The tactic opposition clubs are using against Richmond (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

According to Robbo:

8. Trouble at Tigerland?

Not in Round 3, but there are concerns. Five goals each in their past two matches tells us that. Jack Riewoldt, Tom Lynch and Dan Rioli need to find the ball, but it's not all their fault.

It seems the tactic against the Tigers is to flood their forward line and because the Tigers like to dump the ball long, the opposition is overwhelming them in the air.

How much is motivation a factor for the Tigers? They've been up for three years and these early games just might not have them at the energy levels required. If so, it better change quickly.

https://www.noosanews.com.au/news/the-tackle-the-tactic-that-has-tigers-all-at-sea/4041572/   

[one-eyed]

A Richmond reinvention might be needed

Few would have expected Richmond to come out of the (re)starting blocks so shabbily. After managing only five goals in round two's draw with Collingwood, the reigning premiers backed that up with another five in their loss to Hawthorn. Scoring, clearly, has become hard work for the Tigers, with Jack Riewoldt battling to impact and penetrate when near goal, and their fleet of small forwards struggling for spark. And their pressure style has been lacking, with Richmond managing only nine tackles in the first half against the Hawks. The bigger worry is that, after three dominant seasons with a trademark model, opposition clubs have found a solution to unlock the yellow and black. Over to you, Dimma.

- Callum Twomey

https://www.afl.com.au/news/454493/eight-things-we-learned-a-richmond-reinvention-might-be-needed

[one-eyed]

What's up with the Tiger Kings?

Howard Kotton
OPINION
June 22 2020 - 6:00PM

As Richmond dismantled Carlton in the first quarter of the opening round, the 2020 season appeared destined to take a familiar path.

The Tiger Kings of the MCG would be hard to stop again and the dream of emulating the legendary Tom Hafey's 1973-74 premiership heroes was alive.

But suddenly there are question marks after Richmond's underwhelming performances in the past two games, having drawn in a dour struggle with Collingwood and then being thrashed by Hawthorn on their favourite patch of turf.

After winning two of the past three premierships, the Tigers' form since the season's resumption has raised doubts about their motivation and hunger. While it is premature to make a definitive judgment after their first defeat in a year last week, the recent signs have not been good.

There are several factors to ponder for their army of fans. Richmond's pressure in their forward half and slick ball movement, trademarks in the club's incredible success in the past three seasons, have fallen away and the Tigers' capacity to score freely has dried up, having kicked a paltry 19 goals in their past 11 quarters.

Potent key forwards Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch are out of touch and smaller forwards Daniel Rioli and Jason Castagna are also struggling.

Inexperienced Richmond ruckman Ivan Soldo was thrashed at the stoppages and had no influence around the ground against Hawk Jonathon Ceglar. The Tigers' much-vaunted midfield without the dynamic Dustin Martin did not work hard enough, turning the ball over continually with uncharacteristic skill errors.

The Tigers had just nine tackles in the first half and it was the ease with which Hawthorn slipped through and created space to set up multiple scoring opportunities that would have concerned Damien Hardwick and his coaching staff.

The Hawks' forwards applied immense pressure on Richmond's back half and cracks were exposed. Bachar Houli's run and creativity were stymied and Sydney Stack's fumbles were costly.

The shorter quarters and longer breaks are also not benefitting the Tigers, given their renowned ability to wear down opposition teams and outscore them in time-on of quarters.

Hawthorn bounced back from a disastrous defeat at Geelong to thrash Richmond. Now the onus is on the Tigers to show they remain one of the contenders for the 2020 crown.

https://www.portnews.com.au/story/6800986/whats-up-with-the-tiger-kings/?cs=258

[Gracie]

Without the required sustained effort from all 22 players during a game then any tactics will work against the Tigers.

[Andyy]

You can clearly see the flood. No idea why we kept bombing it in. Just get a guy like Short to kick them from 50+ or try to find a target quicker and cleaner.

[Tiger Khosh]

You can clearly see the flood. No idea why we kept bombing it in. Just get a guy like Short to kick them from 50+ or try to find a target quicker and cleaner.

It’s not even the bombing in that I have the biggest issue with. It’s how shallow our entries are. So many times we bombed it in to around 40-45m on goal. Turnover from those and you normally get hurt going the other way.

[mightytiges]

For mine, the problem starts and the solution exists in the middle. We haven't been a premiership side that needs to win clearances but we do aim to either win or force turnovers at the post-stoppage phase via our team pressure and chase tackling. Our half-forwards pushing up combined with our mids form the basis to that team pressure. However, we've been failing at that so far this year (1st qtr vs Coll; 1st three qtrs vs Haw). We've been beaten in the post-stoppage phase due to our lack of pressure and way too many mistackles. So opposition midfields if they don't win the contested footy at the initial stoppage (we've been losing contested as well), still get it to their outside mids and wings who burn us. It's a double wammy because opposition defenders know they don't have to follow their Richmond half-forwards up the ground as their mids are still winning the ball from the middle and generate a matchwinning number of forward entries and goals. Their defenders can sit back which prevent the opportunity of balls getting out the back for our small forwards to run onto and enable their defence to pick off our F50 entries which as TK says have been too shallow.