Player Watch #10: Shane Edwards - Retiring at Seasons end

[shaky]

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2017-09-13/sheds-shines-in-september

Talented Richmond playmaker Shane Edwards achieved finals redemption in typically no-fuss fashion at the MCG last Friday night.

Edwards flew under the radar among those outside the Club assessing the key roles performed by Tigers players in the big qualifying final win against Geelong.

But, make no mistake, the inner sanctum at Tigerland were fully aware of Edwards’ importance to the end result.

The 28-year-old veteran, in his 205th league game, finished with a season-high 24 disposals, including nine contested possessions, a season-high six marks, six intercepts, four inside-50s, three rebound-50s, four tackles, 16 pressure acts, 9 score involvements, a goal, and 455 metres gained (the second most by a Tiger on the night).

That highly-impressive performance contrasted with his three previous AFL finals – 11 disposals and one mark v Carlton in the 2013 elimination final, 11 disposals v Port Adelaide in the 2014 elimination final, and eight disposals v North Melbourne in the 2017 elimination final.

Richmond great Matthew Richardson paid tribute to Edwards on this week’s episode of the Club’s official podcast ‘Talking Tigers’.

“Gee, his hands were good. He set a lot of things up . . . he set players off and running a number of times. He was really good,” Richardson said.

 

[parmy2balmey]

SHEDTEMBER!!

 

[NZ_Tiger]

Fantastic game on Friday which was a relief . I was hoping sheds Cotch Griggs Houli and Brando could all finally lift in a final and they did it in style. I was very pleased for Sheds bc he deserves success as he's often been maligned and first looked at when we've failed . The fact Short Bolton Markov and Stengle are pushing hard for selection has raised the bar for all players.
This has been my major gripe for years at pro that players coast for 150 plus games as weve only batted to about 10 so there was no pressure on our fringe players as they were not competing with much for a spot. A strong vfl side makes a stronger afl side.

I'd also add that a gameplan that harnesses their strengths helps a lot. I was really pleased for Houli and Shed as well.

 

[ryancash]

Well done Shane Edwards, has a bad run with injuries the last couple of years but thankfully the club knows how good he is and persisted with him even though many were bagging him back in June. Its understandable that some were losing patience but patience is a virtue and it is now paying off. Sheds will play a huge roll in the coming weeks, will peak on GF day if we make it. Congratulation Shane. Well done RFC and stay passionate tiger army. We will prevail. Eat em alive Tigers.

 

[rideclutch]

Geez didn't this bloke go up a notch this September??

Can't say I was prediciting it, but a very, very good finals series from Shedda. Well done

 

[cannot]

amazing

 

[Charlie Pannam]

Titch was so clean with everything he did today, it's been an amazing last month for him, no one can question him again after today. Probably won't have to many agree with me but thought he was our best.

 

[tiggywigs]

Top five today for me.
Sheds started to show his stuff this year when our new bigger bodied mids (Prestia, Cady etc) combined with a harder hitting Cotch to open up the inside space.

 

[DrMike]

Titch was so clean with everything he did today, it's been an amazing last month for him, no one can question him again after today. Probably won't have to many agree with me but thought he was our best.

Was my BOG for 4 quarters

 

[acesand8s]

Sheds was an absolute star today. Was clean with every disposal from the first bounce. Top five from me.

 

[Sir_Loin]

Sheds was an absolute star today. Was clean with every disposal from the first bounce. Top five from me.

Darn right he was. Love him

 

[dan_tiger]

His ability to fake passes and do these stop-start shimmies on the run is freakish. Top five for sure!

 

[Danog]

25 touches, 13 contested, and 7 clearances (game high). What a game.

 

[Maroo]

Had a great September. Not just good, GREAT.

His elite hands in tight to release a teammate along with his fakes/sidesteps to break away from congestion were really highlighted this month.

 

[Crumpet_avenger]

I would leave my wife for him. (If jack graham rejected me)

 

[Nostradumbass]

And I repeat - best hands in the game.

 

[NaturalDisaster]

Used to go missing previously in big games, has really stood up this finals series, imo has been very underrated.

 

[jc12]

He is ****ing clean , **** love how so many of our players have proved everyone wrong, suck shit to all the campaigners on the mb

 

[richoatthedisco]

Was my BOG for 4 quarters

Mine too.

 

[U2tigers]

I have to watch the game again, but on the Big screen I thought he was BOG

 

[beer shark]

So very happy for him!!
200 games and now a premiership player!!
Great reward and maybe a few more years still in him at the top level??

 

[rfctigerarmy]

sante we should have started an Edwards train.. look at these campaigners jump on!

JET, EDDY. What a September.

 

[Googstar]

25 touches, 13 contested, and 7 clearances (game high). What a game.

He was bloody good all September. I would have happily traded him awhile ago because of his poor record in big games. May he continue to make me eat humble pie.

 

[ryancash]

Well done Shane Edwards, has a bad run with injuries the last couple of years but thankfully the club knows how good he is and persisted with him even though many were bagging him back in June. Its understandable that some were losing patience but patience is a virtue and it is now paying off. Sheds will play a huge roll in the coming weeks, will peak on GF day if we make it. Congratulation Shane. Well done RFC and stay passionate tiger army. We will prevail. Eat em alive Tigers.

Gee how right was I about Shane Edwards 2 weeks out before the Granny

 

[Football Tragic]

Watched the Grand Final again and Edwards was just so clean. His handballs through congestion to players who had no right to claim the ball, was sublime. He was the difference so often clearing the ball and the thing that often goes unnoticed is how often he finds players in space. Other players may get better clearance numbers but Edwards continually finds players breaking into space. I can't think of another player who does this as consistently as Edwards.

We are damn lucky to have him and he was a big part of why we torched the other top four teams during the finals