Fast, furious Tigers go huntingJAY CLARK,
Herald Sun
March 28, 2017IT’S been a thorn in the Richmond side for years.
In a trend that winds all the way back to the Terry Wallace era, the Tigers have always been one of the lowest-ranked tackling sides in the AFL.
Forward half pressure has been a dream more than a reality at Punt Rd.
But perhaps the bruise-free days are over now.
In one of the most significant tactical storylines to come out of the opening round was the new-found snarl in the Tigers’ front half. And the youthful exuberance behind it.
Speedsters Jason Castagna (20), Dan Butler (20) and Daniel Rioli (19) might all still be young enough to be on their P-plates, and have played only 25 AFL games combined, but their impact in the 43-point win over Carlton at the MCG would have been even more invigorating for the Tigers’ faithful than the Dustin Martin show on Thursday night.
In what has often been a safe zone for the opposition, Richmond applied the most forward-half pressure and created the most forward-half turnovers of any team in Round 1, sending a message to rivals the revamped Richmond had a speedy, ruthless edge to it in attack.
As ruck recruit Toby Nankervis said on 3AW after the match: “We have been encouraged to play on instinct”.
Pundits may say it was only against Carlton, one of the favourites for the wooden spoon. Clearly, a tougher test against Collingwood awaits in Thursday night’s MCG blockbuster.
But, when combined with the Tigers’ more direct and fast-paced ball movement, Richmond’s new forward line pressure means that the club has a clear and defined game style now. They want to go hunting, the Tigers.
Richmond’s 34 forward-half turnovers against the Blues was their most in a game since Round 22, 2012, according to Champion Data.
Their 72 points scored from this area was the most Richmond has scored under Hardwick.
Their 86 tackles was 10 more than their best effort last season.
And seemingly everyone was getting involved. Nick Vlastuin led the charge with a team high 61 pressure points, followed by skipper Trent Cotchin (46), Castagna (46) and Rioli (41). Even spearhead and new leadership group member Jack Riewoldt (41) was helping set the tone.
The Tigers slammed home a whopping 20 goals against the Blues and regular leading goalkickers Riewoldt and Sam Lloyd contributed only two of them.
While Martin booted four, and would have had six if it wasn’t for two unselfish giveaways to Butler and Shaun Grigg, ultimately it was the frenzied harassing and chasing that sparked Richmond to its biggest scoreline since the Tigers punished Brisbane at the Gabba two years ago.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-records-its-best-tackle-pressure-numbers-in-years-against-carlton/news-story/e6a0f1643361471b1670aa8d366a89c7
