Following yesterday’s four-point defeat by North Melbourne, the Tigers sit in 12th place on the league ladder after 17 rounds (16 games), with a 7-9 record, and eight points out of the top eight.
That, however, does not paint the full picture of their 2012 performance.
They have lost eight games by 21 points or less, with five of those losses by 12 points or fewer.
In 16 games, Richmond has had more scoring shots than its opponents on 10 occasions and the same number of shots twice.
Only four times have the Tigers had less scoring shots than their opposition this season (v Carlton Round 1, v Collingwood Round 2, v St Kilda Round 10 and v Gold Coast Round 16).
Furthermore, Richmond’s current percentage of 106.2 is its best, at the corresponding stage of a season, since 1998.
In that season, the Tigers were 9-7 and sixth on the ladder, with a percentage of 109.8, after 16 games. They ultimately finished ninth, with 12 wins, 10 losses, and a percentage of 104.8.
Obviously, the next step for Richmond, in its quest for sustained success, is to turn those narrow losses into wins.
