After 20 years of AFL football in the 2000s, we here at Richmond Media thought it would be an interesting exercise to come up with the Tigers’ Team of the 21st Century thus far. But we need your help. So we’ve put together a squad of 40 players (listed below) from which we want you to select your best 22. We’re providing a profile and statistical analysis of each squad member (in alphabetical order) to assist you with selecting the side. Only players that have appeared in a minimum of 50 games at senior level with the Tigers during the 2000s are eligible for selection. Once all 40 players have been profiled, we’ll be collating the line-ups you’ve compiled and then announcing Richmond’s Team of the 21st Century (to date) in the lead-up to the start of the 2020 season. We turn our attention today to Matthew Richardson . . .
Click here to select your Richmond Team of the 21st century, or by scrolling to the bottom of this article
Matthew Richardson
On-field position: Key forward
Games in the 2000s (2000-09): 163
Goals: 426
Playing honours/achievements: Jack Dyer Medal winner in 2007, Michael Roach Medal winner in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, All-Australian representative in 2008, 3rd in the 2008 Brownlow Medal
Top 10 finishes in Jack Dyer Medal: Eight – 7th in 2001, 2nd in 2002, 6th in 2003, 4th in 2004, 2nd in 2005, 7th in 2006, 1st in 2007, 3rd in 2008
Season-by-season statistical analysis
2000
Games: 3
Kicks average: 13.7
Handballs average: 3.0
Disposals average: 16.7
Marks average: 9.7
Contested marks average: 3.0
Marks inside 50 average: 6.3
Goals average: 4.3 (13 in total)
Contested possessions average: 8.3
Uncontested possessions average: 8.3
Inside-50s average: 4.0
2001
Games: 22
Kicks average: 11.3
Handballs average: 2.5
Disposals average: 13.8
Marks average: 8.3
Contested marks average: 3.4
Marks inside 50 average: 4.1
Goals average: 2.7 (59)
Contested possessions average: 7.9
Uncontested possessions average: 6.1
Inside-50s average: 3.8
2002
Games: 13
Kicks average: 9.7
Handballs average: 2.0
Disposals average: 11.7
Marks average: 7.0
Contested marks average: 3.3
Marks inside 50 average: 3.4
Goals average: 2.8 (36)
Contested possessions average: 7.1
Uncontested possessions average: 4.8
Inside-50s average: 3.0
One-percenters average: 1.3
2003
Games: 19
Kicks average: 11.3
Handballs average: 4.0
Disposals average: 15.4
Marks average: 9.1
Contested marks average: 3.3
Marks inside 50 average: 3.3
Goals average: 1.7 (33)
Contested possessions average: 8.2
Uncontested possessions average: 7.5
Inside-50s average: 4.1
One-percenters average: 1.5
2004
Games: 18
Kicks average: 10.4
Handballs average: 2.4
Disposals average: 12.9
Marks average: 7.2
Contested marks average: 2.5
Marks inside 50 average: 5.1
Goals average: 3.6 (65)
Contested possessions average: 6.8
Uncontested possessions average: 6.0
Inside-50s average: 2.1
2005
Games: 22
Kicks average: 11.2
Handballs average: 2.2
Disposals average: 13.4
Marks average: 7.5
Contested marks average: 2.2
Marks inside 50 average: 3.7
Goals average: 2.9 (66)
Contested possessions average: 6.2
Uncontested possessions average: 7.3
Inside-50s average: 3.5
One-percenters average: 1.7
2006
Games: 18
Kicks average: 11.2
Handballs average: 3.7
Disposals average: 14.9
Marks average: 8.3
Contested marks average: 1.8
Marks inside 50 average: 3.8
Goals average: 2.5 (45)
Contested possessions average: 6.3
Uncontested possessions average: 8.7
Inside-50s average: 3.2
One-percenters average: 1.5
2007
Games: 22
Kicks average: 11.9
Handballs average: 3.3
Disposals average: 15.2
Marks average: 8.9
Contested marks average: 2.0
Marks inside 50 average: 3.8
Goals average: 2.4 (53)
Contested possessions average: 6.4
Uncontested possessions average: 8.7
Inside-50s average: 3.2
One-percenters average: 1.2
2008
Games: 20
Kicks average: 13.1
Handballs average: 5.1
Disposals average: 18.2
Marks average: 11.1
Contested marks average: 2.3
Marks inside 50 average: 3.1
Goals average: 2.4 (48)
Contested possessions average: 6.1
Uncontested possessions average: 12.3
Inside-50s average: 2.0
One-percenters average: 1.5
2009
Games: 6
Kicks average: 12.7
Handballs average: 5.2
Disposals average: 17.9
Marks average: 10.0
Contested marks average: 3.1
Marks inside 50 average: 4.3
Goals average: 1.5 (9)
Contested possessions average: 6.8
Uncontested possessions average: 10.8
Inside-50s average: 2.3
One-percenters average: 1.8
