THE DAMNING STATS BEHIND RICHMOND’S ‘ALMOST’ SEASONBy Andrew Slevison
SEN
11 July 2022Richmond has so far endured a season of missed opportunities.
The Tigers only have themselves to blame for their current predicament which has them sitting inside the eight with four sides right behind and in hot pursuit.
On Saturday evening, they lost the near-unlosable to Gold Coast.
At one stage, Damien Hardwick’s side led by 40 points in the third quarter and 28 points at the final change, but capitulated in an almost comical way.
A lack of discipline, which has plagued them for a few years now, as well as fundamental skill errors from senior players cost them dearly.
Some inexperience and a few unlucky injuries didn’t help, but largely the damage was done by players who should know and execute better.
(And how handy would Nick Vlastuin have been against the Suns if he was not suspended for an undisciplined act).
It was the most recent mishap in a season that at times has promised plenty but has disappointed just as frequently.
The Tigers have led at three-quarter time in 14 of 16 matches this year and only have a record of 9-7 to show for it.
On five occasions they have coughed up significant leads in the third or fourth terms and lost.
Carlton (Round 1): 21 points ahead in fourth quarter.
Lost.St Kilda (Round 3): 25 points ahead in third quarter.
Lost.Sydney (Round 11): 32 points ahead in third quarter.
Lost.Geelong (Round 15): 17 points ahead in fourth quarter.
Lost.Gold Coast (Round 17): 40 points ahead in third quarter.
Lost.They also led Melbourne by nine points in the third quarter of their eventual defeat to the reigning premiers.
Then there are the opposition blowouts in games they eventually won after leading comfortably.
Collingwood, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Carlton (the Round 14 version) and West Coast all ate into larger deficits with late blasts.
It’s almost the opposite of their premiership years when they would grind teams into the ground before blowing them away late.
Take into account their three most recent defeats to Sydney by six points, Geelong by three points and the Suns by two points.
If those games went the other way, the Tigers would be on 12 wins and battling for a top four position.
But the footy gods don’t care about ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. Actual results only, please.
Only the top two teams, Geelong and Melbourne, have won more quarters this season.
Only fourth-placed Brisbane have scored more points.
But none of that matters if you don’t capitalise on the chances you create for yourself or if you fail to make the most of it in big moments.
On top of the missed opportunities, there are injuries to deal with.
Tom Lynch is expected to miss some weeks with a hamstring, Ivan Soldo has a thumb issue, Dustin Martin and Noah Balta remain hamstrung, Trent Cotchin is nursing a broken collarbone and Kane Lambert is a week-to-week proposition with his troublesome hip.
The club is also sweating on the fitness of co-captain Toby Nankervis who hurt his knee late in the loss to the Suns.
His fitness is paramount to the fortunes of this team. Any time spent on the sidelines would be heavily felt.
“They’re getting maximum out of four or five players, they’re just waiting for some of the senior core troops to come back,” David King noted on SEN’s Whateley.
Next up is the lowly North Melbourne who were good value for a win over Collingwood on Saturday, but just forgot how to win at the death. Sounds familiar.
The Kangaroos will be chipper after that and no doubt be keen to take a scalp or two on the way home. They will present a challenge.
After that it is Fremantle, Brisbane, Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and Essendon. Wins are required.
Getting the season back on track after such a heartbreaking defeat is one of the biggest tests Hardwick, his coaching staff and players have faced of late.
In past years, you would have faith that the Tigers could answer the challenge.
With what has gone on at stages this year, who knows?
“All I know is you don’t want to play Richmond in September,” King added.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/07/11/the-damning-stats-behind-richmonds-almost-season/
