Richmond handed battle plan to defeat Adelaide in crunch game that could decide finals spot Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
August 12, 2014 9:34PMRICHMOND has been handed the battle plan to take down Adelaide and continue its September charge by the bizarre complaints of Crows coach Brenton Sanderson.
The Tigers will take on Adelaide with the advantage of a two-day break and a compulsive set of statistics that show it can use Adelaide’s fatigue to their advantage.
Sanderson complained about the 24 degree heat in Brisbane ahead of a six-day break, saying the game put his players at risk.
It was a mystifying decision to raise the heat and create an out clause for his players, with Champion Data statistics giving Richmond real hope of overrunning the Crows late at Adelaide Oval.
Their stats show that sides playing a rival off a six-day break with an extra day’s recovery win 52.4 per cent of the time.
But since 2000 teams with an eight-day break playing a rival off six days win 56.2 per cent, a huge increase in a game of one-percenters.
The Tigers have also become last-quarter specialists as they ride their six-game winning streak.
Across the season they are ranked sixth in last quarters (+57 points) compared to 14th ranked Adelaide and fourth in time on in the last terms (+57) compared to the ninth-ranked Crows.
The Tigers were yesterday playing down the perceived advantage as they make their Adelaide Oval debut after winning four of the past five games at AAMI Stadium.
Richmond utility Ricky Petterd said yesterday Sanderson’s comments had not yet been mentioned.
He said every game was an elimination final as the Tigers seek to win seven straight games for the first time since Rounds 1-7 of 1995.
“It would be huge (to play finals). I don’t think anyone has done it from where we’ve been and it would be massive,” he said.
“We want to play but we can’t think anything further than this weekend against Adelaide because they’re in some pretty good form.
“It’s a bit of a cliche but it is one week at a time for us and every game is like an elimination final, and there’s nothing bigger that this Saturday night against Adelaide.”
Richmond’s unlikely run still needs several dominoes to fall with the Tigers potentially already out of the race by the time they take on Sydney in Round 23.
But despite Adelaide’s dominant win over Brisbane they will go in understrength, with Patrick Dangerfield (knee) in doubt and Andy Otten (knee) out for the year.
It comes as the Tigers attempt to secure their emerging key position talent in Ben Griffiths despite rival interest.
Griffiths’ long kicking and strong marking have come to the fore, especially since the suspension of Tyrone Vickery.
Griffiths’ career was hanging by a thread last year when offered a one-year deal with even clubs like St Kilda seen as likely to overlook him if delisted.
Now as clubs like the Bulldogs hover around all available key position players the Tigers are talking to the 22-year-old’s management.
He would require a multi-year deal to stay given the interest in the former Eastern Ranges pick 19.
Brandon Ellis’ phenomenal second season continues, with the Tigers having secured him last year until the end of 2015.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/richmond-handed-battle-plan-to-defeat-adelaide-in-crunch-game-that-could-decide-finals-spot/story-e6frf3e3-1227021862535
