Richmond’s four-point plan to win a final under re-signed coach Damien Hardwick in 2016 AFL seasonRiley Beveridge
Foxsports
March 9, 2016CONTRACT extensions are meant to ease the pressure on their recipients.
However, for Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, his looming new deal is another reminder of what the club simply must achieve under his tenure.
Without a finals victory since 2001, the Tigers have lost three consecutive elimination finals during Hardwick’s reign.
Yet still, as reported by foxfooty.com.au on Monday, the Tigers coach is set to receive a two-year deal that will take him through to the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Hardwick has been firmly backed as the man to take Richmond to that elusive September victory. Now the onus is on the 43-year-old to find a way to break that longstanding and unwanted hoodoo.
The third longest-serving coach in Richmond’s rich history, Hardwick is still yet to taste finals success during his time at Punt Rd.
It’s a statistic the often underrated coach would love to correct going into his seventh year at Richmond.
Following a summer where the Tigers have again been forced to lick their wounds and lament what could have been, building blocks are in place to ultimately right the wrongs of the last three years.
KEEP ON KEEPING ONPlenty of what Richmond has done under Hardwick has been positive and will ultimately form the foundations for how they improve this season.
The subtle decision to adopt a more calculated and clinical method throughout the back half of 2015 inspired crucial victories over Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn as the Tigers climbed to fifth on the ladder following a disappointing 2-4 start.
The team had a significant increase in kicks, marks and kick-to-handball ratios after Round 6, playing on from just 26 per cent of all marks during the remainder of the season.
It was the lowest of any team in the competition and, although it meant the ball entered their attacking 50 less often, it did so with far more purpose and gave their forwards a greater ability to convert on the scoreboard.
The Round 6 defeat to North Melbourne in Hobart was the catalyst for such change. On that day, the Tigers conceded 92 of 109 points purely from turnovers in a 35-point loss to the Roos.
It was an erratic display, one that Hardwick simply couldn’t afford to repeat. And he didn’t.
Throughout the remainder of its 2015 campaign, Richmond conceded an average of just 35 points per game from turnovers — the least in the competition.
BUILDING THROUGH YARRANGame plans continually develop and, while Richmond will continue to try and control matches this season, they must find different ways to probe opposition defences.
According to Champion Data, the Tigers had a transition speed of 22.6 seconds following their change of tactics last season — the third-worst in the AFL.
Such a methodical approach was found out in the elimination final, with Richmond struggling to gain control of its clash against North Melbourne and, consequently, lacking any type of penetration moving forward.
Enter former Carlton speedster Chris Yarran.
There was a clear reason the Tigers targeted Yarran in last year’s trade period, eventually giving up pick No. 19 for the running half-back after weeks of negotiating.
The 25-year-old suits Richmond’s playing style thanks to his elite kicking ability, but also fills an open vacancy at Punt Rd due to his speed, dash and dare.
Champion Data stats show that Yarran has the highest kick-to-handball ratio of any player in the competition, with the second-best retention rate.
It perfectly suits the manner in which Hardwick’s men played last season, but his natural leg speed will also provide the Tigers with an X-factor where they can take the game on.
“He just kicks it so fantastically and he’s smart,” Yarran’s defensive teammate Bachar Houli said on Tuesday.
“Every time we transition the ball from the backline and we are both involved, I look at him and I just smile.
“I say, ‘This is us, bro. This is us this year’. We’re just trying to give him the confidence to say that we really, really need you this year.
“We just needed more flair and speedy drive from the backline and we feel like he’s got that. I’m not the quickest person. I can break a line or two and take half a bounce and I’m probably caught. But with Chris, if you give him the ball you are confident he will do something special.
“I’m really looking forward to his presence.”
HIT THE SCOREBOARDAlthough Richmond’s slower ball movement in 2015 resulted in more control over matches and ultimately more wins, it limited the team’s output.
According to Champion Data, the Tigers scored only 89 points per game from Round 7 onwards — a worrying trend considering 15 of the past 16 premiers have averaged over 100 points per game.
Therefore, having a greater impact on the scoreboard is crucial in 2016. Though finding where those extra goals comes from would remain an issue for Hardwick.
Jack Riewoldt kicked 54 goals in 2015 and had an increased influence in terms of assisting and pressuring higher up the field. But a lack of support was telling at times.
Ty Vickery became a solid contributor, rated 15th for goals per game for key forwards by Champion Data and having the second-best kick rating in front of goal. But his consistency often let him down — as frequent frustration from Richmond supporters would suggest.
Recently re-signed forward Ben Lennon could also make a position in the forward line his own this year, with his marking ability a particular strength.
But perhaps the issue is not necessarily a personnel one.
Tigers players need to be freed up by the game plan before they can have more of an impact going forward.
Notably, Richmond scored more than 100 points in three of the first seven weeks of last season.
After their tactical tweak, they did so just three more times from the 16 remaining matches.
STAND UP TO BE COUNTEDThe pressure resulting from Richmond’s downfalls can’t all be heaped on the doorstep of Hardwick.
At some stage, the club’s on-field leaders must stand up to be counted as well.
In last season’s elimination final, captain Trent Cotchin had just nine disposals. Brandon Ellis had only 10, while Shane Edwards had eight.
The trio copped a barrage of criticism in the wake of their disastrous performances, which overshadowed each of their good individual years.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/richmonds-fourpoint-plan-to-win-a-final-under-resigned-coach-damien-hardwick/news-story/55b5eb086193396aba30a98c994d88dc
