Injury crisis helped turn Tigers into premiership threat

The injuries that engulfed the senior playing group of Richmond earlier this season has left the club in a stronger position.

Shane Edwards has stepped up when needed this season for the Tigers Picture: Getty Images

Being entrusted with the Richmond captaincy on an interim basis this year proved an eye opener for Richmond star Shane Edwards.

An All Australian last season, Edwards led the Tigers with aplomb in the early part of the season when Richmond was ravaged by injuries to key players.

A victory over the Power in Adelaide was inspiring at a time the Tigers appeared to be under siege and it was a significant tick for his own leadership credentials.

But Edwards this week said the period in charge had shed a new light for him on the abilities of 2017 premiership captain Trent Cotchin. “I suppose just seeing what Cotch does throughout games and during the week and getting a small insight into his responsibilities, (you learn) how important it is to help him out when you can, even when you are not the captain,” he said. “It has been a great part of the year for me to learn from and it is amazing how he goes about it so easily.”

Edwards says the injury crisis in the first half of the season that at one stage saw Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance on the sidelines had a silver lining.

It allowed the club to blood rookies, to tinker with positions and to thrust players like himself into greater roles of responsibility.

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Richmond is unbeaten since the mid-season bye and will be pursuing an 11th-straight win when they play Geelong in a preliminary final on Friday night at the MCG.

“We have had some really big games this year with our backs up against the wall and I suppose playing together for even longer in bigger games can definitely gel the group together more,” he said.

“I would say we are a tighter group than what we were last year. It is awesome.

“It gives everyone more trust that everyone can play a role or a position when we need them to and when we have got the injured guys back, it has been awesome that everyone can maintain that standard. That is something that we expect now.”

The 30-year-old has proven himself a standout campaigner for Richmond in recent years, which is a significant achievement given the number of stars at Punt Road.

His form throughout the Tigers drought-breaking premiership campaign in 2017 was outstanding, with Edwards gathering his two highest disposal tallies for the season in the qualifying and grand finals. In the Tigers demolition of Brisbane in this year’s qualifying final at the Gabba, he was also prolific when gathering 29 disposals.

Importantly for Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, Edwards’ ability to fill a role or provide a solution to a problem extends beyond being able to stand in for the skipper.

Not that the veteran was overly enthusiastic about pushing his own credentials when interviewed at Punt Road on Sunday.

“I suppose it is always nice to play well in finals but, at the end of the day, you are playing a role and getting the win,” he said.

“My personal performance isn’t at the forefront of my mind. It is (about) ‘if I can do my role and get the W’ (win).”