Comparisons to 2017 premiership campaign put Richmond on track for another flag
Richmond is building ominously toward another premiership tilt and the eerie comparison to its 2017 campaign suggests the club’s premiership rivals will have their work cut out.
Premiership favourite Richmond is surging toward finals and the statistics suggest another flag could be headed to Punt Road.
Two years ago, when Richmond ended a 37-year premiership drought, it had a 13-6 record after Round 20 when set the platform for their grand final win over Adelaide.
After Saturday night’s victory over Melbourne — their sixth in a row — Richmond again has a 13-6 record.
But the eerie similarities go well beyond win-loss.
Richmond had registered 1649 points for after Round 20 in 2017. This year? 1649 points.
And the Tigers’ defensive record is almost identical to two years ago (1472 points against in 2017, 1482 points this year).
“You can some positives out of stats,” Tigers defender Bachar Houli said on Channel 7.
“But the game is so competitive. We are seeing six teams right now, probably a bit more than that, that can take it away this year.
“It’s the process, it’s about focusing on every week. We have got three really competitive games coming up.
“None more important than the last two as well against West Coast and Brisbane Lions who are all fighting for a spot in the top four.”
This time last year Richmond against Melbourne would have been 1st v 4th. Here it was 17th v 4th and Saturday’s game played out exactly according to the ladder positions.
Melbourne were valiant in the first half and the three-point margin at the main break summed up the contest.
Max Gawn was dominating, Bayley Fritsch and Jordan Lewis were providing targets up forward and there was a commitment and thirst for the contest which has been missing a lot throughout the year.
Then the rain came.
We all know the cliche about how the good players get better in the wet, well, it's true when it comes to Richmond which they showed in devastating fashion in the third quarter.
It was almost like they'd looked at the radar before the start of the game and said we'll wait until it hits before going up a gear.
It was no surprise to see Dustin Martin lead the way with his clean hands and precision kicking making a mockery of the conditions.
Bachar Houli and Dion Prestia weren't far behind him while the set shot goalkicking with the wet ball was off the charts with Jack Graham, Daniel Rioli and Tom Lynch all nailing long-range shots.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said the next three weeks will determine exactly where his team sits in the premiership race.
The 33-point victory over the Demons kept Richmond in fourth spot but only a win behind ladder leader Geelong with the order of the top four up for grabs over the next three weeks.
“We get a resurgent Carlton (next week) which we are looking forward to as they are playing some really good footy,” Hardwick said.
“Then we get West Coast and Brisbane so that will give us a real idea where we are at. We control our own destiny and we get see where we finish.”
After being caught by surprise by Melbourne’s “low pressure” tactics in the first half, the
“The pressure on the game was really low, it was a funny sort of game in the first half and probably not what we were expecting out of Melbourne,” Hardwick said.
“Their pressure was really low and we felt we probably had too much time and rushed a bit than what we would have liked.
“I think after halftime, and with the rain, it probably slowed us down and we got the game more on our terms.”
HEAD SHAKING
Given this game was done by midway through the third quarter it again gave Melbourne fans plenty of time to wonder what has gone wrong.
They’ve clearly benefited from the upheaval which has been going on elsewhere around the league as they quickly slipped into the irrelevant category for 2019.
The fact Simon Goodwin’s job wasn’t under threat helped ensure the spotlight has never lingered too long on them.
Injuries over the summer was the first excuse then injuries to key players early in the season was the next narrative but how there is no resemblance to the exciting team from last year is inexplicable.
Apart from Max Gawn who has maintained his excellent output, you'd struggle to find many other Demons who haven't gone backwards. Maybe James Harmes and Christian Salem at a pinch.
MAGNET THROWING
Goodwin’s planning for 2020 started weeks ago in the hope that he uncovers a nugget.
Some positives was Jayden Hunt returning to defence where he cut his teeth a couple of years ago.
Fritsch as a forward, which he’s been for most of the season, should become permanent next year even when Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman return.
Harrison Petty again impressed as a key forward but the Braydon Preuss experiment as a back-up to Gawn needs to be binned.
TAKE THAT NANK
Ivan Soldo may be keeping Toby Nankervis' spot warm but he certainly provided one of the highlights of the night with a freak goal early in the third quarter.
The big ruckman seized on a short boundary throw-in and stuck his left boot out to perfect execute a soccer-like cross which sailed through the middle of the goals.
Nankervis is getting closer to return and played his third game back in the VFL on Saturday.
SCOREBOARD
MELBOURNE 3.1 6.2 7.4 9.6 (60)
RICHMOND 3.2 6.5 11.9 13.15 (93)
GOALS
Melbourne: Fritsch 3, Lewis 2, Dunkley 2, Wagner, Brayshaw
Richmond: Lynch 3, Graham 2, Castagna, Chol, Caddy, Lambert, Soldo, Rioli, Martin, Bolton
BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Fritsch, Oliver, Jones
Richmond: Martin, Houli, Edwards, Prestia, Vlastuin, Lynch
INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Rosebury, McInerney
Official crowd: 37,254 at the MCG
Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >
Originally published as Comparisons to 2017 premiership campaign put Richmond on track for another flag
Best 23 locked in? Crows unleash four-headed monster
If what we saw from Adelaide’s forward line on Friday is a sign of things to come, opposition defenders are officially on notice. Get all the intel as the Crows reveal more about their best side.
Match sim intel: Horse returns, young Swans shine, Mills’ move
With former coach John Longmire watching on, a number young Swans took it up to their more experience teammates in another high-intensity four-quarter hitout. Here’s how it all played out.