Eight reasons to be excited about Richmond in 2020 (Herald-Sun)

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Eight reasons to be excited about Richmond in 2020:

Pickett, fit Riewoldt to help Tigers create a dynasty

Chris Cavanagh
Herald Sun
January 3, 2020

After years of despair, Richmond have certainly repaid the faith over the past three years with two premierships and a preliminary final appearance.

With a stack of talent on their list is there any reason why they can’t make it a dynasty?

Here are eight reasons why Tiger fans should be excited.

1. BACK-TO-BACK?

Winning consecutive premierships ain’t easy. In the past two decades, only Hawthorn (2013-15) and Brisbane (2001-03) have been able to do so. However, Richmond has a very real chance to do something special and achieve that in 2020. The Tigers are hot favourites to win next year’s premiership in what would be their third in four years after triumphs in 2017 and 2019. The Lions’ three-peat coach, Leigh Matthews, believes you can declare a “dynasty” if you win three premierships in a “relatively confined period of time”. And Matthews says you would be a “brave man” to bet the Tigers won’t add a third cup to their collection over the next couple of years.

2. UNSTOPPABLE

When they are on, the Tigers have a proven track record of being an unstoppable force. They finished last season having won their final 12 games. In their three finals, they swept aside Brisbane by 47 points in the qualifying final at the Gabba, took down Geelong by 19 points in the preliminary final and recorded the third-biggest Grand Final win in history as they demolished Greater Western Sydney by 89 points. In all, just two of those final 12 wins were decided by less than 27 points. Momentum might not exactly carry from season-to-season, but the confidence of the Richmond players would be sky-high knowing what they were able to achieve in the second half of last season.

3. MARLION PICKETT

Who could forget this guy’s performance on debut in the 2019 Grand Final? The mid-season draftee was as composed and almost as influential as anyone on the ground. Pickett logged 22 disposals and had the most inside-50s of any player on the ground with eight, the second-most score involvements with nine and the third-most metres gained with 559m. The midfielder, who is now a Richmond life member, inked a new one-year deal for 2020 in the days after the Grand Final. Tigers fans will be hoping to see plenty more acts of brilliance from Pickett next season – and maybe even another signature blind turn or two.

4. SYDNEY STACK

He was overlooked by every club at the 2018 national and rookie drafts before Richmond rolled the dice on him after a strong summer of training. And the gamble certainly paid off. Stack made his debut in Round 3 last season and went on to feature in 17 games for the season, averaging 17.2 disposals and 80 SuperCoach points. The 19-year-old showed his wares as a defender, a forward and even through the midfield before unfortunately missing the tail end of the season and the finals series with ankle and calf complaints. A Rising Star nominee last season, Stack was named Richmond’s Best First Year Player and undoubtedly has a bright future ahead.

5. JACK BACK

Forward Jack Higgins was one of the stories of 2018, making an immediate impact in his debut season. Higgins averaged 16.2 disposals, 5.6 score involvements and kicked 24 goals from 20 games. However, last season didn’t quite go to plan. Higgins played the first 13 games with some up-and-down form, but was unsighted at AFL level after the Tigers’ Round 14 bye. He spent three weeks in the VFL before suffering bleeding to the brain which required two rounds of brain surgery in July and September. Richmond is confident Higgins is on track to return in Round 1, though, with the 20-year-old expected to return to main training after the Christmas break.

6. MORE RIEWOLDT

He came good when it counted and kicked five goals in the Grand Final, but 2019 was far from Jack Riewoldt’s finest year. He missed three weeks with a wrist injury and then nine weeks with a knee mid-season before taking some time to get going upon his return. In the end, the key forward played just 13 of a possible 25 games and kicked only 24 goals. It was Riewoldt’s fewest goals in a season since 2008 and came after he had booted a career-high 70 majors in 2018. Riewoldt’s importance to the Tigers’ structure is unquestionable. With him, Richmond went 12-1 last season. If Riewoldt can stay on the park next season alongside Tom Lynch and return to his best, the Tigers’ forward line will be a serious force.

7. NO. 1 LIST

It’s hardly surprising, but Richmond has what Champion Data rates the No. 1 playing list entering 2020. The reigning premiers have strength across all lines. They are rated as having the best defence, the second-best forward line, the eighth-best midfield and the ninth-best ruck division. And the good news is they are still young. The Tigers’ average list age at the start of next season will be 23.92 – ranked the eight-youngest in the competition. The side has five players rated ‘elite’ by the AFL’s official number crunchers – Dustin Martin, Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards, Nick Vlastuin and Sydney Stack.

8. FRESH FACES

The Tigers did nothing during the trade period, but picked up five fresh faces in November’s national draft. The club secured hard-running midfielder Thomson Dow with its first pick at No. 21, a player with speed and agility who is the brother of Carlton’s Paddy Dow. The Tigers see plenty of upside in midfielder Noah Cumberland (pick 43), while fellow midfielder William Martyn (pick 44), wingman Hugo Ralphsmith (pick 46) and ruckman Bigoa Nyuon (pick 54) were secured later in the order. While they might have trouble breaking into a strong senior side in 2020, coach Damien Hardwick has not been afraid to give opportunities to first-year players who deserve them in the past.

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CHAMPION DATA SAYS

It’s no surprise that Richmond have the No. 1 rated list in the competition, with the No. 1 rated defence as well as the second-best forward group. The Tigers stormed home to end 2019 but they can set their season up in the early stage of 2020, with 11 of their first 13 matches at either Marvel Stadium or the MCG.

HOW YOUR CLUB IS TRACKING

2015: 5th, 15W, 7L, EF

2016: 13th, 8W, 14L

2017: 3rd, 15W, 7L, PREMIER

2018: 1st, 18W, 4L, PF

2019: 3rd, 16W, 6L, PREMIER

TAB ODDS

Premiership: $5

Top 8: $1.15

Top 4: $1.60

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/eight-reasons-to-be-excited-about-richmond-in-2020/news-story/18bed3347d4590ca19592ccf3da88600