Can Richmond challenge again in 2022? [merged]

[one-eyed]

FWIW, Dwayne Russell on SEN is tipping us to finish 3rd as well.

Dwayne Russell’s top eight for 2022 below:

Melbourne

Brisbane

Richmond

Port Adelaide

Sydney

Western Bulldogs

Geelong

Essendon

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/03/11/dwayne-russells-top-8-for-the-2022-afl-season/

[one-eyed]

Barrett in his Sliding Doors column:



IF ...
you go back to 1991 ...

THEN ...
you'll recall the Hawks won a flag they weren't really expected to win, adding a fifth title to an already-great premiership winning era. No reason the Tigers can't add a fourth to their already great streak.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/717151/if-you-re-one-of-the-many-critics-of-this-club-then

[MintOnLamb]

Will all depend on injuries

[one-eyed]

The Age journos' predictions for Richmond:

Jake Niall             8th
Michael Gleeson   3rd
Peter Ryan           2nd
Jon Pierik            3rd
Andrew Wu         4th
Greg Baum         9th
Sam McClure      9th
Caroline Wilson   1st

Avg. Age reader  4th

---------------------------

What Jake Niall thinks

The Tigers are in a race against the clock, having bombed out in the latter half of 2021. The veterans are getting on – Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Shane Edwards are well past 30, while even Dusty Martin and new co-captain Dylan Grimes are 30. That said, there’s one more shot in the locker for these club heroes. To contend, as I predict they will, they’ll need Shai Bolton to shine again, Noah Balta to rebound from injury, some kids to push through and Dusty to stay upright. There’s a short-term window they can squeeze through and they should be more settled than in a messy 2021.

Why they can make the eight

After three premierships in four seasons, Richmond hit the wall after the bye last season when injuries piled up and the effort expended gave their opponents a chance to overrun them. Refreshed, with Dustin Martin healthy and other key players revitalised, the Tigers remain dangerous. After having such a settled line-up since 2017 the club sensibly went to the national draft to give young talent a chance to learn the game in the presence of seasoned veterans. They also have new skippers Toby Nankervis and Dylan Grimes and a desire to prove they are still the best. Star midfielder Dion Prestia is looking sharp after just 18 games in two seasons and Ivan Soldo’s return is welcome.  - Peter Ryan

Why they can't make the eight

Having been at the top of the pile for so long, questions around their hunger remain relevant as it will only take a slight dip in their competitive edge to drop off the pace. Noah Balta has gone forward and they are trying to quickly transform former Kangaroo Robbie Tarrant and first-year player Josh Gibcus into their defensive pillars alongside Grimes. Jack Riewoldt is a champion but is in his twilight as is former captain Trent Cotchin. If their form drops at all then the Tigers, who are also likely to be without Kane Lambert, will be weakened. - Peter Ryan

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-season-preview-dees-tipped-for-another-flag-but-don-t-discount-the-tigers-20220310-p5a3e3.html

[georgies31]

Got love Sam McClure a carlton tragic.

[one-eyed]

From today's The Age:

The most intriguing teams, besides the 2021 premiers, are Victorian rivals Richmond and Carlton, who will meet on Thursday before 80,000 or so.

Richmond and Carlton represent riddles of a different hue. For the Tigers, the question is whether they’ve got one more crack at a premiership, before time’s winged chariot hurries past.

I think they can return to the top four. A slowing Jack Riewoldt is still a force. New co-captain Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin are superb defenders and Noah Balta can fill a post at either end. Tom Lynch is in his prime.

And they’re a vastly improved team with Dustin Martin, a transformational footballer whose absence sank them late in 2021. Dion Prestia will be crucial in a midfield that isn’t top-four calibre.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/from-top-to-bottom-why-melbourne-richmond-and-carlton-are-the-clubs-to-watch-in-2022-20220313-p5a49a.html

[one-eyed]

AFL website journos' predictions for Richmond:

Damian Barrett      5th
Riley Beveridge      4th
Sarah Black           7th
Nat Edwards          6th
Josh Gabelich        3rd
Sarah Olle             4th
Nathan Schmook   6th
Callum Twomey     4th
Michael Whiting     5th



Damian Barrett's Big call: Dusty to be Clarko's first signing at Gold Coast, De Goey his second.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/717215/crystal-ball-our-predictions-for-the-2022-afl-season-are-in

[one-eyed]

Armchair Experts: Cameron Luke, Georgie Parker and Adam Cooney's preview of Richmond's 2022 season:

Click pic to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RgGmb1lLGI

[Francois Jackson]

Armchair idiots is what they are.

[one-eyed]

“I’ve got seven teams - Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Richmond as locks,” Buckley said on SEN Breakfast.

“That’s seven of our top eight.

“I have Collingwood, GWS, Essendon, Fremantle, Carlton, West Coast and St Kilda in a second tier that are vying for that eighth spot.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/03/14/buckleys-top-eight-locks-plus-best-and-worst-case-scenarios-for-four-teams/

[Damo]

If West Coke make the 8 , I will jump up and stay up

[one-eyed]

Tom Morris on Fox Footy ...

And I firmly believe 2021 will prove to be an anomaly for the Tigers. Nothing went right for them last season and with a fit Dustin Martin and an extra month of pre-season, I expect them to be very difficult to overcome. Their dynasty may have another chapter yet.

LADDER PREDICTION

1. Brisbane Lions
2. Melbourne
3. Richmond
4. Port Adelaide
5. Sydney Swans
6. Western Bulldogs
7. Essendon
8. Carlton
---------------------------------
9. Geelong Cats
10. GWS Giants
11. St Kilda
12. Fremantle
13. Adelaide Crows
14. Gold Coast Suns
15. Hawthorn
16. North Melbourne
17. Collingwood
18. West Coast Eagles

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2022-tom-morris-predicted-ladder-every-club-ranked-analysis-season-preview-top-eight-finals/news-story/e8fe4d752022dac6cbda2e348c4ddf98

[one-eyed]

Tigers fans look away now!

David Schwarz tips for the upcoming AFL season are in!

1. Melbourne
2. Port Adelaide
3. Western Bulldogs
4. Brisbane Lions
5. Sydney
6. Geelong
7. Carlton
8. GWS

https://www.3aw.com.au/the-ox-reveals-his-2022-predictions/

-------------------------------------------------------

Matthew Lloyd’s ladder for 2022:

1. Melbourne
2. Brisbane
3. Western Bulldogs
4. Sydney
5. Port Adelaide
6. GWS
7. Essendon
8. Richmond

https://www.3aw.com.au/matthew-lloyd-reveals-his-top-eight-for-season-2022/

[one-eyed]

Fox Footy predictions:

Richmond to make the finals
Dermott Brereton, Jonathan Brown, Ben Cotton, Jason Dunstall, Cath Durkin, Drew Jones, David King, Max Laughton, Jordan Lewis, Chole Molloy, Cameron Mooney, Leigh Montagna, Tom Morris, Jon Ralph, Mark Ricciuto, Nick Riewoldt, Mark Robinson, Ben Waterworth.

Richmond won't play finals
Nathan Buckley, Nick Dal Santo, Brad Johnson, Garry Lyon.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-predictions-2022-who-wins-premiership-flag-fox-footy-tips-brownlow-medal-odds-rising-star/news-story/a7c008fcd754406b7df2d6a70a5f1a8e

[one-eyed]

The six teams that can legitimately win the flag in season 2022

Rohan Connolly
ESPN
16 March 2022

Western Bulldogs
Melbourne
Brisbane
Port Adelaide
Sydney
Richmond
Whether 2021 was the beginning of the end for one of the modern game's greatest eras or just a temporary blip is one of this season's most fascinating questions. And after sticking with the Tigers a lot longer than many others last year, it won't surprise I think they're again a definite flag chance. In doing so, I'm putting much stock in the frankly ridiculous injury catalogue from last year which saw up to 10 key players miss an average of 10 games each, and choosing to largely ignore just two wins in the last 10 games, when the Tigers basically worked out the gig was up (for that season at least). With the third-oldest list in 2022, Richmond will need much better treatment at the hands of the injury gods, but you've only got to scan a list of names still including the likes of Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Tom Lynch, Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert, Dion Prestia, Dylan Grimes, Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards and Jaidyn Short to know these guys are still more than capable.

https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/33293676/afl-rohan-connolly-six-teams-legitimately-win-flag-season-2022