CHAMPION DATA REVEALS THE TWO STARS AT THE CENTRE OF RICHMOND’S RECENT SLOW STARTSSeb Mottram
SEN
26 July 2023Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne says the stats point to Tim Taranto and Dustin Martin being at the heart of Richmond’s slow starts in recent weeks.
Andrew McQualter’s tenure in charge of the Tigers has been a successful one to date, but poor first quarters have constantly forced his side on the back foot.
The Tigers have won six from eight matches under McQualter but have lost the first term on four occasions, including three of the last four, and also conceded the first four goals to St Kilda in Round 14.
Investigating the issue further, Hoyne had some stark numbers to share.
“The interesting component for me with Richmond is that I think their slow starts over the last five or six weeks would be concerning McQualter,” he began on SEN’s Sportsday.
“How long can you get away with these slow starts? In the first 20 minutes of matches over the last six weeks, they’re -77 points on the scoreboard. Only Freo, North and West Coast are starting slower than what Richmond are.
“They work their way back into the game… I just wonder over the next couple of weeks, if you give Melbourne a slow start on Sunday, are you going to be able to peg them back like you’re able to peg back St Kilda, like you’re able to peg back Hawthorn?”
Hoyne continued: “It got me thinking… who are the slow starters for Richmond? When I actually dived into this, this is actually interesting.
“Tim Taranto is actually one of the slowest starters in the competition over the last six weeks in terms of his player ratings in first quarters.
“The interesting one as well in 'Dusty' (Dustin Martin). Over the last six weeks, he’s the eighth highest rated player in the competition, but in first quarters he’s 291st.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/07/25/champion-data-reveals-the-two-stars-at-the-centre-of-richmonds-recent-slow/
