Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond coach Terry Wallace says the Tigers are primed to go back-to-back next season.
Richmond claimed their second premiership in three years after trashing the Giants by 89 points in the grand final, capping off a 12-game winning streak for Damien Hardwick’s team.
And Wallace is big on them again in 2020.
“The other clubs should be very scared. After a massive Grand Final victory, two premierships in three years, there’s no doubt in my mind they’ve been the best team comfortably over that period of time,” he told Telstra AFL Trade Radio.
“I’m suggesting that there is no reason why this should change at all. With players to return or improve, such as Alex Rance, Jack Graham, Jack Higgins, Marlion Pickett, Jack Ross and Sydney Stack, plus the age profile of the squad, with 15 of their best 18 between the ages of 24 and 31, they’re totally primed.
“Sometimes you see a flag won and you see it won by an aging group and you say they got there, but can they hang in. The Tiger outfit age-wise are absolutely on top of their game.
“This team has got eight All-Australians in it. They’ve got the best game plan and structures which nobody has been able to get close to replicating, and then they’ve got the best development program which saw their VFL team win a premiership this year as well.
“The chase is on, but the closing pack is a fair bit behind as far as I am concerned. The other thing about the Tigers is they also own the MCG.”
Wallace believes an area his former club could improve in is clearances.
“To me, their stoppage work wasn’t great, so they’ll need a Pickett or a Graham or a Ross to add more depth in that area of the ground,” he said.
“All I’m saying is the one area over the year that hasn’t been strong is the clearance factor. You’re always looking for something and another strong, big-bodied midfielder, especially if you want to play Dustin Martin forward.”
