Richmond sit atop the ladder as one of two teams with five wins and one loss, yet the reigning premiers are still a tough side to get a guide on.
Of these five wins, they are yet to beat a side that finished in the top eight last year, with their only loss so far coming against fellow grand finalists Adelaide.
There is little doubt that they play a tough brand of football to break down, and are exceptionally well coached. However, winning a second flag on the trot is one of the hardest tasks in footy.
Do they have the class and enough quality footballers to make it a second premiership in a row?
One comparison would be with the Hawthorn side that won flags in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
The Tigers have champions Dustin Martin and Alex Rance, along with borderline A-graders Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert and Jack Riewoldt. They have an exceptional defence, combining the ever-reliable David Astbury, Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin, accompanied by the dashing Bachar Houli and Rance.
Perhaps their biggest weapon is the high-pressure-applying mosquito fleet consisting of Shane Edwards, Dan Butler, Jason Castagna, Josh Caddy, Dion Prestia, Kane Lambert, Jack Graham, Daniel Rioli and the freshly acquired Jack Higgins.
This host of small-to-medium size half forwards and pinch-hitting midfielders provide the familiar swarm inside Richmond’s forward 50, which has become their trademark.
Although a fantastic team, they aren’t names that strike fear into their opponents.
Alex Rance, the Tigers’ true superstar. (Photo: Justine Walker/AFL Media)
Hawthorn’s 2015 premiership side, which ran onto the MCG to face West Coast in the grand final, had five out-and-out champions of the game in Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne, Jordan Lewis and Cyril Rioli.
It is the rung down from these elite players that makes the Hawks extraordinary, consisting of amazing players such as Jarryd Roughead, Josh Gibson, Isaac Smith, Grant Birchall, Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Brian Lake, Liam Shiels, Ben Stratton and Paul Puopolo.
This nucleus was feared for their performance during finals footy – pressure, toughness, skill, and stepping up in big moments was something they became renowned for.
Compared to the Hawthorn side of 2015, Richmond doesn’t stack up. However, what they do bring is a high pressure, finals-like game every week, which sides so far in 2018 and the back end of 2017 found really hard to break down.
They don’t have the class, but they have a premiership, which brings belief and the drive for more.
The Tigers’ performance in 2017 was remarkable and completely unexpected. They were the best team in September and managed to overcome the immense pressure of 80,000 members.
However, to go and do it again in 2018 would be outstanding.
Denis Cometti, in the final quarter of the 2015 grand final, said that the Hawthorn side was “one of the greatest of all time”. Will we be speaking about this Tigers side in the same way in the not-too-distant future?
Cat
Roar Guru
You need Buddy to do it, without him firing you are zero chance.
Maurice
Guest
Same can be said for Geelongs era. Ablett Bartel Selwood Scarlett . It’s the medium tier players doing there roles that win the flag. Richmond have an abundance of them which make them the team to beat. Sydney’s my team , with a firing buddy to do it.
Judy two
Guest
These so called experts can keep on doubting the Tigers ability, all 90,000 members know better, so keep writing your dribble. When it all boils down no one thought they would win last year, suppose they think that was a fluke, well keep thinking that and the Tigers will leave you with egg all over your faces
Birdman
Guest
not sure how you can truly define a champion team although one that win 3 flags in a row should qualify I guess. Tiges def. playing the best footy in the league to date - just need to maintain that form when it really matters (during Sept) and stay reasonably healthy and they are every chance to go back to back but man, it's still too early to call it.
Peter
Guest
Agree. Not too many Brownlow Medallist, three time B&F, premiership captains are not top notch champion footballers. The pill who wrote this article has no idea.
IanG
Guest
Spot on Don, was going to say the same thing, plus Reiwoldt is more of a champion than Lewis ever was as well.
Bobburra
Guest
A good and or lucky team can win a premiership.Richmond at the moment are showing all the signs of being a very,very good team. I think the "champion" status would come about only if they were to win back to back. It is too early to call anything else, so many things can 'upset the apple cart'.
Tricky
Guest
Going on the thread title, the question does not need to be asked. Sure the list is not a GWS - no list is, apart from the giants themselves. I'd argue that the list is playing better than the sum of its parts where as for example the giants are certainly playing worse (much worse) than the sum of its parts. Through the development of the last 2 years you can see those lesser names are not so lesser any more, potential realised is one way of putting it. Hard to say if there is any more improvement, if so wouldn't be a lot you'd think,
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Cotchin and Riewoldt borderline A-graders? The mind boggles. Anyway, all you can do is win. Been listening to the unsustainability argument for some time yet no-one, as yet, has really explained this theory. Hoping, perhaps?
Ryan Geer
Roar Pro
They won 2017 from being rank outsiders and as its been pointed out they haven't beaten a top 8 team yet from last season. I wouldn't say Richmond are a champion team but have a team with some players who will go down as champions. These are players such as Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin. I would say Richmond at the moment has the most balanced list a good mix of youth and experience, players know their roles and they have real depth so if any injuries or suspensions they have ready made replacements waiting in the wings. To go along with this they probably play the modern game the best with the amount of pressure they put on opposition sides.
User
Roar Rookie
Is it sustainable? and like any premiership team and so far this year a lack of injuries to the elite personnel is telling, to early to tell what will come but a very exciting team to watch.
Chris
Guest
This comes back to the recruiting team. They pick able bodied and strong men to play the brutal game known as aussie rules. If you select nice guys who are skilful they will always break down when you need them most. So, that is the difference between Richmond and Collinqwood. That was the situation forty years ago and remains the same today. Let's see if I they last and create a dynasrty or fall apart through attrition.
Chris
Guest
It truly is a blessed run with injury, this allows a lot of people who have played a lot of games together to work well. Maybe it's because they are a relatively quick and small team - their 3/4 pace may be the sprint of another player which means less stress on the body and I personally think that smaller players have better longevity in injury from over extension. I'm a bit worried about some of the articles lately saying Richmond have top end and well paid high end talent and a lot of low end underpaid talent - this could create jealousy in the group and reminds me of what happened to Richmond in the 80's when they lost Raines, Cloke etc over the overpaid Rioli. Speaking of Rioli, Richmond will go up another cog once he has a few games under his belt again this year.
Slane
Guest
'Compared to the Hawthorn side of 2015, Richmond doesn’t stack up.' If my memory serves, Richmond beat Hawthorn in 2015. Seems they stack up alright.
Chris
Guest
Richmond is work in progress. How they shape up depends on their ability to withstand the rigours of this demanding game. It seems rather premature to equate them with the Hawthorn three-peat. The second round is always crucial. Let's wait for the games that come after the bye. Making wild predictions in May could end up resembling Eating Crow!
Marty Gleason
Roar Guru
Hawthorn did win three consecutive premierships after all, who would stack up to them? Unnecessary comparison. I think only Burgoyne was ever an out-and-out champion. Hawthorn were more a very even team with the best 15-22 type players, team I guess the key word, who put on the best tackling pressure, were the best coached and by the end made less mistakes. Agree with your assessment on Richmond players, Riewoldt and Cochin at the same level as Rance and Martin has always been fanciful. Good article.
peter chrisp
Guest
I think you are playing Freeo & MCG you will hammer them
Don Freo
Guest
Could lose on the MCG this weekend.
Sammy
Guest
They are going to be there deep in september as they don't lose at the mcg and they will win enough home games to not really have to worry about any tough away ones too much. Yeah they lost to the crows in adelaide..but so what. They don't have to play them there again this year and as long as they finish above the crows they wont have to play a final there either. They have got a very even team with some genuine superstars in it and their recruitment policy set a few years back of targeting middle distance runners suits their pressure style of game perfectly. The injury curse hitting so many other teams has not come theor way (yet). They are an absolute lock for top 4 and if they finish top 2 then good luck trying to beat them on their home deck in the grand final
Don Freo
Guest
Interesting grading of players...Trent Cotchin is a 'borderline A grader' while Jordan Lewis is an 'out and out champion'. Cotchin IS a champ. Lewis is just an AFL footballer.