Richmond 2013 season report card (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Richmond Tigers 2013 season report card

    Al Paton
    News Limited Network
    September 18, 2013

SNAPSHOT

Wins: 15
Losses: 7
Draws: 0
Ladder position: 7th
%: 122.8

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Plenty. The Tigers won five more matches than 2012 to make their first finals series in 12 years. Inspired recruit Troy Chaplin was a rock down back and the likes of Alex Rance and Steve Morris soared in confidence beside him - resulting in Richmond having the third most miserly defence in the competition. Dustin Martin found a new level of consistency as players like Brandon Ellis, Reece Conca, Shane Edwards and Dan Jackson - who had a career-best season - added new depth to the midfield. Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio had their fair share of big games, but the Tigers didn't fall over when they had a quiet one. Big tick for last year's top draft pick Nick Vlastuin, too.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Damien Hardwick developed a solid game plan that reduced turnovers and won games, but the Tigers struggled to adapt when the opposition got the game on their terms - exhibit A is the Blues' third-quarter blitz in the elimination final. Despite getting past Carlton (just) in Round 1, the Blues remain Richmond's bogey side, with a surprise loss in Round 21 costing the Tigers a spot in the top four then another upset sending them packing from the finals. On a personnel front Dylan Grimes battled injury again, Chris Knights went down with a knee shocker just as he was finding his feet and Nathan Foley may never get back to the MCG-scorching form he showed before his Achilles problems. And the Dustin Martin contract disaster threatens to end a great season on a sour note.

BEST AND FAIREST

Can Daniel Jackson beat superstars Cotchin and Deledio to win his first Jack Dyer Medal? He was certainly more consistent. It appears a race in three with Cotch aiming for his third straight B&F and Deledio eyeing a third of his own after going back-to-back in 2008-09. Martin had a super season while defenders Chaplin and Rance could easily make the top five.

THE LIST

Elite: Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt

Big improvers: Dan Jackson, Shane Edwards, Alex Rance, Steven Morris, Matt White

Going, going: Tom Derrickx

Gone: Shane Tuck

Trade bait: Dustin Martin, Ben Griffiths, Jake Batchelor, Robin Nahas

WHAT THEY NEED

If Dusty decides to go - and that isn't over the line yet - the Tigers will push a hard bargain; Melbourne's pick two in the draft is about the mark to get a deal done (although they risk getting nothing if Dusty walks into the pre-season draft). The Tigers were belted at the stoppages when it counted in the finals and could use another ball magnet to ease the reliance on Cotchin. GWS onballer Taylor Adams - pick 13 in the 2011 draft - is hard at it and boasts a burst of speed, and is believed to be on the Tigers' wish list. There have also been whispers of interest in Brisbane beanpole Billy Longer, with Ivan Maric still in need of support and Ty Vickery shaping as a forward long-term. With a young list profile and most bases covered, the Tigers can afford to go for the most talented players available in November's draft.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK

Just ticked over 9pm. Winning a final would have made it almost the perfect year, but the long-term plan is well and truly on track - winning six, eight, 10 and 15 games in the past four seasons. With more natural progression next year the Tigers should be again knocking on the door of the top four, with the premiership window about to open as the likes of Cotchin and Riewoldt enter their prime.

STATS THAT MATTER

Club leaders

Kicks: Dustin Martin (382)

Handballs: Brett Deledio (230)

Contested possessions: Trent Cotchin (259)

Marks: Alex Rance (153)

Contested marks: Tyrone Vickery (34)

Clearances: Trent Cotchin (118)

Inside-50s: Brett Deledio, Daniel Jackson (95)

Rebound-50s: Alex Rance (76)

Frees for: Trent Cotchin (46)

Frees against: Jack Riewoldt, Ivan Maric (28)

Goals: Jack Riewoldt (58)

Goal assists: Jack Riewoldt (26)

Time on ground: Alex Rance (2619min)

Players used: 36


TEAM STATS: (total/percentage + AFL rank):

Disposals: 368.1 (6th)

Contested possession differential: +8.4 (2nd)

Tackles: 55.9 (18th)

Clearance differential: +2.2 (= 5th)

Inside-50 differential: +3.9 (7th)

Scoring % inside 50: 52 per cent (4th)

Av points for: 97.9 (5th)

Av points against: 79.7 (3rd)

Av winning margin: 41

Av losing margin: 32

DID YOU KNOW?

Dustin Martin won 71.5 per cent of his possessions uncontested during the home-and-away season - the equal fourth-highest percentage of the top 50 possession-winners in the AFL.

- stats courtesy Champion Data

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-2013-season-report-card/story-fnia6oop-1226719062609

[Judge Roughneck]

If Derickx goes our ruck brigade is

Maric and often