In 2012, Jack Riewoldt was often the lone forward target, making it much easier for defences to predict the path of Richmond’s attack.
A look at the Tigers’ targets from forward 50 entries last season shows the reliance on Riewoldt.
| Player (2012 season) | Games played | I50 target (total) | I50 target (average) |
| Jack Riewoldt | 22 | 221 | 10.05 |
| Brad Miller | 10 | 41 | 4.10 |
| Robin Nahas | 22 | 36 | 1.64 |
Riewoldt was the target more than 10 times per game. Miller retired at the end of 2012, while Nahas, at 176cm, has only played five games in 2013.
A look at one of Richmond’s centre bounce setups from when it played North Melbourne last year paints the picture.
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If Richmond was to break out of the centre and kick it long, the structure shown in the picture makes it much easier for the defenders higher up the ground to drop off their opponents and help out closer to goal.
In the last quarter of that particular match, the Tigers had to rely on goals from their smaller men to keep them in it, as Riewoldt went without a stat and not one of Dustin Martin’s (playing in front of Riewoldt in the image) three touches for the term were in the forward zone.
Fast forward to 2013 and the Richmond forward setup is much different. The emergence of Tyrone Vickery has given a consistent second tall/ruck option, while Luke McGuane and former Roo Aaron Edwards have filled the third tall position extremely well.
Compare the inside 50 targets this year to last, and the difference is vast.
| Player (2013) | Games played | I50 target (total) | I50 target (average) |
| Jack Riewoldt | 13 | 86 | 6.62 |
| McGuane/Edwards | 13 | 75 | 5.77 |
| Tyrone Vickery | 12 | 55 | 4.58 |
Despite the numbers, even without the same reliance on Riewoldt as a target, the number eight has increased his average goals per game from 2.95 in 2012 to 3.08 in 2013.
His success has come partly with improved accuracy but just as important is opposition defences respecting the Tigers’ additional options, giving Riewoldt more room to work in.
Against St Kilda, the new setup worked well as Richmond kicked more than 100 points for the sixth time in seven weeks.
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The options for the three talls are plentiful from the centre bounce shown in the picture above. Either forward can break to the left, right, or back towards the goal square where no-one sits within 40 metres of the big sticks.
When combined with the improved form of its smaller forwards and added scoreboard impact of midfielders, it’s no wonder Richmond has been a marked improver.
In Scott Thompson, Nathan Grima, Lachlan Hansen and Michael Firrito, North has a variety of options to match up on the taller forwards.
In last year’s meeting, Thompson did an excellent job on Riewoldt. He’s likely to get first crack at the dangerous forward on Saturday, with able assistance from Grima if needed. Where the rest of the dominoes fall will be an intriguing discussion point in the lead-up to the game.
