Champion Data analyst Daniel Hoyne believes opposition teams are beginning to work out how to play against Richmond.
The reigning premiers defeated Geelong by 18 points on Sunday to return to the top of the AFL ladder but despite their current standing, the chasing pack are swiftly closing in.
“They are still the best team in it and the hardest to beat (at the MCG), but the gap is closing,” Hoyne said on SEN Afternoons.
The Tigers premiership triumph was based on a high-pressure style of football, but Hoyne said they have been down in that department recently.
“From round six through to round 12 their pressure rating went to about 16th in the competition,” he said.
“It’s a little bit to do with their opposition … but it was back on the weekend.”
While Hoyne admitted the Tigers are going to be tough to beat, he said opposition teams are handling their pressure better in 2018.
“In that (Qualifying) final last year, that elite pressure that Richmond brought broke Geelong,” he said.
“They didn’t break on the weekend.
“I know it was a three-goal margin in the end, but I think it’s a significant improvement from a Geelong point of view.”