The 'Stand Rule' affected the Tigers style/mode of play and it took a while longer to adapt.
The ongoing injuries
- Def - Broad, Vlastuin, Houli
- Rucks - Soldo, Nankervis (Rnd 12 - 17, Richmond relied on Chol/CCJ)
- Mids - Prestia, Lambert, Edwards
The depleted midfield setup consequentially impacted on Dustin Martin scoring.
Due to the kidney injury, Dustin lost weight and has slimmed down for 2022 from his 2021 playing weight.
This has resulted in the club stating Dustin will spend more time in the midfield than forward (circa 2017).
He turns 31 on 26 June, normally I would be hesitant selecting a 31 year old, however, this is not an issue for Dustin as the club has no concerns about his full recovery.
I think 2022 is far too early to write off, Dustin as a forward option, as I expect his scoring to improve with a more resilient Richmond.