How should the Tigers tackle their final hurdle? Rohan Connolly
The Age
August 26, 2014 Little has changed in Sydney's world since it last played Richmond. The Swans have continued to win, as they did that Friday evening in June, their premiership credentials strengthening by the week.
For the Tigers, that round-14 clash must seem like another era. Defeat, albeit a narrow one, left Richmond 16th on the AFL ladder with just three wins from 13 games. What price then that come the return bout the Tigers would not have lost again?
Richmond's eight-game winning streak has been one of the more remarkable turnarounds of recent times, starting unspectacularly with expected wins over struggling opponents, but since toppling Port Adelaide, Essendon plus West Coast and Adelaide on the road.
One more and it's finals for a second year in a row. And now comes, by some margin, the biggest hurdle. But is the prospect of a Richmond victory over Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday as fanciful as it might have still seemed even a couple of weeks ago?
Were we to imagine - as Richmond has so effectively - rounds 15 onwards as a new season, this would be a clash of the top two teams on the ladder, the Tigers 8-0, the Swans and Geelong 7-1, but Sydney's victories a lot more convincing.
But that's hardly the only indicator that, regardless of whether Sydney rests a score of senior players or not with its top-two spot secure, this game could be tight indeed.
Since round 15, Sydney and Richmond have been the best two defensive sides in the competition, the Swans conceding an average of only 63 points a game, the Tigers 69.4. The teams have also won 23 of 32 quarters in that time for a joint No. 1 ranking.
Pressure on the opposition ball-carrier has been a feature of their winning ways, Sydney ranking second in this eight-game period for scores from intercepts, Richmond fourth.
On those measures, the Tigers are justified in tackling this final task with confidence. But perhaps the greatest quandary for Richmond coach Damien Hardwick will be just what game plan his team brings to ANZ Stadium.
It's not necessarily going to be an easy decision. While Richmond's revival has come on the back of much quicker ball movement and a more daring running game, that is in complete contrast to the brand that got the Tigers within a couple of kicks of the Swans last time.
While it might by consensus have been one of the worst games to watch this season, Richmond was highly effective in restricting the Swans and at one stage during the second quarter led by 26 points. Sydney had kicked only two goals until shortly before half-time.
To do so, the Tigers played a glorified game of keepings-off. Sydney's disposal and uncontested differentials of negative 70 and 57 respectively its worst figures of the season.
Richmond certainly held its own in midfield, where Swans Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Kieren Jack and Jarryd McVeigh all returned disposal counts well below their norm. At the same time, Tiger on-ballers Dustin Martin, Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin and Anthony Miles all had 28 disposals or better.
Ultimately, it was Lance Franklin who got Sydney over the line with four goals after an even battle with Richmond defender Alex Rance. And attack is one department that has changed significantly for both teams since that last clash.
Until then, Sydney's goalkicking spread was ranked equal fourth, with the Swans averaging 8.3 individual goalkickers a game. Richmond was ranked 14th. But since round 15, the Tigers are ranked equal first, and the Swans 10th.
While spearhead Jack Riewoldt's output has remained solid, more goals have come not only from Martin, Cotchin and Brett Deledio, but the likes of Ellis, Ricky Petterd and key forward Ben Griffiths.
Sydney's reduced spread isn't necessarily a negative. Indeed, it coincides with the more regular presence of Kurt Tippett, who along with Franklin has kicked just on 40 per cent of the Swans' goals over the past eight games.
It's an intimidating pairing, but it does also offer Richmond some hope of again reducing Sydney's score if it can find the right match-up for Tippett, while Rance again goes head-to-head with Franklin.
Tough jobs both. But like the Tigers as a group might feel about Saturday, assignments seem less daunting the longer this amazing streak continues.
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