Tim Taranto repaid the faith, and then some, in first year at Richmond last year as he went on to become one of its best players. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

RICHMOND
2023 record: 10 wins, 12 losses, 1 draw (13th)

THE INS
Jacob Koschitzke (Hawthorn), Sam Naismith (Port Melbourne), Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide), Liam Fawcett (Central District), Oliver Hayes-Brown (Perth Wildcats – NBL), Mykelti Lefau (Richmond VFL)

THE OUTS
Trent Cotchin (retired), Jack Riewoldt (retired), Ivan Soldo (Port Adelaide), Robbie Tarrant (retired), Jason Castagna (retired), Bigoa Nyuon (North Melbourne), Kaelan Bradtke (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
Adem Yze hasn’t exactly accepted a run-of-the-mill new AFL coaching gig. He has been blessed with a playing list littered with premiership players, including one of the most dynamic and exciting footballers in the league in Shai Bolton. After announcing himself as a star of the competition in 2022 with his maiden All-Australian jumper, Bolton arguably went to another level last year, despite not collecting back-to-back green blazers. The 25-year-old spent more time in the midfield, racking up a career-high 22 disposals per game, but that only diminished his goalkicking output ever so slightly as he still ended up with 31 majors for the year – second only to Riewoldt (32) at the Tigers. Tim Taranto proved to be one of the pick-ups of the season, collecting a best-and-fairest and a team-best 19 Brownlow votes after averaging a career-high 29 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven tackles and seven clearances per game while also kicking a personal best 19 goals. Injuries and consistency might have worked against him in his previous two seasons, and he might not be at his jaw-dropping peak anymore, but the living legend Dustin Martin showed everyone last year that he is still a force to be reckoned with as he split his time between midfield and attack with brilliant results. In all, the Tigers still boast a core of 15 premiership players in their best 22: Martin, Bolton, Tom Lynch, Dylan Grimes, Dion Prestia, Liam Baker, Toby Nankervis, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short, Daniel Rioli, Kamdyn McIntosh, Marlion Pickett, Noah Balta and Jack Graham. Granted, not all of them are at their absolute best anymore, but it’s still a pretty handy assortment of players that Yze has to work with as he bleeds in the next generation of Tiger cubs. If Lynch returns to somewhere near his best after recovering from a serious foot injury, then all of a sudden the Tigers look much stronger up forward.

THE WEAKNESSES
It really is the start of a new era at Richmond. The legendary Damien Hardwick has departed after not only becoming the club’s longest-serving coach (307 games), but also joining the great Tom Hafey as the only two men to steer the Tigers to at least three premierships. And two cornerstones of their recent golden era in Trent Cotchin, who captained them to each of their last three flags, and Riewoldt, who, with 787 goals, sits behind only club icons Jack Titus (970) and Matthew Richardson (800) on Richmond’s all-time goalkicking list, have retired. There’s certainly going to be a different look about the Tigers this year with those three men no longer on the scene. Also, the last time the Tigers played one final in a three-year span was over a decade ago (2011-13), further underscoring the closing of one of the club’s greatest chapters. Embarking on a new era is not necessarily a weakness, but they do so with a lot of areas that need fixing. Despite being 15th for forward entries last year, they ranked seventh for marks inside 50. However, Riewoldt took 58 of those – almost double the next-best Martin – so that leaves a massive hole the Tigers will hope Lynch and new recruit Koschitzke will help fill. But putting all their eggs in the Lynch basket at the age of 32, after a long-term injury, is a high-risk strategy, especially with Koschitzke as the back-up option after an underwhelming career at Hawthorn. But they had the 11th-ranked offence in the AFL last year, so they’re going to need it to work. Despite having the likes of Taranto, Bolton, Martin, Prestia and Jacob Hopper rotating through the midfield in 2023, Richmond was 12th for contested possessions, 14th for disposals and 14th for clearances. So it should come as no surprise that they had the sixth-worst defence in the competition. With Grimes well and truly in the twilight of his career, a lot is riding on the fitness of Josh Gibcus who, after producing a promising debut year in 2022, sat out all of last year due to a serious hamstring tendon injury. Finishing 13th on the ladder last year and heading into 2024 with the fifth-oldest team in the league isn’t the most ideal situation, either. Richmond’s famed pressure from its premiership years deserted it too often in 2023 as well, as it finished 10th for tackles.

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

ONE TO WATCH
If Taranto produced a career-best year in his first season with the Tigers last season, imagine what he’s got in store this year? The star midfielder added consistent goalkicking to his game in 2023 to become just about the complete on-baller. At 26, he’s in the prime of his career, so don’t be surprised if he earns his first All-Australian jumper in 2024 and gives the Brownlow a nudge as well.

UNDER THE PUMP
Season 2024 is looming as a big year for talented but frustrating small forwards Noah Cumberland and Maurice Rioli Jr. The pair have shown flashes of brilliance in their short careers, but have struggled badly to string consistent footy together. Granted, injuries didn’t help Cumberland, but after being overlooked for the first two rounds last year, he was dropped a further two times, and only managed nine games for eight goals. Meanwhile, Rioli was omitted twice in 2023 and could only muster two goals (both in Round 1) from 10 matches. They’re both in the final year of their contracts and need to show something, especially with Jacob Bauer, Judson Clarke and Matt Coulthard all competing for the same spots.

BEST 22
B: Tylar Young, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin
HB: Jayden Short, Dylan Grimes, Daniel Rioli
C: Kamdyn McIntosh, Tim Taranto, Marlion Pickett
HF: Shai Bolton, Noah Balta, Dustin Martin
F: Jack Graham, Tom Lynch, Jacob Koschitzke
R: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Liam Baker
Inter: Jacob Hopper, Jack Ross, Rhyan Mansell, Sam Naismith
Emerg: Josh Gibcus, Samson Ryan, Noah Cumberland, Thomson Dow

Brilliant utility Liam Baker looks set for yet another new role in the midfield after starring down back and up forward for most of his career so far. Meanwhile, Balta is slated for a more permanent role in attack in 2024 after finishing last season with 47 contested marks, which was more than double the next best active Tiger in Dustin Martin (22). Richmond hope Rhyan Mansell’s ankle injury will only sideline him from its first game against Gold Coast and given the Tigers’ proclivity to play two rucks, that probably means Sam Naismith gets a spot on the bench after the former Swan managed just two AFL games in the last seven years due to a raft of serious knee injuries.

*all team stat rankings mentioned are based on differentials, not totals (apart from overall offence and defence).