The changes
In: K.McIntosh, C.Menadue
Out: B.Ellis, R.Collier-Dawkins
What to expect
Preliminary finalists last year and premiers the year before, there is no reason to suggest Richmond will see any regression from this level in 2019.
The Tigers looked impressive in their first JLT Series hit-out against fellow premiership threat Melbourne last week, defeating the Demons by 12 points.
With ten different goal kickers, Damien Hardwick’s men spread the load in front of goal and could have easily done more damage to the Demons had they been more accurate in front of goal (16.17 to 16.5).
Part of this scoring power comes from the Tigers’ ability to spot up targets in their forward 50.
They ranked second across the league last year in marks inside 50 per game, averaging 13, and last weekend they continued this trend by recording a massive 19 grabs to the Demons’ 9.
One interesting area of weakness for the Tigers last season was their clearance work where they were second-worst in the competition in 2018.
This flaw in their game continued into last week where the Demons demolished the Tigers at centre breaks, registering 15 more clearances than their opponents.
Read: Team announcement - JLT2
Player to watch
With four representatives in the 2018 All Australian side, Richmond have stars across each line.
Alex Rance anchors the ship from their last line of defence, Dustin Martin is always explosive through the midfield and Jack Riewoldt is arguably the most reliable forward in the business.
But their fourth, and most unheralded player in last year’s All Australian side, Shane Edwards is perhaps the greatest emblem of the Richmond style.
Edwards averaged a career-high 19.7 disposals per game in 2018, while also rating elite at his position in goal assists, score launches, ground ball gets and kicking efficiency.
According to Champion Data rankings, he was the second-best midfield-forward in the competition behind only Patrick Dangerfield.
Edwards is dynamic, damaging and one that now demands the attention of opposition sides.
