Tigers' Season on the Brink: Early Struggles Spark Overhaul Calls

The roar of the Richmond Tigers has been reduced to a whimper in the opening rounds of the 2023 AFL season, with calls for a brutal list overhaul gaining momentum. After a dismal start that saw them humbled by the Gold Coast Suns, the once-mighty Tigers now find themselves staring down the barrel of a make-or-break clash against Carlton.

In the unforgiving world of professional sports, sentiment holds little sway when results fail to materialize. Former Richmond star Jordan Lewis has urged the club to make an “honest” assessment of their aging list, suggesting that a rebuild may be on the cards if their fortunes don’t turn around swiftly.

“They’ve got a tough draw coming up,” Lewis warned. “Gold Coast (last) weekend, Carlton, Port, Sydney, St Kilda, then West Coast. If you’re 1-5, is it a really early snapshot of where the future lies with this side?”

The Tigers’ season-opener against the Suns was nothing short of a nightmare, as they found themselves trailing by a staggering 67 points before eventually succumbing to a 39-point defeat. Their performance was branded “pathetic” by pundits, with senior coach Adem Yze admitting that his players were “embarrassed” by their showing.

In a bid to right the ship, Richmond has made several “tough” inclusions for their clash against Carlton, welcoming back talismanic figures like Tom Lynch, Dustin Martin, and captain Toby Nankervis. However, Lewis remains skeptical about the Tigers’ prospects, suggesting that a change in direction may be necessary if they fail to establish themselves as genuine contenders within the next four or five weeks.

“Let’s start to see what we’ve got underneath the senior crop that have been so good,” Lewis implored. “Let’s start to look at the future and not necessarily play the senior players that have been so good.”

The harsh reality is that Father Time remains undefeated, and the Tigers’ core of seasoned veterans is rapidly approaching the twilight of their careers. With players like Martin (32), Dylan Grimes (32), Marlion Pickett (32), Dion Prestia (31), Tom Lynch (31), and Nathan Broad (30) all at least 30 years of age, the question of succession planning looms large.

While Richmond’s Opening Round side boasted an average age of 26.2 years, their recent draft picks have yet to make a significant impact. Only Josh Gibcus, selected with the ninth overall pick in 2021, has been named to face Carlton, with fellow draftee Sam Banks already axed after just one game.

As the Tigers prepare to face a buoyant Carlton side fresh off a rousing victory over the Brisbane Lions, the pressure is mounting. A loss could see Richmond’s season spiral out of control before the end of April, prompting tough decisions from the club’s hierarchy.

In the unforgiving world of professional sports, sentiment holds little sway when results fail to materialize. The Tigers’ roar may soon give way to the sound of rebuilding if they cannot quickly rediscover the form that propelled them to four premierships in the past decade.