Summary
* Best 22 (if everyone is available):
B: Morris Rance Grimes
HB: Houli Chaplin Ellis
C: S.Edwards Jackson Conca
HF: Martin Vickery Newman
F: A.Edwards Riewoldt King
R: Maric Cotchin Deledio
Int: Grigg, Vlastuin, Foley, Knights
Emg: Petterd, Miles, Griffiths
Close: Batchelor, Astbury, Lennon, Dea, Hampson (will play obviously replacing Maric), Thomas.
* Miles will be promoted in a few weeks.
* Good depth now.
* Small forward not a strength area (no certain 35-40 goal kicker). Perhaps Banfield best case scenario will play that role.
* Strength of Tigers rotating runners through half-back - Ellis, Houli, Conca, Deledio, Cotchin, Vlastuin, even S.Edwards, Newman, Batchelor and Dea.
* Need a classier finisher who can also apply forward pressure. Knights can play that role. Expect Newman to play forward.
* The loss of experience in Tuck and White should be offset by the natural improvement of Ellis, Conca, Vlastuin and even Lennon coming in.
* Big year for Aaron Edwards who has squeezed out McGuane. Frustrating and needs consistency.
* 2013 was Richmond's best defensive year since 1969 rated 3rd best in the AFL. A good mix of negating backs and small runners. Rance, Chaplin as key backs, Grimes, Morris then runners as mentioned above. Got all bases covered.
* Outside of Jack Riewoldt they accumulate a score. Lots of goals from mids, wings and different avenues.
* Hampson has looked okay. Port showed last year you only need to make a contest. Richmond's ruck numbers weren't that great anyway.
* Frustrating stats from the Elim final alone - worst contested ball numbers in two years and extraordinarily far below their par for the season; they conceded 30 goals from stoppages for the year yet 11 of those were in that final and 10 were in the second half. So you can say the final was one out of the box - they choked, they fell apart. It was grotesquely out of character. Richmond were No.1 for contested ball out of defence for 2013 (+74) yet in the final they were -18 (worst club record in 5 years and worst in a single AFL game of any club for the season).
* Recent recruiting has been successful and sets them up for long term success. Richmond has been able to add experienced players without giving up early draft picks.
* No.1 side in scoring from clearances.
* Champion Data has a "quality" stat and ranks Richmond as having the 4th best list behind Haw, Freo and Syd. List is 8th oldest and 10th most experienced.
* Weaknesses - lack of depth in small and key forwards. They have a few bogey sides - Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong and North.
* Draw is good overall but start is tricky. Gold Coast is a banana peel and then face a bogey side (Carlton).
* They tip us to finish 5th-6th (bottom half of Eight) and aim to win a final or two.
