King: Don’t waste your chance, TigersDavid King,
Herald Sun
March 9, 2019Richmond’s past two seasons have been extraordinary, but it highlights how hard it is to win premierships.
The Tigers have won 37 games in that period, five more than any other team, but crashed out to a white-hot Collingwood in the preliminary final.
It’s irrefutable that Richmond has challenged traditional AFL folklore. The smaller forward line, an undersized ruckman and a Brownlow medallist midfielder who plays exclusively centre-forward.
The AFL is a copycat league and components of what the Tigers initiated are being mimicked, as all innovation has a lifespan.
Richmond has secured sought-after free agent Tom Lynch, with the impost only financial, not involving any loss of high-end draft selections and no effect on 2020 or beyond.
The All-Australian season of 2016 exhibited the best of Lynch’s contested marking, when he led the competition with 62 for the season.
Jack Riewoldt’s scoring power must not be understated. His lowest season tally since 2010 was 48 goals and only Lance Franklin has kicked more in that period.
Damien Hardwick went the pressuring, small forwards game as the Tigers simply didn’t have a quality second target. They again were able to win back possession in their forward half more and score more than all teams in the AFL. Will this weapon subside in 2019?
The durability and continuity of football by Alex Rance, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Riewoldt is amazing given each has played no fewer than 67 of the past 71 games. Richmond has dined on the ever-present leadership and in-game influence as all teams study their strength and conditioning department.
The Tigers’ clearance game is the poorest in the AFL. The Pies outscored them 60 points to eight in the preliminary final, the Tigers’ poorest result since Round 15, 2011.
Adam Kingsley takes the reins as stoppage coach after many years at St Kilda. Nothing goes unseen with Kingsley. A fine acquisition.
Shane Edwards, Martin, Rance and Riewoldt were awarded All-Australian honours in 2018.
Jayden Short is a wildcard for the 2019 team as his breakout season at half-back was full of corridor kicking aggression. It is staggering to think he had 17 shots at goal last season.
Jack Higgins, Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton are youngsters in a hurry.
Higgins’ 15 goals and 16-disposal average in his first season screams of bigger roles in 2019. After only 12 games in 2018 expect more from Rioli, the Tigers’ tackling barometer.
Bolton is too good for VFL football and needs to bring that confident attitude to the main stage.
Richmond has the AFL’s third-best list in 2019, with its forward line assessed as the competition’s best.
As has been the case at Hawthorn in the past decade, successful coaching encourages poaching.
The loss of Ben Rutten to Essendon shifts Justin Leppitsch into the backline role, but it will be a seamless transition.
This Richmond group needs another premiership to ensure its place in history reflects an era of dominance, not just a one-off success — it’s about turning one premiership into an era. Only a fool would suggest the Tigers will not be thereabouts in 2019.
LAUREN WOOD’S SNAP CHAT WITH JAYDEN SHORTLW: What is your go-to meal when the club dietitians aren’t looking?
JS: Red Rooster chips with sweet and sour sauce.
LW: Best or worst dancer at the club?
JS: Best Jacob Townsend, worst Jack Graham.
LW: Who is your club’s best Fortnite player?
JS: Toby Nankervis.
LW: Who is your club’s coach’s pet?
JS: Dylan Grimes.
LW: Go-to karaoke song?
JS: Fast Car, by Tracy Chapman.
LW: Your pick for Grand Final entertainment?
JS: Linkin Park.
LW: Most hated/loved pre-season drill?
JS: Hate 300 sprints, love goalkicking.
CHRIS CAVANAGH’S YOUNG GUNS - JACK HIGGINSAn excitement machine who won Goal of the Year in 2018, Tiger fans will be keen to see what more Higgins can produce. The small forward kicked 15 goals from 20 games on debut last season, but is capable of much more, as well as potentially playing more midfield minutes. A switch to the No.13 guernsey will not confuse rival clubs.
SUPERCOACH AFL WITH GILBERT GARDINER1. Dustin Martin - $563,800 MID
Forget last year, Dusty wasn’t at peak fitness — following calf and knee complaints for long periods — and it impacted his scoring. Bank on the Brownlow medallist to hit back with a vengeance.
2. Patrick Naish - $123,900 DEF
The son of former Richmond great Chris Naish — taken with pick No.34 in the 2017 draft — showed some positive signs in the VFL in the back half of last year. Needs luck to break through.
3. Tom Lynch - $425,600 FWD
The high-profile recruit, who averaged 86 points across the past four seasons at the Suns, should relish having the likes of Martin, Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert and Shane Edwards delivering the Sherrin lace out.
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