'The Tigers of old, we are strong and we're bold.'

The 'strong' and bold' component to that famous song is what rings true to me when I think of the Richmond Football Club.

The 'T' word I am referring to is, 'trust'. A system of trust is what has put this once deplorably performing, unreliably frustrating club back as the best and right now, (I hate to admit this as a Collingwood supporter) the biggest club in the AFL.

After watching this team closely over the past three years, there are several elements that have made the Tigers the clear number one seed. Anything from having arguably the best defender of the modern era stopping goals, and when he's not there a handy replacement filling in - and at the other end a triple Coleman Medalist kicking bags most weeks. There is also that conspicuous enigma in the middle of the ground.

But I'm about to dive into the four elements of Richmond's 'Trust System.' Away from the super stardom, this is what I have observed throughout the recent Richmond Era.

Trust: The Rule of Thirds

When the ball is in pursuit in the defensive 50, 17 out of 18 teams typically send their midfielders and wingman down there to support their defenders. When Richmond have the ball in their backline, their wingers (usually Brandon Ellis and Josh Caddy or Shane Edwards) drop back, but the mids generally stay out. They stay out and stay in their respective third of the ground.

So what does this mean tactically?

When every other team has an effective or ineffective exit out of their backline, the high-half forwards are there to win the ball. When Richmond get it out of their defence, their midfielders and forwards are there - hence the rule of thirds. Every Tiger on the field knows where to stand and where to be when the ball is won, especially out of the backline.

Why do they decide to take this risk?

The Richmond backline is as good as any in the competition. On-ballers stay out and let the backline do it practically on its own with the help of their wingers.

What is the by-product of this?

When they win the ball back, in the middle of the ground there will be at least one or two of; Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis waiting for the ball. Forwards then go on the move back into their forward line. Rule of thirds, they respect each other's area.

Trust: The enormousย Tom 'apple cart' Lynch deal

Champion defender Alex Rance infamously warned the possibility of Richmond recruiting a big forward would have 'upset the apple cart'. However, the three-man leadership group, which includes Rance, signed off on the list manager's pursuit for then Gold Coast Co-captain, Tom Lynch.

Seemingly at the time, it was a polarizing discussion about if Lynch would be a good fit for the 2017 premiers. The forward-line of Jack Riewoldt surrounded by small forwards seemed to work for them in 2017 and at least up until March of 2018 when Rance made the apple cart comment. But the leadership group backed in their back office to make the tough call to bring over Lynch on big Money.

Lynch kicked 63 goals in 2019 and was integral to keeping the Tigers in the race whilst Jack Riewoldt was out injured. He kicked five goals in the preliminary final and two in the Grand Final. Lynch is now a premiership player.

Trust: Dusty's 50

Perhaps this is a contradictory point simply because Martin is that good that he demands his own space in the forward-line own his own. So if Damien Hardwick and his coaching team trust Martin, or if he just waltzes in there on his own accord, it works. He is close to formidable on his own one-out in the fifty.

Also, Martin rarely runs back to defend. He is not the two-way runner that Stephen Coniglio, Cotchin or Tom Scully is, but his teammates trust and allow the Brownlow Medalist to wait in his designated areas of the ground. Hence the rule of thirds that the Tigers abide by.

Trust: Debutant faith

The idea of playing a first-gamer in a Grand Final is absurd, right?

Not at Tigerland, though. It may well be not only the story of the finals series... but the story of the season. When Marlion Pickett blind-turned around Lachie Whitfield in the second quarter of the Grand Final, he captivated the audience.

When he kicked his first goal towards the Ponsford Stand, it was spine-tinglingly loud. And the man who kicked the ball to him was none other than Martin - the teammate who Pickett lived with for the first few weeks of moving to Melbourne.

So why did Hardwick and the match committee make this call?

After winning the Norm Goss Medal (best on ground) in the VFL Grand Final, it was obvious that Richmond had their direct replacement to fill the void of Jack Graham. It was obvious that Pickett has the ability to play the Richmond way; relentless and selfless.

Two flags are considered an era and three are considered a dynasty. So will we see a yellow and black dynasty? As Richmond now become the hunted, irrespective of what will be thrown at them and what hurdles they may face, they will always have their trust principals under the Hardwick era.

Is trust the key ingredient to team success and will we see other sides adopt this faith? I guess we will wait and see.