Field Marshal: Richmond’s tackling has been shocking the past 10 years

RICHMOND has been among the worst tackling side for most of the last 10 years which has continually sabotaged the Tigers’ finals aspirations. TOP TACKLERS AT YOUR CLUB

Brandon Ellis attempts to lay a tackle on Melbourne’s Jack Viney. Picture: Getty Images

WE’D like to say Richmond has been bringing a knife to a gun fight, but it’s worse than that.

For a decade, the Tigers have been wielding feather dusters.

The Herald Sun can reveal Richmond has been the worst — and close to the worst — tackling side in the AFL for most of the last 10 years.

The astonishing lack of pressure and defensive intent, dating back to the Terry Wallace era and continuing well into Damien Hardwick’s reign, has continually sabotaged the Tigers’ finals aspirations.

Since 2007 Richmond has ranked last for tackles four times, second-last once and third-last once. Incredibly, its best league ranking in the last 10 seasons is 10th.

Of course, logic says if you’re winning the ball then tackle numbers will dwindle. But Richmond isn’t doing that either.

In the Tigers’ last two losses — to North Melbourne and Port Adelaide — they’ve been obliterated in both. Against the Kangaroos they lost contested ball by 15 and tackles by 36. Against the Power it was 17 contested ball and 41 tackles — the second-biggest differential in any game this year.

Tackling speaks to intensity and attitude. Sydney is the best tackling team in the competition and is a game off top spot. Hawthorn ranks fourth and is on top.

Shaun Grigg and Connor Menadue try to tackle West Coast’s Chris Masten, who is still able to get a handball away. Picture: Getty Images

The irony is that, as a player, Hardwick was a gritty, aggressive back-flanker who would tackle a truck if he had to. One can only imagine his frustration at his side’s refusal to roll the sleeves up.

“I thought they outhunted us and were more physical around the contest than we were. We got beaten in those areas,” Hardwick said in Adelaide on Friday night.

In the Power disaster, 12 Richmond players had two tackles or less.

Dustin Martin had two, Brandon Ellis one, Brett Deledio one, Shane Edwards had one, Taylor Hunt one and Nick Vlastuin didn’t even lay one.

Martin averages 3.7 tackles a game in 2016. To put that into context, his contemporaries in the elite midfielder sphere — Gary Ablett (6.3 tackles a game), Dan Hannebery (5.4) and Scott Pendlebury (5.1) — all show more desire to stop the opposition.

Martin is having a superb season and possesses an offensive threat matched by few, but surely behind closed doors Tigers officials lament his lack of defensive intent.

Ellis goes at only 2.7 tackles each week and another ball winner, Shaun Grigg, sits on 3.9. It’s nowhere near enough.

Wallace, the former Richmond coach-turned commentator, said Richmond “just aren’t playing with enough physicality”.

“My belief has always been the best sides take something away from their opposition. I don’t think Richmond do that; I don’t think Richmond take anything off the opposition,” Wallace told SEN.

“If you don’t come with physicality to your game you’re going to get beaten.”

CLUTCHING AT THIN AIR

Tigers’ tackle rankings

2007 — Last

2008 — Last

2009 — 11th

2010 — 12th

2011 — 15th

2012 — 10th

2013 — Last

2014 — 14th

2015 — 17th

2016 — Last

BEST TACKLERS AT YOUR CLUB THIS YEAR

Adelaide: Rory Sloane (107), Scott Thompson (91)

Brisbane: Mitch Robinson (79), Daniel Rich (72)

Carlton: Ed Curnow (99), Patrick Cripps (77)

Collingwood: Levi Greenwood (104), Adam Treloar (84)

Essendon: Zach Merrett (96), Craig Bird (68)

Fremantle: Chris Mayne (78), Michael Barlow (77)

Geelong: Mark Blicavs (89), Patrick Dangerfield (71)

Gold Coast: Gary Ablett (82), Dion Prestia (67)

GWS Giants: Stephen Coniglio (68), Shane Mumford (68)

Hawthorn: Liam Shiels (110), Cyril Rioli (75)

Melbourne: Jack Viney (90), Tom Bugg, Nathan Jones (71)

North Melbourne: Andrew Swallow (107), Jack Ziebell (75)

Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert (94), Ollie Wines (87)

Richmond: Anthony Miles (62), Trent Cotchin (61)

St Kilda: Jack Steven (82), David Armitage (82)

Sydney: Luke Parker (95), Tom Mitchell (90)

West Coast: Matt Priddis (107), Luke Shuey (83)

Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore (81), Jack Macrae (69)

Originally published as Field Marshal: Richmond’s tackling has been shocking the past 10 years