Richmond season 2019 preview (theRoar)

[one-eyed]

How about an encore? Comprehensive AFL season previews (Part 2)

Gordon P Smith
theRoar.com.au
9 December 2018

Richmond Tigers

Statistical goal
When you go 18-4, sometimes the best goal is to keep doin’ whatcha been doin’. But Richmond can certainly improve their offensive efficiency – by raising their shot taking past 46.5 per 100 inside 50s, for example, as they were eighth in this category last season. On a connected note, they could aim to surpass 1.7 points per 150, a statistic in which they were ninth last year.

Official goal
Nothing short of the premiership should do in 2019, barring injuries.

Real goal
To get the nasty taste of 21 September 2018 out of their mouths. I know how that feels; that’s my ex-wife’s birthday.

All Australian goal
A repeat of last year would be fantastic.

Key player in 2019
With Tom Lynch coming on board, ostensibly to ‘lighten the load’ on Jack Riewoldt on the forward line, the key question in the entire league may very well be how well the two men adjust to each other on the field. That duty will fall more on the incumbent veteran than the newcomer coming in from the Queensland coast simply because of experience and the number of other things Lynch will be adjusting to, jumping from a team that won four games to a team that lost only four games. That’s going to be a whole new kind of pressure: He’s going from being asked to salvage a dysfunctional offence to making sure he doesn’t screw up a highly functional offence!

My personal favourite
In the NBA my favourite player is LeBron James because it’s such a joy to watch the best athlete on the floor also happen to be the smartest player and the most unselfish player on the floor. Therefore Dustin Martin is my favourite player on the Tigers roster.

My prediction for 2019: Premiers.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/12/09/how-about-an-encore-comprehensive-afl-season-previews-part-2/