What Tigers can save from injury ‘horror show’Mick McGuane
HeraldSun
June 21, 2024Richmond’s season has been nothing short of an injury horror show. MICK McGUANE assesses what the Tigers can get out of a tough first half of 2024.
Judgement: DNo team has been hit harder by injuries this year than the Tigers.
It was a baptism of fire for first-year coach Adem Yze, whose best-laid plans for pre-season quickly fell apart when the injury crisis struck.
Richmond has already had to use forty players this season, of which only three – Daniel Rioli, Nick Vlastuin and Thomson Dow – played in all fourteen matches.
The Tigers’ starting midfield last year often consisted of Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia and Jacob Hopper.
Reigning best and fairest winner Taranto has played just seven matches, Prestia has played six, including two he hasn’t finished yet, and Hopper has played just three matches.
Josh Gibcus was the first of a long line of injuries for the Tigers in 2024. Photo: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
At the back, veteran leader Dylan Grimes has played just five games and impressive young defender Josh Gibcus suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the second game of the season.
Forward Tom Lynch returned last weekend for just his fourth game of the season.
It’s been a horror show.
Considering the livestock that are missing, it is easy to understand where the Tigers are sitting and where they are sitting at the farewell.
The one positive is that the injury problems have created significant opportunities for a number of younger players, who have seized their opportunities with both hands.
Recovering defender Tom Brown has played 12 games and looks like a player of the future with his elite kicking, great composure and decision-making.
I also like the look of forward Seth Campbell, who reminds me a bit of Jason Castagna.
Campbell has a good football IQ, consistently finding space in the front half, applying pressure and having an impact on the scoreboard.
The Tigers found a forward in Mykelti Lefau before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Round 12.
Mykelti Lefau has been a find for Richmond. Photo: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.
Lefau offers a strong competitive advantage in attack, can produce a strong score inside the 50 and has scored 14 goals from his first 10 AFL games.
Tyler Sonsie, Rhyan Mansell and Kane McAuliffe are other players who have risen to prominence as a result of the injuries and have also shown positive signs.
With so many young players in the squad most weeks, the pressing game that Richmond became known for during its golden era has largely disappeared.
The Tigers have the worst pressure rating in the league.
They’ve shown they can turn the heat at times, but keeping it up is another matter.
We saw sky-high pressure for two and a half quarters against Geelong in Round 13, before it fell away and the Cats cruised to a 30-point win after trailing by 16 points at half-time.
All Richmond can do is build more mileage into the legs of the younger players so they can sustain that pressure for longer.
BEING SLAUGHT IN THE AIRThe biggest problem for Richmond, aside from the injuries, is the inability to control the air.
Contested marks and intercept marks are too often in short supply and it means opponents consistently punish the Tigers’ turnovers and move the ball out of the back half with ease.
Noah Balta is one of the few Tigers who has left his mark on the sky. Photo: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Richmond ranks 17th in stopping opponent ball movement from defensive 50 to inside 50, and 17th in scores against turnovers.
Good teams have intercepted stars like Greater Western Sydney’s Sam Taylor, Brisbane’s Harris Andrews and Western Bulldogs’ Liam Jones.
At their best, Richmond defenders Nick Vlastuin and Noah Balta (granted, he started as a forward) can put up strong interception and contested marks.
However, neither has been as good in those departments this year as they have been previously.
Captain Toby Nankervis is another who needs to provide more in the air after taking just 13 contested points from his 13 games.
I would also like to see key defenseman Ben Miller step back to get more points.
Miller has been impressive one-on-one and is averaging an elite 7.7 wins per game this season.
However, he should try to convert at least some of that loot into intercept marks, even if it comes with a small risk.
Toby Nankervis was good for the Tigers, but could do more on the ground in the air. Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.
RUN HOMEA Round 21 match against North Melbourne could determine this year’s wooden spoon.
Lose that and Richmond could have the No. 1 draft pick coming his way in November.
The Tigers have a tough run at home and it’s hard to see any more wins before the showdown with the Kangaroos, even if they get a few players back in the coming weeks.
After the bye against arch-rival Carlton, a huge challenge awaits.
I doubt the Tigers will be able to beat the Blues, but they are capable of giving them their money’s worth.
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