AFL games record holder Brent Harvey believes he knows how Richmond can be toppled.
The reigning premiers have taken all before them in a barnstorming season to date, sitting a game and percentage clear on top of the ladder after dispatching last year’s Grand Finalists Adelaide by 47 points on Friday night.
But despite their imperious form, Harvey believes the Tigers aren’t invincible just yet.
“To beat Richmond, you have to play one on one,” the North Melbourne great told SEN Afternoons.
“I can’t understand why teams continue to give them a spare in defence. That’s where they launch their scoring from, they all get back down and support, they get the spare, Nick Vlastuin or Reece Conca or Alex Rance, they intercept mark and then bang.
“No team in the competition is good enough to defend Richmond from half-back with the way they move the ball to the forward line.”
Harvey also believes an additional attribute is required to tame the red-hot Tigers: pace.
“I think you’ve got to play one on one to beat Richmond, and you’ve got to be a quick team to beat them on the turnover,” he said.
“70 odd percent of scores are directly from turnovers. If you are a quick team, you can get them on transition.”
Harvey outlined Port Adelaide as a team that can challenge Richmond in September, citing the speed of their ball movement as having the potential to trouble the league’s top dogs.
The Power defeated the Tigers by 14 points at the Adelaide Oval in Round 12, in their only clash of the season.
“Port Adelaide play a quick brand of football, that’s Ken Hinkley’s message,” Harvey said.
“For me, I think Port can really challenge them if everything goes well. Whether they can do it at the MCG is another question.”
Richmond face GWS at Spotless Stadium this Saturday night.