Richmond 2022 preview: Season predictions for the Tigers
He’s played in three senior flags but, as the new generation of Tiger cubs come through, should he still be in Richmond’s best 22? Debate here
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Is the dynasty over or was 2021 just a bump in the road for the Tigers?
Injuries in the back half of the year, none bigger than to triple Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin, ended all hope for a last-minute resurgence.
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But they’re not crying rebuild or recession at Punt Rd just yet, instead a sharp rebound is being predicted by Brendon Gale and co for this blue-chip club.
Will Hogan looks at the Tigers ahead of 2022.
What happened in 2021?
When the Tigers went down to West Coast in an epic nailbiter in Perth in June, it seemed a potential finals preview.
As it happened, the wheels fell off both teams after that night with the Tigers crashing all the way to 12th. A scrambled Jack Riewoldt goal with seconds to go in the final round against Hawthorn gave the reigning premier a 2-1-6 record from the final nine matches.
There were some excuses, including a cursed run with injuries that took out almost the entire starting backline and midfield in different blocks – plus Dusty for the final five rounds.
The toll of four consecutive deep finals campaigns, including the Covid-impacted 2020 October flag, clearly caught up with the entire club. After four full months of rest before Christmas, they are ready to reload.
What happens in 2022?
It will be a careful balance between giving one last swan song for the Killers side-act Jack Riewoldt and inspirational leader Trent Cotchin and ensuring the club’s youth are afforded ample opportunity. That juggling act, coupled with a fit Martin, will see the triple premiers return to the finals realm.
The Tigers have taken a hit to their talls stocks with the departure of Callum-Coleman Jones and Mabior Chol, but will be boosted by the return of a fit Ivan Soldo, which covers those losses in the short term.
A solid spine and star power in the midfield are the biggest factors in not writing off Richmond just yet despite a disappointing finish to 2021.
The Tigers are looking to the future with a suite of early draft picks but with names like Tom Lynch, Robbie Tarrant, Dion Prestia, and Dylan Grimes alongside Martin, Cotchin and Riewoldt all entering or near their twilight years, they’ll still see themselves as a contender come September.
BEST 22 IN ’22
B: Grimes, Balta, Vlastuin
HB: Rioli, Tarrant, Short
C: Graham, Martin, McIntosh
HF: Lambert, Lynch, Bolton
F: Edwards, Riewoldt, Baker
Foll: Nankervis, Prestia, Cotchin
INT: Broad, Stack, Collier-Dawkins, Soldo
EMG: Pickett, Ross, Mansell, Rioli Jr
Biggest improver in 2022?
After biding his time in the VFL for two-and-a-half seasons, Riley Collier-Dawkins got his chance in Round 7 last year and didn’t take long to show the AFL world what he’s capable of.
Two weeks later against the Giants he registered 18 disposals, seven tackles, four clearances and two goals to play a key role in Richmond’s best win of the season.
His nine games were enough to claim the club’s best first-year player award, but the Tigers need Collier-Dawkins to take his game to another level in 2022.
With Cotchin likely in his final season, Shane Edwards nearing the end of his brilliant career and Martin and Kane Lambert both 30, the midfield baton is ready to be passed to a new generation. And Collier-Dawkins has the tools to lead that group that also includes Jack Ross, Thomson Dow, Will Martyn and exciting draftee Tyler Sonsie.
X-FACTOR
The obvious answer is the man with the trademark fend-off, but it’s Shai Bolton who deserves this mantle now. Everything Bolton touches reeks of X-factor quality and we saw those glimpses start to become a more regular feature of his game in 2021. From his now famous mark of the year to matchwinning goals, Bolton looked like he was about to elevate his status in the game even further before an incident in a nightclub that resulted in a broken his hand halted his momentum. Bolton wasn’t poor in the back half of the year, but he didn’t reach the dizzying heights of his mark at the MCG or his form in the first half. But the platform has been created and there’s no reason the mercurial midfielder/forward can’t add an All-Australian jacket to his CV.
COACH STATUS
The master coach penned a contract before the season began which will see him at Tigerland until at least 2024. There were some well documented issues about Damien Hardwick’s demeanour during the Covid-19 enforced pause of the 2020 season and in the hub as well as a breakdown of his marriage, but Hardwick is still one of the most revered coaches in the game.
Brendon Gale told the Herald Sun earlier this year he doesn’t believe in premiership windows so essentially they’re ready to pounce at a fourth flag under Hardwick’s guidance. But the Tigers are definitely in a refresh mode, equipping themselves with a suite of top draftees. If Hardwick can add to his already long list of achievements in yellow and black then he’ll further etch his name in Tigers folklore.
Who’s is in the last year of their contract
Jack Ross, Liam Baker, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Sydney Stack, Jayden Short, Daniel Rioli, Marlion Pickett, Jake Aarts, Josh Caddy, Kane Lambert, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Samson Ryan, Nathan Broad, Will Martyn, Matthew Parker, Ben Miller, Mate Colina, Maurice Rioli, Noah Cumberland (re-rookied), Bigoa Nyuon (re-rookied)
INS FOR 2022
Robbie Tarrant (traded from North Melbourne), Josh Gibcus (draft pick 9), Tom Brown (draft pick 17), Tyler Sonsie (draft pick 28), Sam Banks (draft pick 29), Judson Clarke (draft pick 30)
OUTS FROM 2021
David Astbury (retired), Mabior Chol (free agent – Gold Coast), Callum Coleman-Jones (traded to North Melbourne), Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (delisted), Ryan Garthwaite (delisted), Bachar Houli (retired), Patrick Naish (delisted)
FIRST SIX GAMES AND HOW MANY THEY WIN
Rd 1: Carlton @ MCG (L)
Rd 2: GWS MCG (W)
Rd 3: St Kilda @ Marvel Stadium (W)
Rd 4: Western Bulldogs @ MCG (L)
Rd 5: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval (W)
Rd 6: Melbourne @ MCG (L)
Prediction: 3 wins, 3 losses
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