In the sixth of a richmondfc.com.au post-season special, focusing on 14 key findings from Richmond’s 2014 season, we analyse the important gains made by talented Tiger ‘tall’ Ben Griffiths. 


No. 6:  Ben Griffiths started to look like he belonged at the game’s highest level.

After managing just one senior appearance with the Tigers in 2013, Ben Griffiths had the best season of his five-year AFL playing career in 2014. 

Griffiths put together a career-high tally of 16 games for the season and played a valuable role in Richmond’s strong finish to the home-and-away rounds.

Bid on 2014 Richmond signed match-worn guernseys, including Ben Griffiths’

He kept his place in the Tigers’ line-up for almost the entire first half of the season, but was dropped after the loss to North Melbourne in Round 12.

The four-match suspension handed down to tall forward/relief ruckman Ty Vickery, following the clash with the West Coast Eagles in Round 18, paved the way for Griffiths’ senior return for the Round 19 match against Greater Western Sydney.

This time, Griffiths grasped his opportunity with the surety he shows when grabbing marks.

He played in Richmond’s last six games of the season, averaging 10.6 disposals and kicking six goals.

Most importantly, he provided Ivan Maric with a decent chop-out in the ruck, winning his share of hit-outs at centre bounces and stoppages, as well as having an influence all over the field, both in the air, and at ground level, where his mobility for a big man was particularly impressive.

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Griffiths finished the season as the No. 1 ranked player at Richmond (and 18th in the competition) for contested marks per game.

Then, of course, there was Griffiths’ trademark booming kicks.  His ability to cover such vast distances with his kicking became a real weapon for the Tigers.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick expressed his delight with Griffiths’ development throughout 2014 . . .

“He’s athletic, he’s 200cm, he can run, he can kick it a mile . . . he’s just got that belief he’s now an AFL-quality player, and we’re very happy that he’s started to find that form because he’s really important to us,” Hardwick said.