Richmond great Matthew Richardson highlights six key points from the Tigers’ 113-point victory over GWS in the Round 10 match at Spotless Stadium last Saturday.

1. Jack Riewoldt showed huge resolve to produce that brilliant 11-goal display.
The spotlight was directed fairly and squarely on Riewoldt going into Saturday’s game, following his much-publicised comments about the team’s game plan, and subsequent attempts to avoid the gathered media pack at the Club.  He responded in the best way possible, however, with his goalkicking spree.  Several critics were quick to point out that Riewoldt’s effort should be kept in perspective, given how badly the undermanned GWS defence had performed.  Don’t underestimate, however, the mental toughness, plus skill, it takes to do what the Tigers’ star spearhead did on Saturday.  To take 12 marks inside 50 and kick 11 goals from 13 shots, after the turbulent few days he’d had leading into the match, was something special, and a huge credit to him.

2. Dustin Martin is on track to become one of the competition’s elite midfielders.
In his fifth season of AFL football, Martin is now producing strong four-quarter performances.  We’ve known since his debut in 2010 that he’s got prodigious talent, but it’s taken him a while to build a ‘tank’ that would enable him to successfully compete against the best midfielders going around.  That’s happening now, with the 22-year-old displaying his ability to run games right out, and be as damaging in the last quarter, as he’s been in the opening term.  Martin had a game-high 36 disposals against the Giants (14 in the last quarter), including 11 contested possessions, a game-high seven inside-50s and an equal team-high six clearances.  After finishing runner-up in the 2013 Jack Dyer Medal, I reckon he’s one Tiger that has taken his game to an even higher level this year.

3. Matt Thomas has turned himself into a valuable member of the Richmond side.
With just 87 games in eight seasons at Port Adelaide, Thomas was determined to make the most of any opportunities that came his way when he joined Richmond via the rookie draft late last year.  Following his promotion to the Club’s senior playing list on the eve of this season, Thomas has provided the Tigers’ midfield with a significant boost, through his fierce determination, toughness, courage and ball-getting ability.  His return to the line-up for last Saturday’s game, after a minor knee injury, was particularly important, with coach Damien Hardwick lamenting an inability to win one-on-one contests as a key factor in the loss to Melbourne the previous week.  Thomas responded superbly, finishing with 28 disposals, including an equal team-high 13 contested possessions, an equal team-high six clearances, plus a game-high 10 tackles.

Bid now on Brett Deledio's 200th match-worn guernsey from the game.

4. Steve Morris added another string to his bow at the game’s highest level.
The decision to move Morris out of the back pocket and play him in a defensive role up forward on the Giants’ dashing, experienced half-back, Heath Shaw, was a beauty.  Morris completely nullified the dangerous Shaw when he was on him (Shaw was forced to spend some time at full-back, trying to curb Jack Riewoldt).  Although Morris didn’t finish with many disposals himself, or kick a goal, his disciplined approach to the task he was set by Richmond’s coaching group, made him a most valuable performer on the day.  Without the intense pressure of playing deep in defence on the opposition’s dangerous small forwards, Morris would be mentally freshened up a bit, and I can see him making a pretty decent fist of this role on a more permanent basis.

5. Brett Deledio thoroughly deserved to celebrate his 200^th game with a good performance in a big win.
I loved playing alongside Brett Deledio for the first four years of his AFL career, and now I’m really enjoying watching him use his vast repertoire of skills to help the Tigers in their quest for sustained success.  For some reason, Deledio has been a bit maligned throughout his 200-game league career, but in my opinion, he’s been remarkably consistent.  He’s certainly come through some trying times at Tigerland and, as tough as they’ve been, it’s probably helped his overall football development.  The dual Jack Dyer Medallist worked his way into his major milestone game extremely well, finishing with an impressive 34 disposals, including a game-high eight rebound-50s and six inside-50s.  After a loss in his 50^th game, a draw in his 100^th, and another defeat in his 150^th, it was great to see him get a win in his 200^th.

6. Hopefully, Richmond can start to gather some momentum following that confidence-boosting win.
We know that league footy has increasingly become a confidence game, so, regardless of the opposition on the day, a win of the magnitude that Richmond achieved last Saturday, should prove beneficial.  It was especially pleasing to see the Tigers so keen to move the ball as quickly as possible when they gained possession.  Obviously, Essendon in the annual Dreamtime game this Saturday night, is going to prove significantly stiffer opposition.  But at least the Tiger players will go into this Blockbuster clash with some renewed confidence, and that’s an important factor.