BUCKLEY OUTLINES RICHMOND'S MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERThree-time premiership defender Dylan Grimes is Richmond’s most important player, according to Nathan Buckley.
The newly appointed Tigers co-captain is crucial to his side’s defensive setup and is coming off a solid 2021 season, winning his first Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond’s best and fairest.
Grimes, an All-Australian in 2019, is in doubt for Richmond’s Round 1 clash against Carlton on Thursday night after recently undergoing thumb surgery.
“The most important player to a team is not necessarily their best player,” Buckley told SEN Breakfast.
“Richmond have got stars all over the field and I think they’re set to have a really good season, but I see Grimes as their most important player.
“I think structurally he cleans up a lot of stuff behind the ball, he wins one-on-ones when he gets caught in that position, he closes down a lot of the opposition attacks and sets them up coming back the other way.
“The way that he carries himself, he really drives that group with his aggression. His impact on Richmond for instance is probably as profound as any.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/03/14/buckley-outlines-richmond-and-collingwoods-most-important-players/