To highlight the vastly-improved performance of Richmond’s defence in 2013, consider the following statistic . . .

In 10 home-and-away games this season, Richmond has restricted the opposition to 10 goals or less.

Only two other league teams have fared better in this regard so far throughout the season  – reigning premier Sydney and Fremantle – who have both kept their opponents to 10 goals or under on 11 occasions.

Incredibly, you have to go all the way back to 1965 for when Richmond performed better defensively in terms of applying that 10-goals-and-under clamp.

In what was a fairly wet season in ’65, with muddy grounds the norm, the Tigers did it 11 times.

Here’s a list of Richmond’s top 10 opposition containing efforts this season . . .

Round 3 v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium:  10.8 (68)

Round 7 v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium:  10.13 (73)

Round 10 v West Coast, Patersons Stadium:  8.14 (62)

Round 12 v Adelaide, MCG:  10.12 (72)

Round 13 v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium:  8.13 (61)

Round 14 v St Kilda, MCG:  8.7 (55)

Round 16 v Gold Coast, Cazalys Stadium:  6.8 (44)

Round 17 v Fremantle, MCG:  8.9 (57)

Round 19 v Hawthorn, MCG:  9.12 (66)

Round 22 v GWS, Skoda Stadium:  6.6 (42)