RICHMOND defender Bachar Houli says the Tigers must increase their tackling intensity to be competitive against Carlton in Sunday’s elimination final.
The Tigers finished the home-and-away season averaging 55.9 tackles per match, the lowest in the League.
On Monday, Houli’s teammate Troy Chaplin described Saturday night’s 39-point win over Essendon as ‘basketball’, such was its uncontested nature. Both sides finished with just 45 tackles.
Houli acknowledged his teammates needed to put the Blues under more pressure on Sunday.
"He (Chaplin) is pretty accurate but in terms of us managing the way we wanted to play, it definitely wasn’t the way we wanted it to head," he said.
"We wanted to get our tackles right up. It’s been a stat for us individually we’ve wanted to get up."
Houli declared himself a certain starter for a match-up against the Blues' fleet-footed attack of Chris Yarran, Jeff Garlett and Eddie Betts.
The 25-year-old had scans on Sunday for an ongoing adductor injury.
"I’m all good, it’s just a general check-up to see where things are at," he said.
"All year my adductors have been loaded, I just wanted to see where they’re at, just to clarify a few things.
"I didn’t do too much today (at training) but I’ll be looking to have a big session on Thursday."
Tackling a task for Tigers
RICHMOND defender Bachar Houli says the Tigers must increase their tackling intensity to be competitive against Carlton in Sunday’s elimination final.