Tigers challenge turns from outside to inside The Opposition Analyst
The Age
August 6, 2015 - 8:19PM I have seen bits and pieces of Richmond in my schedule this year and early on they were inconsistent and less than impressive. Indeed, two wins from their first seven games had everyone wondering if they were actually going backwards.
Since then, they have gone 8-2 and should have accounted for Fremantle in that narrow loss in round 17. This form line places the Tigers right at the top of the tree, along with the Dockers (who just get the job done) and the irrepressible Hawks as the form teams of the competition. Hence the growing optimism of the rank-and-file Tiger supporters, and we all know plenty who are starting to crow about their September prospects.
As a team and individuals, the Tigers are starting to display some of the traits of their coach Damien Hardwick. He was a hard-nosed and fierce competitor at both Essendon and Port Adelaide who had a never-say-die approach to his football that endeared him to both his coaches and fans alike. Hardwick also brought a physical edge to his game, a trait starting to emerge in his slowly maturing team.
Last week the Tigers got in the Hawthorn players' faces right from the start, with the likes of Trent Cotchin, Dylan Grimes, Ivan Maric and Jake Batchelor letting their opposite numbers know that it was going to be a physical battle all night long. That they backed up this bravado with some outstanding football in both offence and, more importantly, defence would have made their team review all the more enjoyable.
Richmond were outstanding in taking away the Hawks' capacity to flick the ball around from both stoppage and scrimmage scenarios, which allows them to set up just behind and off the ball.
Eventually, through their superior handball skills, the Hawks will get the ball to their many elite kickers, coming off the half-back line in time and space and able to pinpoint the next pass, invariably to a forward target leading up at the ball, or away into open space and running towards goal. How Richmond prevented the Hawks from executing this was interesting to watch and had plenty of other scouts sitting near me scribbling furiously.
Predominantly from a one-on-one starting point, the Richmond players were very diligent in not getting "sucked into" the contest. They held their depth of positioning around the stoppages and scrimmages, knowing that if Hawthorn did win the contested ball, it was coming out to certain positions, behind and on a 45 degree angle to the contest.
When it did come to those Hawthorn players, a Richmond player was also there. This took away the time and space needed for the Hawks to execute their usually sublime skills.
Conversely, on the offensive side the Tigers played on whenever they could and moved the ball swiftly down the ground to open spaces to disrupt Hawthorn's ability to roll numbers back and defend.
Adelaide will present a different challenge. The Richmond midfield will need to be right on their game and their two form players, captain Cotchin and little dynamo Anthony Miles, will have a big say in the outcome of the game.
Whereas Hawthorn presented an "outside" challenge, the Crows are a challenge on the "inside". Adelaide rank No.1 for contested possession (along with Fremantle and Collingwood) compared to Richmond's 13th. After their poor outing in Sydney last week, Scott Camporeale will no doubt be winding them up to play "more like Phil Walsh would want" - that is "hard and tough" on the inside.
The Crows also have an edge in the clearance numbers from stoppages. They rank third in the league for clearances (average 42) compared to the Tigers' 15th (average 36), and this discrepancy is highlighted at the centre bounces where the No.1-ranked Crows have a plus-6 advantage over Richmond.
This becomes an important factor in getting scoring chances and Adelaide are No.4 for inside 50s compared with Richmond No.12. If the Crows' midfield can get Tex Walker and his fellow forwards the five extra opportunities to score, the Tigers may not leave the Adelaide Oval crowing.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/tigers-challenge-turns-from-outside-to-inside-20150805-gisomq.html#ixzz3i1zCMvPg
