Richmond Tigers: 2015 AFL season preview, Fox Footy round table Adam Baldwin
FOX SPORTS
March 27, 2015 10:29AMRound Table: RichmondDOES Richmond have a problem in its forward line?
Can the Tigers find goals from midfield?
Is Damien Hardwick a good enough coach to propel the current list to the next level?
Can Trent Cotchin rebound from a disappointing year?
Watch highlights of the Fox Footy team’s round table preview of the Tigers in our video player above and read the digital team’s assessment ahead of Round 1 below.
FULL VIDEO ANALYSIS: Click on the link to watch the full round table analysis of the Tigers.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/video?v=round-table-team-previews_1227280552070&vc=2082014 WAS…Good, bad and ugly…The Tigers bounced back from 3-11 at Round 14 to win the final nine games of the season to qualify for the finals, where it was blown out of the water by Port Adelaide in the elimination final.
KING’S SPEECH“Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin are very good players, but would they be selected among the league’s best 20 or 30 midfielders? If they can emulate Joel Selwood, Steve Johnson and Jimmy Bartel, then the Tigers will be entrenched in the eight or, even better, the top four.”
PASS MARKThe Tigers showed what they are capable of in the second half of last year with their best players firing. They have the cattle and the game plan to match it with the very best, but if they can’t raise the bar then questions over the leadership will be raised. It won 15 games in 2013, so making the finals is the absolute minimum and winning one should be the goal.
THE COACHDamien Hardwick has successfully dragged Richmond up the ladder in his five seasons in charge, but after two finals exits the pressure is on to take the group to the next level. He was able to tinker with the game plan in the second half of last year with great success and will need to do similar to keep up with the Jones’ in 2015. Contracted until the end of 2016.
THE GUNCaptain Trent Cotchin’s output was slightly down in 2014, but he remains capable of being one of the elite midfielders in the competition. It was only two seasons ago he placed equal second in the Brownlow Medal, however questions remain over his efficiency with the ball. The continued emergence of Dustin Martin and Brandon Ellis as genuine midfielders will help.
THE NEXT BIG THINGBen Lennon received limited opportunities in his debut season, playing seven games with many of those in the sub’s vest. The 188cm utility was the 12th pick in the 2013 National Draft and brings Brendon Goddard style qualities to the Tigers. He will settle as a forward before moving into the midfield, takes a strong grab and has a booming right foot.
SUPERCOACH MUST HAVEEveryone will be looking for the next Anthony Miles and he might just be at the Tigers. Kane Lambert finally got his chance on an AFL list after a number of dominant seasons at VFL level and he has already won praise from Damien Hardwick this pre-season. He has been elevated from the rookie list and at $122,400 as a mid-forward option, he’s a smart buy.
DID YOU KNOW?The Tigers have nine players who are graduates from TAC Cup side the Northern Knights.
WHY IT SHOULD BE YOUR SECOND TEAM?The Tigers haven’t won a final in more than a decade , but ninth-place finishes look to be a thing of the past as this Richmond groups looks the real deal. The Tiger train is gathering momentum and once its travelling you won’t want to miss out.
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