Richmond has created the most dominant intercept-marking team ever assembled, writes David King
RICHMOND’s backline collapses with the discipline of the RAF Roulettes and what the opposition thought was a goal-scoring opportunity is quickly swallowed by the Yellow and Black Hole, writes David King.
Richmond
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THE Yellow and Black Hole is the space Richmond’s opposition generally call centre half-forward, or the forward 50, but this area is where the Tigers prowl.
High balls are treated as space junk and any kick short is akin to throwing a golf ball at a brick wall.
The Tigers are the best team without possession of the football and it’s the main reason they’re without peer atop of the AFL table.
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All of Damien Hardwick’s players collapse back defensively to assist their defensive six without hesitation and with the regimental spacing of the RAF Roulettes.
The Richmond defensive crew is based on an unwavering trust that all other defences aspire to as Alex Rance, Nick Vlastuin and David Astbury never doubt or hesitate, they just act and impact with the supreme confidence that their mate has their back. And they always do.
The prime focus area for cover is the leading lane of the opposition’s forwards.
Twenty years ago it would be referred to as standing in the hole, risking Tony Lockett or Gary Ablett’s wrath, but the modern defender is prepared to pay a physical price for the common cause.
The Tigers’ penchant to position themselves in the Yellow and Black Hole has unearthed the most dominant intercept marking team ever assembled, averaging 19 per game.
This method has also shifted away from the defensive 50m and is visible further upfield, through to the wings, as the Richmond defenders guard the most likely desired or usable space, often 10-15m from their direct opponent.
If the opposition forwards position themselves further than a long kick from the ball carrier they’re redundant and allow the Tigers an extra number where as they refuse to guard unlikely targets.
Alex Rance is the premier defender in the AFL, endorsed by successive All-Australian honours over the past four years but it’s time to recognise the improvement those around Rance.
Nick Vlastuin is a Luke Hodge clone.
Vlastuin is the AFL’s most prolific intercept marker across the half-back flank this season has a such has entered a new stratosphere as a player.
Seriously tough with elite decision-making and execution but prepared to “swim outside the flags” with his aggression, or should I say his unsocial nature.
Vlastuin is one of a rare breed of player who seeks contact.
Built like a bollard, I’ve no doubt Vlastuin at some stage throughout his AFL stint will be nominated for the Robert Rose Award for the game’s most courageous.
David Astbury has ranked inside the AFL’s top five intercept defenders in the defensive half of the ground since the start of 2016.
He plays on the best opposition forward and has better one-on-one success rate out-marking his opponent than his mate Rance.
Rance outmarks his opponent through position and guile while Astbury can intercept just as effectively from a body-on-body starting point.
They’re the perfect one-two punch key position defenders.
Jayden Short is the kicker and Dylan Grimes as Mr Fix-it always takes the awkward match-up like Eddie Betts or the Robbie Gray types and rarely lowers his colours as his reach and speed
compliment his competitiveness, but they aren’t part of the intercept crew.
Nor Nathan Broad who’s more dour than dynamic but provides a stabilising influence on the core defensive group.
Richmond concedes the third fewest inside 50m opportunities, averaging a tick under 50 a week, yet they take the AFL’s most intercept marks inside their defensive 50m (seven on
average) and also across half-back (six on average).
As Ross Lyon would say, “they catch and kill their own”.
It takes a complete team to win a premiership and the uniqueness of the Tiger small forward line and pressuring midfield are often topics on conversation, but is it the chicken or the egg? Is it harassment that causes the opposition’s erratic and ineffective kicking that the interceptors pick off or the defenders’ positioning that creates hesitation from the ball carrier allowing that pressure to come?
Pressure at the source (where the football is currently positioned) is significantly different to
pressure at the destination (where the next kick is likely to land). The Richmond ethos embraces both facets, hence their success and until an opposition coach finds the solution nothing will change.
What will Chris Scott commit to the Richmond coach’s box?
An innovative coach who won’t get beaten by what he already knows. At Round 20 it would be an opportune time to crack the code.
Tom Hawkins is the competition’s most in-form forward and stands between the Tigers and the four points.
Tom has kicked 42 goals since Round 7 which is four more than Tom McDonald and 12 goals clear of the next ranked pair Jack Riewoldt and Ben Brown.
After Astbury was a late withdrawal Ryan Garthwaite played his only AFL game to date on Tom last time they met and kept the power forward to three goals, .
It will be a mix of the Rance-Astbury one-two punch at the MCG but the Yellow and Black Hole will not allow easy chest marks on the lead from the goalsquare or anywhere remotely close to the corridor of the ground.
If Geelong can’t deny Richmond their method behind the football, in defence, then they’ll suffer the same fate as the rest of the competition over the past 18 months.
Tigers by three to four goals, with a statement from Alex Rance.
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