Richmond’s strong, successful emphasis on defence in 2017 is highlighted through analysis of the number of times the teams currently inside the AFL’s top eight have won games by scoring 12 goals or less this season.

The Tigers, who are ranked the third best defensive team in the competition, have done so six times from their 11 victories, which places them clearly ahead of their top-eight rivals right now, in this low-scoring, winning category.

They kicked 11 goals in Round 3 to defeat West Coast, 12 in Round 5 v Melbourne, 11 in Round 10 v Essendon, 11 in Round 14 v Carlton, 11 in Round 15 v Port Adelaide, and 9 in Round 18 v GWS.

Sydney is next best, winning four games by scoring 12 goals or under this season.

Geelong and Greater Western Sydney have both managed to do it twice, while Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Essendon haven’t won a single game between them with a total of 12 goals or less.

Richmond has kept its opposition to 80 points or under in 13 games this season, winning nine of them.