AFL 360:
Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall is struggling to find a team that can contend with RichmondAugust 23, 2018 9:38pm
Matt Balmer
FOX SPORTSHAWTHORN great Jason Dunstall says he is struggling to “mount an argument” for any team other than Richmond to win the premiership.
The Tigers have won the minor premiership and with a round to go in the home and away season, are in the box seat to claim back-to-back premierships.
The Tigers have lost just four games this season and their streak at the MCG is approaching 20 games without a loss — and the four-time Hawthorn premiership player suggests it will take something special for someone to defeat them in September.
“I’m trying to mount an argument for anyone from second to eighth to win it,” Dunstall said on AFL 360.
“Only because Richmond look so good. They look so good, their list is fit — the competition for places, it’s going to take someone to really get on a roll in September. The one thing we do know about finals is that teams can do that.”
Dunstall’s premiership teammate Dermott Brereton echoed the champion forward’s thoughts, explaining that Damien Hardwick’s men are well so well drilled.
“I think they’re drilling is exceptional,” Brereton said.
“I think they play one kick away from the ball in the opposite direction. They set up behind the ball better than everyone else. I think they’re drilled brilliantly and I think they’ve got four champions, six really important players and I look at that team and don’t think it’s like Geelong 2007 to 2011.
“It’s not that far off what Geelong played, it’s swings and roundabouts. They’ve tried to work their way through opposition in the late thousands with handball and short possessions, the first to pull 400 possessions.
“Then it swung to press up and pressure and then it (Richmond) worked out the kicking over that zone. So it does swing and then it comes back to pressure and they sit a kick away and then it start comes back to that run with hands. So it’s paper, scissors, rock. Chasing the best team, you just have to be the rock sometimes.”
Dunstall also explained that he thinks opposition analysts will be racking their brains and working out how to beat the Tigers in September.
“There’s half a dozen brain trusts sitting around for if and when they get the opportunity to take on Richmond at the MCG,” he said.
“Make no mistake there’s some very smart football brains that will be looking at just some little things that they do.
“Without throwing your own game style and structure out the door, you can still tweak it to attack parts of the opposition (come finals).”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-360-hawthorn-great-jason-dunstall-is-struggling-to-find-a-team-that-can-contend-with-richmond/news-story/527a799ac81822485681442f56391b1a
