AFL website's 2015 Season Review: Richmond given 5/10

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Season review: Richmond

AFL.com.au
September 16, 2015

What worked

- A flexible forwardline. Some weeks it was three talls in Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery and Ben Griffiths. Other weeks it was Riewoldt and Vickery with Ben Lennon and Brett Deledio playing more prominent roles.   

- Tempo footy. The Tiger got back on track when they started controlling the ball after round six. They'd hit up short targets by foot and take the best option, rather than the high risk/reward option. 

- Introducing new midfielders. Trent Cotchin and Anthony Miles were further helped by players like Shaun Grigg taking on more ball-winning responsibility and Kane Lambert getting an opportunity.

What failed

- High risk footy. The Tigers spent the first six rounds looking to the corridor and moving the ball at a frantic pace. It quickly got out of control and allowed opposition teams to score heavily on the counter-attack. 

- Skills under pressure. Perhaps more than other clubs, the Tigers can fall apart when their opponents bring relentless tackling pressure. Their foot skills were often found wanting – particularly in the elimination final loss to North Melbourne.

- Forward press. The Tigers would often be caught out by quick rebounding teams because they'd bring a lot of numbers into their forward half when in possession. Their slower ball-movement contributed to this.   

What we said in the pre-season
Dustin Martin's standout pre-season would allow him to move into the midfield and give Trent Cotchin the support he needed, with Kane Lambert set to step up as a surprise packet. We suggested it was a make or break year for Ty Vickery and predicted they'd finish eighth, which was on the money.   

Overall rating: 5/10.
The Tigers became a team that could beat anyone on their day, notching wins against Fremantle, the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn. They performed on the road as well as at home, but losing an elimination final for the third straight season is what will be remembered.   

The coach
Damien Hardwick proved he could be more flexible this season, adjusting his game plan and trying left-field positional moves like Alex Rance to the midfield. When those moves didn't work, like Steven Morris in the forward line, he had no trouble reverting to proven methods. His biggest blunder was selecting Ben Griffiths for the elimination final at the expense of Ben Lennon. He admitted it was a risk. It could have been the difference between winning and losing.   


MVP
Alex Rance. The game's best defender, Rance was the backbone of Richmond's backline unit. He combined attack and defence brilliantly in 2015, averaging 3.4 rebound 50s and beating the likes of Travis Cloke, Jeremy Cameron and Drew Petrie.

Surprise packet
Jake Batchelor. After averaging 13 games a season in his first four years, Batchelor became one of 11 Tigers to play every game in 2015. His value in the backline was his versatility, playing on tall and small opponents. His campaign was tainted, however, in the elimination final when Jarrad Waite played a match-winning role on his watch.

Get excited
Ben Lennon. Unlucky not to feature in the Tigers' elimination final, Lennon played a breakout game against St Kilda in round 16 with three goals and seemed to grow each week for the next seven matches. Is now at a stage where he should feature every week in 2016 as a classy half-forward who can rotate midfield.

Disappointment
David Astbury. After an interrupted pre-season, the key defender was monstered by Tom Hawkins early in the year and he finished the game forward. The most improved player on their list before injury struck in 2014, Astbury didn't play at AFL level after round six this season.   


Best win: 18-point triumph over Hawthorn, round 18, MCG

A win built on astute tactics, the Tigers kept the Hawks to their lowest score since round four 2012. Under the MCG lights on the Friday night stage, it capped what Damien Hardwick has dubbed 'Big Boy Month' and moved the Tigers into the top four.  


Low point
Undoubtedly the Tigers' third straight elimination final loss. Entering the match as favourites, Damien Hardwick's men were dominated by North Melbourne in contested ball and tightened up at key moments in the final quarter. 


The big questions

- How do the Tigers improve their list?
At this point, a solid performance at the 2015 NAB AFL draft won't get the Tigers into a position to strike for next year's premiership. They need to bite the bullet and make risky moves at the trade table. Having recruited well with their first round selections in recent years, it's time to trade their prime picks to secure ready-made talent. 

- Is Damien Hardwick the man to take Richmond further?
The question has to be asked after three straight finals exits at the first hurdle. Hardwick is out of contract at the end of next season and the Tigers face a big decision over the summer. Do they stand by Hardwick and extend his contract now or demand results before putting a contract forward? 

- Are the players mentally scarred?
Richmond did everything possible to move on from the finals exits of 2013 and 2014 and underline that 2015 was a new year. Can they do that again in 2016 or has its failures in September become so big an issue that the players are weighed down by it? Time will tell. 

Season in a song
Britney Spears Oops! … I did it again

Who's done?

Retirements: Nathan Foley, Chris Knights, Chris Newman, Ricky Petterd
Injuries ultimately ended the careers of Foley and Knights ahead of time. Foley's prime was 2007-2009 and his lesson to his teammates was to "show early and beat the rush". The Tigers never saw the best of Knights, while Petterd succumbed to a foot injury and turned his eye to recruiting this year. Chris Newman gave his all to the end and was one of the Tigers' best players in their elimination final loss.


Delistings: Matt Arnot, Matt McDonough
With four retirements, the Tigers didn't require wholesale delistings, but McDonough and Arnot were two players the Tigers decided they could not go forward with. McDonough played 10 games in three season and didn't deliver after showing promise last pre-season. Arnot, who notched nine games in his four years, moved onto the rookie list this year and could only break into the senior team once.   

Trades/free agents: Ben Lennon
The Tigers have done an excellent job of locking in their best young players, but Ben Lennon remains out of contract. His absence from the elimination final loss almost enhanced his standing at Tigerland and the club should be desperate to keep him.   

What they need
A rebounding defender who can also lock down on small forwards would be an ideal addition for two reasons – to add a new avenue out of the backline and to free Nick Vlastuin to play in the midfield. Chris Yarran is the Tigers' man and they appear willing to part with their first-round draft pick to secure him. Matthew Kreuzer, James Aish and Adam Treloar are now all unlikely to land at Punt Road Oval.   

Premiership clock



The Tigers are approaching their premiership window but there is work to do. Smart trading could fast-track them into contention, but they would also need to overcome their finals hoodoo. Once that is done, the list has potential.

Early call: 5-8th
Breaking into the top-four appears a bridge to far for this Richmond team, which is now prone to stumble at crucial times of the season. Finals appearances are stacking up, however, and they should return.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-16/season-review-richmond