Media Watch
Masterful Martin is Players’ MVP for June
aflplayers.com.au
July 5
Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin has continued his blistering 2017 season by being voted the AFL Players’ Association MVP of the Month for June.
Martin received 31
Fellow midfielders Dayne Zorko, Zach Merrett and Dylan Shiel completed the six nominees put to the players by the expert panel.
Underrated Grimes stifling opponents
Herald Sun, Superfooty podcast
July 4
ALL the attention is on Dusty, Rance and Cotchin, but as Richmond’s premiership credentials grow, so does an unheralded defender.
Dylan Grimes destroyed Robbie Gray in the Tigers’ win over Port Adelaide on the weekend and, according to Champion Data, he hasn’t had a goal kicked on him by a direct opponent since Round 9 — six weeks ago.
Is he the most underrated defender in the game?
Cotchin opens up about ‘black cloud’ of 2016
The Age, Jon Pierik
July 5
In a world of hurt last year when playing under a "black cloud", Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has revealed he is playing "free" this season and has come to love the sport the way he did as a junior.
Cotchin is enjoying arguably his finest season, averaging 25 disposals per game in a side which sits fourth on the ladder and has emerged as a legitimate premiership threat.
The Tigers endured a wretched 2016 when they slipped to 13th, having reached the finals in the three previous seasons, although falling in an elimination final in each year.
Cotchin, having been skipper for four years, had his position questioned, and came under such attack that his wife Brooke went public in her support of her husband.
Medical Report
Nathan Drummond Knee Season
Shaun Hampson Back Indefinite
Ben Griffiths Concussion Indefinite
Reece Conca Foot TBC
Steve Morris Hamstring 4-5 weeks
Ben Lennon Hamstring 1 week
Callum Moore Ankle Test
Todd Elton Shoulder Test
Nick Vlastuin Shoulder Test
Fresh Faces
Damien Hardwick has unveiled a host of new faces this season with Dion Prestia arriving at Punt Road from the Gold Coast Suns, Josh Caddy via Geelong and most successfully, former Sydney ruckman Toby Nankervis. The Tasmanian ruckman has thrived with the added responsibility at Tigerland, playing all but one game and averaging 25.8 hitouts, 14.5 disposals and 3.5 clearances. After bursting onto the scene in Round 1, speedy small forward Dan Butler has played 12 games as part of a new look yellow and black attack. The Tigers also debuted another lively forward last weekend in Adelaide with Tyson Stengle, who booted two goals in the win over the Power.
Star
After a best and fairest winning, career best season in 2016, out-of-contract superstar Dustin Martin has gone to another level in 2017. The game breaking midfielder won the June MVP award, is leading coaches award and is one of the Brownlow medal favourites along with Patrick Dangerfield. Martin’s performances have been so consistently brilliant he has stamped himself as one of the biggest superstars in the game. The 26-year-old is averaging 29.9 disposals (No. 10 in the AFL), 6.3 clearances (No. 12), 6.0 inside 50s (No. 2), 557.1 metres gained (No. 2) and 19 goals (No. 2 at Richmond).
Stats that matter
Richmond has the second best defence in the competition with Alex Rance, David Astbury and co holding sides to 77.1 points per game, in a vast improvement from the 98.0 in 2016 (No. 15). Richmond hasn’t conceded 80 points or more in each of their last eight games. The Tigers are also ranked No. 3 for time in forward half differential at +5:34.
Team
B: J. Short, A. Rance, D. Grimes
HB: B. Ellis, D. Astbury, K. McIntosh
C: S. Edwards, T. Cotchin, S. Grigg
HF: K. Lambert, S. Lloyd, J. Castagna
F: D. Rioli, J. Riewoldt, D. Butler
R: T. Nankervis, D. Martin, D. Prestia
Interchange: J. Caddy, C. Menadue, T. Stengle, T. Hunt
Emergencies: A. Miles, S. Bolton, O. Markov
IN: T. Hunt
OUT: O. Markov
