Dimma's Gambit: King's Tigers theory:
https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/afl/afl-360/dimmas-gambit-kings-tigers-theory!799186,6---------------------------------------------------------------
‘Dimma’s Gambit’ - Inside Richmond’s ingenious tactic that could make them ‘bulletproof’The Tigers are on song on the field and in the coaches box.
David Zita
Fox Sports
April 1st, 2021Like mythological sirens in the ocean luring sailors to their doom, Richmond has employed an ingenious method that’s seducing teams into thinking they’re safe - only to flip the tables and make their opponents pay the price.
Fox Footy analyst David King labels it ‘Dimma’s Gambit’ - a ploy the Sydney Swans will have to plan for if they’re to knock off the reigning premiers on the hallowed MCG turf.
With telling vision in hand, King explored Richmond’s tactic in an enlightening segment on AFL 360.
“I think teams are seduced into playing a different way against Richmond. And when they see an obvious free target, they kick to that player because it’s so hard living in that pressure cauldron that Richmond create,” he said.
“You go fast you get tackled, you get smothered, you get harassed, and you’ve got to live with a bit of this (pressure), that’s tough to do. And if you go slow, they get so set behind the ball that you can’t get past Dylan Grimes and company.”
Amidst the chaos, King said, the Tigers then offer the illusion of an escape to their panicked opponents.
“What they do Richmond is basically give you an isolated, out numbered player, so they’ll put a player in an uncontested marking situation that’s wide of where the play is,” he explained.
“So logically, players go ‘he’s free, I’ll kick it to him.’ Bang, you go 10 metres wider just outside the corridor, and then you go next one a little bit wider. Behind this, they’re buying time. So whilst you pick up 20 to 25 metres there, and another 20 with the next kick, you’re still in no man’s land. And behind this, it is becoming bulletproof.
“So that next kick - where are you going to go with this? You’ve had three marks there. They concede the most marks in the competition Richmond, but they give up the least amount of inside 50s. So you end up creating your own junk. These possessions are meaningless.”
From there, the Tigers turn the tables quickly and pounce with their trademark vigour.
“All you do is give the ball back to Richmond, corridor open, and away they go. So that that’s the beauty of this plan. And I call it ‘Dimma’s Gambit’ because they don’t worry about numbers. They don’t worry about possessions. They don’t worry about who kicks the goals,” he said.
“Everything’s about the team being able to stand up. And that is proving very hard to stop. And I think teams have got to say we can’t take the obvious easy target. Have a look inboard, go through the corridor if you can.”
Former St Kilda star Leigh Montagana said the Tigers tactic made the match up with Sydney all the more tantalising, given the Swans’ astounding willingness to go on the offensive after so many years prioritising defence.
“That’s why Sydney will be interesting to see - do Sydney take them on at their own game? The Swans the way they’ve played, do they sit there and go we’re just going to take this fast free flowing game and we might get beaten by a better side but we’re going to play,” he said.
“Geez if Sydney can take them on it could be a fun game to watch.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-richmond-tactics-damien-hardwick-analysis-afl-360-david-king-richmond-vs-sydney-video/news-story/3d424abe1f557b6a87f9ec10c6fb364b
