drastic decrease in the ‘Points Against’ column next to Richmond’s name on the AFL Ladder.

Justin Leppitsch – Leppitsch was a great defender for Brisbane during their triple premiership winning years so it is only natural that he takes the defenders coaching role at Tigerland. From what little I have seen he seems like a real ‘players coach’, not afraid to get in there and show the players what he wants them to do by doing it himself. Seems like a great addition to Punt Road so far.

Brendon Lade – I have to admitthat of all our coaches, Lade is the one I have been least impressed with. Not that that means much because as I mentioned before; I know next to nothing about coaching. It just seems that over the past couple of years that Lade has spent as ruck coach, our ruckman have seemingly gone backwards. Who’s to say that that’s the coaches fault anyway? Lade is now a midfield stoppage coach and I’m willing to give him time to prove himself, especially since Hardwick has faith in the big fella.

Danny Daly – Danny Daly is Richmond’s midfield spread coach after joining us in 2010 as a forwards coach. From what I have seen so far I have no reason to complain about the job Daly has done so far. Danny seems like a smart man and appears to be getting the message across to the players. Daly’s previous position as an opposition scout and coach probably comes in handy too.

Mark Williams – When I first heard that Mark Williams was joining the Richmond coaching team this season I thought that the Tigers had somehow snared the premiership coach who is an assistant at GWS. This Williams is not the same as the GWS one but he is very much respected and experienced as a coach through many leagues across Australia. At Tigerland in 2012 he will be our forwards coach which should see him working with the likes of Riewoldt and Vickery to get their structures right and generally improve their game. I like Williams’ appointment and feel the wealth of experience he brings with him will be of incredible value for Hardwick.

Greg Mellor – Greg Mellor is another new member to the Richmond coaching panel and joins us as the Development coach. Greg will be responsible for looking after Richmond’s first and second year players as well as the club’s players who are at Coburg level. We haven’t had enough time to see just how good Mellor is in this role and probably won’t for a few years yet. Let’s hope that in three years’ time we are raving about the incredible development of players like Conca, Batchelor and Ellis.

Wayne Campbell – Wayne joined the Richmond coaching team in 2009 as a midfield coach and now finds himself in the role of ‘Leadership Development and Opposition Analyst’. As a past captain of our great club Wayne should certainly have plenty to share in the leadership stakes. Previously to joining Richmond, Wayne spent two years as an assistant coach at the Dogs so he should have plenty to offer the team. It’s always good to see past greats of the club continue to contribute to the club after their playing days are over so I’m happy to see Wayne still a part of the coaching team.

Number 2 – Dylan Grimes

Senior List

Height: 193cm

Weight: 91kg

DOB: 16/07/91

Career Games: 8

Draft & Trade History: Pick #2 in the 2010 Preseason Draft

If you have a quick look at Dylan Grimes 2011 stats you would be forgiven for thinking that his season was a failure. Only 7 games for the year with just 86 disposals for the season is dismal reading. Dylan’s performances in 2011 were anything but dismal though as the key defender came from nowhere to become one of the more important defenders in the team.

At the beginning of the season Dylan would have found himself behind the likes of McGuane, Moore and Post in the key defender pecking order but by Round 9 he had firmly entrenched himself in the best 22. Sadly, Grimes best game of the season also coincided with the week he went down with injury, over stretching himself to punch the ball clear of a forward. That one act however probably summarises Dylan’s game perfectly; always willing to put his body on the line to do the one percenters.

Unlike many AFL players in their junior years, Dylan has always played as a defender. As such Grimes has always had a spoil first attitude, hence his nickname ‘iron fist’. Although spoil first attitude can be great, particularly in defence, it can be a double edged sword at times as quite often Dylan has overlooked an opportunity to take an intercept mark. In doing this a possible Richmond counterattack is also shut down.

The great news is that Dylan has recognised this flaw in his game and has worked hard to address the issue. Throughout the pre-season games we have seen a real focus by Dylan to take the mark instead of spoiling all the time and although he isn’t the greatest marker, Grimes is showing promise in this area.

Coming off a serious hamstring injury is always a worry, but it seems as if Dylan has fully recovered from his injury. A near full preseason should see Grimes fit and firing for  Round 1 where he will no doubt line up against one of Carlton’s dangerous forwards. As we move through the season expect Grimes’ confidence to grow and with this we should also see Dylan’s confidence to take a grab to grow. It’s hard to believe this considering where Dylan has come from last season, but as of right now Grimes is one of the more important players on the Tigers list. Dylan’s effort and one percenters in the backline are crucial to the team and all Richmond fans will be confident when they see Grimes lining up in the backline. 

Number 3 – Brett Deledio

Senior List

Height: 188cm

Weight: 88kg

DOB: 18/04/87

Career Games: 150

Draft & Trade History: Pick #1 in the 2004 National Draft

The youthfulness of Richmond’s list is revealed when you consider that despite Brett being only 24 years old, with 150 games under his belt Deledio is now considered one of the senior players on Richmond’s list. Deledio is one of two players still remaining on our list from the 2004 National Draft, which is a definite relief considering he was selected with the number one pick overall. Since being drafted, Deledio has managed to play all but four games over his seven year career to date, a remarkable testament to Lids’ durability and worth to the team.

Since being drafted, Richmond fans have often had lofty expectation for Brett. In his first season Deledio managed to meet these expectations by taking out the Rising Star award after spending the majority of his time in the midfield. In the years that followed though opposition teams began to pay more attention to Brett and as there were no other players quite as damaging as he is, coaches often placed a hard tag on the young midfielder. Brett seemed to struggle somewhat with these tags and as a result his impact on the game was diminished somewhat.

Deledio’s importance to the Richmond side was highlighted when he managed to win back to back Jack Dyer medals as Richmond’s best and fairest player in 2008 and 2009. Lids could also consider himself unlucky not to win three in a row after falling just short of Jack Riewoldt in 2010. The coaches valued greatly Deledio’s speed and kicking prowess and in a subpar team, his talent stood out above all.

A switch to half back in recent seasons has seen Richmond use Brett’s elite kicking skills to great effect. Quite often Deledio has been used as the go to man to use his skills to spot up a man further down the field. Brett’s run and carry from the backline has also been invaluable to the team in this period and his rise up the AFL ranks is highlighted by the fact he has been nominated for the All Australian squad of 40 players in the last two seasons.

While this move to half back has been necessary for Richmond, the recruitment of players of the ilk of Bachar Houli, Steven Morris, Brandon Ellis and Jake Batchelor has now allowed Richmond to free Deledio up by shifting him back to the middle of the ground. By teaming Lids up with Martin and Cotchin, Richmond now find that they have one of the more youthful but deadly midfields in the league. Lids’ switch to the midfield will also allow Brett to become more of a goalkicking threat, especially so when you consider that Deledio can slot a running goal from beyond fifty with ease.

Deledio always places high in the Richmond best and fairest awards but his switch to the midfield this season may see Brett’s potential truly unlocked. Teams will not be able to tag all three of Martin, Cotchin and Deledio at once and at least one of them should be able to get off the chain in every match.

After recovering from a preseason hamstring injury, Brett’s one preseason match was particularly impressive, kicking several goals and racking up the disposals across the midfield. In 2012 it will be great to see Deledio once again use his pace through to burn off opponents through the midfield and hopefully the combination of him with Martin and Cotchin will result in a dominant Richmond midfield for many years to come.

Number 4 – Dustin Martin

Senior List

Height: 187cm

Weight: 86kg

DOB: 26/06/91

Career Games: 43

Draft & Trade History: Pick #3 in the 2009 National Draft

On Richmond’s list you could argue that there are four ‘superstar’ players that the fans absolutely adore; Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin. While all four are excellent players there is one player who stands out above all when it comes to the adoration stakes; Dustin Martin.

Martin arrived at Richmond with pick number three in the 2009 Draft after Melbourne overlooked him in favour of Tom Scully and Jack Trengove. In his debut season Martin blew people away with his brute strength and kicking skills. Perhaps even more impressive however was Martin’s ability to influence games at such a young age, a fact backed up by Dustin’s six Brownlow medal votes in his first year.

Coming into the 2011 season many thought that Martin’s output would plateau or even drop off, particularly after the coach Damien Hardwick lambasted Dustin for returning to the club unfit after the end of year break. What happened in 2011 though was unbelievable and exciting for Richmond fans. Martin took his game to a whole new level, playing both in the midfield and across the half forward line where he monstered opponents with don’t argues and pure strength on his way to a super impressive 33 goals and 486 disposals for the season.

Richmond fans have been in non-stop admiration for the young midfielder ever since his debut season and they were taken to a whole new level during the previous season. Many compare Martin to the duel Brownlow Medal winner Chris Judd and state that it is a matter of when, not if, Martin will repeat the Eagle and Carlton midfielder’s heroics. The comparisons don’t stop there though; the usual Chuck Norris jokes have now been replaced by Dustin Martin jokes and there are countless clips on Youtube of Dustin fending off opponents before slotting through a goal.

It’s only until you realise that Dustin Martin is still only 20 years old that you really grasp just how good this kid is. If Martin is fending off more senior players and dominating games already then just how good is he going to be in two or three years’ time? It’s actually a little scary to think about but I can assure you that opposition supporters find it even more frightening.

The good news is that Dustin has learned from his mistakes in the last off-season and has returned to the club as fit as ever after the Christmas break. This will no doubt hold Martin in good stead for the rest of the season but the benefits have already been seen this pre-season. Dustin was dominant against a Geelong outfit at their home ground which indicates to me and many others that Martin is ready to take his game to another level yet again.

It’s important that Martin continues to work hard this season as opposition teams will be devising strategies to quell his influence. If Dustin does this and makes the step up to the next level then you would almost have to classify him as an elite player in the competition. Heck, if Richmond manage to win more games than they lose then he might even win the Brownlow Medal in his third season, just as Chris Judd did before him. Just imagine the Tiger love for Dustin if that happens!

Number 6 – Shaun Grigg

Senior List

Height: 190cm

Weight: 85kg

DOB: 19/04/88

Career Games: 64

Draft & Trade History: Pick #19 in the 2006 National Draft, Traded to Richmond for Andrew Collins at end of 2010 season.

At the end of the 2010 season Shaun Grigg let it known that he was unhappy with the game time he was receiving at Carlton and wanted out, nominating Richmond as his new team of choice. Richmond managed to snare Grigg by trading young forward midfielder Andrew Collins who had shown glimpses of talent.

In his first season at Tigerland Grigg managed to play all but one of the 22 games for the season, predominantly playing through the midfield. While Grigg’s output wasn’t spectacular, it was serviceable and at the end of the season Shaun even managed to place 10^th in the Best and Fairest. In the games Grigg played in 2010 he showed that he could find plenty of the ball, averaging almost 22 disposals per game. When Grigg did manage to find the ball there were times where his disposal let him down somewhat. Grigg’s kicks tended to float in the air a bit, given opposition players time to make up ground and spoil or intercept the ball.

Grigg is never going to be a flashy player but what the way he plays is very workmanlike. Shaun disposal is passable, his speed is passable, his marking is passable and his goalkicking is passable. You could go through most of the skills involved with AFL and you could mark down Grigg’s ability as passable but he just doesn’t have one skill that is elite. This is not a knock on Shaun either as every team needs their foot soldiers and Grigg appears to be one of them for Richmond. Grigg will continue to work hard on his game and personally I feel he has a lot to offer Richmond through the midfield where he can be used as a link man in the team. Grigg’s height for a midfielder is especially handy as he should generally be able to out mark smaller opponents.

In 2012 Grigg will be fighting for his spot against younger and perhaps higher rated midfelders. As players like Conca and Deledio play more in the midfeld, time for other players to get game time in the middle of the ground will diminish. If Grigg pushes himself I feel he will be able to hold onto a spot for the majority of the season and at the very least it should mean that if someone wants a spot they will need to work for it.

Number 7 – Matt Dea

Senior List

Height: 186cm

Weight: 85kg

DOB: 31/10/91

Career Games: 7

Draft & Trade History: Pick #44 in the 2009 National Draft

Matt Dea’s path to the AFL has been vastly different to most. Matthew was drafted to Richmond with pick number 44 in the 2009 Draft after playing only three games for North Ballarat. During his junior years, Dea was mainly focused on basketball and as such football wasn’t the highest priority in his life. Matt’s impressive results during the state screenings were enough for Richmond to draft him based on potential.

Matt suffered from a foot injury early in 2010 which shut down his debut season early after just three games for Richmond. In 2011 Dea finished the season off strong by playing in the last four games of the season for Richmond. In these games Dea played mainly across the flanks where he showed that he had hidden potential. Richmond were impressed enough to offer Dea the number 7 jumper for 2012, last worn by the exciting Nathan Brown.

Matthew’s basketball background has no doubt helped him with his field vision which means that Dea may be an ideal candidate for the backline. As with Scott Pendlebury before him, Matthew will be hoping to put his unique skills gained from playing basketball to good use. If Matt ends up even half as good a player as Scott then everyone involved with Richmond will be very happy indeed.

The Richmond coaching staff clearly see a lot in Matthew Dea and will be working hard to unlock his potential. During pre-season Dea has been touted as a possible player to push for a consistent spot in the best 22 and this should be the aim for Dea. The pre-season matches have probably been a little disappointing for Matt but there is no reason he can’t continue to work hard on his game and force his way into the side early in the season. We can only hope that the confidence that the Richmond coaching staff have in Matt Dea ends up paying off as the potential in Dea is definitely there.

Number 8 – Jack Riewoldt

Senior List

Height: 195cm

Weight: 93kg

DOB: 31/10/88

Career Games: 90

Draft & Trade History: Pick #13 in the 2006 National Draft

When the great Matthew Richardson retired from AFL at the end of 2009, many Richmond fans were lost. The club had not only lost their spearhead up forward but they had also lost a character, an entertainer and the reason many fans still flocked to the MCG despite the team being below average. What would draw Richmond fans to games now?

In 2010 though the Richmond fans prayers were answered when Jack Riewoldt answered the call to this question, breaking free from the shadows and bursting into superstardom with his 78 goals for the season earning him the Coleman Medal as the league’s highest goalkicker. Not only that, Jack also brought excitement back to Richmond games with his high flying marks atop of opponents shoulders and his passion for the Richmond Tigers. Kids were racing to stick a number eight on the back of their Richmond jumpers and fans were chanting Jack’s name after every goal. Quite simply, Jack gave fans hope and a reason to turn up and watch the Tigers in what was quite a disappointing season. It was almost as if a Matthew Richardson clone had taken over the great man’s role at the heart of Tigerland.

Fast forward to 2011 and although Riewoldt didn’t kick quite as many goals as he did in the previous season, Riewoldt did set up teammates for goals much more often. Jack’s pressure inside fifty on opposition players was also increased and perhaps even more important, he formed a dangerous combination with fellow tall forward Tyrone Vickery. What is most impressive about this though is that late in the year Jack was playing with several injuries that limited his ability to move and jump at the ball.

In 2012 the aim for Riewoldt is quite simple, kick goals, setup goals and generally help the team win. With Jack back to full fitness he should be as dangerous as ever and there is no doubt that he will be drawing the best opposition defender every week. Like Matthew Richardson before him, it is quite possible that Riewoldt will be drawing not just the best defender, but other defenders as well. This should free up Richmond teammates who need to take the most of these opportunities. Off the field Jack will continue to be the larrikin that he is, uniting teammates with his passion for the club and urging them to reach higher levels; a part of Jack Riewoldt the player and clubman that shouldn’t be underrated. 

Number 9 – Trent Cotchin

Senior List

Height: 185cm

Weight: 84kg

DOB: 07/04/90

Career Games: 64

Draft & Trade History: Pick #2 in the 2007 National Draft

There’s probably not a lot I can tell you about Trent Cotchin that you don’t already know, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Richmond selected Cotchin in the 2007 National Draft with the second pick overall after finishing the 2007 season in last place. Since that moment, Cotchin has been seen as the saviour of the club, the future captain and Brownlow Medallist; quite a hefty load of expectations for anyone let alone a kid.

Despite suffering from an injury in the first two months of his AFL career, Cotchin has impressed from day one with his in and under skills and leadership. Even Trent’s first kick in AFL was a goal after the ball magically bounced over Geelong fullback Matthew Scarlett’s head in a wet match at the MCG. When Cotchin has the ball he is almost poetry in motion, the balance and poise he shows is elite and his decision making is usually first class.

Last season Cotchin took his game to another level, from a kid who showed potential to someone who began to consistently influence matches. Stints up forward saw Cotchin kick a personal best 18 goals for the season and his consistent performances for the club combined with his hard work saw Cotchin win Richmond’s Best and Fairest award as the best player of the year. The real potential of Cotchin however was evident in the fact he picked up a whopping 15 Brownlow votes in a side that won only 8 games for the season. Clearly Richmond fans are not the only ones who are seeing Cotchin’s influence in games.

It would be easy to assume that Cotchin is perfect (and he nearly is) but the fact is that the midfielder does have some flaws to his game. Despite what many may suggest, Cotchin’s kicking skills aren’t as elite as many make it out to be. While Cotchin’s disposal is definitely above average, at times he does tend to over-kick the ball when looking for a short option. Usually this occurs when Trent is under pressure but it does occasionally happen when there is little pressure around him as well. Richmond are looking to free up Cotchin a little to allow him to use his skills under less duress and this should help his disposal effectiveness increase.

In 2012 Cotchin will be looking to step up his game even further. The club is looking towards playing finals in 2012 and players like Cotchin and Martin will be pivotal to the success of this goal. If Trent can increase his disposal count even further this season then Richmond should benefit from his skills and freakish ability so this should be an aim for Cotchin this year. Trent will again play a big part of the leadership at Tigerland with the 21 year old being named vice captain for the 2012 season as the club continue to nurture him for the future captaincy.

If Richmond start to consistently win games this year then you would expect that Cotchin is a big part of this. If this is the case, perhaps Cotchin may even be a smoky for the Brownlow Medal.

Number 10 – Shane Edwards

Senior List

Height: 182cm

Weight: 80kg

DOB: 25/10/88

Career Games: 89

Draft & Trade History: Pick #26 in the 2006 National Draft

For several years now, Shane has been a consistent performer at Richmond, plying his trade across all areas of the ground. In his time at the club Edwards has steadily improved his game but now it is time for more. It’s time for Edwards to take his game to another level.

For the last few seasons Edwards has been criticised by many supporters for his lacklustre kicking skills. While Shane does have a tendency to shank the odd kick, he is quite and effective disposer of the ball. The problem is that when Edwards does stuff up a kick it tends to be a real shocker that may even lead to an opposition goal at times.

Last season Edwards took a while to work his way into the season, starting off particularly rusty early in the season before working his way into form later in the year. One particular highlight in Shane’s season that showcased his talent came against Brisbane where Edwards gathered the ball tight against the point post and with no room to move, proceeded to weave around several opponents before snapping the goal. Despite this effort, overall you would have to mark Shane’s 2011 season down as a disappointment as the midfielder/forward failed to place inside the club’s top ten in the end of season best and fairest award.

Despite his flaws, Edwards can be quite underrated at times. Shane’s creativity with the handball is often overlooked but already during the NAB Cup we have seen Edwards use his handball to link up and set up goals for the team. During the off-season Edwards has worked hard to increase his body size, something that will hopefully see him more capable of mixing it with the heavyweights in the middle of the ground.

In 2012 Edwards goal should be to consistently have more impact in games. It’s sometimes easy to forget that Shane is still only 23 years old but after 89 games he should be primed to deliver on the potential he has shown over the years. With the backing of the coach and confidence in his game, Shane’s game could very well blossom in 2012.

Number 11 – Jake Batchelor

Senior List

Height: 188cm

Weight: 86kg

DOB: 13/02/92

Career Games: 16

Draft & Trade History: Pick #30 in the 2010 National Draft

Batchelor was picked up by Richmond with their second pick in the 2010 National Draft and you would have to say his debut season at the club was a successful one. You could even argue that Jake was the most impressive of all the new Tiger draftees in 2011.

Batchelor was thrown into the cauldron early in the season when he was named in the round 1 Richmond team that faced Carlton. Although facing much more experienced opponents and playing in front of a packed out stadium, Jake showed little nerves in his performance across the half back line. Batchelor’s form continued to be solid throughout the season and as such, he managed to play a total of 16 games for the year.

The one thing working against Batchelor this season is the plethora of options Richmond have to fill the half back flanker roles. Players like Ellis and Morris have been added to the team and may be fighting for a similar spot to that of Batchelor’s. Jake may play a little more on the wings this season however to help spread the load for other midfielders. If/When he does play here then you can expect Richmond to utilise Batchelor’s left foot skills as often as possible.

Batchelor’s sound ball use and composure is invaluable to the Tigers across half back and his speed and smarts are not to be underestimated either. This skill set has seen him likened to Richmond champion Joel Bowden, so much so that at the end of 2011 Richmond offered Jake the number 11 jumper last worn by Bowden. Like Joel, Jake also seems like a great human being off the field as well which should hold him in good stead for the rest of his life. Expect to see plenty more of Jake in 2012 and beyond.