From First Crack (Ben Dixon, David King & Leigh Montagna) on Fox Footy:* Richmond won the clearances by two but scores from stoppages were Adel 10.5-65 to Rich 3.3-21
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* Not winning the contests is one thing and it never was major thing for Richmond but if you can't defend as well then you've got no hope.
* Richmond is now reliant on its offensive game as the defensive side has completely fallen away.
With the Footy: 3rd (in the AFL)
Without the Footy: 16th
Clearance: 16th
Post-clearance contest: 13th
* Richmond is 17th for conceding scores inside their D50. Adelaide were able to score at 50% efficiency going inside their F50. That's very high.
* The blame for leaking so badly at stoppages is on individual players as at the contest you need to be able to defend One-on-One.
* Richmond's system is still holding up as their turnover game is still working and their play 'with the footy' is what is keeping them in games.
* All this is why Dimma was angry and frustrated at his last post-match presser.
* Richmond will still win games as they still have a number of talented players but they are too inconsistent defensively to challenge the top teams. What they use to be elite at in their premiership years they have now lost.