TOP FOUR — Why the Tigers are a contender .... (Herald-Sun)

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TOP FOUR — WHY THE TIGERS ARE A CONTENDER


Herald-Sun
July 25, 2015

Jonathan Brown looks at the Tigers in September.


BALL MOVEMENT: Richmond has improved this considerably since the opening rounds and found an efficient rhythm and balance in its play. Less frantic, much more controlled. Beating Fremantle and Sydney (both away) shows the Tigers are on the right track. TICK

STAR FACTOR: you can’t have enough big guns come September. Deledio, Martin, Cotchin, Rance, Riewoldt and Edwards mean the Tigers are well placed in this area. Deledio is massively underrated. Since the start of last year Deledio has played in 20 wins and 10 losses. Without him the Tigers are 2-6. TICK

DEPTH: A worry. How well Richmond’s lesser lights — the likes of Hunt, McIntosh, Lambert, Lennon, Lloyd, Gordon and McDonough — deliver under finals heat may be the most telling factor on how far the team travels. ???

LINE BREAKERS: With the 2015 season full of stoppage clutter, the ability of Houli and Deledio to surge the ball forward from the back half is a trait only the best sides possess. TICK

KEY POSITION: Rance and Riewoldt — superstars. Say no more. TICK

TALL FORWARD SUPPORT: Finals footy often isn’t pretty — greater pressure means more long and hurried kicks to the forward 50. Hence Vickery, Griffiths and to a lesser extent Hampson will need to lift. Riewoldt can’t be expected to fight a lone hand. ???

DEFENSIVE SUPPORT: Grimes, Batchelor and Vlastuin have grown nicely. Grimes’ ability to close out a dangerous small forward looms large. TICK

GOALKICKING MIDFIELDERS: Martin (13 goals), Cotchin (12), Deledio (12), Grigg (12) and Edwards (10) give coach Damien Hardwick great flexibility and potency. Hawthorn is the clear pacesetter with its spread of goalkickers, but Richmond sits an impressive equal fifth with an average of eight per game. TICK

SMALL FORWARD: The early-season experiment with Steven Morris didn’t work. Now Ben Lennon gets his chance. It’s a spot that needs to be nailed. ???

LEADERSHIP: Leaving aside Hardwick and Cotchin, the Tigers have a strong spread of leadership/experienced types across the field. TICK

http://www.news.com.au/national/trent-cotchin-stands-alongside-luke-hodge-as-the-two-best-captains-in-the-afl-this-season/story-e6frfkp9-1227455952296