How good are the Tigers, really? ...... (Age)

[one-eyed]

How good are the Tigers, really?

Jon Pierik
The Age
26 April 2017

So, here we are again – the Tigers on a five-game surge to start the season. The last time they began this well was 1995: back then they made a preliminary final. This year, who knows? Could they take the next step? Might they? Or are they not that good?

HISTORY SAYS NO

When it comes to winning streaks, there have been several during Damien Hardwick's eight-year tenure at Punt Rd.

In 2013, the Tigers won their opening three matches, but dropped their next three. Their return to the finals was brief, collapsing against Carlton in an elimination final, having led by five goals at half-time.

A year later, a miserable campaign was turned on its head when the Tigers stormed home with nine-straight wins, only to again have their season terminated in an elimination final, this time against Port Adelaide.

In 2015, there were three spurts of four wins but another harrowing exit in the first week of the finals would ensue. As for last year, the less said the better.

In 1995, the Tigers won their first seven games on the trot, went on to win 11 of their first 12 and reached a preliminary final under coach John Northey. Having come from behind to beat Essendon in the semi (Bombers fans still get upset about Scott Turner's hit on Gary O'Donnell), the Tigers were thrashed by Geelong in the prelim the following week.


THE COACH SAYS YES

Damien Hardwick declared after beating Melbourne on Anzac Eve that there is "no ceiling" on what the Tigers are capable of. And the statistics back his case.

Led by youngsters Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna and Dan Butler, they lead the league for pressure inside the attacking 50, ensuring there are more opportunities to goal. The Tigers are among the leaders in forward half turnovers and forward half turnovers created.

Rioli, Butler and Castagna are also contributing important goals, with the Tigers boasting the fifth-highest points average.

"We get the ball forward and we are letting our forwards do their work. Our forwards have been great this year, our small forwards have been putting on a lot of pressure, so it's great," rebounding defender Jayden Short said.

The Tigers' ability to be clinical when heading inside 50 against the Demons was also a major factor. They had been thumped 52-35 in inside 50s by three-quarter time yet, as Short pointed out, they remained in the contest.

FIGHTING FURY: HOW THE TIGERS ARE ROARING

                                           2016    Rank    2017    Rank
Points for                                      77.9    15th    102.8    5th
Points against                               98    15th    75.2    1st
Scores From Turnover Diff.    -13.3    14th    +19.6    3rd
Scores From Clearances Diff.     -4.3    13th    +8.2    6th
Contested Poss. Diff               -0.4    10th    +7.0    5th
% Scores Times I50 Diff.             -0.4      9th    +9.4    2nd
Tackles                                      -11    18th    +5.8    3rd


THEY HAVE THE CATTLE

In Jack Riewoldt, Richmond have a dead-eye marksman and, according to former Tiger Nathan Brown, the best key forward when it comes to recovering from a dropped mark and pouncing on a loose ball. That was one of Ty Vickery's weaknesses.

Recruits Dion Prestia, managing a knee issue, and Josh Caddy have added depth through the midfield. The latter, with 21 touches against the Demons, including eight contested and the game-clinching goal, had arguably had his best game for his third club.

In Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes and David Astbury, the Tigers have three defensive talls who have made their side the league's most stingy, conceding 75.2 points per game. In Bachar Houli, Reece Conca and Brandon Ellis, they have run and carry from defence, although Conca and Ellis still have their moments.

The Tigers may also have unearthed the recruit of the year in ruckman Toby Nankervis, who made the most of Jake Spencer's shoulder injury and finished with 56 hitouts. He leads the league in hitouts to advantage, and is ranked highly in disposals and goals for a ruckman.

They boast genuine match-winners in Dustin Martin, now being used as an attacking weapon, skipper Trent Cotchin, Riewoldt and Rance. Cotchin's leadership smarts were on show on Monday when he sparked a melee in front of the benches in the third term, a move which Short acknowledged "did fire us up a little bit".

For all of that, it's the intangibles that come from a belief in a more attacking, direct game plan, devised in part by new assistant coach Blake Caracella, that has done the trick.

AND THE SECRET INGREDIENT

Spearhead Riewoldt has seen – and endured – plenty in his time at Punt Road but he is adamant there is something different about this revitalised group. It's a resolve, a determination to be unfazed when trouble lurks, as was the case against the Demons before a record crowd of 85,657 between the clubs.

The Tigers fell behind by four goals in the third term on a rainy night and could easily have folded, something many expected. Instead, they fought, and booted five goals to nil in the final term, admittedly against a banged-up opponent. Riewoldt, with six goals from 12 disposals through the game, led the way.

"To be honest, we've been in that position where we haven't taken that step," he said on 3AW.

"Sometimes it's a bit of a scary step, stepping into the unknown and having belief in the group. But it's infectious ... it feeds through the group. Guys grow off each other. It's amazing what belief and enthusiasm can do."

The Tigers also overcame the Eagles in a rugged fight at the MCG in round three – and now head to Adelaide for a top-of-the-table rumble with another unbeaten side, Adelaide Crows.

Geelong triple-premiership great Jimmy Bartel was surprised at what he saw in their latest win.

"I don't think I have seen that from the Tigers in the last 18 months to two years, a bit of that resilience to come from behind at three-quarter time and grind it out when you are not playing well," he said.

"That's the sign of a good side, hanging in there close enough when you are not having things go your own way. They probably won in a style we weren't accustomed to from Richmond."

BUT THEY HAVEN'T PLAYED ANYONE YET

There is a caveat to all of this – of the teams the Tigers have beaten, only the Eagles are considered a premiership aspirant and they continue to struggle on the road. Carlton and Brisbane shape as bottom-four clubs, and the Magpies and Demons are middle tier.

The next month will be pivotal, certainly in terms of maintaining their psyche, for they face the Crows, then premiers Western Bulldogs (Etihad Stadium), a resurgent Fremantle (MCG), Greater Western Sydney (Spotless Stadium) and Essendon (MCG).

Their immediate focus remains the Crows, who boast the league's most potent forward line and will be a barometer of where the Tigers really sit.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/richmond-tigers/how-good-are-richmond-really-20170425-gvrtay.html