Richmond seemingly had the premiership for the taking but flopped in the preliminary final

THE best team of the year does not always get its hands on the premiership, as Richmond fans painfully found out this year. Will the Tigers be left to rue a missed opportunity?

Jack Riewoldt celebrates a goal.

THE best team of the year does not always get its hands on the premiership, as Richmond fans painfully found out this year.

The Tigers became the fifth minor premier on the trot not to salute on Grand Final day, a bitterly disappointing preliminary final performance against Collingwood seeing the reigning premiers come unstuck in their quest to go back-to-back.

ADDITION: LYNCH READY FOR MAD MELBOURNE

DYER MEDAL: DUSTY’S HANDBAG, JACK’S GAGS

GONE: CONCA SETS SAIL FOR FREMANTLE

Richmond did not do a lot wrong to that point, finishing the regular season 18-4 and taking care of Hawthorn by 31 points in its qualifying final.

But in a preliminary final you need to have every player performing near their best.

The Tigers didn’t come close, with only Jack Riewoldt and Jack Higgins deserving ticks on the night.

Richmond recruit Tom Lynch at Punt Rd.

TRADE TABLE

Gold Coast forward Tom Lynch has joined the team at Punt Rd via free agency, no wheeling and dealing at the trade table needed there.

The Tigers’ No.12 draft pick from 2014, Corey Ellis, is Gold Coast-bound along with fellow midfielder Anthony Miles, while Reece Conca is heading to Fremantle and Sam Lloyd looks set to head to the Whitten Oval.

DRAFT STRATEGY

Should be a ‘best available’ policy at the draft, with no glaring holes or areas of the ground that need addressing.

As it stands, the Tigers have first- and second-round picks but not a third-round selection, having traded that to Geelong last year as part of a pick swap.

Richmond walk off the MCG after losing the preliminary final.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Finishing as minor premier for the first time since 1982, eight years before current captain Trent Cotchin was born.

Having four players selected in the All-Australian team, including Shane Edwards for the first time.

Forward Jack Riewoldt kicking 65 goals to claim his third Coleman Medal but first since 2012.

BEST-AND-FAIREST

Forward Jack Riewoldt claimed his second Jack Dyer Medal after a year which saw him also take out the Coleman Medal. Midfielder Kane Lambert and 2017 winner Dustin Martin rounded out the top three.

ROBBO SAYS

Clearly a lost opportunity. An 18-4 home-and-away season ended on preliminary final night because a) they didn’t turn up to play and b) Collingwood didn’t allow them to play. A successful season? Yes, but when you’re top dog for 23 weeks it was a disappointing end. Now, the Tom Lynch era begins.

Jack Riewoldt claimed the Coleman Medal and Richmond’s best-and-fairest.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL

Win the premiership. Simple as that. The Tigers will be hurting after this year’s September flop, but as Meat Loaf once sang, ‘Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad’.

BOOK GRAND FINAL TICKETS …

2019. After adding Tom Lynch to a side that went 19-5 this year, anything less than a Grand Final appearance would be a failure.