After 20 years of AFL football in the 2000s, we here at Richmond Media thought it would be an interesting exercise to come up with the Tigers’ Team of the 21st Century thus far. But we need your help. So we’ve put together a squad of 40 players (listed below) from which we want you to select your best 22. We’re providing a profile and statistical analysis of each squad member (in alphabetical order) to assist you with selecting the side. Only players that have appeared in a minimum of 50 games at senior level with the Tigers during the 2000s are eligible for selection. Once all 40 players have been profiled, we’ll be collating the line-ups you’ve compiled and then announcing Richmond’s Team of the 21st Century (to date) in the lead-up to the start of the 2020 season. We turn our attention today to Matthew Richardson . . .

Click here to select your Richmond Team of the 21st century, or by scrolling to the bottom of this article

Matthew Richardson

On-field position: Key forward

Games in the 2000s (2000-09): 163

Goals: 426

Playing honours/achievements: Jack Dyer Medal winner in 2007, Michael Roach Medal winner in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, All-Australian representative in 2008, 3^rd in the 2008 Brownlow Medal

Top 10 finishes in Jack Dyer Medal: Eight – 7^th in 2001, 2^nd in 2002, 6^th in 2003, 4^th in 2004, 2^nd in 2005, 7^th in 2006, 1^st in 2007, 3^rd in 2008

 

Season-by-season statistical analysis

2000

Games: 3

Kicks average: 13.7

Handballs average: 3.0

Disposals average: 16.7

Marks average: 9.7

Contested marks average: 3.0

Marks inside 50 average: 6.3

Goals average: 4.3 (13 in total)

Contested possessions average: 8.3

Uncontested possessions average: 8.3

Inside-50s average: 4.0

 

2001

Games: 22

Kicks average: 11.3

Handballs average: 2.5

Disposals average: 13.8

Marks average: 8.3

Contested marks average: 3.4

Marks inside 50 average: 4.1

Goals average: 2.7 (59)

Contested possessions average: 7.9

Uncontested possessions average: 6.1

Inside-50s average: 3.8

 

2002

Games: 13

Kicks average: 9.7

Handballs average: 2.0

Disposals average: 11.7

Marks average: 7.0

Contested marks average: 3.3

Marks inside 50 average: 3.4

Goals average: 2.8 (36)

Contested possessions average: 7.1

Uncontested possessions average: 4.8

Inside-50s average: 3.0

One-percenters average: 1.3

 

2003

Games: 19

Kicks average: 11.3

Handballs average: 4.0

Disposals average: 15.4

Marks average: 9.1

Contested marks average: 3.3

Marks inside 50 average: 3.3

Goals average: 1.7 (33)

Contested possessions average: 8.2

Uncontested possessions average: 7.5

Inside-50s average: 4.1

One-percenters average: 1.5

 

2004

Games: 18

Kicks average: 10.4

Handballs average: 2.4

Disposals average: 12.9

Marks average: 7.2

Contested marks average: 2.5

Marks inside 50 average: 5.1

Goals average: 3.6 (65)

Contested possessions average: 6.8

Uncontested possessions average: 6.0

Inside-50s average: 2.1

 

2005

Games: 22

Kicks average: 11.2

Handballs average: 2.2

Disposals average: 13.4

Marks average: 7.5

Contested marks average: 2.2

Marks inside 50 average: 3.7

Goals average: 2.9 (66)

Contested possessions average: 6.2

Uncontested possessions average: 7.3

Inside-50s average: 3.5

One-percenters average: 1.7

 

2006

Games: 18

Kicks average: 11.2

Handballs average: 3.7

Disposals average: 14.9

Marks average: 8.3

Contested marks average: 1.8

Marks inside 50 average: 3.8

Goals average: 2.5 (45)

Contested possessions average: 6.3

Uncontested possessions average: 8.7

Inside-50s average: 3.2

One-percenters average: 1.5

 

2007

Games: 22

Kicks average: 11.9

Handballs average: 3.3

Disposals average: 15.2

Marks average: 8.9

Contested marks average: 2.0

Marks inside 50 average: 3.8

Goals average: 2.4 (53)

Contested possessions average: 6.4

Uncontested possessions average: 8.7

Inside-50s average: 3.2

One-percenters average: 1.2

 

2008

Games: 20

Kicks average: 13.1

Handballs average: 5.1

Disposals average: 18.2

Marks average: 11.1

Contested marks average: 2.3

Marks inside 50 average: 3.1

Goals average: 2.4 (48)

Contested possessions average: 6.1

Uncontested possessions average: 12.3

Inside-50s average: 2.0

One-percenters average: 1.5

 

2009

Games: 6

Kicks average: 12.7

Handballs average: 5.2

Disposals average: 17.9

Marks average: 10.0

Contested marks average: 3.1

Marks inside 50 average: 4.3

Goals average: 1.5 (9)

Contested possessions average: 6.8

Uncontested possessions average: 10.8

Inside-50s average: 2.3

One-percenters average: 1.8