Analyzing Richmond's Premiership Qualifying Final Runs

Welcome to The Dynasty Den. If you’re a Richmond fan, the words “Qualifying Final” probably trigger a flood of specific, powerful memories from that incredible 2017-2020 period. They weren't just games; they were the first, critical exams in our journey to ultimate glory. Winning them set the tone, provided the precious week off, and sent a shudder through the competition.

But how do you properly analyze these pivotal matches? What should you look for beyond the final score? This guide is your practical checklist for breaking down Richmond's three Premiership Qualifying Final runs. By the end, you’ll be able to watch these classics with a sharper eye, appreciating the subtle moments that built the Yellow and Black dynasty.

What You'll Need

Before we dive into the steps, let's get your toolkit ready. You don't need a coaching badge, just a bit of preparation.

The Games: Access to the replays of the 2017 (vs. Geelong), 2019 (vs. Brisbane), and 2020 (vs. Brisbane) Qualifying Finals. Official highlights packages are a good start, but full quarters are better.
A Notepad or Digital Doc: You'll want to jot down observations.
Key Stats Sheets: Have the official match statistics (disposals, clearances, inside 50s, tackles) for each game handy. The AFL Tables website is perfect for this.
Context: A basic timeline of each season. Remember where each team was on the ladder, any key injuries leading in, and the broader narrative (e.g., 2017's drought-breaking quest, 2019's hunt for back-to-back).

Your Step-by-Step Analysis Process

Follow these steps for each of the three Qualifying Final victories to build a complete picture.

Step 1: Set the Scene – Understand the Stakes & Mindset

Don't just press play. First, mentally transport yourself to the week of the game.

2017: 37 years of pain. A club and fanbase weighed down by history. The opponent, Geelong, had beaten us in a tight Round 21 clash. The narrative was all about Richmond's "September demons." How would the team handle the pressure?
2019: The reigning premier. The target is on your back. Brisbane, a young, exciting team playing a Qualifying Final in front of a rabid home crowd at the Gabba. This was about asserting prestige and showing the dynasty was no fluke.
2020: The weird COVID year. The quest for the three-peat. Again, facing Brisbane at the Gabba, but this time in an empty stadium. The challenge was about unmatched professionalism and hunger in the most trying circumstances.

What to look for in the first 5 minutes: Body language. Aggression at the contest. How do Cotchin, Martin, and Riewoldt carry themselves? Are the Tigers dictating terms or reacting?

Step 2: Isolate the System – Watch Richmond's Pressure Game

This is the cornerstone of Hardwick's dynasty. Forget pretty plays for a moment; watch the chaos.

The Web: Don't just follow the ball. Watch how Richmond players without the ball move. The defensive structure, led by the general Alex Rance in 2017/2019, formed a web. When an opponent took possession, how many Yellow and Black stripes converged?
The Tackle Count & Pressure Gauge: Use your stats sheet. The Tigers didn't just tackle; they tackled to hurt and create turnovers. Look for the moments where a seemingly innocuous possession is swallowed up by a gang tackle involving players like Dion Prestia or Bachar Houli.
Forced Errors: The most telling sign. Count how many times the opposition fumbles, handballs to space, or kicks blindly under duress. This was the system working perfectly.

Pro Tip: Watch a single opposition player for a whole passage of play. See how often they have time and space. The answer, in these games, is almost never.

Step 3: Identify the Catalyst – Who Sparked the Surge?

Every Qualifying Final had a moment or a player who broke the game open. Your job is to find it.

2017: Look at the second quarter. Geelong was within a kick. Then, the Richmond midfield machine ignited. Watch Dustin Martin's explosiveness from the centre bounce. Trace the work of Trent Cotchin – his ferocious, captain-leading-by-example tackles. This was the moment the "demons" were exorcised.
2019: The third quarter at a hostile Gabba. The game was in the balance. This is where the system and the superstar fused. Watch how the relentless pressure created turnovers, and then watch Dusty and Jack Riewoldt clinically punish them on the scoreboard. It was a brutal display of efficiency.
2020: A tighter, more tense affair. The catalyst here was often composure. When Brisbane surged, look for the calm heads: Bachar Houli providing rebound from defence, Prestia winning the hard ball. The surge was less a fireworks display and more a slow, suffocating squeeze.

Step 4: Analyze the Opposition's Breaking Point

A dynasty isn't just about what you do; it's about how you make others fail. Pinpoint where the opponent's plan disintegrated.

Geelong (2017): Their skilled, possession-based game was rendered useless. Did their star players go missing trying to avoid the physical pressure? Watch their ball movement become increasingly hesitant and long down the line—meat and drink for Rance and co.
Brisbane (2019 & 2020): Their youthful run-and-gun style met a brick wall. Did their young players start to second-guess? Look for turnovers in the middle of the ground that led directly to Richmond goals—the most soul-destroying sequence in football. In 2020, did their frustration boil over as the Tigers refused to yield?

Step 5: The Legacy Moment – Find the "This is Our Time" Play

Each of these wins had a signature moment that encapsulated Richmond's supremacy and signaled their intent to the entire league.

2017: Jack Riewoldt's soaring mark and goal in the third quarter. It wasn't just 6 points; it was a statement of confidence at the most pressured time. The roar of the MCG crowd tells you everything.
2019: Any number of Dustin Martin's goals in the third quarter, but particularly his checkside from the boundary. It was arrogant, skillful, and a dagger to Brisbane's heart. It said, "We can do anything, and you can't stop us."
2020: The entire final quarter. With the three-peat on the line, the Tigers didn't concede a single goal. It was a masterclass in defensive, finals-winning football. Watch the discipline, the communication, the sheer will to not let Brisbane score.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't: Just watch Dusty. It's tempting, but you'll miss the system. Watch the role players like Kane Lambert or Nathan Broad. See how their selfless running creates space for others.
Do: Watch the coaches' box cutaways. Damien Hardwick's demeanor is fascinating. In 2017, see the intensity. In 2020, look for the calm, almost expectant confidence.
Don't: Ignore the ruck duel. Toby Nankervis's physicality in these games was monumental. It set the tone for the midfield pressure.
Do: Listen to the crowd noise (for 2017 & 2019). The roar after a pressure act or a turnover is just as telling as the roar for a goal. It was a weapon.
Common Mistake: Thinking these were easy wins. Go back and look at the scoreboard at various stages. They were hard-fought, brutal contests that the Tigers won because their system held under maximum stress.

Your Analysis Checklist Summary

Run through this bullet list for each Qualifying Final (2017, 2019, 2020) to ensure you've covered all the bases.

• Set the Scene: Researched the pre-game narrative, stakes, and season context.


• Isolated the System: Focused on pressure acts, tackling, and forced opposition errors beyond just ball-watching.


• Identified the Catalyst: Pinpointed the specific player or 10-minute period where the Tigers broke the game open.


• Analyzed the Breaking Point: Determined how and when the opponent's game plan fell apart under Richmond's pressure.


• Found the Legacy Moment: Identified the single play or sequence that symbolized Richmond's dominance and premiership mentality.


• Connected the Dots: Considered how this Qualifying Final win set the template and provided the momentum for the Grand Final triumph that followed (the 2017 premiership, the 2019 flag, the 2020 flag).

By following this process, you move from being a passive viewer to an active analyst of the Dynasty Era. You start to see not just that the Tigers won, but the precise, repeatable, and brutal how they did it. These Qualifying Finals were the blueprints—the first, definitive announcements that a modern powerhouse had arrived.

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Ready to dive deeper into this incredible era? Explore the broader context of our Dynasty's Impact and Legacy, break down the holy grail in our Three-Premierships Breakdown, or appreciate the consistency of a champion forward in our look at Jack Riewoldt's Goal-Kicking Records.*