Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says Richmond is the worst group to win a premiership

RICHMOND has broken a 37-year premiership drought and while players are celebrating former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas is wondering how this group achieved the ultimate success.

Worst group to win a flag? That’s the view of former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas. Picture: Michael Klein

FORMER St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has lauded Richmond’s stunning premiership win but remains puzzled as to how this group managed to achieve the ultimate success.

Led by A-grade stars Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt, the Tigers rose from 13th last year to complete a stunning 2017 turnaround with the flag.

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Thomas has been left scratching his head over how coach Damien Hardwick has managed to get this group of players, which he labelled “possibly the worst group to win a premiership”.

But he said that fact only enhances Hardwick’s remarkable coaching effort.

“Woke up & (sic) still gobsmacked. How’d u do it Tigers? Cotchin, Rance, Riewoldt, Martin.... who’s their next best player? Incredible coaching,” he tweeted.

Worst group to win a flag? That’s the view of former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas. Picture: Michael Klein

“Don’t get me wrong or misinterpret but possibly worst group of players to win Premiership which only enhances their effort & performance.”

Richmond defeated flag favourites Adelaide by 48 points, with Martin winning the Norm Smith Medal.

Woke up & still gobsmacked. How’d u do it Tigers? Cotchin, Rance, Riewoldt, Martin.... who’s their next best player? Incredible coaching

— Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) September 30, 2017

Don’t get me wrong or misinterpret but possibly worst group of players to win Premiership which only enhances their effort & performance

— Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) September 30, 2017

Unheralded players such as Jack Graham, playing his fifth game starred, and Kane Lambert and Kamdyn McIntosh continued their good form, while Jacob Townsend was nearly on the AFL scrapheap before a stunning run from Round 22 to cement his position as a critical part of the Tiger machine.

Dion Prestia was one of Richmond’s best in the finals. Picture: David Caird

Last year Richmond won just eight matches last year and was smashed by Sydney by 113 points in Round 23.

Over the off-season the club recruited four players who proved vital to the drought-breaking premiership — three via the trade period and one in the draft — with Dion Prestia (Gold Coast), Josh Caddy (Geelong), Toby Nankervis (Sydney) and Jack Graham (pick No.53).

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This season the Tigers finished the home-and-away season in third position and was undefeated in the finals after defeating Geelong, GWS and Adelaide.