Why the Tigers have dropped out of premiership contention
Is the dynasty coming to an end?Jake Benoiton
zerohanger.com
June 28, 2021The Tigers’ dominance over the AFL has been something to behold over the last 4 years and has secured them three premierships.
But in 2021 they look to have not only come back to the chasing pack but perhaps fallen behind. Richmond’s 2021 season is in danger of slipping away.
The Tigers came into the season flag favourites and it seemed just about nothing would be able to stop them. But they have seemingly come to a screeching halt.
A key to Richmond’s sustained success over recent years has been their relatively healthy injury list. Other than Alex Rance going down in 2019 with an ACL injury, the Tigers have maintained a pretty healthy list.
This year they haven’t been so lucky. Since the pre-season the Tigers have dealt with injury concerns to important players that has seen them blood plenty of youth.
Tom Lynch came into the season under an injury cloud and is missing time now with a knee complaint. His absence has exposed Callum Coleman-Jones and Samson Ryan to AFL football perhaps earlier than the Tigers had anticipated.
Lynch joins David Astbury, Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis on the defending champions injury list at the moment. Prestia is another one who has battled injuries throughout the season.
They will be joined by defender Noah Balta who suffered a syndesmosis injury on Friday night against the Saints.
Prestia has been one of the keys in the rise of the Punt Road juggernaut over the past 4 seasons and his absence has been noticeable.
Skipper Trent Cotchin and intercept defender Nick Vlastuin have also missed football this season and both are crucial to the Tigers’ success.
Cotchin has become one of the game’s most inspirational leaders and is often the man to help start turning things around when they go pear shaped. Meanwhile Vlastuin is often charged with being the leader of the Richmond defence.
He is often the man keeping their impeccable defensive structure in place and running like a well-oiled machine. Every team has injuries but it is a reason why the Tigers have seen a drop-off not many were prepared for.
Richmond has also struggled to beat the sides around them on the ladder this year. They have fallen to Melbourne (1st), Brisbane (3rd), Port Adelaide (4th). Geelong (5th), Sydney (6th) and West Coast (7th).
They did defeat the second-placed Bulldogs in an impressive display but it seems the teams chasing down the Tigers have caught up.
In recent years the Tigers have looked head and shoulders above the rest but now they look as gettable as any other team inside the top eight.
Have the Tigers been figured out? Have opponents finally found the formula to stop the Tigers dominance?
Richmond have always based their success around the soldier out, soldier in philosophy. Meaning when a player goes out they have someone come in and fill that role no matter the reputation of the incoming player.
It seems now though, the system has been unlocked and teams are able to get ahold of the Tigers.
Richmond’s frantic pressure has at times this season looked like unplanned chaos. That’s not to say it is but pressure sits on the finest of lines between beautiful and crazy.
If it’s going well it looks organised and systematic. But when it isn’t working it can look like a wild goose chase.
The Tiger ability to share the love around is a reason they have been so hard to stop. They were second for goal assists last season but have now dropped away to eighth.
Their game isn’t as strong as it has been and they are paying the price as teams around them continue to rise.
It happens with all great teams though. The hunger simply can’t be what it was. When you have tasted the ultimate success so many times it dwindles.
You never stop wanting it but do you want it as much as someone who hasn’t had it yet? Probably not.
And Richmond are now being faced with a number of clubs who are starving for that feeling the Tigers have been dining out on for the best part of the past four years.
It would be naive to say the Tigers can’t win the ultimate from here but it’s hard to see it happening. A ninth placed finish seems a more likely possibility and would seem a fitting end to the Richmond dynasty given their monopolisastion on that position over the decades.
Nothing lasts forever. The Richmond dynasty is no different.
https://www.zerohanger.com/why-the-tigers-have-dropped-out-of-premiership-contention-85962/
