AFL 2023: What are the roots of the Tigers’ struggles in 2023?

The Tigers’ goalkicking woes are one of many reasons behind their slow start to 2023, with some of their finest stars letting them down in front of the big sticks.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 30: Dustin Martin of the Tigers in action during the 2023 AFL Round 07 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium on April 30, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Richmond has fielded the second-most experienced teams in 2023 – behind only premier Geelong – as calls again emerge for the struggling giant to turbocharge its rebuild by trading megastar Dustin Martin.

The Tigers invested heavily in the 2021 draft by taking Josh Gibcus, Tom Brown and Tyler Sonsie in the top 30, and secured father-son Maurice Rioli in 2020, but are slated to enter this year’s draft at No. 21 after offloading a future first-round pick as part of the trade for Jacob Hopper.

Recruiting sources on Monday said the Tigers had a “nice” batch of players aged under 21 – but after winning flags understandably lacked access to a generational talent in the mould of Will Ashcroft or Nick Daicos.

While Adelaide has assembled under-21s Josh Rachelle, Riley Thilthorpe, Luke Pedlar, Jake Soligo and Max Michalanney, or even St Kilda has stockpiled Mattaes Phillipou, Mitch Owens, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Ryan Byrnes and Marcus Windhager, there is less certainty about Richmond’s kids.

Despite coach Damien Hardwick conceding he doesn’t have “a lot of magnets to shuffle” due to the club’s injury list, Thomson Dow has not added to his 13 AFL games this year and is averaging 24 disposals in the VFL.

Hardwick has lamented his side’s injury list to start this season. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hugo Ralphsmith joined him in the VFL on Sunday while Judson Clarke remains on the fringe and was the substitute against Gold Coast.

Defender Rhyan Mansell was thrown forward in the VFL, where he kicked three goals, while Tyler Sonsie and Samson Ryan have played most of the past month.

There is a sense the Tigers have enough talent to work with however former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley put Martin’s future on the agenda on Monday by declaring it could be a win-win for the living legend to finish his career elsewhere.

“Go and play a couple of years at a club and give himself another chance to add to his amazing resume. It might actually help Richmond in the short term as well, and into the long term,” Buckley told SEN.

It’s understood Suns football boss Wayne Campbell had a conversation about securing Martin last year although a potential move would seem highly unlikely given Martin turns 32 next month and is contracted on huge money until 2024.

Martin still gets the ball in dangerous areas and playing as a permanent forward he is rated elite by Champion Data for disposals, contested ball and contested marks despite only kicking 4.4 this year.

Dustin Martin is still producing strong numbers. But his 14 shots on goal have netted 4.4 (six no-scores) and Nathan Buckley has questioned whether he could be traded.

Free agent Nathan Broad, 30, has interest to depart Punt Rd while the Tigers have strong interest in free agent Harry Himmelberg and could poach a third Giant in 12 months.

The Tigers’ offensive game has fallen off a cliff with their set-shot goalkicking costing them a shot at victory against Melbourne and again letting them down on Sunday.

The club’s 2022 profile – when it scored heavily but was also opened up defensively – has flipped.

This year the Tigers rank 16th for scores and are last in the AFL at generating a score per inside 50m.

Alarmingly, they rank 17th for points scored from turnovers and are the worst team at scoring from a front-half intercept.

In their premiership run from 2017 scoring off turnovers was their one-wood and nine of the past 10 premiers have ranked in the top six for points from turnover differential.

They also rank last for converting any chain into a score – be it a turnover, clearance or kick-in.

Over the five-game losing streak their defensive numbers have also started to erode. In that block they rank 12th for points conceded, 12th for points against from turnovers and 10th for defending ball movement.

While they are mostly ranked mid table defensively, there are red flags popping up and it has become a watch.

On Sunday the Tigers lost contested ball 28-9 inside their forward 50m. Clubs aren’t expected to win that count, as defenders often outnumber forwards, but it shouldn’t be a flogging and only North Melbourne (-22) recorded a worse round 7 differential.

At the other of the ground end Hardwick left youngster Tylar Young on boom forward Ben King, who kicked four goals in the first three quarters.

Noah Balta kept Mabior Chol quiet for the first three quarters before Balta moved forward while Dylan Grimes played deep on the likes of Bailey Humphrey, Alex Davies and Alex Sexton and Broad had Jack Lukosius.

Hardwick did move Liam Baker into defence after he started forward and could be tempted to throw Jayden Short in to the centre square, a tactic which worked in 2022, to complement Hopper and Tim Taranto.

The Tigers have no regrets about trading in Hopper and Taranto on seven-year contracts and many in the industry are surprised at the negativity.

They are long-term leaders expected to outperform the draft capital traded away and while Jack Viney received the medal on Anzac eve it was Taranto who polled the most coaches votes and almost sparked a comeback on Sunday.

Thomson Dow had 28 disposals and 11 clearances in the VFL on Sunday.

While the top-four hopes are shot and the Tigers will spend the rest of the season playing catch-up, their next four games are at the MCG against West Coast, Geelong, Essendon and Port Adelaide.

Ultimately playing Ivan Soldo, Ben Miller and Ryan instead of injured trio Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis and Gibcus is hurting.

There was also the unexpected premature retirement of occasional whipping boy Jason Castagna, who applied fiercer forward pressure than Noah Cumberland or Martin.

Jack Graham is expected to return through the VFL this week while Dion Prestia will return against the Eagles.

“I’m an eternal optimist, I still think our best is good enough,” Hardwick said.