Richmond Blueprint 2014: Time to let Tigers loose, writes David KingDavid King
Herald-Sun
November 16, 2014THIS Brendon Gale-led Richmond Football Club is vastly different from past versions.
In his fifth year, coach Damien Hardwick at one point sat with just three wins and 10 losses, 16th on the ladder after a winless month.
We know what usually happens then. Surely the coach goes. Supported? What?
For the first time in decades the Tigers’ off-field leadership exuded unity and belief that they have the right man at the helm.
The Tigers won their last nine games and the jury remains out on whether that was a false dawn.
PROSRICHMOND played direct football, long kicking with a preparedness to engage in stoppages. The Tigers ranked No. 1 for clearances, averaging six more than their opponents.
The Tigers forward 50 stoppages and forward pressure is among the competition’s top 25 per cent.
Richmond created more forward 50 stoppages, which protected its defence and improved its ranking to AFL No. 4 for the last 8 weeks.
Richmond can win possession and can maintain possession, ranked No. 3 for contested and uncontested football. They can find the right balance between looking to score at speed and negating the cost of possible turnovers. The last 9 weeks of the season they were the 4th turnover, they are good enough.
All the positives were in the last two months of the home and away season:
ANTHONY Miles had the fourth-most clearances in the competition and was the main reason for the turnaround. Miles is clearly their toughest midfielder.
BRETT Deledio had the AFL’s most inside 50 entries and his centre-forward role suited him and the team. Twenty goals for the season — 12 in the last six weeks — showed that this is his best position.
ALEX Rance had the AFL’s most intercept possessions and Troy Chaplin was in the top 10.
The Tigers’ obsession to protect their defensive end via slow ball movement worked statistically for points against in the first two months of 2014, but their counter-attack speed changed in accordance with the way Hawthorn and Port Adelaide move the ball.
Richmond plays fast football on counter-attack as well as any team. Their scoring returns on fast ball movement counter-attacks rank AFL top four. It’s time to set the Tigers loose.
Brett Deledio is the oldest of their core at only 28, so the Tigers have time on their side.
Historically the short term fix has been their mode, not in this stable and united environment.
CONSRICHMOND needs to simply defeat those below them on the ladder. They lost four games in the first nine rounds to teams that finished outside the eight.
The gap between the Tigers’ best and worst is a canyon. Their leaders — skipper Trent Cotchin, Ivan Maric, Chaplin and Jack Riewoldt — wore the bulk of the criticism and accepted responsibility.
Did Reece Conca and Nick Vlastuin improve in 2014? Their best-and-fairest is the best guide but an 18th and 16th placings suggest they haven’t.
By comparison, Miles, in only 13 games, finished 12th and in reality exposed what they weren’t delivering. Is Ben Griffiths a better option than Ty Vickery?
The AFL has offered the Tigers an opportunity that cannot be squandered — the promise to return the game to the fans might more specifically mean Richmond supporters. Carlton, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Melbourne in the first month must result in a 4-0 start. No ifs or buts.
We will know very early in 2015 if Richmond is on the rise or again teasing its loyal but tortured fans.
Brendon Gale was the best leader at Richmond this year. Cotchin and his senior players must aim for that mantle now.
http://www.news.com.au/national/richmond-blueprint-2014-time-to-let-tigers-loose-writes-david-king/story-e6frfkp9-1227124074803
