The Richmond Tigers basked in premiership glory last season for the first time in 37-years, but former Melbourne captain Gary Lyon said it could just be an anomaly.
The Tigers' 2017 premiership campaign predicated around their play up forward, particularly their offensive pressure. According to Lyon, maintaining this intensity from season-to-season is "the hardest thing to do."
The Demons dual best and fairest winner made the point that throughout history, the best AFL teams have a hard time sustaining their desire to win going in to the season following their own premiership win.
“I genuinely think they can contend but history tells me, even the great sides struggle to do it," Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“I don’t think they [Richmond] can win a premiership in this day and age, going back to back."
There was constant doubt surrounding the Tigers during the 2017 season, which saw them constantly beating the odds. With what's being said in the early stages of the 2018 season, it looks like if they are to make a run at the premiership, they'll have to handle the same adversity once again.
“All through the finals I got them wrong, right up until Grand Final day I didn’t think they could win it," Lyon said.
“Whether it is complacency or they can’t quite find the inner drive. Those are the questions I’m wrestling with.”
Richmond will kick off the 2018 AFL season on Thursday night versus Carlton at the MCG.
