In the lead-up to the start of season 2017, richmondfc.com.au is examining how the Tigers will shape up this year across all playing lines. Our attention this week turns to the forward line, with Tony Greenberg taking a look today at the Club’s options in attack.
Richmond’s forward set-up for season 2017 is something of an unknown quantity, given the departures of proven goalkickers Brett Deledio and Ty Vickery.
Deledio, who joined Greater Western Sydney during last year’s AFL trade period, kicked 20 goals or more in a season five times throughout his time at Tigerland.
Vickery, who transferred to Hawthorn as a restricted free agent at the end of last season, also scored 20 goals or more in a year on five occasions with Richmond.
The exits of experienced duo Deledio and Vickery, however, provides great opportunity for some young Tiger talent to firmly grasp.
Jack Riewoldt, who remains the linchpin of Richmond’s attack, is genuinely excited about the prospects of the youngsters he believes have the ability to fill the void up forward for the Tigers.
“With (coaches) Justin Leppitsch and Craig McRae, and (teammate) Shane Edwards, the four of us are trying to nurture this young, exciting group into a forward line that can be really dangerous in the near future,” Riewoldt said on SEN.
“We’ve got a couple of younger kids, who you wouldn’t see as your traditional key forwards because they’re 175cm, but they’re ballistic quick.
“They’ve been exciting through the pre-season, and we feel they can step up.
“I’m really excited about (small forward) Shai Bolton (the Club’s first pick in last year’s National Draft) . . .
“And a guy that has come on in leaps and bounds, after having a pretty good first season last year, who’s matured and become a real leader of a small group at the Club, is (small forward) Daniel Rioli.
“I think Daniel’s going to shine for us, and I’m pretty excited about him as well.
”Also, I think the addition of Toby Nankervis from the Sydney Swans, is going to be a big one for us in the ruck, but I’ve started to see a few things of him down forward, which I’m really liking . . .”
Although Riewoldt finished with his lowest goal tally in a season last year, since 2009 (48 goals), he remained a valuable contributor for the Tigers.
He spent more time up the ground, averaged 14.4 disposals and 6.4 marks, and still managed to be ranked fifth in the competition for total marks inside-50.
With 483 goals all-up in his 202 games with Richmond, Riewoldt clearly is one of AFL football’s best key forwards.
It will be interesting to see, in season 2017, if he has a role closer to goal, where he can apply more scoreboard pressure on the opposition.
The capacity for big Ben Griffiths to build on the solid gains he made during 2016, will be an important factor in Richmond boosting its forward-line potency.
Griffiths finished with the highest goal tally of his league last season (14 in 13 games), including a career-high five goals against Sydney at the MCG in Round 8.
At 25 years of age, Griffiths should be entering his prime as an AFL player, and there’s no doubt he has the build and skills set to be an influential focal point in attack for the Tigers.
A couple of other older players also shape as key members of the team’s forward structure in 2017.
Shane Edwards, a veteran of 187 league games, has shown he is quite capable of kicking goals and being a damaging forward.
The 28-year-old had a season-high return of 29 goals in 2012 and he booted 22 goals in 2014. Last season, he scored 15 goals in 19 games.
Sam Lloyd, who turns 27 in March, was one of the success stories of a disappointing 2016 season for Richmond.
He played all 22 games, kicked 35 goals (second on the Club’s goalkicking list for the year), and has 58 overall from just 42 appearances at AFL level since his debut in 2014.
Although only 180cm tall, Lloyd is strong overhead, as well as being dangerous at ground level through his innate goal sense.
If Ben Lennon can parlay a productive pre-season into something significant this year, then the Tigers’ forward stocks will rise appreciably.
The Club’s first pick in the 2013 National Draft has had a bad run with injuries, and managed just nine goals from 19 senior games with Richmond.
Lennon, however, looks to have the tools required to develop into a proficient forward.
He is a fine mark, a top-class kick, and has worked extremely hard to improve his fitness levels over summer.
The arrival at Punt Road of gun, mature-age midfield recruits Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy, should have a positive flow-on effect for the Tigers’ attack.
It will enable star midfielders Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin to be used up forward more frequently. And, they’ve both proven in the past, exactly how effective they can be as forwards.
Martin averages nearly a goal a game (150 from 153 games) and has kicked 20 goals or more in a season five times, with a best return of 33 in 2011.
Cotchin has 101 goals from 173 games, with his highest tally in a season being 21 in 2012.
Caddy is coming off a career-high 21 goals last season (at Geelong) and has kicked 76 goals overall in his 95 games of league football.
