Media Watch
Richmond’s Caddy likely to miss clash with St Kilda
The Age, Michael Gleeson
August 23
The pre-finals bye is likely to be too
Richmond had hoped that the powerful midfielder would be back for the final game after he picked up a minor hamstring strain in the first term of the loss to Geelong at Simonds Stadium on August 12 but that seems less likely now.
A decision is
While Richmond is safely in the eight, they would drop out of the top four if they lost to the Saints and Port Adelaide beat struggling Gold Coast.
Why Tigers are September dreaming
Herald Sun, Sam Landsberger
August 23
Richmond has the worst contested footy ranking of any top-eight side.
But Tiger fans shouldn’t be overly concerned — their club’s ranking of No.12 does not tell the whole story.
It is Richmond’s lopsided free kick count (-67 for the season) which is hurting their contested footy ranking.
As explained on this week’s podcast of The Drill, the Tigers actually rank in the top four for three critical contested footy areas.
Led by inside dynamos Dion Prestia and Dustin Martin, they win more ground balls than 16 other clubs.
But they have given away 451 free kicks this season and hold the worst differential in the AFL, which count against their contested footy ranking.
Two Tiger success stories locked away
afl.com.au, Nathan Schmook
August 23
RICHMOND has locked away two of its most improved players of 2017, with midfielder Kane Lambert and forward Dan Butler agreeing to contract extensions on Wednesday.
Lambert, a mature-age rookie success story, has been rewarded for a career-best season with a two-year contract extension that will take him through to the end of 2019.
The Tigers also confirmed a two-year contract extension for Butler, who has cemented himself in the Tigers' small forward line this season after waiting two years to make his debut.
Lambert, 25, has played a career-best 20 games in 2017 as a valuable member of the Tigers' midfield, averaging 21.2 disposals and 3.8 inside
He booted a career-best three goals against Fremantle on Sunday and has been a been a crucial cog in Damien Hardwick's team with his ability to also fill forward and
Medical Report
Nathan Drummond (knee) season
Josh Caddy (hamstring) 1 week
Fresh Faces
While Josh Caddy won’t be out there on Sunday, Damien Hardwick will still have a couple of off-season recruits at his disposal. Former Gold Coast ball magnet Dion Prestia has found form at the back end of his first season at Punt Road, collecting 31, 29 and 23 disposals in the last three weeks. After playing 12 games in three years at Sydney, Toby Nankervis has thrived on added exposure at the Tigers, grasping the No. 1 ruck role to play all but one game in 2017. Speedy small forward Dan Butler has also been a surprise packet this season, kicking 24 goals from 19 games, while the Tigers also exposed 2016 Larke medallist Jack Graham to the highest level last weekend in Perth.
Star
Out-of-contract Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has produced a dominant 2017 campaign and is set to win almost every end of season award on offer, including the Brownlow Medal, now that reigning champion Patrick Dangerfield is ineligible. The 26-year-old game breaker hasn’t missed a game this season, averaging 30.0 disposals (No. 9), 14.2 contested possessions (No. 7), 6.8 clearances (No. 4) and 6.2 inside
Stats that matter
When you possess one of the best key defenders that ever lived, it’s not hard to see why Richmond concedes the second least points on average at 76.3 points per week. With three-time and almost soon-to-be four-time All-Australian Alex Rance at the
Team
B: B. Ellis, A. Rance, D. Grimes
HB: B. Houli, D. Astbury, N. Vlastuin
C: K. McIntosh, T. Cotchin, J. Townsend
HF: K. Lambert, D. Martin, S. Edwards
F: D. Bulter, J. Riewoldt, D. Rioli
R: T. Nankervis, D. Prestia, S. Grigg
Interchange from: J. Short, S. Lloyd, O. Markov, J. Graham, N. Broad, C. Menadue, J. Castagna
IN: J. Short, S. Lloyd, C. Menadue
