Richmond has "lost their DNA" says Terry WallaceBy Nic Negrepontis
SEN
2 April 2019Australian football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace is concerned Richmond has gone away from what made them such a dominant team in recent years.
The Tigers suffered a big loss to Collingwood in Round 2, with the Pies outplaying them all night and pulling away late to win by 44 points.
“Their biggest issue is they’ve lost their DNA. What is their DNA? It was pressure and tackling,” Wallace told SEN Afternoons.
“I just went through some of the players in the side and some of the numbers, and I understand we’ve only got two weeks and Round 2 was a really weird game, but when you have a look at it, Dustin Martin has not laid a tackle in two weeks.
“Think about where he’s playing. He’s never been a tackle machine, but he’s playing exactly around the ball and he hasn’t laid one tackle as your key player.
“Nick Vlastuin, who I love as a player, no tackles Round 1 and one tackle Round 2.
“Daniel Rioli, his role is forward pressure, two tackles Round 1, one tackle last week.
“They bring Mav Weller to the club, two tackles Round 1, none in Round 2.
“Four players have had six tackles between them in two weeks, then they change up the side and bring in three blokes who add a bit more speed, you think they’ll be hungry.
“Brandon Ellis one tackle, Jason Castagna one tackle, Oleg Markov one tackle. I mean, they’ve lost their DNA.”
The Tigers are currently ranked 16th in the competition for tackles per game and were out-tackled by Collingwood in Round 2, despite having 130 fewer disposals.
Richmond face GWS in Round 3 at GIANTS Stadium and will be without reigning Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt who is dealing with wrist and knee injuries and Dylan Grimes who is suspended.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/04/02/richmond-has-lost-their-dna-says-wallace/