The good and bad of the non-finals teams and where they can get better in 2024How do you turn an also-ran into a premiership contender? MICK MCGUANE pinpoints the reasons for optimism at every club which missed out on this year’s finals.
Mick McGuane
HeraldSun
September 1, 2023 RICHMONDTHE GOODThe Tigers struggled to get their balance right between offence and defence in the first half of the season, but caretaker coach Andrew McQualter was able to open up the scoring after he took over in round 11.
Under McQualter’s reign, the Tigers ranked No. 1 in the competition for scoring once inside 50 and fifth for points from their forward half.
Those numbers were achieved despite some poor conversion in front of goal at times and key focal point Tom Lynch not being sighted after round 4.
Lynch will be a massive inclusion in 2024, but he will need a new partner in attack after the retirement of Jack Riewoldt.
Ben Miller does not look capable of holding down a key position spot, but I have great faith that Samson Ryan can explode with his game next season and become the perfect foil to Lynch.
THE BADThe once heralded Tigers’ team defence failed them far too often this season.
However, they weren’t helped by a midfield group that struggled to gain territory.
Richmond at its best has been a team that has one of the highest time in forward half differentials in the competition.
Gaining territory on the back of strong midfield contest wins and locking it in their F50 is Richmond’s way.
This season they ranked 13th for time in forward half, as well as 15th for inside-50 differential.
There needs to be a big emphasis put on improving the front-half profile over the off-season.
Recruits Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper were supposed to help bolster the midfield, but while Taranto produced a great season Hopper was not up to par.
He needs to get his body right and launch into a big summer in a bid to rediscover the best footy he played at GWS and justify his seven-year deal at Punt Rd.
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