Former AFL club captains Garry Lyon and Tim Watson believe Richmond’s rigid selection process shows the club isn’t getting comfortable with success.
The Tigers dropped premiership player Jack Graham for tonight’s battle with Port Adelaide, something Lyon thinks is a positive sign for Damien Hardwick’s side.
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“It’s great for the team because there is competition for places,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“We talk about the Western Bulldogs…there is no complacency coming into this Richmond team because there is pressure for positions.
“Jack Graham was the NAB Rising Star favourite at the start of this year and played some really good footy early. Now he is out having a spell.
“Callum Moore is playing, he worked his way into that side probably ahead of Jacob Townsend, Connor Menadue hasn’t been able to get in but now gets an opportunity, some would say Anthony Miles would be playing in 16 other teams.
“I love it, I think you got to reward effort.”
Watson agreed, explaining how this isn’t the first time Hardwick has omitted premiership heroes.
“At different stages, he (Hardwick) hasn’t been afraid to drop premiership players,” he said.
“Brandon Ellis has been dropped, Kamdyn McIntosh has been dropped, Townsend has been dropped. All these guys have gone back at different stages.
“He has said, you’re not measuring up to the way we want you to play, go back, play in the VFL and push back up.
“It seems players accept this and it’s the way they roll at Richmond.”
