150 & Dazzling Debut

I've decided to focus on 2, not 1 player this week and they're a contrast. One played his 150th game against Essendon and the other his first.

Greg Tivendale started his career at Richmond as a rookie in 1998 and forced his way into the side late that season, despite showing a lot of promise in those few games and being natural winger with a devasting left foot, admittedly the right one is only there for balance, because I can't ever remember seeing him use it, coach Jeff Gieschen did not give Tivva a lot of games in 1999 and it was only after injuries to other regular seniors in 2000 that Greg was given a run by Danny Frawley and cemented his spot.

Over the years 2 things became hallmarks of the Tivendale game, one was that lovely long left foot, the other was his uncanny knack of shooting for goal anywhere from between 50 - 60 metres out on his left and rarely ever missing.

After hitting a high in 2001 Greg's confidence seemed to go missing, he couldn't kick the goals and his kicking out from fulback nearly always seemed land in the arms of an opponent. It should have broken him, it didn't, he fought back and whilst 2003 wasn't a great year teamwise it was a good one for Tivva, becoming not only a reliable goal kicker, but also the go to guy to kick out from fullback.

Along with the rest of the side 2004 was a year to forget for Greg and he was put on notice with the arrival of Terry Wallace, it did not help, week after week he turned the ball over with frustrating regularity and the only reason he did not suffer the humiliation of being dropped from the side was an injury late in the season.

Many thought that was the end of Tivendale. A hard pre season saw him bulk up and after a couple of rounds he had regained his confidence and was once again an influential member of the side. He's finding the goals again, he does still turn it over on occasion, but he does more good than bad and he was a valuable member of the side that defeated Essendon in his 150th game.

On the flipside is Dean Polo. Dean was taken at pick no 20 in the 2004 draft. That's a high pick and a number of supporters felt that he should be achieving more than playing for Coburg reserves early in 2005. Hard work saw Polo cement a place in the Coburg seniors that same season and he was even selected as an emergency towards the end of the year.

An injury to skipper Kane Johnson saw a door open and Dean Polo was selected to make his debut in the Dreamtime game against Essendon in Round 6. Despite being a debutant he has an adult body and should have been able to impose himself early.

There was no disappointment, he found the ball early and kept finding it. There was a brief period where his opponent got on top and kicked a couple of quick goals, but Dean did not allow it to last. He kept attacking the ball and used it intelligently. Late in the game Essendon were a goal up and Dean had 2 goals to his name, he swooped on the ball and ran hard into the forward line and then let go with a kick that sailed through the middle! Dean's 3rd goal levelled the score and behinds from fellow debutant Jarrad Oakley-Nichols and Andy Krakouer saw the Tigers home by 2 points. A stunning debut and with 28 possessions and 3 goals Dean Polo was voted best on ground.

Chris