How will Richmond replace Tom Lynch and Noah Balta?
Just as things were starting to look positive for Adem Yze’s Tigers, they were smashed by key position injuries in their gritty five-point win over Sydney on Sunday.
Lynch (hamstring) and Balta (knee) are set to spend significant time on the sidelines, denying Yze of two his main attacking assets, especially in terms of structure.
Last year without Lynch, the Tigers at least had a multiple Coleman Medallist in Jack Riewoldt to fall back on. In 2024, without Riewoldt, their options aren’t quite as deep with two-gamer Mykelti Lefau seen as a developing third tall.
The club recruited Jacob Koschitzke from Hawthorn in the off-season but he was omitted after a subpar Opening Round effort when he had just four disposals and two marks against Gold Coast.
The 23-year-old, who has kicked 54 goals in 49 career games, seems the logical option to be given a chance in one of the two vacant key forward roles.
But who else could join him? And who steps into the relief ruck role of Balta?
Star defender Nick Vlastuin posed the possibility of playing a second ruckman in Sam Naismith so captain Toby Nankervis can be used deep inside forward 50.
“I don’t think Lynch and Balta are replaceable,” Vlastuin said on SEN Breakfast.
“‘Kozi’ (Koschitzke) will come in and do his best, I assume. Then the other spot, I’m not too sure, they might bring Sam Naismith back in and maybe Toby spends a bit of time up forward.
“Both of them (Lynch and Balta) are going to spend a fair bit of time on the sidelines. The other people will get a fair go at it, it will be interesting to see what happens.”
The 206cm Samson Ryan could be used in a similar role to the one floated by Vlastuin after he kicked three goals in the VFL last weekend.
However, after assessing Richmond’s win over the Swans, which was filled with maniacal pressure particularly in the forward half, playing a big man deep for long periods might be detrimental to their game style.
Devoid of two marking powerhouses in Lynch and Balta, Richmond could also turn to Marlion Pickett who at times played a thankless role supporting Riewoldt last season despite standing at just 184cm.
Pickett has been vital on a wing so far this year so that would be a fairly significant shift if Yze were to make it.
The entire situation may just mean the small-to-mid forward group consisting of Shai Bolton, Liam Baker (when he returns from suspension), Seth Campbell, Maurice Rioli, Rhyan Mansell, Tyler Sonsie and co. becomes even more important.
The style of getting the ball forward at any cost, made famous in the Damien Hardwick era, could potentially be revisited in order to service the ground level players rather than sending in long balls to Lynch.
Dustin Martin could perhaps play out of the goal square, but his best work is done at ground level rather than in the air. So ball movement would have to be more precise and a long, get-out kick to a tall target down the line might not be as viable an option.
Other medium-to-tall options include Jacob Bauer, who remains sidelined by a hamstring injury, and Liam Fawcett, who has a long-term back issue.
For this Sunday’s Gather Round clash with St Kilda, it should be Koschitzke given first crack at filling one of the voids with Lefau offered another chance. Joining them as a hybrid leading/ground level option should be Martin (if fully fit), while Ryan may play deepest and also relieve Nankervis.
Judson Clarke or even debutant Kane McAuliffe could come in to replace Baker - provided Jack Graham is not yet ready - to provide some class and grunt respectively.
Another option would be to send Ben Miller to the other end and bring former captain Dylan Grimes back to defence after a wrist injury. That may further disrupt the backline though.
Whichever way Yze goes, it certainly will be a new-look Tigers attack which may be best served playing to some dirty inside 50 ball and getting involved in a high-pressure forward-half brand, rather than kick and clunk.
