Dukes of depth - Saturday 22 April 2000
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Richmond is resigned to LAIR - Life after injury to Richardson. The most
time-honoured statement since taking each week as it comes is one door
closing and another one opening. Richo's 12 months on the sidelines gives
to a youngster an opportunity to put his best foot forward.
It's happened before at Punt Road. The knee reconstruction for Richardson after colliding with fence signage at the SCG in 1995 was the making of Stuart Edwards. The 196 centimetre 96 kilogram key forward had the classic Tiger pedigree. He wasn't from the jungles of Bengal or Sumatra. Instead he hailed from Hailebury, a school out in the south east that used to be in Richmond's suburban zone. SE from the SE. He trod a familiar path for kids at Richmond. Grounding in the Under 19 and the Reserves to acclimatise him with the demands of League footy. Edwards wore the number 18 made famous by Mervyn Keane and Mal Brown in one colourful season - 1974. For a tall bloke Stuart had co-ordination. He made his senior debut in 1992 but slid back to the Reserves to refine his skills. Edwards showed the patience of a fisherman. He pushed up during 1994. He was proof that high and mighty could share the same forward line. In the last quarter of the Round 20 game against Fitzroy, Edwards took a great pack grab. His set shot was majestic from 45 metres. The goal umpire looked like a question mark as he watched the ball sail over his head. Stedwards never got in the way of Jeff Hogg or Benny Gale. This attitude all went well for the future. For Stuart Edwards 1995 was a like a tyre - a good year. He proved to football civilisation as we know it that he could be in the same front half as Matthew Richardson. The number 18 took three clampers and slotted four goals during the Round 4 victory over the Kangaroos on Easter Monday. One of his majors revealed the big guy had a touch of pace. He ran on to the ball in the forward pocket main scoreboard end at the MCG and snapped from the boundary line on his non-preferred right foot. The Sherrin curled back through the long white poles. In the same match, Richo five telling marks four goals. Round 5 Brisbane at the G. Edwards joined the goal feast. Four decisive marks and five goals helped the Tiges to a bold win 17.14 to 14.12. Round 9 the biggest disaster this side of Kevin Costner's Water World. Richo busted his knee at the SCG. The call to fill the breach resounded in the ears of Stuart Edwards. And answer he did. That day in Sydney SE four marks four goals in a 26 point win for the visitors. Over the remainder of '95 it was all boogie with Stu. He stood up at full forward in Round 10 against the Dogs. Slammed through two goals. Gave three away. A strong mark in the goal square and a look away handpass provided Chris Naish with an easy major. Richmond home 13.18 to 9.10. A draw with the Roos in Round 19 was a better result than the Qualifying Final where they crushed the Tigers by 5 goals not to mention the Second Preliminary that Geelong won by 89 points. 1996 was a momentous year for Stuart Edwards. The return of Richardson in top form somehow put the young left footer on the outer. He went well in Round 1 against Essendon but found senior footy hard to come by. Stu passed the rest of the season at Reserves level. The big fella had 46 senior games for 52 goals between 1992 and 1996. More than 100 in the curtain lifters. At the end of '96, he nominated himself in the draft but wasn't picked up. A door closed. |
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