Champion Data’s Glenn Luff has revealed the surprising statistics behind Richmond’s stylistic transformation.
The Tigers are one of the lowest disposal ranked teams in the competition, but their directness by both hand and foot has seen them accumulate more inside 50s than any other club so far this season.
It enables their forwards to get to work and apply that manic pressure to lock the ball into their attacking 50.
“In 2016 we saw Richmond chip the ball around, go backwards and go lateral,” Luff told SEN Afternoons.
“It is the most simplistic game plan that you can imagine.
"They rank 13th for disposals and their kick to handball ratio is ranked 15th. For a low disposal team you would think that they’re more of a kicking team. They’re not – they’re more of a handballing team.
“Their ranked 18th for marks so they’re not chipping the ball around – they average 76 marks per game.
“When they kick it they kick it long the most often in the competition – metres per disposal number one, handball metres gained number one – the most we have seen by any team.
“As a result they’re number one for inside 50s and we know what happens when it gets inside 50, they will generally get a repeat entry or put that much pressure on the opposition will turn it over and they will put it on the scoreboard.”
Former Richmond assistant coach David King has lauded the Tigers' ability to steamroll opposition teams late in matches.
“The last five to ten minutes of a Richmond game they almost turn into an entertainment model,” said King.
“They say let’s how we can make this sensational for the fans. It’s a bit like the Cats when they were flying, they had a bit of razzle dazzle and it’s so good to watch.”
Listen to Glenn Luff and David King's dissection of Richmond's game style in the player below