Richmond Tigers: 2019 fixtures, preview, list changes, every player and odds

Mick Stirling

Richmond Tigers: 2019 fixtures, preview, list changes, every player and odds image

The surprise 2017 premier was expected by many to fall back to the pack, but Richmond showed the flag was no fluke by proving to be the competition benchmark in 2018.

Then, just when the football world was convinced the Tigers were the real thing and certain to go back-to-back, they were outplayed by Collingwood one week short of the Grand Final and left to rue a missed opportunity.

Just days after the loss to the Magpies, coach Damien Hardwick reportedly told the playing group “shit happens” and to move on, saying the year overall had been a great success.

Richmond certainly hasn’t seen any need for major changes with a relatively quiet off-season, but the arrival of Tom Lynch will make life a bit easier for reigning Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt, and life a lot harder for opposition defences.

List changes

In

Tom Lynch (Gold Coast), Riley Collier-Dawkins (Oakleigh Chargers), Jack Ross (Oakleigh Chargers), Fraser Turner (Clarence), Luke English (Perth)

Richmond Tigers draft 2018

Rookies

Jake Aarts (Richmond VFL), Jacob Townsend (Richmond), Mabior Chol (Richmond), Sydney Stack (Perth)

Out

Reece Conca, Corey Ellis, Sam Lloyd, Anthony Miles, Tyson Stengle, Nathan Drummond, Ben Griffiths, Shaun Hampson

Best Brownlow chances

Dustin Martin $8, Trent Cotchin $51, Kane Lambert $101, Shane Edwards $101

There’s no doubt Martin’s 2018 was a notch or two below his stunning Brownlow-winning season, but he did appear to be lifting his level as the year progressed, only to finish on a real low with a disappointing injury-affected personal effort in the preliminary final loss. Expect ‘Dusty’ to come out with a point to prove in 2019 and play at his best from the opening round.

Cotchin will also be keen to lead from the front and, while his game has been highlighted by a selfless style of leadership the past couple of years, he can still catch the umpire’s eye and wouldn’t be a ridiculous chance for a surprise second Brownlow.

Players to watch

Jack Riewoldt, Dion Prestia

As excited as Tigers fans will be to see Tom Lynch in their forward line, just as intriguing will be what influence the former Gold Coast captain’s presence has on Jack Riewoldt. The Richmond vice-captain has improved with age and responsibility, and his 2018 Coleman was unexpected from a player whose role had changed from goalkicker to goal-creator. It will interesting to see if another genuine key forward option will see Jack relish the freedom or struggle with yet another change of role.

It’s no coincidence the Tigers’ midfield has become one of the league’s most powerful since Prestia joined at the end of 2016 even though the former Sun has been restricted by injury in his two seasons at Punt Road. This summer looks like being Prestia’s best pre-season for years and will give him a chance to get back to the 2014/15 form that had him in the AFL’s top-20 for average disposals.

A last chance to watch?

Shaun Grigg, Brandon Ellis

Ellis appeared to be entrenched in Richmond’s best-22 but found himself dropped twice in 2018, including for the Tigers’ finals campaign. The powers-that-be swear he is a required player, but the 25-year-old comes out of contract at the end of 2019 and will be a restricted free agent. With plenty of young talent pushing for a chance to impress at Punt Road, Ellis could find himself slipping down the pecking order and looking for a new home where he is guaranteed a game.

brandon ellis

Grigg is another Tiger that looks like being a victim of the ‘circle of life’. The former Blue turns 31 early next season, and while he still has plenty to offer, there are young cubs coming through with their eyes on his midfield spot. Grigg was given just a one-year contract after his numbers dropped across the board in 2018 and, if he can’t prove himself invaluable, the deal may be his last. 

Richmond Tigers’ 2019 list

Number Name Games Date of birth Height, weight Position
39 Aarts, Jake (R) 0 8 Dec 1994 180cm 76kg Forward
12 Astbury, David  107  26 Feb 1991  195cm 96kg Defender
48 Baker, Liam (R)  27 Jan 1998  173cm 68kg Forward
38 Balta, Noah  23 Oct 1999  194cm 94kg Forward
29 Bolton, Shai  8 Dec 1998 175cm 76kg Forward
35 Broad, Nathan  30  15 Apr 1993  192cm 89kg Defender
7 Butler, Daniel  38  3 Jun 1996  182cm 80kg Forward
22 Caddy, Josh  139  28 Sep 1992  186cm 88kg Forward
11 Castagna, Jason  52  12 Jul 1996  181cm 80kg Forward
41 Chol, Mabior (R)  29 Jan 1997  200cm 93kg Forward
40 Coleman-Jones, Callum  13 Jun 1999  200cm 97kg Ruck
26 Collier-Dawkins, Riley    193cm 91kg Midfield
9 Cotchin, Trent  220  7 Apr 1990  185cm 85kg Midfield
10 Edwards, Shane  231  25 Oct 1988  182cm 81kg Midfield
43 Eggmolesse-Smith, Derek (R)  4 May 1998  180cm 80kg Defender
5 Ellis, Brandon  153  3 Aug 1993  181cm 82kg Defender
32 English, Luke    183cm 80kg Midfield
42 Garthwaite, Ryan  30 Jun 1998  192cm 90kg Defender
34 Graham, Jack  23  25 Feb 1998  181cm 82kg Midfield
6 Grigg, Shaun  214  19 Apr 1988  190cm 84kg Midfield
2 Grimes, Dylan  127  16 Jul 1991  193cm 90kg Defender
13 Higgins, Jack  20  19 Mar 1999  177cm 76kg Forward
14 Houli, Bachar  185  12 May 1988  180cm 84kg Defender
23 Lambert, Kane  74  26 Nov 1991  178cm 77kg Midfield
19 Lynch, Tom  131  31 Oct 1992  199cm 98kg Forward
31 Markov, Oleg  15  8 May 1996  188cm 78kg Defender
4 Martin, Dustin  201  26 Jun 1991  187cm 92kg Midfield
33 Mcintosh, Kamdyn  74  3 Apr 1994  191cm 91kg Midfield
37 Menadue, Connor  33  19 Sep 1996  187cm 80kg Midfield
46 Miller, Ben  31 Aug 1999  195cm 94kg Ruck
36 Moore, Callum (R)  3 Sep 1996  193cm 93kg Forward
45 Naish, Patrick  15 Jan 1999  182cm 71kg Midfield
25 Nankervis, Toby  59  12 Aug 1994  199cm 102kg Ruck
3 Prestia, Dion  130  12 Oct 1992  175cm 82kg Midfield
18 Rance, Alex  199  9 Oct 1989  194cm 94kg Defender
8 Riewoldt, Jack  249  31 Oct 1988  193cm 92kg Forward
17 Rioli, Daniel  55  16 Apr 1997  179cm 76kg Forward
27 Ross, Jack    186cm 85kg Midfield
15 Short, Jayden  56  24 Jan 1996  178cm 75kg Defender
47 Soldo, Ivan  14 Apr 1996  204cm 106kg  Ruck
  Stack, Sydney     176cm 74kg Midfield
21 Townsend, Jacob (R)  47  20 Jun 1993  187cm 89kg Forward
28 Turner, Fraser    186cm 77kg Midfield
1 Vlastuin, Nick  117  19 Apr 1994  187cm 87kg Defender
44 Weller, Maverick  121  13 Feb 1992  182cm 85kg Forward

 

Damien Hardwick Tom Lynch

Richmond Tigers’ 2019 Fixture 

Round Date Opponent Venue
1 Thursday 21 Mar 7:20pm Carlton MCG
2 Thursday 28 Mar 7:20pm Collingwood MCG
3 Saturday 6 Apr 4:35pm  GWS Giants Showground Stadium
4 Saturday 13 Apr 4:05pm  Port Adelaide  Adelaide Oval
5 Saturday 20 Apr 7:25pm  Sydney  Marvel Stadium
6 Wednesday 24 Apr 7:35pm Melbourne MCG
7 Saturday 4 May 7:25pm  Western Bulldogs Marvel Stadium
8 Sunday 12 May 3:20pm  Fremantle  Optus Stadium
9 Sunday 19 May 3:20pm Hawthorn MCG
10 Saturday 25 May 7:25pm Essendon MCG
11 Friday 31 May 7:50pm  North Melbourne Marvel Stadium
12 Friday 7 Jun 7:50pm Geelong MCG
13 Thursday 13 Jun 7:20pm Adelaide Adelaide Oval
14 BYE    
15 Sunday 30 Jun 1:10pm  St Kilda Marvel Stadium
16 Saturday 6 Jul 2:10pm  Gold Coast  Metricon Stadium
17 Sunday 14 Jul 1:10pm  GWS Giants MCG
18 Saturday 20 Jul 1:45pm  Port Adelaide MCG
19 Friday 26 Jul 7:50pm Collingwood MCG
20 Saturday 3 Aug 7:25pm Melbourne MCG
21 Sunday 11 Aug 3:20pm Carlton MCG
22 Sunday 18 Aug 1:10pm  West Coast MCG
23 TBC Brisbane MCG

Games played on

Wednesday: 1
Thursday: 3
Friday: 3
Saturday: 8
Sunday: 6

Teams played twice

Carlton, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, GWS Giants, Melbourne

#Trent Cotchin Charlie Curnow Richmond Carlton

2019 Preview and premiership odds

They may have fallen short on the second-last Saturday in September 2018, but the Tigers head into the new year as premiership favourites, paying $5.00.

While a few handy players were traded out, the entire flag-winning 22 is still on the list and they’ve been joined by Lynch and some talented youngsters, not the least being Jack Higgins who could lift to be a match-influencing factor in the near future.

A disappointing finish to the year should start some sort of fire in the belly of what has already proved itself to be a motivated beast, and with leaders Cotchin, Riewoldt and Alex Rance getting into the latter parts of their careers, the drive from the top will be strong.

The medical room at Punt Road hasn’t seen a lot of visitors in the past couple of years and if that changes it will be a real test of depth, but if Richmond can keep its stars fit and on the ground they will prove hard to beat again.


 

Mick Stirling