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Team Analysis 2022 – Richmond

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After three AFL Premierships in the last five years, could the Richmond era finally be coming to an end? The addition of Robbie “Heff’s Pipes” Tarrant in the offseason tells us they’re going for one final push – before an inevitable rebuild.

For our AFL Fantasy keeper leagues, the Tigers game style of the past several years has lowered some scoring ceilings. As we edge closer to this new age at Tigerland, will we see some more fantasy-friendly roles emerge?

We can only hope! In the meantime, let’s find out which six Richmond players are worth drafting your keeper league in 2022!

Take a listen to our latest podcastPre-season 2022: Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne

Daniel Rioli (D/F)

A switch to defence seems to have not only revived Daniel Rioli’s career – but also thrust him into AFL Fantasy calculations.

Traditionally playing as a crafty forward and wingman, the 24-year-old will line up as a half-back flanker in 2022. After shifting into the role in the latter part of the season, Rioli averaged 78 AFL Fantasy points in his final five games, including 80 in his last three.

Rioli also has some kick-in upside – getting some cheeky +3s out of the square in his final two games of the season, and should continue to steal a few here or there from kick-in hog, Jayden Short on a more permanent basis in the upcoming season.

The major AFL Fantasy talking point for Richmond this off-season was the retirement of Bachar Houli, following a decade-long run as the yellow and black’s most reliable fantasy defender.

Someone has to take the points, and while it could be a number of Tigers that benefit, Rioli has to come into consideration given his forward status. With an average of 56 sitting next to his name on draft boards, he might even slide his way down the draft order if coaches haven’t shuffled their pre-draft ranks!  

Liam Baker (D)

The feisty man with the ratty mullet once again improved his average in 2021, having done so every single year since making his AFL debut.

After playing every game last season, does the 24-year-old reach yet another gear in 2022?

Starting the season in his usual post in the back pocket, Baker ended up changing roles several times throughout the season – from defence, up to a wing, a small stint as an inside midfielder, and then as a pressure forward.

Baker’s ability to play as an inside midfielder is particularly intriguing. In the seven games where he recorded at least one centre bounce attendance (CBA) last season, he averaged 84 AFL Fantasy points. His most midfield minutes came against GWS in round 9, where he racked up 33 disposals, three marks, six tackles and 118 AFL Fantasy points from 62% CBAs.

Late in the season, around the same time that Rioli made the switch to defence, Baker took on a forward role – playing a classic Tigers pressure role, while also spending time at stoppages around the ground.

We’ll have to wait for The Oracle’s Best 22, but I could see Baker at least starting the year in a forward line role, potentially even gaining the rare DEF/FWD status early in the season.

I’m always keen to dabble in some Baker stonks on draft night, especially given that he’s illustrated a strong desire for the pill (observable thirst) in the past.

Nick Vlastuin (D)

We’ve talked about Rioli benefitting from the departure of Bachar… how about this bloke?!

With just the defender status next to his name, Nick Vlastuin seems to be the forgot man in this exchange. A reliable fantasy defender in recent years, Vlastuin has averaged 76 or more in each of the past three seasons.

In ten games without Houli in 2021, Vlastuin averaged 85 AFL Fantasy points, a +13 differential with him out of the side. However, Houli’s departure is just one element of the equation for the potential future captain.

From round 11, a shift in kick-ins occurred, even when Houli was in the side, with Vlastuin gaining a significant bump in his usage. No longer was it simply Short and Houli in charge – there was a glint of red hair floating back to the square to collect the pig skin.

From rounds 1-10, Vlastuin – playing only four games during this stretch – took an average of 4% of the Tigers kick-ins. From round 11, he took 44% of the team’s kick-ins, a monstrous +40% difference. During this latter stretch, Vlastuin averaged 89 AFL Fantasy points.

He’s never the sexiest name on draft night, but following the departure of Houli, some additional kick-ins, and a hot finish to the year – 92 in his last five, 101 in his last three – and Vlastuin could provide serious value in 2022. 

Thomson Dow (M/F)

Dow, Dow, Thomson Dow, OH THOMSON DOW – Yeah!

Much like Paddy, Thomson is a future superstar of the competition (I swear), and it might just be T-Dubs time to shine in 2022.

With an aging midfield that, when healthy, prominently featured Trent Cotchin (31), Dustin Martin (30), Prestia (29), and Shane Edwards (33) last season, it’s clear that some fresh meat is needed at Punt Road this season.

Could Tommy D be the answer?

Dow split his time between AFL and VFL in his sophomore season, averaging 21 disposals, three marks, three tackles, and 74 AFL Fantasy points in the VFL, including scores of 112 and 92. At AFL level, he only managed 45 AFL Fantasy points from 67% time on ground (TOG), with his best performance coming against North Melbourne in round 21. 

The 20-year-old tallied 22 disposals, 10 contested possessions, four marks, and a couple of clearances for his 73 AFL Fantasy points against the Roos in a promising display, while getting zero CBAs. Sure, the numbers aren’t huge, but heading into his third season, there’s certainly some CBA and TOG upside, and the Tigers desperately need some youth to break into the midfield mix.

With forward status next to his name, if Thomson can get a crack in the guts at some stage during the season, he’ll be a streamer at worst, and perhaps surprise us as a season-long option should Dimma prefer him over the likes of Jack Ross and RCD this pre-season.

Jack Ross (M)

Fantasy coaches have been patiently waiting for a Jack Ross breakout season – could 2022 finally be his year?

Drafted into a team in contending for a flag from the get-go, the 21-year-old has barely had a chance to crack into the three-time Premiership-winning midfield since being draft in 2018.

A state league beast, Ross averaged 116 AFL Fantasy points for the VFL Tigers, by means of 27 disposals, nine marks, and four tackles from his three games. Stepping up last season and playing 11 games at senior level, he began showing some great signs late in the season.

Ross was handed some more midfield opportunities late in the season and looked impressive. Over his final three games, the 187cm midfielder averaged 21 disposals, six marks, two tackles and 79 AFL Fantasy points

Perhaps the best indicator of things to come for Ross came in round 23 – when the Tigers finals chances were officially dead. Cotchin, Edwards, Prestia and Lambert, joined Dusty on the sidelines as the Tigers gave the kids a trial run to end the season.

Ross was best afield in a prominent midfield role – leading all players for CBAs (a season-best 79% attendance-rate) – and collecting 24 disposals, 11 contested possessions, five marks, four tackles, and 93 AFL Fantasy points.

If he truly is next in line for some more time in the guts, Ross certainly has a nice score build – ticking every major statistical category, while having a nice inside-outside game with plenty of cheeky +6s on the spread from contest. 

To start the season, he’s still likely behind the main three veterans – Cotchin, Prestia, Martin – for midfield clock. But can he surpass the likes of Edwards, Graham, Collier-Dawkins, and Dow to cement himself in the midfield mix?

I’ll be willing to spend a late draft pick to find out!

Sydney Stack (D)

It’s been an up-and-down ride since Sydney Stack’s electric debut season in 2019 with his proceeding years filled with a combination of injuries and mixed special kebabs.

With all of that in the past, Stack turns a fresh page in 2022. Playing a mixture of VFL and AFL last season, Stack broke back into the senior side from round 17 – averaging 68 AFL Fantasy points for the remaining seven games.

In his final four games, he put up two scores in the 90s, including a 25-disposal, 10 mark, 99 AFL Fantasy-point outing against Fremantle in round 19.

Stack is yet another young Tiger with questions around role heading into the season.

Does he play defence – a role where he’s shown an ability to lock down, and run off his opponent? Could we see him sneak up to a wing for some #moremidtime? Or will we see him shift forward like he did in round 23, and end up being the third player from this article to potentially gain DEF/FWD status in 2022?

Following a tough couple of seasons off the field, I’ll be interested to see where Stack is at in his development heading into year four. If he’s fit, focused, and back to his best footy, Stack could be a genuine sleeper this season.

A great mark and reader of the play, he’s put up some solid fantasy scores for a player of his age, given the rather defensive orientated roles he’s played thus far in his career.

If we get word that he’s “tearing up the track” this pre-season – look out!

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