A strong, renewed focus on contested football has paved the way for Richmond’s improved form in recent weeks.

In the Tigers’ 2013 finals year, they were ranked third overall in the important contested possession differential and were renowned for their hard work around the stoppages.

That fell away significantly at the start of this season and, as a result, Richmond really struggled.

But the Tigers have now regained their appetite for contested ball – and it’s showing in the win-loss column, with the team having notched four consecutive victories.

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Last Friday night’s success against West Coast at Patersons Stadium, was achieved in extremely wet conditions, which highlighted Richmond’s return as a contested-ball pacesetter of the competition.

The likes of Nathan Foley, Anthony Miles, Matt Thomas, Brett Deledio, Dustin Martin, Brandon Ellis and Ivan Maric, thrived around the packs, winning plenty of contested ball and constantly driving the Tigers forward.

Richmond won the contested-ball count by 28 over the course of the four quarters, which was a particularly telling factor in the conditions.

“That is something we base our game around.  To win it gets the score on the board for us.  In the end, with the scoring shots we had (19 to 12), we should have won by a couple more (goals),” Richmond’s captain Trent Cotchin told SEN.

“The energy and effort around the contest has really been taken to a new level.

“We were really struggling with contested footy and clearances, probably for the first half of the season, but we’ve really turned that around for the last month or two, and you see how important it is.

“A lot of the top sides are really high in those stats and KPI’s, so we need to make sure that we’re matching it with them, if not above them . . .”

The Tigers’ win against West Coast at Patersons Stadium was their third from four road trips this season (they also beat Brisbane at the Gabba and GWS at Spotless Stadium).  Interestingly, they have actually won more games interstate than on their MCG home ground so far in 2014 (just two wins at the ‘G).

Cotchin believes the team’s record on the road is a sign of the growing maturity within the playing group.

“As loud as the West Coast crowd was, you sort of thrive in that,” Cotchin said.

“I think that’s where we’ve come as a group now.  We’re enjoying opposition supporters and teams not really liking us.

“The reality is it’s a competitive sport, and if you’re not on your game, you can fall by the wayside pretty quickly.”