The Tigers have conceded 52 goals in their four games, compared to 68 at the same time last year, and 71 in Damien Hardwick’s first season as coach, in 2010.
The fact they have played three of last year’s top five, including the two 2011 Grand Finalists, makes that defensive effort even more meritorious.
And, although key forwards Jack Riewoldt and Ty Vickery have managed just nine goals between them so far this season, Richmond has still managed to score more goals than at the corresponding stage in 2010-2011. The Tigers have 49 goals in four games this season, compared to 46 in 2010 and 34 the year before.
Further evidence of Richmond’s improved defensive work is the fact Geelong’s (albeit winning) score of 11.9 (75) in last Sunday’s Round 4 clash at Simonds Stadium was its lowest against the Tigers since the final home-and-away round of the 2005 season.
In that match, which was the farewell appearance of four-time Jack Dyer Medallist, Wayne Campbell, the Cats scored 10.9 (69) to scrape home by a point against Richmond’s 10.8 (68).
Surely it’s only a matter of time before Brandon Ellis becomes Richmond’s next AFL Rising Star nominee . . .
Ellis has slotted impressively into the Tiger defence during the first month of his debut league season.
His 19-possession performance against reigning premier Geelong yesterday underlined his football maturity, composure, determination and talent.
The Tigers certainly look like they’ve backed a winner with the 18-year-old from West Coburg/Calder Cannons, who they took with their first pick (No. 15 overall) in the 2011 AFL National Draft.
Expect him to join Dylan Grimes (Round 3) as another young Tiger Rising Star nominee for 2012 in the not-too-distant future.
It’s a case of back to the future for top Tiger midfielder Nathan Foley . . .
Each week, ‘Axel’ is looking more like the quality player who led the team’s midfield in the 2007-08 period, earning high praise along the way for his daring, damaging, run-and-carry style of play.
The 26-year-old veteran of 114 league games endured a horror run with injury for nearly two seasons after that, but managed to play all 22 games for the Tigers in 2011 and finish eighth in the Best and Fairest.
That continuity with his football last year has clearly held him in good stead because he has displayed his trademark centre-clearance bursts several times already this season.
Axel again was one of the best in Richmond’s 10-point loss to Geelong on Sunday, gathering 24 possessions, kicking a goal, and creating opportunities for teammates with his run and carry.
Five-time Hawthorn premiership hero, and multi-media megastar, Dermott Brereton, has joined the Tiger Army.
‘Dermie’, who, in his capacity as a football commentator, has publicly declared he likes the way the Tigers play under Damien Hardwick’s coaching, ventured to the ME Bank Centre, Punt Road Oval, last week, to sign up as a 2012 Richmond member.
Jake King was there to greet him and congratulate him on his decision to follow the lead of more than 48,000 Tigers by committing to the Yellow and Black cause in 2012.
Talented Tiger ‘tall’, Ty Vickery, is scheduled to play his 50th league game next Sunday when Richmond takes on top-of-the-ladder West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
The 21-year-old, who was the Tigers’ first pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2008 AFL National Draft, has kicked 47 goals in his 49 games to date.
He had a breakout season in 2011, kicking 36 goals and finishing fifth in the Club’s Best and Fairest.
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