Save Our Season: Tigers target key areas for improvementAnthony Colangelo
The Age
29 June 2020Richmond must start games better, make fewer mistakes, improve their midfield hunger and work out a way to stay connected amid the coronavirus pandemic if they are to save their season, those at the club believe.
An optimistic Trent Cotchin said after the Tigers' loss to the Saints on Saturday that his side's perormance was an improvement on their loss to Hawthorn a week earlier, but there was more work to be done.
"I think it was an improvement on last week’s game [in] our energy and effort we brought to the contest," Cotchin said.
"It’s another loss on the scoreboard, but I think the boys have been really good at going within and the work we are doing during the week will only hold us in good stead going forward."
A club insider said there was some concern the group was lacking hunger after an exemplary three years that has yielded two flags and a preliminary final loss.
The same person said the players would relish the chance to spend an away trip together given the importance Richmond have placed on connection during this period of success.
Richmond will travel to the Gold Coast hub a day early on Wednesday to play West Coast on Thursday off a five-day break having received special permission from the AFL to not fly up on the day.
"That [connection] is part of what’s been taken away from us through coronavirus is spending more time together so I think we will all be pretty excited to get on a plane and get away," Cotchin, the skipper, also said.
"[Toby Nankervis] Gave our midfielders first opportunity [so] it’s now up to us to repay him the faith in executing our plan from stoppage."
Cotchin was disappointed the Tigers were jumped again at the start by the Saints.
"It was better than the last couple of weeks," he said. "[It’s] clearly something we will continue to look at. Energy was better but again we don’t want to give teams head starts."
Since the resumption of the season Richmond have trailed at quarter time 4.1 to 0.1, 5.3 to 0.1 and 5.2 to 4.1 (although the Saints kicked four of the first five goals).
"We’ve been here before," Cotchin said. "I have incredible confidence in everyone who puts on a Richmond jumper and all our staff that we will work together through this, we will make sure we’re improving during the week."
Richmond's reserve players smashed St Kilda 9.7.121 to 5.1.31 on Saturday at Punt Road.
Mabior Chol kicked five goals, wingman Patrick Naish three and dropped forward Daniel Rioli two.
Defender Ryan Garthwaite and dropped premiership duo Jack Graham and Marlion Pickett were among their side's best players.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/save-our-season-tigers-target-key-areas-for-improvement-20200628-p55700.html
