In the ninth part of a richmondfc.com.au post-season special series, we turn our attention to those Tiger players who were standouts with their reliability throughout 2015.
Shaun Grigg
Grigg relished a return to Richmond’s midfield this year after spending the previous few seasons generating drive for the team through his outside, hard-running in a wingman role.
The retirement at the end of the 2014 season of Daniel Jackson opened up a spot in the Tigers’ midfield, and Grigg grasped that opportunity afforded him by coach Damien Hardwick.
Challenged to find the right balance with his contested and uncontested work, Grigg responded extremely well.
He was one of the Tigers’ most consistent performers throughout the season, playing all 23 games and averaging 21.2 disposals, 7.3 contested possessions and 4.6 marks.
On 17 occasions, he had 20 disposals or more in a match, and he also hit the scoreboard, kicking a total of 16 goals, which was the fifth most by a Richmond player for the season.
The 27-year-old was ranked first at the Club for tackles, third for clearances, third for centre clearances, third for handballs, third for stoppages, third for inside-50s, fifth for contested possessions and fifth for uncontested possessions.
Grigg went about his business on-field with low fuss, but high efficiency, and was a valuable contributor in the Tigers’ charge to a third consecutive finals’ campaign.
Ivan Maric
Maric again provided Richmond with his customary warrior-like inspiration throughout the season.
The veteran ruckman, who joined Brett Deledio as a co-vice-captain of the Tigers’ team in 2015, averaged 13.0 disposals, 2.9 marks and 25.4 hit-outs in the 22 games he played.
He was ranked sixth in the competition for total hit-outs.
Among the playing group at Tigerland, Maric was ranked fourth for contested possessions, fourth in contested marks, fourth in clearances, fourth in centre clearances, fourth in stoppages and fourth in one-percenters.
And, he had an impact on the scoreboard, too, finishing with 11 goals, which is the most he’s kicked in a season during his decade-long league career.
But, as has always been the case with Maric since he played his first game with Richmond in 2012, after transferring from Adelaide, his influence within the team cannot be measured purely in statistical numbers.
His bullocking work helps create an easier path for teammates, and there’s no doubt they all walk that little bit taller with big Ivan around.
They love what he brings to the side on a consistent basis.
Anthony Miles
Miles picked up this season where he left off in his first year at Richmond in 2014.
The tenacious, ‘ball-magnet’ midfielder maintained the high level of performance he has displayed from the outset of his time with the Tigers, after being taken by the Club as a rookie-draft selection in late 2013.
He played all 23 games for the season, averaging 23.6 disposals, 11.5 contested possessions, 4.0 marks and 3.9 tackles.
Only four times did Miles not gather 20 touches or more in a match, and he was Richmond’s leading disposal-winner in its elimination final loss to North Melbourne with 22.
Competition-wide, Miles was ranked equal 12th for clearances and 13th in contested possessions.
Within the Richmond playing group, he was ranked first for clearances, first for centre clearances, first for stoppages, second in contested possessions, second for inside-50s, second in tackles, and third for total disposals.
The umpires noticed Miles’ impressive work through the midfield as well, awarding him nine Brownlow Medal votes.
Right throughout the season, Miles burrowed in to win the hard ball, and then fed it out to his teammates on the outside.
His ability to hurl repeatedly hurl himself into contests and emerge with the ball is exceptional, and he has become an integral member of the Tigers’ line-up.
Recap the Tiger Top Threes so far:
2015 wins
Most improved players
Stats stars
Individual performances
Best team quarters
Young Guns
Players to watch next season
Untried Tigers
