The Tigers are starting 2025 virtually from ground zero.
Finishing stone motherless last of the 18 teams in 2024, new coach Adem Yze was left with a poisoned chalice by Damien Hardwick, who deserted the Tigers mid-way through the 2023 season, leaving assistant coach – now West Coast Eagles coach – Andrew McQualter to pick up the pieces.
As a result, Richmond won only two games in 2024: a surprise win against eventual top team (and grand finalist) Sydney in Round 4 and against Adelaide in Round 14. Both matches were won by a single-figure margin.
Yze will have to embark on the journey taken in recent years by Adelaide and Hawthorn and rebuild the team from the ground up into a potential finals team.
Adem Yze. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Top 100 game players lost: 6
A mass exodus of players took place at the end of the season with the two most senior current players, Dustin Martin (No.6) and captain Dylan Grimes (No.22) retiring, and four others departing for greener pastures: Daniel Rioli (No.46), Shai Bolton (eq No.87), Jack Graham (eq No.95) and Liam Baker (eq No.99).
Baker only achieved top 100 status in his last game for Richmond.
Top 100 players recruited from other clubs: 0
Richmond did not entice any players from other clubs to the Tigers, preferring to blood new players with multiple early draft picks.
Current top 100 game players: 6
Despite the departure of six players, Richmond still have a healthy skeleton of six remaining top 100 game players. The most senior current player is now Nick Vlastuin (eq No.23). Kamdyn McIntosh (No.39) and Jayden Short (eq No.50) are also in the top 50, whereas Nathan Broad (eq No.74), Toby Nankervis (No.80) and Dion Prestia (eq No.96) are further down the list.
Potential new top 100 players in 2025: 0
No new game players will make the top 100 game players list in 2025.
Players who no longer qualify as top 100 game players: 4
A number of new entrants in 2024 meant that four well-known contributors no longer rank a mention: Tom Simpson ((1956-1963) from East Ballarat was a champion winger and later a back-pocket player. Barry Richardson played in three premierships during his illustrious career which started in 1965. He later coached the Tigers for two years. Phil Egan came from Robinvale and played from 1982 until 1990. Ben Holland originally came from North Adelaide in the SANFL and left Richmond in 2003 but continued his career at Melbourne.
Tom Lynch. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Top 100 goalkickers lost: 3
Dustin Martin (No.10), Shai Bolton (No.34) and Daniel Rioli (No.66) are all top 100 goalscorers at Richmond.
Top 100 goalkickers recruited from other clubs: 0
Current top 100 goalkickers:1
The retirement of Dustin Martin and the departure of Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli means that only the injury-prone Tom Lynch (No.20) remains at the club.
Potential top 100 goalkickers in 2025: 0
No one stands out as a possible addition to the Tigers’ top 100 goalkickers list.
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