From 2000-2016, Richmond finished between 9th and 14th nine times, making the finals on three occasions and getting knocked out in the first round in two of those three.
This resulted in some relatively dark days for the proud club, who had to settle as ‘also-rans’ for an extended period of time under coaches Terry Wallace and Damien Hardwick, with the entire yellow and black community constantly enduring the taunts from rival supporters as a ‘nearly’ side who would never be good enough.
The dynamic changed, however, when Hardwick changed Richmond’s style to a vivacious, high-intensity game that saw opposition defenders constantly harassed by the likes of Daniel Rioli and the rest of the modern mosquito fleet of small Richmond forwards.
This game plan, built on overloading the opposition in their own back half, saw the Tigers finish first in 2017 for tackles inside 50 per game (14.3) and first for intercepts per game (77.4) on their way to the club's first premiership flag since 1980.
A passionate supporter base in tow, the Tigers continued their upturn in form into 2018, once again ranking first for intercepts per game, fourth for tackles inside 50 and third for one-percenters per game to finish on top of the table; something which hadn't been achieved since 1982.
The AFL world looked to be at the mercy of the Richmond Tigers, and with a seemingly foolproof game plan, they looked set to go back-to-back and continue on their way to building a dynasty for the foreseeable future.
But then that preliminary final against Collingwood happened.
Flash-forward to 2019, and Richmond are a side looking bereft of creativity, manpower, intensity, and most importantly, the ability to win games.
The early warning sign came with the acquisition of former Gold Coast co-captain, Tom Lynch.
Richmond were already hinting at moving away from their game plan of high intensity forward-half pressure, because despite being a star goalkicker, a high-pressure game is not in Lynch's repertoire.
With the addition of the big man to work in conjunction with Jack Riewoldt already being condoned, and thus suggesting a smaller forward would have to make way, Richmond gave opposition teams a way in and around a system that was, for a while, viewed as unbeatable.
It would appear that the final against Collingwood was not a one-off, as many people believed.
In that game, the Pies flogged the Tigers in uncontested possessions (+61), uncontested marks (+40), hit-outs (+34) and kicks (+53).
After that match however, coach Damien Hardwick labelled it an “un-Richmond-like performance” as Collingwood rattled a formidable side that previously had no questions posed against it.
This season would suggest that Hardwick is wrong, and had it not been for an unconvincing win against a massively inexperienced Carlton outfit in the traditional curtain-raiser, the Tigers would most likely be winless to kick off their 2019 campaign.
The Blues, after copping a hiding in the first quarter, ended up scoring the exact same as Richmond for the rest of the game, coming out on top in the uncontested disposal count by +41, beating Richmond by +18 in the uncontested mark count, dominating possession across half-back, scoring heavily through the middle and paying further testimony to the blueprint laid by Nathan Buckley at the end of 2018.
Then came the rematch against Collingwood.
The contest saw more of the same but this time at the hands of a professional outfit; Collingwood towelled Richmond up in uncontested possessions (+152), uncontested marks (+89), tackles (+26) and most importantly, on the scoreboard by 44 points.
Finally, the most recent match against GWS saw a similar yet slightly different approach adopted; despite racking up +62 in uncontested possessions and +10 in uncontested marks, a more driving, direct approach was adopted from a team notorious for their ability to cause mayhem through their ability to move the ball at speed through the middle.
The flipside of teams working harder to retain the ball against Richmond in situations where they can’t be harangued is the downturn of form for the Tigers in areas they have generally excelled at over the past two seasons.
They now rank 16th in tackles inside 50 per game (7.7), 13th for intercepts per game (69.0) and a miserly 18th in the differentials per game of marks, disposals and uncontested possessions per game.
With Alex Rance out for what will probably be the whole season, Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin missing the next few weeks with injury and cult-figure Dustin Martin missing the next week due to a costly brain-fade, the next couple of rounds are set to become defining moments not just for this season, but perhaps for seasons to come for the yellow and black.
With none of their ‘big four’ available, do they alter their approach and experiment with other game styles, or stick with one that worked in the past but now possesses a gaping hole clear as daylight for all to see?
Richmond are still a young side, and a very talented one at that.
But for now, it appears they have been figured out; their last four games provide strong evidence to the fact that if you bide your time in possession of the ball across half-back, Richmond will eventually give you opportunities to score.
Can Hardwick turn it around, and formulate a plan B?
Or did Nathan Buckley successfully draw up the perfect blueprint to derail the Tiger train for seasons to come?
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