Dermott Brereton explains why Richmond’s small forwards hold the key to winning the Grand Final

SO much has been made of the express pace in the Richmond forward line. But DERMOTT BRERETON believes there is another big reason why the Tigers can win Saturday’s Grand Final.

Daniel Rioli has been a standout for the Tigers during the finals. Picture: Getty Images

SO much has been made of the express pace in the Richmond forward line.

And although the club’s forwards have some genuinely slick wheels, it is another physical attribute that is not getting mentioned that I believe is the reason why the Tigers can win on Saturday.

That is endurance, the raw ability to keep running at full tilt while your opponent drifts behind.

The speedy tackling and pressure players in the forward line like Dan Rioli, Jason Castagna,

Dan Butler and Kane Lambert (when he pushes down through the midfield) are not only quick, but have massive tanks on them.

GRAND FINAL: 29 REASONS WHY RICHMOND MADE IT THIS FAR

JAMES HIRD: TWO HOURS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Trusting the eye, I could see that Rioli has endurance. So when this piqued my interest, it was not surprising to learn that he excelled at the Draft Combine as an 18-year-old.

He had elite speed sure, but he also blitzed the field for the repeat 30m sprint exercise.

Richmond players get around Daniel Rioli after one of his preliminary final goals. Picture: Michael Klein

Meaning that even before Richmond has built his tank with a couple of years of pre-season training, he had top-end elite stamina and endurance.

I looked at Castagna and the first item that jumps off the page with his combine results is a 15.2 beep test. That is an awesome number, a number that says the boy has endurance in his genes.

If you look at Butler’s scouting profile from the Ballarat Rebels it suggested that he was a tackling machine who ran all day. He averaged six tackles a game as a 17-year-old and had 17 alone in one game.

He was the small forward type that the Tiges were looking for when they were trying to turn Stephen Morris into a pressure forward a few years back.

So you can see the common traits between all these lads — all are lightning fast, but all are endurance beasts.

It’s worth noting that last weekend, in the third quarter when the game was up for grabs, the Giants’ fastest defender Nathan Wilson had to go to the bench to suck in some air and recuperate.

His Richmond opponents did not need to do the same.

And that is what these Richmond small forwards do, they run their opponents to exhaustion.

The class might be there led by Rioli, but don’t be fooled, these guys are fans of the grind.

Since the St Kilda debacle back in Round 16, the Tigers have torn apart the game.

Kane Lambert is a strong runner for the Tigers. Picture: Michael Klein

With only one blemish, against Geelong at the narrow Simmonds Stadium arena in Round 21, the Tigers have averaged over 100 points per game since Round 16, which gives them much the same scoring potential as the Crows.

But it is the “grind” that has won me over.

In week one of the finals, Geelong was pretty brave, held at bay by around two goals for most of the match until the last break. Then the Cats just simply could not go with Richmond in the final quarter.

The endurance capabilities of those Richmond forwards were relentless and Geelong, as brave as they were, simply could not run with them or match their intensity.

Against the Giants, if you take out the Tigers’ two opening goals (literally kicked in the opening seconds), the Giants in a game sense were the better team until halfway through the third term. But then the Tigers put the foot down and once again their opponents could not go with them.

In nearly every game of AFL football two teams come out onto the field and go at each other. The first team to blink and drop their pressure gets scored against and that, then, is the game.

Jason Castagna is a hard man to stop for the Tigers. Picture: AAP Images

Similarly, 99 per cent of teams drop their pressure in the second half, by a lot or if you are a good team, just by a little.

But since Round 17, the Tigers have turned this footy truth on its head. It’s freakish.

TEAMS: CROWS, TIGERS TO NAME GRAND FINAL SIDES

FAN TALES: WHAT THIS MEANS FOR A TIGER TRAGIC

GRAND FINAL: EVERY PLAYERS’ IMPORTANCE RATED

Champion Data statistics show us that Tigers’ pressure actually goes up in the second half.

For me there are two major “if’s” for Saturday.

If the Crows blow the Tigers’ defence away in the first half, that is their best chance of success.

But if the Tigers are with hope and within striking distance at three-quarter time, they will overrun the Crows and the cup goes to Punt Rd.