Richmond captain Trent Cotchin is keen to see the Tiger forwards emulate the strong pressure applied by their counterparts at 2013 Grand Final teams Hawthorn and Fremantle next season.
Cotchin believes that will be a major key to the Tigers’ hopes of taking their game to a higher level in 2014.
“You look at the top sides, and their forward pressure is outstanding . . . Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) had seven or eight tackles in the Grand Final, while Chris Mayne (Fremantle) is known for being one of the leading tacklers in the game,” Cotchin told ‘Roar Vision’.
“We need to get that from our forwards. They do it at times, but probably not consistently enough.
“That’s the challenge – to raise the bar in this area.
“Our midfield’s got another level to lift, as well.
“I think our back six really consolidated themselves this season. It was good to see them really start to build and unite as a group.
“That’s what we want to do through the whole football team.”