LACK OF INTENT AND COMMITMENT THE DOWNFALL OF “POOR” AND “TIMID” TIGERSAndrew Slevison
SEN
30 June 2023Richmond copped its heaviest defeat since 2016 when going down to Brisbane by 81 points at the Gabba on Thursday night.
The Tigers were battered from the first bounce to the final siren by a rampant Lions outfit that banged on 20 goals from 68 inside 50s in a statement performance.
David King assessed the Tigers in the aftermath and was particularly critical of their lack of intent and effort around the contest and at stoppages.
King believes it was the most “timid” he has seen the Tigers in quite a while.
“They were pretty poor,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“I thought it was the most timid that I’ve seen Richmond play in a long time.
“The 50-50 balls were 70-30 balls because they didn’t straight-line the footy. They didn’t commit their bodies like they have for a decade.
“Tim Taranto, there was a genuine 50-50 ball and he just took a step to the side to miss the contact. I thought that’s a bad sign early in the game and it leaked and permeated through the group.
“They’d be really disappointed wth their attack on the footy.
Sam Edmund outlined some of the statistical areas where the Tigers, who were coming off the bye deathtrap, were punished.
He wondered where a loss like this leaves a team that is sitting precariously outside the top eight.
“+24 clearance, +26 contest, 30 more (inside 50) entries, 21 marks inside 50,” said Edmund of the Lions’ dominance.
“Richmond were off though, as good as Brisbane were, and that’s now 0-9 for teams coming off the bye.
“We were probably trying to find Richmond’s watermark. Is it bottom half of the eight? Is it eighth or seventh? Or is this actually a true reflection of where they’re at and their ability?
“For as much as they were un-Richmond-like, this might just be about where they’re at.”
King knows caretaker coach Andrew McQualter and the playing group will be downcast by the defeat after simply not giving the effort desired to compete with a premiership contender away from home.
“They’ll be disappointed with their efforts,” he said further.
“They didn’t give themselves a chance, they didn’t compete to the level. If you’re going to beat a top four team on the road, you have to be absolutely full bore.
“They weren’t there.”
Despite the subpar showing, the Tigers did have some excuses with Dustin Martin a late out, joining Dion Prestia (calf) on the sidelines.
Those injuries were further compounded by doing Jayden Short (hamstring) in the first half, but overall they were devoid of effort.
“Not to give them outs because every team is suffering injuries, but when you lose Prestia and Martin, they’re two key pillars to take on the road,” King added.
“It’s very difficult to go to the Gabba and get the chocolates but I thought they’d be better than that.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/06/29/lack-of-intent-and-commitment-the-downfall-of-poor-and-timid-tigers/
