The under appreciated role player is an essential element of any team sport. Kamdyn McIntosh's stat's were never anything to write home about in his time at Richmond but he was a key element of two of those premierships and forever respected by Richmond supporters
All credit to Ben Keays for scratching out his career against the odds. It says a lot about the way clubs select their lists that someone like Keays always has to struggle to keep his spot despite his many attributes. It is the selection of players like Keays to fill out the best 23 that make all of the difference for a successful team in my view.
Selecting Harley Reid, Patrick Cripps and Marcus Bontempelli are all no- brainers but the supporting cast is a different matter and it is the second tier players that create the great teams. I reckon clubs are all too ready to chase the birds in the bush rather than look at what they already have at hand. The pursuit of the new is always more exciting than repurposing the old.
Top piece. Keays is also seen regularly acknowledging the fans. He was the only player to run out to the wing to salute the Crows supporters post-game after the win against Sydney at the SCG last Friday.
He's a ripper, Daniel. Crows fans are lucky to have him. I didn't go quite this far in the piece, but he's possibly the most important player of the entire rebuild.
The under appreciated role player is an essential element of any team sport. Kamdyn McIntosh's stat's were never anything to write home about in his time at Richmond but he was a key element of two of those premierships and forever respected by Richmond supporters
All credit to Ben Keays for scratching out his career against the odds. It says a lot about the way clubs select their lists that someone like Keays always has to struggle to keep his spot despite his many attributes. It is the selection of players like Keays to fill out the best 23 that make all of the difference for a successful team in my view.
Selecting Harley Reid, Patrick Cripps and Marcus Bontempelli are all no- brainers but the supporting cast is a different matter and it is the second tier players that create the great teams. I reckon clubs are all too ready to chase the birds in the bush rather than look at what they already have at hand. The pursuit of the new is always more exciting than repurposing the old.
Top piece. Keays is also seen regularly acknowledging the fans. He was the only player to run out to the wing to salute the Crows supporters post-game after the win against Sydney at the SCG last Friday.
He's a ripper, Daniel. Crows fans are lucky to have him. I didn't go quite this far in the piece, but he's possibly the most important player of the entire rebuild.
You've captured his work ethic very well.
Thanks, Katie! Really grateful he plays for the team I support. Hope he knows how loved he is by Crows fans.