Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has expressed great admiration for the role the Tigers’ defenders have played in the team’s resurgence since the mid-season bye.

In Richmond’s past five wins in-a-row, its opposition has been restricted to a combined tally of just 46 goals.

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Collingwood could manage only nine goals in last Friday night’s blockbuster at the MCG, with the Tiger defence, led by Dylan Grimes, superb throughout the contest.

Grimes, David Astbury, Nick Vlastuin, Nathan Broad, Bachar Houli and Jayden Short, with a collective, impressive total of 43 marks and 46 intercepts in the wet conditions, constantly repelled Magpie attacking thrusts.

“They’ve been incredible,” Hardwick said.

Dylan Grimes, once again, I speak about him most weeks . . . the way he controls that back six.

“He’s always been rated really highly internally from our point of view, but I think people are starting to see the qualities that this guy brings to not only our game, but the game of AFL.

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And there’s his lieutenant in Dave Astbury. And we see the consistent performance of Nathan Broad as well . . . another one of those under-rated guys that we’re really pleased with.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have Alex (Rance) back, but the situation is those guys have really improved their game, and defensively we’re pretty tough to score against at the moment, which is impressive.”