5 Steps to beat RichmondStep One - Play Man on ManRichmond players are used to playing with time and space to use their foot-skills to thread their way through opposition zones. When you man up on them and make them accountable they lose faith/confidence in this tactic particularly from the half back. Shut down their time and space and they lose their run and look to hurriedly kick it on and long which will allow you to turn it over quickly.
Step Two - Shut down DeledioTag Lids and you severely reduce the Tigers run and carry. Deledio is the Tigers number one ranked players for meters gained. Unlike Cotchin he can not shake a tag either so it is a must for all teams.
Step Three - Set up players behind the StoppageThe Tigers set up around stoppages with extra numbers behind the contest to stop quick run on and to find space. If you have a ruckman who can jump over Maric, have them palm the ball backwards where the Tigers players won't be and move the ball backwards and sideways into space.
Step Four - Drop a players backMost teams employ this strategy but it is particularly effective against Richmond. If you can pressure them up field using the above tactics they tend to hurry the ball long and high into their forward line which can then be predictably read by the extra defender. Block the run and jump of players like Jack and McGuane by playing body on body rather than in front, and you will give your extra defender plenty of time to fill the hole, take the mark and move it on quickly.
Step Five - Drop off the Tigers poor ball usersAllow players like Jackson, Rance, Chaplin, Lonegan and Maric to gain the ball but make sure they are pressured and are forced to kick. They are poor decision makers and if you cover all options they will either kick it long to a contest or turn it over directly.
Follow these steps and you should have no problem beating the Richmond team in 2013.