Richmond Report Card13/9/2012
Luke Sheehan
SportalThis year:12th, 10 wins, 1 draw, 11 losses, 111.63 percentage.
This year's grade: CNext YearType of players needed: Key defenders. Richmond have a flurry of small defenders, but it is the big men that they need multiple of. That way, injuries can be no excuse when one or two of their big men go down. Port Adelaide's Troy Chaplin has been strongly linked to a trade to the club. A second tall forward to be third in line to Riewoldt and Vickery is also a must. Midfield is well manned, along with their smalls in the forward 50.
Likely improvement: They should learn from their mistakes, but that has been said about the Tigers for the past 10 years. They could be realistic and aim for eighth spot, but - hypothetically - if Richmond won all the games that they failed to decided by two goals or less in 2012 (six losses and a draw), then they would have been percentage away from clinching second spot and a home final in the top-four.
Finals in 2013: A little shoring up in defence, and some consolidation on their improvement down forward and maintenance of their midfield form, and, somewhat realistically, the Tigers should be aiming to secure the double chance. More realistically, it seems they will simply settle for a finals appearance, however they can get it. Hardwick will be in his fourth year at the club in 2013, and another finals-less season would mean heavy scrutiny on his position.
Read the full season review including Tiger positives and negatives for 2012 at: http://www.sportal.com.au/afl-report-cards-display/richmond-report-card-198068
