In recent years the Richmond Football Club has experienced a remarkable transition.
After well-documented and lengthy struggles, the Tigers have flipped their history on its head to win three premierships in the last four years.
The turnaround has been quite sensational with many contributing factors making the success possible.
Three-time flag hero Shane Edwards has touched one of the under-the-radar aspects that has helped the Tigers rise to the top.
Asked what he would pinpoint if he were to write a book on the club’s dynasty, Edwards revealed how the attributes of a certain player assisted in turning things around at Punt Road.
“First of all I wouldn’t write a book because we’ve got about five different blokes who have written a book at Richmond now,” he joked on SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“One thing that stands out to me, that I don’t think gets mentioned as much, is when we drafted Daniel Rioli (in 2015). He had this really natural thirst for chasing and pressuring.
“It was almost like he was brought up on chase pressure. I know he’s a Rioli so he probably was, but he came into the system and it was almost like a benchmark that’s been set for all the other forwards.
“If our 18-year-old is doing it, there’s absolutely no excuse for anyone else not to be doing something like that.
“That set the scene and almost showed everyone else how to do it. We didn’t really have anyone that would put any chase pressure on or really 100% dedicated that part of their game towards it. Ever since we had Daniel, it’s almost like that is now normal for our forwards.
“That’s something that I would start with as the turning point.”
As is generally the case with gun teams, there are many factors that help deliver success.
Edwards also mentioned a number of other elements, specifically coach Damien Hardwick’s revised game style, plus the additions of particular personnel which have seen the Tigers become the envy of the competition.
“There are obviously others,” he added.
“‘Dimma’ coming back with a new game plan (after 2016), us getting Ben Rutten and Blake Caracella who were huge for our club in terms of a modern game plan, bringing Justin Leppitsch back as well was enormous for our key position players.
“Recruiting (Toby) Nankervis, Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia was enormous, and the same year we got Jack Graham, so there’s a whole bunch of things that kind of just built up and created something that worked really well.
“It was well-oiled towards the end of 2017 after all of those changes came earlier that year.”
After providing such insight, the 267-game Tiger was a bit more forthcoming with that book idea.
“Yeah I don’t know, maybe I should write a book!”
The Tigers currently sit second on the ladder with a 0-2 record as they strive to claim a premiership three-peat.
They meet fellow undefeated side Sydney at the MCG on Saturday.