Richmond AFL grand final player penpix
PENPIX OF RICHMOND'S TEAM FOR THE AFL GRAND FINAL.
BACK LINE
18. Alex Rance
Age: 27. Ht: 194cm. Wt: 96kg. Games: 174. Goals: 9. Finals: 5.
All-Australian captain and once again this season, the AFL's best key defender.
12. David Astbury
Age: 26. Ht: 195cm. Wt: 94kg. Games: 84. Goals: 8. Finals: 2.
His ability to shut down the opposition's biggest key forward has freed up Rance to take care of business elsewhere.
2. Dylan Grimes
Age: 26. Ht: 193cm. Wt: 89kg. Games: 103. Goals: 3. Finals: 5.
Career-best campaign for the versatile backman, who can play short or tall.
HALF-BACK LINE
14. Bachar Houli
Age: 29. Ht: 180cm. Wt: 84kg. Games: 169. Goals: 37. Finals: 5.
The long-kicking left-footer has not missed a beat since serving a four-week suspension midway through the season.
33. Kamdyn McIntosh
Age: 23. Ht: 192cm. Wt: 91kg. Games: 52. Goals: 10. Finals: 3.
Kicking can be untidy at times but is quick and a genuine line-breaker.
5. Brandon Ellis
Age: 24. Ht: 181cm. Wt: 81kg. Games: 134. Goals: 46. Finals: 5.
Has reinvented himself in 2017 as a rebounding half-back. Cleared by the MRP to play in the grand final.
CENTRE LINE
3. Dion Prestia
Age: 24. Ht: 175cm. Wt: 81kg. Games: 116. Goals: 36. Finals: 2.
The former Gold Coast ball magnet has got better the longer his first season in yellow and black has gone on.
10. Shane Edwards
Age: 28. Ht: 182cm. Wt: 81kg. Games: 206. Goals: 140. Finals: 5.
Long-serving Tiger has been among his team's best in the previous two finals wins.
1. Nick Vlastuin
Age: 23. Ht: 187cm. Wt: 86kg. Games: 95. Goals: 20. Finals: 5.
The red-bearded cult figure is fearless in backing into packs to take vital intercept marks.
HALF-FORWARD LINE
9. Trent Cotchin
Age: 27. Ht: 185cm. Wt: 85kg. Games: 197. Goals: 118. Finals: 5.
The captain has been inspirational in finals wins over Geelong and GWS. Club's flag hopes would have plummeted had he been charged for the high bump on Giant Dylan Shiel.
17. Daniel Rioli
Age: 20. Ht: 179cm. Wt: 75kg. Games: 42. Goals: 38. Finals: 2.
Did his famous surname proud with a match-winning four-goal haul in the preliminary final win over GWS.
21. Jacob Townsend
Age: 24. Ht: 187cm. Wt: 89kg. Games: 36. Goals: 18. Finals: 2.
Did not break into the senior team this year until round 22 but has grabbed the opportunity as a defensive forward.
FORWARD LINE
8. Jack Riewoldt
Age: 28. Ht: 195cm. Wt: 91kg. Games: 224. Goals: 535. Finals: 5.
The two-time Coleman Medallist is playing a much more team-oriented style of football these days. Was quietish in the first two finals.
23. Kane Lambert
Age: 25. Ht: 178cm. Wt: 177kg. Games: 51. Goals: 27. Finals: 3.
Former rookie-lister who is now an important member of a largely blue-collar midfield.
40. Dan Butler
Age: 21. Ht: 182cm. Wt: 80kg. Games: 22. Goals: 29. Finals: 2.
Is very quick, has good goal sense and tackles hard - qualities which are all highly rated by coach Damien Hardwick.
FOLLOWERS
25. Toby Nankervis
Age: 23. Ht: 199cm. Wt: 106kg. Games: 35. Goals: 14. Finals: 3.
Has gone from Sydney bit player to Richmond lynchpin the space of 12 months. Ruck battle with Sam Jacobs will be pivotal.
6. Shaun Grigg
Age: 29. Ht: 190cm. Wt: 85kg. Games: 191. Goals: 92. Finals: 6.
The quintessential quiet achiever whose ability to fill a variety of roles is much valued by the coaching staff.
4. Dustin Martin
Age: 26. Ht: 187cm. Wt: 88kg. Games: 177. Goals: 185. Finals: 5.
Had his status as the best player in the competition confirmed with his Brownlow Medal triumph on Monday.
INTERCHANGE
35. Nathan Broad
Age: 24. Ht: 192cm. Wt: 85kg. Games: 11. Goals: 0. Finals: 2.
The unheralded defender has flown largely under the radar.
46. Jason Castagna
Age: 21. Ht: 181cm. Wt: 79kg. Games: 29. Goals: 27. Finals: 2.
Often criticised for lack of composure with the ball, but never questioned for his tough tackling or appetite for the contest.
22. Josh Caddy
Age: 25. Ht: 186cm. Wt: 88kg. Games: 116. Goals: 96. Finals: 8.
The former Sun and Cat can be equally damaging as a marking forward or a big-bodied mid.
34. Jack Graham
Age: 19. Ht: 180cm. Wt: 83kg. Games: 4. Goals: 2. Finals: 2.
Hard-tackling teenager who is living the dream and will play in a grand final in just his fifth AFL game.
EMERGENCIES
15. Jayden Short
Age: 21. Ht: 177cm. Wt: 75kg. Games: 32. Goals: 8. Finals: 0.
Long-kicking defender who lost his senior spot after round 17.
16. Shaun Hampson
Age: 29. Ht: 201cm. Wt: 104kg. Games: 98. Goals: 38. Finals: 1.
Fit again after missing most of 2017 with a back injury. Now behind Nankervis in the ruck pecking order.
32. Corey Ellis
Age: 20. Ht: 184cm. Wt: 75kg. Games: 23. Goals: 7. Finals: 0.
The first-round draft pick of 2014 has shown glimpses at senior level without yet cementing a regular spot.
COACH
Damien Hardwick
Age: 48
Coaching record: Games: 181. Games won: 91. Finals: 5. Finals won: 2.
Playing record (with Essendon and Port Adelaide): Games: 207. Goals: 14. Premierships: 2.
Has reinvented himself as coach in spectacular fashion after a dispiriting 2016 campaign. But notably, however bad it got last year, he never lost the players.
