Are the Tigers all but finished for 2023?
It’s too early to write off Richmond given they made the finals last year and appear to have a more talented list this season. But recent injuries to Tom Lynch and Toby Nankervis put a lot more emphasis on winning games in this half of the season, so it doesn’t feel like the Tigers have to play catch up in the second half of the year. This week is a big one, given the Demons are next for them, before matches against the Gold Coast and West Coast that the Tigers must win. If they win three of their next four, they’ll have 18 points from eight rounds which will see them keep in touch with the top eight.
The dejected Tigers leave the field after the loss to the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images
What can the Tigers do in the ruck with so many injuries?
Damien Hardwick said on Thursday that Ben Miller will be tasked with the ruck duties in Nankervis’ absence. He played as Richmond’s second ruckman in the elimination final loss to Brisbane, and also played in round one against Carlton, but hasn’t played since. It will be a tall order for the 23-year-old who stands at just 195cm and was drafted as a key defender.
Samson Ryan is expected to play as a permanent key forward, alongside the returning Jack Riewoldt, but the Tigers are more than comfortable having a mostly small forward line around those two. Ivan Soldo remains sidelined for the short term with a foot injury.
Who needs to lift?
The Tigers really just need a five per cent lift from every player across the board. Daniel Rioli has been terrific, while Liam Baker’s last two weeks have been very good. But apart from those two, there’s a lot of room for growth. Dion Prestia is averaging his lowest number of kicks since his debut season in 2011, and he’s a barometer for the side when up and going.
Shai Bolton is on par with his past few seasons, barring a drop in clearances which correlates with Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto coming into the side. Taranto is having his worst season from a scoring perspective, so there’s an option there for him to spend more time forward and get Bolton up around the ball a bit more. Dustin Martin has also had just four clearances from three games, well below his career average of four a game.
Is there something wrong with the Swans?
It’s not panic stations for Sydney after two losses, given one of those was against a rampant Demons outfit and the other came in a nail biting loss to Port Adelaide when both of their key defenders – Paddy and Tom McCartin – were concussed. Like the Tigers, the Swans also have a difficult next four weeks, with Geelong, GWS Giants and Collingwood over the next month. If they win two of their next four, they’ll be 4-4 after eight rounds and in a position to strike through the middle of the season. A worrying trend for the Swans is their contested possession numbers. They’ve lost the count on that measure in three of their four games this year, and their pressure appears shy of 2022. That was their one wood last year, so they must find that again.
Paddy McCartin and Lance Franklin at Swans training on Tuesday.Credit: Phil Hillyard
Are the Swans better off without Buddy?
A fit Lance Franklin must be selected in the Swans line-up every single time. The real question is whether they’re too reliant on him. He’s kicked four goals from three matches this season. Last year he averaged better than two a game, while Isaac Heeney also averaged just shy of two a game and has kicked just four goals in four games. It’s a small sample size, but the Swans are definitely going through a transition period, with Logan McDonald (10 goals) taking greater responsibility and Joel Amartey warranting senior selection.
Could Buddy play as a winger, like Matthew Richardson did late in his career, or as a higher half-forward, to make the Swans less predictable going inside-50? That’s something the Swans coaches will have to look at when Franklin returns after knee soreness.
Tip: Swans to bounce back. Sydney by 16 points.
