Chris Cavanagh analyses Richmond’s pre-season loss to Collingwood and the Tigers’ 2025 prospects

Most fans expected Richmond to be bad in 2025. But this bad? CHRIS CAVANAGH says pre-season has painted a grim picture of what lies ahead for Tigers supporters.

There’s every chance that Richmond will set an unwanted record in coming weeks.

In their history, the Tigers’ most consecutive losses stand at 15 matches across the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

Two decades on, they are staring down the barrel of an update to that stat.

Adem Yze’s side lost its final 10 matches of last year — and it is hard to see where the wins are going to come from in the early part of 2025.

Richmond meets Carlton, Port Adelaide (away), St Kilda, Brisbane Lions, Fremantle and Gold Coast to start the home-and-away season.

And there aren’t exactly a cavalry or stars set to return after two poor pre-season showings.

Of course, another tough year was always expected after a two-win campaign last season and an exodus of senior players.

The Tigers invested in the draft over the off-season and will enter this year as the second-youngest and least-experienced side in the competition.

Harry Armstrong kicks for goal. Picture: Michael Klein

Bobby Hill and Oleg Markov celebrate a goal for Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

However, it is going to be a very long year if they can’t find a way to hit the scoreboard more often — and limit their opposition from doing so.

Across two pre-season matches against West Coast and Collingwood, Yze’s side has a combined losing margin of 119 points.

As much as they had a crack in an 83-point loss to the Magpies at Princes Park on Wednesday night, there are some major deficiencies at both ends of the ground.

Despite recording a healthy 51 inside-50s — just two fewer than Collingwood — the Tigers kicked only six goals for the game, after booting just four majors against the Eagles.

The connection and execution going forward wasn’t there, which only made it harder for a rotation of raw key forwards in Jacob Bauer (two goals), Samson Ryan, Harry Armstrong, Liam Fawcett and Thomas Sims.

Smalls Steely Green, Maurice Rioli and Seth Campbell similarly struggled to make their presence felt and scored two behinds between them.

The experienced Tom Lynch says he will be back to tackle the Blues in round 1, after missing the clash with Collingwood through concussion protocols.

But how much can be expected from the 32-year-old?

Lynch has managed just eight games across the past two years combined, as much as his return will be welcomed with open arms.

Tom Lynch’s return from injury can’t come soon enough for the Tigers. Picture: Mark Stewart

“He’s a great leader around the club and we know about his AFL ability,” Richmond assistant coach Chris Newman said of Lynch.

“He provides a really strong contest for us, but more importantly he provides some experience in our front end. We’re really young in our front end at the moment, and I think the great thing with Tom is he’ll be able to come in and impact straight away, but also provide some real strong guidance for our young boys.”

No. 1 draft pick Sam Lalor – who kicked two of the side’s four goals against the Eagles – is also eyeing a return against Carlton in what would be another boost to the attack.

But the backline – which gave up 21 goals to an accurate Magpies’ side on Wednesday night – is what it is for the early part of the season.

Premiership defender Noah Balta (suspended) will miss the first four weeks, while the talented Josh Gibcus could still be sidelined for the first two months.

Ben Miller tries to spoil Daniel McStay. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Jacob Blight will need to shoulder a big load in defence. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It means Ben Miller and 2024 mid-season draft pick Jacob Blight will need to hold the fort in key posts across the early rounds.

Blight again showed some good signs with his intercept marking against the Magpies, but also put his inexperience on show in multiple one-on-one contests.

He looks like being a player but simply needs more time at the top level.

Add in a midfield that looks a little one-paced and Yze has plenty of problems and few quick fixes.

Richmond has had a theme of “making every minute matter” over pre-season.

There are 14 days – equal to 20,160 minutes – left for this young side to find some further improvement before it meets Carlton.

Kiss of Death may be the only tipster to select the Tigers, who will be far more focused on development than wins and losses this year.

But Yze – and fans – would love to at least see a competitive performance against the arch rival.

Originally published as Chris Cavanagh analyses Richmond’s pre-season loss to Collingwood and the Tigers’ 2025 prospects