Only five times this season has the winning team not had at least one player manage more than 25 disposals.

Fremantle has done so twice, Carlton once, the Eagles once and Richmond joined that club last Monday night, against the Eagles.

Twenty-five is a low number of disposals for the top possession winner on the winning team.

The lowest disposal count from an individual on a winning team since 2008 happened in round 15, 2008 when the Hawks' Buddy Franklin topped the table with 21 disposals.

Franklin had 19 kicks and two handballs to top Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Luke Hodge as the Hawks beat the Sydney Swans by 31 points.

What the statistic from Richmond's win against the Eagles shows is that the load is being spread as the Punt Road ship finally starts to right itself.

The necessary support the Tigers have been building around its terrific three middle men - Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio - is starting to pay dividends.

Against the Eagles, Martin, Deledio and Bachar Houli hit the 25-disposal mark and got support from Shaun Grigg (24 disposals), Trent Cotchin (23), Daniel Jackson and Nathan Foley (22 apiece).

Youngsters Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin and Reece Conca – first round draft picks in recent years – have shown their capacity to join that list occasionally this season and you'd expect more than occasionally in the future.

Vlastuin was close to best on ground against West Coast while the absent Ellis and Conca will be picked when back from injury.

Since round five, the Tigers have had at least seven players gather more than 20 disposals each week.

Richmond's midfield bats deeper and it makes the team harder to coach against.

How long has it taken to reach that point?

In Hardwick's first game as coach, only three Tigers managed 20-plus disposals: Daniel Connors (24), Jackson and Deledio (21).