Hi everyone, its Chris here. Time has passed and I still feel gutted about losing the preliminary final to Collingwood. I ignored the first three quarters of the Grand Final, something I have never done before. And to be honest, it was a doozy. But we weren’t there. We were all so certain we would be – maybe we “got ahead of ourselves” – and I still feel like it’s an opportunity missed, and that casts a shadow back over all our good work and the fun of being the top dogs all through 2018.
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But it was fun. We had fun in the sun as premiers, games clear on top of the ladder, with the reigning Brownlow medallist, coach of the year etc, we won everything but the Cox Plate. This year we got Jack winning the Coleman medal, Snags won the GOTY, and we broke the 36-year McClelland trophy drought. Winning stuff was fun. And that’s my analysis done.
Next year I am handing the baton of The Benny to Brendan O’Reilly whose excellent work you have already enjoyed here from time to time. Thanks to Brendan for this offer at a time when we thought TTBB might be looking at a year off in 2019. I will continue to chip in photos and graphics and keep adding to the Richmond Virtual Duffle Coat. I am interested in trying to get a public display of the Coat happening somewhere in the Richmond 3121 vicinity so if you have any ideas about that, drop me a line.
Take care in the off season, and bring on 2019.
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Awards
- Congratulations to our great skipper Trent Cotchin who wins his second Benny.
- Josh Caddy had a breakout season and wins the Blair Hartley Appreciation Award for recruits from other clubs. He regularly dominated games playing beside a bloke who won the Coleman.
- Jack Higgins was the only first year player to poll Benny votes so he wins the 2018 Anthony Banik Award. Snags has given us all a lot of fun this year and shaken up the pecking order.
- A combination of a solid season and a lack of fellow lefties, see Toby Nankervis take out this year’s Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot. We love you Nank.
- Cal Moore and Liam Baker came off the rookie list this year but did not get votes, so the Tivendale stays in the velvet bag in the drawer.
- Jack Graham had a lot to live up to after his ’17 finals heroics. He never stopped tackling and wins the 2018 Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy
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Full Tallies
47: Martin
39: Riewoldt
25: Caddy
24: Edwards
23: Grimes
22: Short
20: Astbury, Nankervis
18: Lambert, Prestia
17: Rance
13: Vlastuin
12: Higgins
9: Houli
7: Conca, McIntosh
6: Graham, Rioli
3: Lloyd, Castagna
1: Townsend
Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another club(Eligible 2018: Caddy, Grigg, Hampson, Houli, Nankervis, Miles, Prestia and Townsend.)
20: Nankervis
18: Prestia
9: Houli
1: Townsend
Anthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1(Eligible 2018: Liam Baker, Noah Balta, Callum Coleman-Jones, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Higgins, Ben Miller, Patrick Naish)
Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footers(Eligible 2018: Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
20: Nankervis
9: Houli
Winners 2018: Toby Nankervis 2017: Shaun Grigg 2016, 2015, 2014: Bachar Houli
Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2018: Baker, Chol, Eggmolesse-Smith, Moore, Stengle
No votes yet.
Winners 2018 no award 2017, 2016 Jason Castagna 2015: Kane Lambert 2014: Anthony Miles
Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler
Graham: 107
Cotchin: 103
Conca: 92
Grimes: 82
Nankervis: 81
Winners 2018 Jack Graham 2017 Trent Cotchin
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Many thanks Chris for your fine work in keeping the TTBB show on the road throughout 2018.
Also, let me say that my vote for this year’s best match report goes to your summation of the Rd 19 vs Collingwood clash, beautifully written from your viewing point in the excellently named Doctor Syntax Hotel.