Fyfe in a battle with Cotchin and the TigersAuthor: Glenn Valencich
Sportsfan/afl website
June 03, 2015 - 11:30 AM The battle between Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield was an enthralling contest within a contest, and there is every chance we could see another of those when Fremantle and Richmond clash at Subiaco on Friday night.
The Tigers are well aware of the task at hand. Quizzed yesterday on how they might stop Fyfe, Jack Riewoldt admitted the No.7 isn't alone as an opponent to watch closely: "We need to play a really good team defence game and then obviously really try and hurt them on offence as well."
The forward obviously didn't delve deeper but any side today with a settled and smart defensive system is going to succeed. The Dockers epitomise that, having conceded just 78 goals through their undefeated start to the season. Richmond aren't too far behind, conceding the fifth-fewest goals, 99 alongside Collingwood and Essendon.
But the Tigers are also playing well around the ground. They give up the fewest uncontested disposals and effective touches than any other team and, unsurprisingly, they force the most clangers. Though they're about average for inside 50s, they're the second-best team in the league for entries to opposition rebound 50s. Teams just aren't able to build out from the back as well against Richmond as they do against others.
It's those results that will give Riewoldt and the Tigers the confidence to take the game to an unbeaten Fremantle side on their own turf. And they'll need every drop.
Fyfe put up career-high numbers against Adelaide last Saturday night, with 46 disposals, 26 contested possessions, 14 clearances and 10 inside 50s all new milestones for the 23-year-old midfielder. Shown in the heat map below, Fyfe followed the footy all over and made sure he was in the play against the Crows.
Generally, Fyfe will roam the field in a game of tight margins much more than a comfortable win. That means more of the footy he wins will be contested, and less of it will be effective. It also limits his ability to impact the scoreboard, as he did against the Bulldogs two weeks ago. Demonstrated in the heat map below, he had 15 score involvements (including his own three goals, one behind) and 27 of his 30 disposals (with a split of 20 contested to 10 uncontested) were effective.
The Tigers can't let that happen or they will be burned to the ground not only by Fyfe but the impactful David Mundy and Lachie Neale. Adelaide gave themselves the best chance of beating the Dockers when they played the match between the arcs, and it's something that Richmond can look to emulate.
They've got inside midfielders in Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards and Anthony Miles who can do just as much damage as Fyfe, Mundy and Neale if the game suits them. Like any team, there are others willing to chip in. Over the last three matches, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio have won a total of 35 and 34 contested possessions respectively.
Richmond wins don't necessarily start and end with Cotchin given the options they have, but he has won the most contested possessions in 11 of their last 18 games dating back to Round 16 last season and the Tigers have won nine of those 11 matches. He's been working typically hard this year, doing much of his business in the middle.
When it's noted that Cotchin isn't everything to a Richmond win, it's to say that he needs the help that Fyfe doesn't necessarily need. Cotchin will win the ball, but it's when his teammates play smart that he can free them with handballs and the like.
There are so many reasons to pack the contests, and as Riewoldt suggested, the Tigers would do well to set up around Fyfe, not so much next to him, and work the ground as much as possible.
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