The Tigers romp toward back-to-back premierships was seen by many as a foregone conclusion in 2018. They dominated the entire season but their dream came to a grinding and gruesome end against Collingwood on preliminary final weekend.

It only took about 20 minutes. From late in the first quarter until midway through the second, the Magpies piled on six unanswered goals and led the game by 42 points. They extended that margin to 53 later in the term and kicked 8.3 to 0.2 in a powerful display of football.

OK sorry Tiger fans. Enough of that. Looking forward now.

A grinding and gruesome end for the Tigers in 2018.

New Blood Up Front

Richmond landed the biggest coup of the AFL trade and free agency period, signing Tom Lynch from the Gold Coast. It was said to be a plan 12 months in the making—more likely two years according to insiders.

Lynch has come to Richmond with a PCL injury and has had a delayed start to his pre-season due to surgery though. He’s touch-and-go at best for Round 1 and won’t be at full fitness if he does play.

The dynamics of Tom and Jack will be interesting to watch in 2018.

With the addition of Lynch, the structure of the Richmond forward-line changes. How well they bond as a unit will be a story to follow in the 2019 season.

Jack Riewoldt will no doubt enjoy some relief from opposition defenders with another pole alongside him. Both he and Lynch are completely comfortable playing deep from the square or pushing upfield as lead-up targets. They should complement each other well. But we’ll see.

Former cat Josh Caddy will miss the first month or so with an ankle injury and will have to deal with a certain role change upon his return. After playing as a second marking option alongside Riewoldt last year and kicking 46 goals, he may now be a third marking option or spend more time in the middle.

The Mosquito Fleet

Richmond will still have a fleet of cubs at the foot of Jack, Tom and Josh, led by Daniel Rioli and featuring the likes of Dan Butler, Jason Castanga and ex-Saint Mav Weller. Shai Bolton and Liam Baker will be waiting patiently.

Jack Higgins will be considered part of this group by most, and while he has a few tricks up his sleeve inside 50 (he won goal of the year last season) he is just as likely to be part of the midfield and high-half forward rotation with Kane Lambert.

Lambert is one of the hardest runners in the game and has finished top three in the best and fairest two years in a row in a high-quality team. Dion Prestia only played 13 matches in 2018 and is an important player—he was probably the Tigers’ second best in the 2017 finals, behind Dusty only.

The Mainstays

Dusty's a true champion of the AFL but he'll be an angry man in 2019. Angry men play hard and focused football.

Martin didn’t reach the heights of 2017 last year, but was still named All Australian. Shane Edwards joined him in the All Australian line-up, a just reward for a player that has one of the quickest minds and some of the fastest hands this side of Vegas.

Trent Cotchin’s career has taken a turn from Brownlow medal winning Rolls-Royce to NFL battering ram. And Jack Graham is the number one pressure player at the Tigers, which complements the rest of the midfield outfit, but he will be looking to up his possession rate and have more impact in the forward half.

Shaun Grigg and Kamdyn McIntosh have been the wingmen in recent times. Grigg starts the season injured and is unlikely to fulfil his secondary duties as relief ruck when he comes back. Pressure may be on his spot, but he’s too smart to let that happen.

The Land of Giants

Ivan Soldo is the next in line ruckman at the Tigers, but it’s hard to play two giants in the same team. Noah Balta is an athletic all-purpose tall that may get a run, but he has a long way to go in order to be recognised as a seasoned AFL player.

The Richmond backline has been an area of stability in the last two seasons.

Alex Rance has been an All Australian defender five years in a row, and continues to be a two-in-one player – he is responsible for the majority of one-on-one match-ups in the Tigers’ defensive 50, but his reputation among the football public is of someone that never plays on a man; that’s how good his reading of the play and defensive skills are.

Alex Rance will be manning the Richmond wall again in 2019.

666 - A Bad Luck Charm?

Much has been made of the fact Richmond may be most disadvantaged by 6-6-6 given they played a man behind the ball more than any other side last year. The Tigers gave up clearances to win the ball back and create drive from behind. This is a concern.

Most of the rule changes have been brought in to promote fast and flowing football, but this was Richmond’s competitive advantage already. Forward momentum was their game, so this may give an opportunity for other teams to catch-up.

The Tigers also have to carry the mental baggage of having nothing to prove until they get to the preliminary final, and that likely involves winning 15-16 matches in the home-and-away plus at least one final. It’s no easy feat sustaining football at that level year after year.

West Coast and Collingwood beat Richmond handsomely in 2018, and did it in different ways, which others are sure to learn from. The Eagles used ball control and piercing field kicking to dismantle the Tigers, while the Pies simply beat them at their own game.

Richmond are going to be a good team again, and surely finalists. But a top-four spot will be no walk in the park.

Hopefully the Tigers can find their happy face again in 2019.

See the Tigers Launch Next Week

The Tigers launch their season in round 1 against the Blues at the MCG on Thursday March 21. They back it up with another blockbuster the following week when they face-off with Collingwood—again at the MCG.

Other games to watch out for early on will be a dog fight with Hawthorn on Sunday 19 May then a wrestle with Essendon the following week on Saturday the 25th of May. Two weeks later they clash with Geelong at the G on Friday night.

Remember, if you miss any tickets for this year’s AFL fixture then be sure to check out The Ticket Merchant website for a full range of premium and discounted tickets selling the entirety of the AFL season.