Much has been made of Richmond’s resurgence this year being driven by a new mentality and bond between the playing group. This has obviously been a major factor, but there’s another, more tangible reason, that has been largely overlooked.
Hawthorn have been the premier example in recent times of recruiting to fit a specific gameplan. It’s been well documented that list manager Graham Wright and coach Alastair Clarkson built their Hawthorn juggernaut largely through targeting players with precise foot skills to execute a gameplan based around fast, precision ball movement that cut through opposition defensive structures and place a premium on keeping possession of the ball.
Over the past two years, Richmond have taken a leaf from Hawthorn’s book and targeted players suited to their game style, rather than the alternative route of selecting the best possible players and then crafting a style based on their abilities.
This has allowed the Tigers to compensate for their perceived weakness in their lack of a true key forward – rather than selling the farm to recruit one from another club, the Tigers instead decided to maximise their strengths, and have made their list management decisions based largely on two factors: pressure and speed.
This has been an astute decision, and arguably one of the biggest factors in the Tigers’ successful season this year. For a long time, Richmond’s recruiting focus has been on bringing in good players (and some questionable ones…) – this is not a bad thing, but it has manifested in a team seemingly unable to adhere to any particular gameplan, and unsure as to which strength to maximise.
Not being part of the inner sanctum at Tigerland, it’a impossible to pinpoint the exact time that Richmond decided to take this approach, however it’s likely that it came about due to a shake-up in Richmond’s recruiting department in 2015.
Former head recruiter Francis Jackson moved into a part-time role and Matt Clarke took over as Richmond’s head of recruiting. Clarke’s most obvious change in focus was to recruit players based on the game style the team wanted to play, not solely to fill positional gaps.
Speaking on that year’s recruitment of Chris Yarran, Jacob Townsend and Andrew Moore, Clarke noted that Richmond had actively changed its approach to the 2015 national draft, deciding to “be a bit more aggressive in the trade period”, and identifying players who would complement the gameplan. While the Yarran trade was unfortunately a failure, the key ingredients of the Tigers’ current plan were taking shape (Yarran, speed, Townsend and Moore, pressure).
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
This approach then filtered down to Richmond’s strategy at the most recent national drafts. Two years ago, Richmond selected Daniel Rioli at its first selection, and last year did the same with Western Australia speedster Shai Bolton. The Tigers also took speedy small Tyson Stengle in last year’s rookie draft, and South Australian under-18 captain Jack Graham in the third round of the national draft.
Rioli’s selection raised some eyebrows at the time, with many draft pundits of the view that selecting him at pick 15 was a reach. The selection of Bolton and Stengle last year was questioned for what seemed to be a depth build – having had no genuine small forward for years, suddenly the Tigers had an abundance of them.
Jack Graham’s selection was also questioned – while taken at the relatively lowly pick 55, the general view of the footy world was that Richmond was stacked for inside midfielders.
However, looking back, its evident that these players were selected with Richmond’s gameplan in mind. Rioli and Bolton are speedy, pressure small forwards, while the fact that Graham is likely to play in a grand final in his first year of AFL speaks volumes to his pressure and toughness around the contest.
The recruitment of Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia was also done with a view to improving the Tigers’ pressure, which has come to fruition in spades this season – while not large accumulators, the pressure that these two players provide and their willingness to win the contested ball has freed up the likes of Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Brandon Ellis to play with more freedom.
Recruiting players for a particular game style has been a hallmark of recent successful teams – the Bulldogs built last year’s victory on the flexibility of their players, also figuring that this was a way to minimise the impact of its lack of a true key forward. Sydney have always identified players based on their personal character, while Geelong have targeted players with good skills and high football IQ, and, of course, there’s Hawthorn.
In following that recipe, and coupled with their off-field stability, Richmond have found a recipe for success.
Mark
Guest
Jeez you're a flog. Can't wait for 5pm today.
Mark
Guest
Please promise to show up when the Tigers lose.
DeanM
Guest
What team do you support anoos? All I ever hear from you is negative comments about most teams, conspiracy theories along with a healthy serving of delusion. You must be Dons estranged son. Tigers have done great this year and are a genuine chance.
TC123
Guest
Absolutely appalling decisions, both of them and as a Tiger supporter I almost feel embarrassed that such an injustice involved the team I follow. Simply awful outcome that takes the gloss off my team being in a GF. I may not even watch it.
TC123
Guest
Couldn't agree more. He looked clueless mid season when the Tigers hit the choke button and were the laughing stock of the afl (even worse than usual)and I'm still not convinced he knows what the best game plan actually is. Nankervis and Rioli for me have been invaluable along with the obvious Dusty, Cotchin, Riewoldt and Rance. Hardwick has the respect of his players and they appear to genuinely like him but coach of the year? Don't think so
truetigerfan
Guest
Good job, Liam. You're obviously a footy watcher and quite observant. Fantastic that you recognise the role Jack has played this year. He has, at times, been quite brilliant in assisting his teammates and side. Hasn't been given the credit he deserves.
Freo As
Guest
No question, this is where having the g as a home ground pays off.
Liam
Guest
Interesting article Maddy; I took one look at the headline and shook my head, but you've certainly made a decent case in here. However, this stuck out at me: "Over the past two years, Richmond have taken a leaf from Hawthorn’s book and targeted players suited to their game style, rather than the alternative route of selecting the best possible players and then crafting a style based on their abilities." I really don't agree with that at all, as their gameplan last year was the absolute opposite to how they play this year; stagnant ball movement, relying of quality of possession that simply wasn't there, leading to turnovers in the midfield and goals aplenty for the opposition, contrasted with the fast, play on at all costs running game that the side plays this year. The recruits, to a certain extent, follow the Hawthorn model - not in terms of recruiting for needs, but side building - in that they recruited smalls to complement their tall in Riewoldt; Bolton, Rioli, Castagna, Butler, opposite their Hawthorn counterparts in Gunston, Rioli, Breust, Puopolo (I'd argue in Richmond's structure, Townsend plays Breust's role more than any of the smalls). Secondly, if you look at the players themselves, the recruitment has been nearly irrelevant to the gameplan utilised until this year; this season, the gameplan suits the players to a tee, producing one on ones all over the ground for superior one on one players - Cotchin, Martin, Riewoldt, Rance, Vlaustin, Prestia, even Caddy to an extent - to win the ball when it's hard and good pressure smalls when it's in opposition hands. The gameplan suits the truly ludicrous number of smalls that Richmond play when compared to the rest of the competition, and it minimises the issue of playing one tall short in the forward line, provided their single tall can bring the ball to ground. The genius of Hardwick - or his assistants - this year is in his use of Riewoldt; he's turned him into the most impressive dummy full forward ever, using his incredible smarts to huge effect. He won't kick as many goals, nor play the most glamorous footy of his career, but he produces space for his teammates at an astonishing rate, using his ability to draw the ball to dangerous spots and drawing the best defenders away from where it drops at the last second. He also won't get as many goal assists as he actually should, as he taps the ball to advantage from off the ground or the air over and over. He will never play a team game so impressive again as he has this year - opposition will get the message sooner or later, and play the ball - but he's been superb this season. All in all, Richmond's gameplan has been akin to West Coast's in the year they made the Grand Final; the Weagle's Web innovation was brought about due to losing all of their key defenders for the season. Hardwick has innovated well, reading the trends of the game to see that pressure was the way to go, and has broken this season wide open.
guttsy
Guest
Ben Griffiths was picked up by Richmond at number 19 in the 2009 AFL Draft. Nat Fyfe was picked up at number 20 and Dustin Martin was picked up at number 3 in the same draft. Richmond could have conceivably had Martin and Fyfe on the same team. And with Cotchin likely taking the hits on the inside, Fyfe probably wouldn't have got injured and could have spent more time forward where his contested mark would have resulted in a lot of goals. This would complement the run and gun of Martin.
The Ghost
Guest
Jealous much? Come off it Pete Living in Adelaide I have had to put up with such arrogance all week. It is good to be in Melbourne among the Tiger faithful. Back when I played football a coach of mine said "cheats never prosper". Adelaide should heed Tony's words as they will not prosper. Richmond have learned from our losses. We lost to GWS and then beat them the next two times we played. We lost to Geelong and beat them in the finals. We lost to Adelaide and we will avenge that loss in the big one. The Team of the People will hold the cup aloft while all Victorians cheer on their heroes. Anyone not going for the Team of the People is a bum. Eat 'em alive Tigers!
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Anon you left out the fact the AFL cheated in clearing Cotchin and Ellis to play.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Quite relieved to have big Mason Cox sign up as four clubs were interested in his services including Hawthorn. As for your grand final the Tiger tears and shameful embarrassment will be happening by half time as they head out of the G 60 points down already .
truetigerfan
Guest
Once again DH, your initials say it all.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
People still talk about the terrible showing by Port against Geelong in a 119 point belting in a GF. This one will be over at qtr time with the Crows already up by 7 goals. Then the terrible organisation will settle back to their customary 9th next year.
TomC
Roar Guru
Hibberd and Tuohy.
DH
Guest
This is the same type of revisionism which went on with Hawthorn after the fact. Every club recycles players they need and drafts good players when they can. But the tigers haven't done anything special. They recruited Josh Caddy just like Geelong did. The recruitment of Rioli isn't much different to the recruitment of Tambling. Similar players on paper, one considered the worst draftee in the history of recruitment, the other one happened to pay off. Yarran was probably as big a fail as that. Some worked, some failed. The main ones which paid off are the drafting of Cotchin, Martin, Rance and Riewoldt. Just like at Hawthorn it was Mitchell, Lewis, ROughy, Franklin, Hodge and Rioli Geelong was Ablett, Selwood, Bartel, Corey, Hawkins, Taylor All were built on a foundation of good drafting. The rest is just slightly more hits than misses than their competing clubs. Nothing abnormally clever or smart, just a lot of good draft picks and a few other swings at various positions.
truetigerfan
Guest
Well if it isn't the Scribbler! Basking in the joy that only the re-signing of big fish Mason Cox could bring! I'm more than happy to take those margins, Scribe but I'm guessing you're just all talk . . . a big bag of wind! Don't forget that if we played Collingwood twice this year we would have finished top of the ladder. Now please go tend to your sock draw!
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Agree Anon except it just doesn't matter where this is played as the Crows will obliterate the overrated Tigers. Windy day should keep the margin to under 80, if it's still and dry it could threaten the Geelong Port margin of 119.
truetigerfan
Guest
What a surprise, anon. You don't rate the Tiges and you're sticking with that. All your logic throughout the year has been laughable! Teams don't make GFs if they're ordinary. What will it take? A flag this year? And next? Nah . . . wouldn't be enough. AFL conspiracy. Home ground advantage. Umpires. Snipers. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. You really should defect and follow basketball and spare us your constant dribble and whining. Carna Tigers. Eat 'em Alive!
anon
Roar Pro
I think this will be the Tigers only chance of a premiership with this group. Got fortunate to get a home final against a flaky Geelong team in the first week, GWS was served up to them on a platter week 3. If Richmond had to play the Crows in Adelaide they would have lost by 10 goals.