Richmond’s midfield is the best in the AFL, according to St Kilda coach Scott Watters.
Watters believes his Saints getting on top of the Tigers’ engine room of Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Nathan Foley, Dustin Martin and Shane Tuck is the key to Friday night’s huge Etihad Stadium clash between two finals hopes desperately needing wins.
“Their midfield, it’s arguably the best midfield in the AFL – it’s a really well-balanced side,” Watters said on Thursday.
“Have a look at the depth. Cotchin, Martin, Deledio, Foley, the list goes on and on. If it’s not the best midfield, it’s certainly close.”
The Tigers have not only been able to win ball, but use it brilliantly – their speed at running and spreading the ball to dangerous players like Deledio key to challenging some of the AFL’s best teams this season.
But Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was happy to hose down Watters’ lavish praise for his midfield.
He rates the Saints’ midfield – forged in the finals furnace over several years and with added youth in Jack Steven and David Armitage – as both proven and potent.
“That’s a big call, especially after one (win) in a row, sitting 12th on the ladder with four wins,” Hardwick joked when told of Watters’ high rating for his midfield.
“We know we’ve got a hell of a long way to go.
“Our guys are inexperienced. They’re improving, but they’re (St Kilda) a side that’s delivered on the big stage over the course of the past six years.
“Big stages tell you a lot about teams.”
One area Watters is not conceding to the Tigers is the ruck, despite Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric’s stellar form and the Saints’ lack of tall options.
St Kilda used pinch-hitter Jason Blake in the ruck with some relief from Justin Koschitzke to great effect in an impressive victory over Sydney last weekend.
Ex-Adelaide giant Maric has been the recruit of the season, and probably the best ruckman in the AFL over the opening nine weeks.
But Watters is backing in Blake to hold his own against Maric.
“I reckon Blakey’s in pretty good form, so maybe they need to have a look at how Jason Blake’s going as well.”
Both Watters and Hardwick believes St Kilda’s recent dominance over the Tigers – Richmond haven’t beaten them since 2003 – matters little in the context of Friday night’s match.
“I reckon those things are absolute nonsense to be honest,” Watters said.
“Very few of our players would have been around, very few of their players would have been around.
“They’ll be focused on one game which is Friday night. We’ll be focused on it (too). We haven’t even mentioned it.”
