Richmond’s 35-point loss to North Melbourne in Round 6 at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena was the catalyst for some significant change to the Tigers’ playing style.

Since that day, Richmond has won 12 of 15 games and climbed to fifth place on the ladder with just one home-and-away round match remaining – a return match against the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Tigers have achieved their success on the back of a strong defensive mindset.

After a plethora of turnovers were severely punished by the Roos throughout that clash back in May, Richmond made some key modifications to the way it went about its on-field business.

“We really emphasised that team defence.  You see now, that defence plays really well together with our midfield,” Richmond assistant coach Brendon Lade said on this week’s ‘Spotlight’.

“A few things we changed with our offense as well, so we didn’t cause as catastrophic turnovers. 

WATCH: Damien Hardwick’s press conference from the ME Centre on Thursday

“So it was a little bit of both, and we think we’ve got a good balance at the moment.”

The Tigers, however, remain fully aware of North Melbourne’s capabilities.

“We went to the Fremantle game (Round 21) and they played very well, except for the first quarter.  I think it was seven goals to two or three (Fremantle’s way) and then North Melbourne clicked into gear,” Lade said. 

“Playing at Etihad (Stadium), they play that very well, and we’ll have to be on our game to beat them this week . . .

“They’ve got a very strong midfield group that wins a lot of contested ball and their half-forwards get up and back very well – as good as any team.

“They bring all their forwards right up . . . they run hard forward, and generally they use the ball very well going forward and hit targets and kick easy goals . . .”

Get all the match day information for Saturday night's match against Essendon at the MCG


Where:  Etihad Stadium
When:  Saturday, September 5, 7.50pm (EST)
TV coverage:  Channel Seven (live from 7.30pm), Fox Footy (live from 7.30pm)
Radio coverage:  3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC

Click here to see Sportsbet’s latest odds for each match and CASH BACK special on Head to Head bets in Round 23 if your team lead at any break but lose.

Round 23 Richmond team
B:  Newman, Batchelor, Rance
HB:  Houli, Vlastuin, Chaplin
C:  B. Ellis, Cotchin, McIntosh
HF:  Martin, Lennon, Lambert
F:  Riewoldt, Deledio, Vickery
R:  Maric, Grigg, Hunt
IC:  Grimes, Miles, Lloyd, Edwards
Em:  Dea, Astbury, Morris

In:  Cotchin
Out:  Thomas (omitted)

Find out how North Melbourne is lining up for Round 23 this weekend

 

Richmond v North Melbourne recent history

Round 6, 2015, Blundstone Arena
Richmond            2.1          5.8          6.11        10.14 (74)
North Melb        3.2          6.8          13.10     16.13 (109)
Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, Miles 2, Chaplin, Edwards, Maric, Martin, Morris.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Martin 30, Miles 30, Cotchin 28, Grigg 25, B. Ellis 24, Vlastuin 20.
Goals – North Melbourne:  Thomas 5, Higgins 3, Harvey 2, Nahas 2, Brown, Petrie, Waite, Wright.
Leading possession-getters – North Melbourne:  Jacobs 23, Harvey 22, Petrie 21, Thompson 21, Wright 21.

Round 12, 2014, Etihad Stadium
Richmond            3.4          10.6        11.8        13.10 (88)
North Melb.       3.3          4.7          12.11     17.14 (116)
Goals – Richmond:  Martin 4, Riewoldt 3, Dea, S. Edwards, Maric, Morris, Thomas, Vickery.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Houli 30, Martin 28, Cotchin 24, Thomas 24, Ellis 23, Vlastuin 20.
Goals – North Melbourne:  Petrie 4, Harvey 3, Bastinac 2, Nahas 2, Ziebell 2, Black, Cunnington, Goldstein, Greenwood.
Leading possession-getters – North Melbourne:  Greenwood 29, Swallow 29, Harvey 25, Goldstein 20, Hansen 19.

Round 15, 2013, Etihad Stadium
Richmond            2.2          2.7          4.15        8.18 (66)
North Melb.       3.3          11.6        15.8        19.14 (128)
Goals – Richmond:  Morris 2, Riewoldt 2, White 2, Ellis, Jackson.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 25, Foley 24, Grigg 24, Martin 23, White 19.
Goals – North Melb:  Tarrant 4, Black 3, Bastinac 2, Harvey 2, Mullett 2, Ziebell 2, Cunnington, Gibson, Greenwood, Petrie.
Leading possession-getters – North Melb:  Adams 29, Harvey 27, Greenwood 26, Swallow 26, Wells 25, Ziebell 25, Bastinac 21, Thompson 21, Grima 20.

Round 17, 2012, MCG
Richmond            2.3          5.9          10.12       14.15 (99)
North Melb.       3.5          7.9          9.11          15.13 (103)
Goals – Richmond:  Nahas 3, Riewoldt 3, S. Edwards 2, Martin 2, Tuck 2, Cotchin, Houli.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 31, Tuck 26, Rance 25, Cotchin 24, Jackson 23, Morris 23, Martin 22, Conca 21, Ellis 21, Grigg 20.
Goals – North Melb:  Petrie 7, Anthony 2, Harper 2, Campbell, Hansen, Harvey, Macmillan.
Leading possession-getters – North Melb:  Bastinac 29, Swallow 29, Anthony 26, Gibson 24, Harvey 24, Grima 23, Adams 20, Wright 20.

Round 24, 2011, Etihad Stadium
Richmond                            3.2          9.7          10.10       13.13 (91)
North Melb.                       5.3          7.7          12.11       15.14 (104)
Goals – Richmond:  Nahas 5, Riewoldt 3, Martin 2, Miller, Vickery, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 23, Martin 23, Cotchin 22, Houli 22, Foley 21, Grigg 18, Tuck 18.
Goals – North Melbourne:  Petrie 4, Edwards 2, Harvey 2, Thomas 2, Black, Harper, Macmillan, McIntosh, Swallow.
Leading possession-getters – North Melbourne:  Harvey 31, Adams 27, Rawlings 24, Pratt 23, Bastinac 22, Cunnington 22, Thomas 20, Thompson 20.

Richmond v North Melbourne head-to-head

  • Richmond and North Melbourne have played 154 times with the Tigers winning 82, losing 70 and drawing two.
  • Richmond last defeated North Melbourne in Round 5, 2011 at Etihad Stadium – 17.10 (112) to 14.19 (103).
  • Richmond has lost seven and drawn one of its past 10 matches against North.
  • Richmond and North Melbourne have met in just one league Grand Final – in 1974 – with the Tigers winning by 41 points (18.20 to 13.9).
  • Richmond and North Melbourne have met in five finals all-up, with the Tigers winning two and North three.
  • Richmond and North Melbourne have played two drawn matches – Round 8, 1966 at the MCG, and Round 16, 2009 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s best winning sequence against North Melbourne is 18, from 1925-36.
  • Richmond’s longest losing sequence against North Melbourne is seven, from 1990-93.
  • Richmond’s highest score against North Melbourne is 30.19 (199) in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s lowest score against North Melbourne is 3.8 (26) in Round 3, 1960 at Arden Street.
  • Richmond’s greatest winning margin against North Melbourne is 168 points in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s greatest losing margin against North Melbourne is 141 points in Round 2, 1990 at the MCG.
  • The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against North Melbourne (and every other team for that matter) is 14 by Doug Strang in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against North Melbourne is 113,839 in the 1974 Grand Final.