Richmond's Dustin Martin gets away a handball while being tackled by a Collingwood opponent. Source: Getty Images
THEY are exciting to watch with the ball in hand, but Richmond players must address a defensive flaw before Friday night's clash with Fremantle.
Richmond was cut open by Collingwood in a third-quarter burst on Saturday, conceding eight goals and kicking just two.
The Tigers hardly laid a hand on the Pies' ball-winners in that time, making only four tackles as the Collingwood onballers smashed their opponents and the Magpies runners spread quickly from contests.
Coach Damien Hardwick conceded it was a "poor" number.
But Richmond is not a big-tackling team.
While the Tigers were ranked No.1 for creating turnovers in the forward half last year according to Champion Data, their overall tackle count has sunk to dead last this season.
They have 164 tackles from four games. West Coast leads the competition on 280.
While the numbers might be cause for alarm, it continues the trend for the Tigers, who have not finished higher than 11th in tackle differential since 2000.
Hardwick said his players were unable to lock down on the Pies in the third term onslaught, something they can ill-afford if the Dockers get a run-on at home.
"The situation was Collingwood was winning the ball, running hard forward and we just couldn't at any stage stop that momentum," Hardwick said.
"It was probably the first time we've had seven or eight (unanswered) goals kicked against us for a fair period of time."
Robin Nahas, who won 17 possessions in a half in the VFL, is pressing for senior selection, as are Brad Helbig (27 disposals) and Aaron Edwards (five goals).
Jake King is in doubt with a corked leg, while midfielder Shane Tuck, who has three tackles for the year, may make way.
Analyst David King said he "wasn't overly concerned" by the tackle numbers.
The former Richmond assistant coach likened the Tigers' defensive set-up to Hawthorn, which ranked ninth for tackles in its 20008 premiership campaign.
"It doesn't meant they are not pressuring at all, tackles aren't the be all and end all," King said.
"I don't think there is a lot wrong. They just had a shocking 15 minutes.
"Their first and second quarters were very good.
"Realistically, in the past Richmond would have lost that game by 70 points but they found a way to fight their way back in and they were still a fluky chance (to win) with 15 minutes to go."
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