Chris – Page 2

Benny Roster 2018

07/04/2018 By Chris 2 Comments

	Versus	At	Writer
1	Carlton	MCG	Dugald
2	Adelaide	AO	Chris
3	Hawthorn	MCG	Andrew Hamilton @Tiggerstales14
4	Brisbane	MCG	Lauren‏ @Lozzemarine
5	Melbourne	MCG	Welton D. Marsland
6	Collingwood	MCG	?
7	Fremantle	MCG	Malcolm McKinnon
8	North Melbourne	Docklands	Joe Crawford
9	West Coast	Perth Stadium	?
10	St Kilda	MCG	Ryan @ExiledVictorian
11	Essendon	MCG	Sean Ross
12	Port Adelaide	AO	?
13	Geelong	MCG	?
15	Sydney	Etihad	?
16	Adelaide	MCG	Andrew Hamilton @Tiggerstales14
17	GWS	Sydney Showgrounds	?
18	St Kilda	Etihad	?
19	Collingwood	MCG	?
20	Geelong	MCG	?
21	Gold Coast	Carrara	?
22	Essendon	MCG	?
23	Western Bulldogs	MCG	?

Round 2 v Adelaide, AO – The Benny 2018

30/03/2018 By Chris 2 Comments

I was at a Japanese restaurant in North Hobart with the largest sake range in Australia – a four page menu. But I could not get a footy score. I texted my wife, Dugald, Joe. Nothing. So I just ate my eel and hoped for the best.

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By the time I got home we were down 77 – 66. And playing pretty badly. I had to wait ages to see us get an uncontested possession. No-one had any run.

Our kicks were never to advantage. To Jack, Towna and Nank along the ground or into space to lumber after. Bolton, Butler and Castagna had it coming down on top of their heads.

Incredibly we snuck back to within 9 points, then Dave Astbury shanked a kick backwards and it was goodnight nurse, thank you linesmen, thank you ball boys.

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I have since gone back and watched the first half. Rance was genuinely beaten by Jenkins early, but never stopped trying, and did get on top in the last quarter.

Conversely Riewoldt was a spark in the first half but looked cooked at the end. The lazy checkside that went OOF suggested either his mind or body was not 100%.

Martin was terrific, really showing off all parts of his game. His five goals kept us ludicrously close considering the rest of the contest was quite one-sided.

In his 200th game Cotch was his usual diligent self, again defensively busy but didn’t get a lot of touches.

Grigg and Houli were invisible and we will rarely win a game where you say that.

Bolton is drifting in and out showing glimpses just as Rioli did. This might not be the year it happens for him but its going to happen.

Conca, McIntosh, Grimes and Lambert all made pretty bad mistakes that are going to be excruciating in video review.

I didn’t enjoy seeing Grimes rag-dolled by the 2nd gamer Fogarty, conceding a goal; and Tex bodied Astbury out too easily.

Towna was quiet but he nailed his set shot as ever, and I loved his five-eighth effort here to set Dusty up for a goal.

I thought Josh Caddy was really impressive. He again kicked three great goals. Just before halftime he shepherded through Dusty’s long bombed goal, then shortly after dished a quick handball to Butler for his (unsuccesful) shot.

Lastly Jayden Short played a very good game, it looked like he belonged, and Shane Edwards put in a shift.

We have to look forward, not back. I can take no consolation in March from beating this team in a more important game 6 months ago. We got comprehensively schooled last night, and they were without Matt Crouch for much of it.

Given their loss last week, the Crows at home always had more to play for than we did. Fear of going 0-2 trumps fear of losing away and going 1-1.

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The votes

5 – Martin Four quarters, five goals.

4 – Caddy 3 goals, but unselfish. Poor man’s Josh Kennedy.

3 – Cotchin 9 tackles, repeat efforts.

2 – Short Influential particularly early, hit targets. Composed.

1 – Nankervis Beaten by Jacobs on the stats but offers more IMO. 8 tackles.
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Leaderboard

10: Martin
7: Cotchin
4: Caddy

3: Graham
2: Rance, Short

1: Townsend, Nankervis

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another club
(Eligible 2018: Caddy, Grigg, Hampson, Houli, Nankervis, Miles, Prestia and Townsend.)
1: Townsend, Nankervis

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)

No votes yet.

Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot: for left footers
(Eligible 2018: Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
1: Nankervis

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.

Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler

19: Graham
13: Cotchin, Nankervis
12: Butler
10: Edwards
9: Conca

First Round Fever

21/03/2018 By Chris 5 Comments

The tickets are printed, bag is packed, and the dog knows something is up.

I’m feeling shaky. No – not about the Tiges, I have tipped us objectively to win the 2018 flag. No reason to think we can’t get over Carlton on Thursday night.

But I think I’ve got First Round Fever – is that a known diagnosed condition? I have been starving for a feed of Richmond. I have had simultaneously too much and not enough footy.

The AFL’s attempt to fill the depth and width of the sporting landscape like expanding foam has just been exhausting over the summer. Surprisingly little of that foam was expended promoting AFLW, but there were endless thought bubbles, puff pieces, and even an entire puff competition in AFLX. Surely something is wrong when you have symptoms of a football OD in January.

On the Richmond front I have been reading and re-reading Konrad Marshall’s Yellow and Black, watching and re-watching the finals, listening to the radio calls over and over while mowing the lawn and walking to work. And last week we all saw Peter Dickson’s Break The Fall which really sharpened that feeling of having lived through a really amazing moment for Richmond.

But I haven’t been hoovering up every bit of pre-season Tiges news or madly buying premiership memorabilia or sketching out projected tattoos. I have really been trying to have an off-season.

On top of First Round Fever I am a bundle of nerves just because I am coming over for the premiership flag unfurling, bringing my sons, and making these sorts of plans turns me to jelly. Plain anxiety.

Just getting the boys from schools, to the airport, remembering all the pieces of paper I need to get us from home into the MCG, and locating Dugald and Clare, our hosts at the game. Then there’s the social side – so many people I know online and in real life will be at the game. I would love to get around and see everyone at half time. But I don’t want to misplace the boys (one of whom doesn’t even like footy) or miss a quarter stuck in a queue. After the game we need to catch up with our overnight hosts Nuning and Andy and hopefully have time for a chat with them before bedtime. Then up 6, taxi to airport, fly home and drop kids back at schools.

I know for most people this kind of thing is a snap – not me. Now I have booked the Skybus in and a taxi back out again, printed all the tickets and packed a bag I am starting to feel more normal and actually anticipate the game.

I hope everyone has a great night at the G or at home, and we have settled it by three quarter time. Go TIGES.

Benny Award final tally

11/12/2017 By Chris Leave a Comment

Over here Dugald has woven the Grand Final votes into a monster premiership narrative. For the easy reference of future historians they are;

10 votes – Alex Rance
8 votes – Bachar Houli
6 votes – Dusty Martin
4 votes – Jack Graham
2 votes – Nathan Broad

It’s worth mentioning here that last year’s Benny wrapped up in dark and introverted circumstances after capitulation to the Swans. The last votes were given grudgingly and the future appeared bleak. This year we finish off with the biggest bang imaginable. We have every right to expect wonderful things next year. The club is in great shape.

Final Tally - Benny Award

74: Dusty Martin wins his 3rd Benny in a row, easily.
52: Trent Cotchin
45: Alex Rance
31: Shaun Grigg
26: Bachar Houli
21: Dylan Grimes
18: Kane Lambert
17: Jack Riewoldt

16: David Astbury, Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin
15: Daniel Rioli
13: Dion Prestia
11: Toby Nankervis
10: Josh Caddy
7: Jacob Townsend
6: Jason Castagna
5: Daniel Butler, Jack Graham
3: Kamdyn McIntosh
2: Connor Menadue, Nathan Broad

1: Shai Bolton, Tyson Stengle

(2014: Brandon Ellis, 2013: Trent Cotchin).

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another club
(Eligible 2017: Caddy, Grigg, Hampson, Houli, Hunt, Nankervis, Maric, Miles, Prestia and Townsend.)
31: Shaun Grigg wins his first Hartley award
26: Bachar Houli
13: Dion Prestia
11: Toby Nankervis
10: Josh Caddy
7: Jacob Townsend

(2016: Anthony Miles, 2015: Miles/Houli, 2014: Miles, 2013: Ivan Maric)

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1
(Eligible 2017: Shai Bolton, Dan Butler, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Graham, Ivan Soldo, Tyson Stengle)

5: Dan Butler, Jack Graham shared the Banik award
1: Bolton, Stengle

(2106: Jason Castagna/Daniel Rioli, 2015 Kane Lambert, 2014 Sam Lloyd, 2013 Nick Vlaustin).

Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot: for left footers
(Eligible 2017: Batchelor, Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
31: Shaun Grigg wins his first Bowden
26: Bachar Houli
11: Toby Nankervis

(2016, 2015 and 2014 all won by Bachar Houli)

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2017: Castagna, Chol, Moore, Stengle and Soldo.
6: Jason Castagna wins his 2nd successive Tivendale.
1: Tyson Stengle

(2015: Kane Lambert, 2014: Anthony Miles)

Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler

139: Trent Cotchin wins the inaugural Rioli Grip of Death.
110: Kane Lambert
97: Toby Nankervis
94: Shaun Grigg
93: Dion Prestia
88: Dustin Martin
85: Daniel Rioli

Tigers Together goes nuts

22/10/2017 By Chris 2 Comments

My Tigers Together design has been the joy of my life since the GF. Far from any kind of post-premiership let-down, I feel like I have been surfing the wave with a jet booster. The design has been selling in all sorts of formats, and now for the last week as a bumper sticker, which was its original intention.

When I had a rough design I showed friends on Twitter who were unanimous that I should make it available immediately for t-shirts and mugs. So I did, and people have bought them in droves. After about a week they began sending me pictures of their new treasures. Every sale gives me joy, every picture is a miracle.

I built an e-commerce page for my reesdesign.com.au website so I could sell the bumper stickers directly. I panicked a bit when the printers called to say they were ready about 4 days earlier than expected, and the site wasn’t built yet. I am not a web designer so it was all a bit fraught but seems to be now working smoothly.

My previous best-seller on Redbubble was Bones McGhie, which had amassed 160 sales after about 4 years. Tigers Together went past that in THREE DAYS. Since Redbubble sales passed 300 I have been looking at it as an amazing Test innings; it is now closing in on the record, with only Lara, Hayden and Jayawardene ahead of it.

On top of that are 70+ bumper stickers which are out there in the world.

At lights, bloke in car next to me winds down window, 'where do I get that sticker?' Expecting to get mobbed when Tshirt goes on. @johnno1629

So that’s covered the cost of my first actual merch investment (Redbubble is all print-on-demand with no up-front cost). Another difference is with Redbubble I very rarely see the customers names or locations, so I can’t follow up with new designs they might like, or even just visualise where my stuff goes. With the bumper stickers I get a name and address to post them to and it feels really different.

Redbubble has a thing called Bubblemail whereby buyers can communicate with sellers. Its rarely used; maybe one buyer in 30 or 40 leaves me a note. But I have had so many sales in the last weeks that the notes are piling up and I want to share a few. This is a bit of an ego trip but I want to keep them somewhere in case Redbubble wipes them.

Love Tigers Together. Great stuff! Anon, Hadspen TAS

This is really a great design Chris! captured why the Tigers did so well this year Thanks! John (location unknown)

Thanks for this design. It is beautiful, simple, and powerful imagery. Go tiges. Anon, Fairy Meadow NSW

Thanks for finding the real essence of the Tiges on GF day. Anon, Jannali NSW

The design is incredible. Anon, Ocean Grove VIC

Gday mate, even as a demon I love the design and it’s perfect for my father in law for Christmas! I even gave him my gf ticket so I’m in the good books right now! Keep up the great work Anon, St Kilda East VIC

As much as I love the use of the tiger on Richmond memorabilia, the players linking arms is powerfully symbolic in commemorating this long awaited victory. I was a little emotional when I saw this, and personally this captures the many feelings that my partner, friends and that I’ve experienced and continue to experience since that glorious day- strong & bold too! Thank you so very much… Anon, Colac VIC

How’s that last one – made the hair on my neck stand up. I can’t think of anything I have done in my long career as a graphic designer that has got a response like this. Its immensely satisfying. As I said in the last post I understand that it piggybacks on the astounding achievement of the 23 men in the picture; it taps into the strong emotions people feel at the moment.

Connected – celebrating the 2017 premiership

09/10/2017 By Chris 5 Comments

I looked through 46 pages of Getty news photographs after the Grand Final to find the right pics to celebrate each of the premiership players for this post. And I just couldn’t stop looking at the pics of the boys lined up for the anthem. Is it the Crows dopey pose? Is it the yellow? Teams often line up with linked arms, but there is just something about this occasion that seems special. They look relaxed, united, and ready to make history.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

I had been kicking around lame ideas for a premiership design that was a celebration but not a cash-in exactly, and didn’t rip off the club’s intellectual property, or use player’s pictures without their permission. I looked at this photo by Darrian Traynor and just thought; perfect bumper sticker format. Could work with no logos, no faces, not even any sash. But everyone is so recognisable, especially for a Tiges fan. [I am a bush lawyer on these matters and just follow the law of trying to do the right thing].

Should it say “Tigers Together 2017” or “Connected” or “Premiers”? It felt great when the perfect idea arrived; that no text was required at all. Here it is.

I really like thinking about what was going through their heads, who was next to who, the dynamics of it. Redheads together, old mates Prestia and Caddy together etc. Somehow Sheds is the figure I come back to again and again.

Design notes

Simplicity is an important part of good design, so everyone’s got black boots. And if you want tatts you will have to draw them in yourselves.
On the other hand everyone’s socks are exactly as photographed; 1 out of 44 is pulled up. Happy to discuss this at length with any sock psychologists out there.
Bachar and Dylan have their heads bowed in the photo. I have tried to depict this for Bachar but it didn’t feel right for the design for Dylan.
Some of the hairdos are a bit rough; I have tweaked them a bit for the bumper sticker.

You can buy it now on shirts, mugs, phone covers, scarves; on Redbubble via my site here.

There is a bumper sticker coming; I am printing locally and I’ll pump it up on all social media when they are available, maybe 2 weeks but hopefully less, around $8. More expensive but very good quality ones are available now on Redbubble.

UPDATE the stickers are here, they are $6 each including GST and postage within Australia.

The last thing to say about it is I made a donation to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision and one to Alannah & Madeline Foundation on behalf of everyone who has bought something. It’s not a formal arrangement, they certainly do NOT endorse this and neither does the club or AFL. We the supporters have given a lot to this club for years. But now in return the whole club from the volunteers up to Peggy and Brendon, Cotch and Dimma, have given us a premiership. The most wonderful, unexpected gift we could ask for. And that’s why people are buying this thing, so while sales continue I will make sure the club’s charity partners benefit from this windfall.

Your 2017 Richmond Premiership team

04/10/2017 By Chris 3 Comments

It’s fair to say we are still in shock here at the TTBB office to some extent. It is dawning on us that we are really premiers. There will be plenty to read here over the next few weeks, but for now, enjoy this selection from Getty Images. They didn’t manage to snap Sheds (or Kmac) in action at all which speaks volumes about how subtle Sheds’ work in particular was. Blink and you’d miss it but it was very telling in the 2nd quarter. Go Tiges!
Embed from Getty Images BACHAR
Embed from Getty Images GEORGIE
Embed from Getty Images ALEX
Embed from Getty Images DUSTY
Embed from Getty Images DAN
Embed from Getty Images DYLAN
Embed from Getty Images CADDY
Embed from Getty Images YOUNG JACK
Embed from Getty Images DAVE
Embed from Getty Images NANK
Embed from Getty Images GRIGGA
Embed from Getty Images BROAD
Embed from Getty Images TOWNERS
Embed from Getty Images BRANDO
Embed from Getty Images VLOSSY
Embed from Getty Images COTCH
Embed from Getty Images JACK
Embed from Getty Images KANE
Embed from Getty Images DION
Embed from Getty Images BUTLER
Embed from Getty Images KMAC
Embed from Getty Images SHEDS
Embed from Getty ImagesTHANK YOU DIMMA

Tiges line up for the national anthem, Grand Final 2017

04/10/2017 By Chris Leave a Comment

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Preliminary Final v GWS at the MCG

25/09/2017 By Chris 6 Comments

SO, we beat GWS, pretty much as I was sure we would. I even knew Lambert would kick the first goal. We are in the Grand Final. I am more or less numb and so this will be the shortest Benny ever. Reminder that for finals we have double votes. I have not found votes for Rance, Lambert, Edwards or McIntosh even though I thought they were excellent and carried the team forward in moments of doubt and confusion.

Embed from Getty Images

I have not found votes for Rance, Lambert, Edwards or McIntosh even though I thought they were excellent and carried the team forward in moments of doubt and confusion. I am so happy for Shane Edwards, back playing footy in the joyful, visionary way that once had him in our top 5 players. Rance was huge individually and as the marshal of his back six who all played well. Dave Astbury and Nathan Broad were confident spoiling and kicking. Kane Lambert had 23 touches and they were all quality. He might not be underrated for much longer. I enjoyed Kamdyn McIntosh’s game a lot, he covers so much ground and seems to arrive just in time. His disposal is not mint but you know he is following Dimma’s instructions to the letter; get it and move it on. I thought the umps favoured us all day but I will take that. Can’t hope for same next week; more discipline is required or we will give away 50s.

I listened to ABC Grandstand watching it live; but on the replay I suffered through Lingy and Basil etc. In the 3rd Q someone took a mark 60 out; screen shows Dusty pointing wildly to Riewoldt, and Basil says “Dusty says kick it to me!” Spare me.

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Cotchin was so important. He has become the type of captain I never thought he could. My regard for both he and Dusty has grown enormously this year. Dusty is the best player in the AFL, a human highlights package, unstoppable once he gets going. But I don’t reckon he’s a fast starter. Trent flicks a switch at the first bounce and becomes a predator. His attack on Dylan Shiel, GWS’s best player, was arguably the most significant moment in our season. Through Cotchin we laid claim to a Grand Final spot from the first moment of this game and dared GWS to prise it off us. 10 votes.

Rioli kicked four beautiful goals, each at crucial moments. Actually I have blanked on the 1st (set shot?) but his 2nd give-and-go was magnificent, our only goal of the 2nd quarter. How was his tackle on Callan Ward? We have this young bloke and the back six largely to thank for impossibly being in front at half time. Then he was the engine that got us going in the 3rd. 14 touches and six tackles; cut and paste everyone else’s family resemblance raves here I guess. He’s 20. 8 votes.

Grimes was listed in the best players which is a relief as I sometimes think I over-appreciate him. Unlike Rance who can drop a couple of brain fades into an otherwise imperious game, Dylan Grimes makes about 2 mistakes a year. And he was impeccable on Saturday. 6 votes.

[This is where I will mention that there are a host of GWS players I don’t rate, all in their front half. If you kick it to them or just crash into each other and fall over, they are going to kick goals. But Johnson, Greene, Lobb, Lids, Patton are beatable with good defenders just doing their job. I was only worried by Hamilton Hindenburg who bobbed up and got great service especially from Tomlinson – Broad’s goalsquare spoil on him was worth a goal. Man mountains Lobb and Patton seem to doubt themselves and so start half beaten.]

Dusty Martin is an incredible footballer and did things that defy belief, on the huge stage in front of his adoring Tiger Army. So many moments that people will remember forever. I have put a few players in front of him on the night for coming to the party early and being prominent all night. But Dusty is so selfless, almost to the point of recklessness. At the same time his self-belief is enormous; he will run away from goal in a huge u-turn with toddlers (on closer examination actual grown-up AFL footballers) hanging off him, touch the ball down if you don’t mind, and hook a 50 metre goal over his shoulder. 4 votes.

Caddy was very good, and another one who started like a rocket. I sometimes mistake him for Jack as he leaps from 2 or 3 back to crash a pack when he has no hope of marking; but he knows the fleet around his feet will collect it. I look at his stats now and my notes and it doesn’t stack up but at the time my gut feel on the evening was I loved what he brought to the table. 2 votes.

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Leaderboard

68: Martin
52: Cotchin
35: Rance
31: Grigg
21: Grimes
18: Lambert, Houli
17: Riewoldt

16: Astbury, B. Ellis, Vlastuin
15: Rioli
13: Prestia
11: Nankervis
10: Riewoldt, Caddy
7: Townsend
6: Castagna
5: Butler
3: McIntosh
2: Menadue

1: Bolton, Stengle, Graham

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another club
(Eligible 2017: Caddy, Grigg, Hampson, Houli, Hunt, Nankervis, Maric, Miles, Prestia and Townsend.)
31: Grigg
18: Houli
13: Prestia
11: Nankervis
10: Caddy
7: Townsend

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1
(Eligible 2017: Shai Bolton, Dan Butler, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Graham, Ivan Soldo, Tyson Stengle)

5: Butler
1: Bolton, Stengle, Graham

Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot: for left footers
(Eligible 2017: Batchelor, Chol, Corey Ellis, Grigg, Nankervis and Houli).
31: Grigg
18: Houli
11: Nankervis

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2017: Castagna, Chol, Moore, Stengle and Soldo.
6: Castagna
1: Stengle

Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler

135: Cotchin
107: Lambert
94: Nankervis
91: Grigg
90: Prestia
87: Martin
80: Rioli

Embed from Getty Images

Roar magazine, 1998-99

22/09/2017 By Chris 3 Comments

Back in the nineties life was different, footy was different, and Richmond was different. Cheryl Critchley was a rabid Tiges fan and budding journalist. She and her small team put together six issues of this substantial, professional zine which they sold outside games for $2. Cheryl says their costs were about $1 per copy, and they donated the other dollar to the club. They raised $5000 this way.

Cheryl was pregnant with her first child Jess during the 1998 season, and carried her in a pouch while selling copies outside Punt Rd oval in 1999.

The club was great. They gave us access to players and even Jeff Gieschen, whom I managed to get in a dog leash for the headline “We leash the Giesch!”

Have a browse through these covers and selected highlights Cheryl scanned for us.