In the 10^th and final part of a richmondfc.com.au post-season special series, we rate (in alphabetical order) the top three Tigers of 2015.

Brett Deledio

There was no indication early this year that Brett Deledio was going to produce what turned out to be, conceivably, the best football of his decade-long league career.  Quite the contrary, in fact . . .

Deledio had a problem with his Achilles during the pre-season, and then copped a calf injury just one round into the season proper, which sidelined him for a month.

It was no coincidence that Richmond struggled during Deledio’s absence, such is his immense value to the team.

Despite being out of action for the equal-longest period of his league career, it didn’t take Deledio long to hit his straps.

In his second game back, against Collingwood at the MCG, he had 30 touches and kicked two crucial goals in a typically classy display that helped lift the Tigers to a five-point win.

That was to be the start of a rich vein of form for Deledio in his new, permanent, high half-forward role.

He averaged 21.6 disposals and 5.9 marks per game, and finished third on Richmond’s goalkicking list with 27 goals.

From Round 7, when he made his return from injury, until the end of the home-and-away rounds, Deledio was ranked No. 2 in the competition for score involvements and No. 4 for average player ranking points.

And, he was one of just 10 players throughout the competition to average more than 20 disposals and a goal per game.

Those numbers ranked Deledio in the absolute class of the competition and, fittingly, the All-Australian selectors found room for him on the interchange bench in 2015’s star-studded side.

Dustin Martin

Martin maintained an impressively high level of consistency throughout the 2015 season.

The explosive midfielder impacted games in inimitable style, winning plenty of ball, pumping it forward with his first-rate foot skills, and continuing to pose huge problems for opposition teams due to his expertise in one-on-one duels during stints inside Richmond’s attacking area.

He played all 23 games, averaged 26.0 disposals and 4.5 marks per match, and kicked 24 goals.

Martin was ranked second in the competition for total kicks, seventh in uncontested possessions, ninth in inside-50s and equal 11^th in total disposals.

And, like Deledio, he was in that elite group of league players to average more than 20 disposals and a goal per game.

Within the Tigers’ playing group, Martin was ranked first for kicks, first for total disposals, first for inside-50s, second in uncontested possessions, third in contested possessions, third in rebound-50s, third for tackles, equal fourth in centre clearances, fourth in goals, fifth for handballs, fifth in clearances, and fifth in stoppages.

Although Martin was considered somewhat unlucky not to be selected in this year’s All-Australian team (he was named in the initial 40-player squad), he received substantial recognition at the 2015 Brownlow Medal count, when he picked up a career-high 21 votes to finish seventh in the 2015 count behind winner Nathan Fyfe.

Alex Rance

Rance took his game to an even higher level in 2015, producing premier performances right throughout the season.

He was widely acclaimed as the best key defender in the competition due to his elite ability to continually win the ball back for the Tigers’ team and launch counter attacks, while still managing to maintain a tight rein on opponents.

For the second successive year, Rance was selected in the All-Australian team (named at full-back), and he was recognised by his playing peers too, finishing eighth in the AFL Players Association’s MVP award, the Leigh Matthews trophy.

His brave on-field deeds also were acknowledged at the 2015 AFLPA awards’ night, when he finished fifth in the Most Courageous Player category.

And, the eight Brownlow votes Rance received in this year’s Medal count were the most by a key Richmond defender since Darren Gaspar polled 12 in 1997.

Rance played all 23 of Richmond’s games this season, averaging 17.4 disposals, 5.9 marks and 3.0 tackles per match.

He was ranked 11^th in the competition for rebound-50s and No. 1 in one-percenters.

Among the playing group at Tigerland, Rance was ranked a clear leader in one-percenters, intercept marks and intercept possessions, second for rebound-50s, second in contested marks and fourth in total marks.

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
Dependable Tigers