In a special series running throughout this week at richmondfc.com.au, Tony Greenberg is highlighting the anticipation and excitement leading into the Tigers’ 2019 season with an A-Z preview. We continue today, focusing on the letters G-K.
G is for Goal power
Richmond will enter the 2019 season ranked equal second competition-wide in terms of players on its list who have kicked more than 100 goals throughout their AFL careers and average at least one goal per game. Jack Riewoldt 2.4 average (607 goals from 249 games), Dustin Martin 1.08 average (218 goals from 201 games), Josh Caddy 1.03 average (143 goals from 139 games) and Tom Lynch 1.9 average (254 goals from 131 games) are all in this elite goalkicking category. Then there are the dangerous small forwards in Jason Castagna (54 goals from 52 games), Daniel Rioli (51 goals from 55 games) and Dan Butler (48 goals from 38 games), who further enhance the potency of Richmond’s attack.
MEMBERSHIP The Hunt Continues in 2019; join as a member today
H is for Hunters
The Tigers thrive on hunting their opposition on game-day, forcing them into errors and then making them pay big-time on the scoreboard. Even last year, as reigning premiers, with every other team pumped up that bit extra to knock them off, they still managed to maintain a strong hunter mentality, rather than being the hunted. Expect an even more ferocious edge to the Tigers in season 2019, as they strive to regain the premiership title.
BROWSE Find a 2019 membership package suited to you
I is for Interstate games
The one negative over the course of Richmond’s excellent 2018 home-and-away season was its interstate record, with just one win (v Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium) from five games (losses to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, West Coast at Optus Stadium, Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium). Winning on the road will be a key goal for the Tigers in 2019. They face interstate clashes with Greater Western Sydney (Spotless Stadium) in Round 3, Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) in Round 4, Fremantle (Optus Stadium) in Round 8, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) in Round 13 and Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium) in Round 16.
FIXTURE View Richmond's 2019 AFL premiership season fixture
J is for Jacks
It’s fair to say Jack is the most famous first name in Richmond’s history, extending all the way back to the glory days of legendary players Jack Titus and Jack Dyer. In 2019, the Jack tradition will proudly continue at Tigerland, with triple Coleman Medallist and dual Jack Dyer Medallist Jack Riewoldt leading the way. Alongside him will be a trio of talented Tiger cubs – Jack Graham, Jack Higgins and Jack Ross. Those four Jacks provide the Tigers with a very strong hand indeed.
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K is for Killer instinct
A highlight of Richmond’s 2018 season was the capacity to rip opposition teams apart when it had them down. The Tigers finished the home-and-away rounds with the best percentage in the competition (136.1) by virtue of the number of big wins they had – eight by 40 points or more (93 v Brisbane, Round 4, MCG, 46 v Melbourne; Round 5, MCG, 43 v Collingwood; Round 6, MCG, 77 v Fremantle; Round 7, MCG, 71 v Essendon; Round 11, MCG, 47 v Adelaide; Round 16, MCG, 54 v St Kilda; Round 18, Marvel Stadium; and 74 v Gold Coast, Round 21, Metricon Stadium). Maintaining that killer instinct throughout the 2019 season will be important, with percentage playing such a significant part in the jockeying for positions at the top end of the league ladder.
TRAINING Don't miss Saturday morning's open training session at Punt Road
Revisit richmondfc.com.au tomorrow as we look at letters L-P in our 2019 A-Z season preview.
