Richmond coach Adem Yze was thrilled to see his side win for the third time this season on Sunday, with the coach pleased to see his leaders standing up and his younger players standing tall around them.
Yze compared young defender Tom Brown, whose tackle in the dying minute saved the game for the Tigers, with premiership player Nick Vlastuin.
"'Browny looked really potent. The way he finished the game with the reading of the game and understanding and how smart he is. He gets to play alongside Nick Vlastuin every week, and I see a young Nick Vlastuin growing," Yze said.
“He's got the same temperament, same ability and he's got the footy chip. He understands the game and knows what's required in certain moments.”
Yze also spoke highly of key forward Tom Lynch who kicked two goals and took an equal game-high six marks up forward. The Tigers played three talls in their forward line, with debutant Tom Sims coming into the team alongside Jonty Faull and Lynch.
"Lynchy gives us a focal point. He would be shattered that he missed that goal late. But what he did for us for the whole game, straightens us up, creates a contest. And then Tom Sims and Jonty Faull play bigger around him. Jonty Faull looked like he took a big step today. He looked like a quality key position player on an AFL field, which is terrific. That's credit to Lynchy," Yze said.
Veteran Nathan Broad came off the ground with a dislocated finger, but returned to the ground later in the match.
“He was worried it could have been a compound fracture, but it wasn't. His finger was pointing the wrong way, but went and popped it back in. His last quarter was terrific. And not only his last quarter, his whole game. He's such a leader for us down there," Yze said.
Some football pundits commented prior to the season that Richmond may go through the year winless, but Sunday’s win makes it three victories for the young Tigers.
Yze said post-match he is more interested in growth than wins and losses.
“We're not looking at win-loss for the season. We're looking at growth. And if that gets us to five, six, seven wins, well, that's great. But if it doesn't, we still want to be able to grow even in our losses," he said.
The Tigers will face North Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday.