Many have narrowed down this year’s premiership to a race in four – Greater Western Sydney, Adelaide, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs, however Richmond is also a genuine premiership contender according to Garry Lyon.
The Tigers are undefeated after five rounds, having overcome a 20-point three-quarter-time deficit to topple an out-on-their-feet Melbourne on Monday night, and now face the table-topping Crows, in Adelaide on Sunday.
Lyon told SEN Breakfast that they deserve to be in the same conversation as the Crows, Giants, Dogs and Cats when it comes to this flag.
“I think with a 5-0 start like that, then yes, they probably should,” Lyon said.
“They’ve found a way. They had to find a way at three quarter time on Monday, and they did.”
The calibre of the teams that the Tigers have beaten is being hotly debated – Carlton is struggling – so too Collingwood; West Coast cannot win at the MCG; Brisbane is a young bottom-four outfit; and the Demons were beset by injuries.
Former Essendon star Tim Watson said that he disagrees with Lyon’s assessment of Richmond.
“I have talked glowingly about where they are at right now, about the fact that Hardwick has re-engineered this team” Watson said.
“But they’re not a premiership contender. They are a bottom of the top-eight contender.
Many have attributed the Tigers improvement to a slight change in philosophy by Hardwick, which is allowing his star players to do what they do best.
Skipper Trent Cotchin is averaging three less possessions than he did in 2016, but is gaining an average of 85 metres more per game, while Jack Riewoldt, who was the match-winner on Monday night against Melbourne with six goals, has collected 10 per cent more possessions in the forward zone than he did 12 months ago.
However, Lyon and Watson said that those changes should have occurred a long time ago.
“’Bluey’ on the tram has been saying that for two years, ‘play Riewoldt closer to goal and have Cotchin kick the bloody thing forward’,” Lyon said.
“If you lengthen your game and the ball gets to the forwards quicker, there is less likelihood they are going to be contending against a defence that has set itself up,” Watson added.