In a special series running throughout this week at richmondfc.com.au, Tony Greenberg has been highlighting the anticipation and excitement leading into the Tigers’ 2019 season with an A-Z preview. The series concludes today with a look at the letters V-Z.

V is for Versatility

The capacity for players to adapt to a variety of on-field roles is pivotal in the modern game. Richmond is well served in this department with quite a few members of its playing group capable of impacting matches through their versatility. Dustin Martin is a classic example. The superstar midfielder creates huge problems for opposition defenders when moved deep forward by the Tigers because of his elite ability to win one-on-one duels. Regular defender Nick Vlastuin showed his versatility during last year’s Round 10 clash with St Kilda at the MCG, when he kicked three crucial goals after being shifted into the forward line. Players such as Shane Edwards, Kane Lambert and Josh Caddy have consistently exerted a significant influence on-field, both up forward and through the midfield, Shaun Grigg has been a valuable contributor as a midfielder and ruck back-up for Toby Nankervis, hard-running pair Kamdyn McIntosh and Brandon Ellis are proven multipurpose performers, while there’s a fleet of young Tigers – the likes of Daniel Rioli, Dan Butler, Jason Castagna, Jack Higgins, Shai Bolton, Mabior Chol and Noah Balta – who appear capable of successfully filling different roles within the line-up.  

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W is for Winning

Only three AFL teams have recorded more wins than Richmond in the past six seasons – Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong. The Tigers have won 87 of a possible 140 games during that time, which is a winning strike-rate of 62.1 percent. In comparison, since the start of the 2013 season, Hawthorn has won 103 games, Sydney 99 and Geelong 94. Winning has become a very good habit at Tigerland, and hopefully one that will continue throughout season 2019 and way beyond. There’s no reason why that can’t be the case with the amount of talent on the list. 

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X is for X-factor

Dustin Martin tops an impressive list of Richmond players with X-factor going into the 2019 season. I reckon it’s reasonable to also put Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards, Daniel Rioli and Jack Higgins into the X-factor category. And there are some inexperienced, young Tigers who seem to possess that intangible quality as well – the likes of Shai Bolton, Noah Balta and the latest arrival at Punt Road, Sydney Stack.

FIXTURE View Richmond's 2019 AFL premiership season fixture

Y is for Youth

Richmond will enter the 2019 season with just over half the players on its list aged 22 or under – Liam Baker, Noah Balta, Shai Bolton, Dan Butler, Jason Castagna, Mabior Chol, Callum Coleman-Jones, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Ryan Garthwaite, Jack Graham, Jack Higgins, Oleg Markov, Connor Menadue, Ben Miller, Callum Moore, Patrick Naish, Daniel Rioli, Ivan Soldo, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Jack Ross, Fraser Turner, Luke English and Sydney Stack. There’s a substantial amount of talent within that group and Tiger fans are undoubtedly going to enjoy watching their progress this year.

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Z is for Zest

The Tigers are bound to attack season 2019 with plenty of zest, just as they have throughout the past couple of years. They relish the challenges that confront them and go about their business with high levels of energy and enthusiasm.

TRAINING Don't miss Saturday morning's open training session at Punt Road