ON paper, 2023 did not exactly go to plan for Richmond. Long-term injuries to key players right through the year did not help the Tigers at all, who after the highs of a top four finish in 2022 did not even make finals in 2023.

But with key players back and a good mix of young and experienced new faces, are the Tigers fortunes on the way up for the yellow and black in 2024?

TEAM LIST

#1 Grace Egan
#2 Eilish Sheerin
#3 Katie Brennan
#4 Monique Conti
#5 Courtney Jones
#6 Jodie Hicks
#7 Sarah Hosking
#8 Molly Eastman
#9 Caitlin Greiser
#10 Montana McKinnon*
#14 Poppy Kelly
#15 Rebecca Miller
#16 Laura McClelland
#17 Katelyn Cox*
#18 Libby Graham
#19 Kate Dempsey
#20 Beth Lynch
#21 Charley Ryan
#22 Ellie McKenzie
#23 Shelby Knoll*
#24 Charli Wicksteed
#25 Stella Reid
#27 Emelia Yassir
#28 Gabrielle Seymour
#29 Jemima Woods
#30 Ally Dallaway
#31 Isabel Bacon
#33 Mackenzie Ford
#35 Maddie Shevlin
#36 Amelia Peck
#37 Tessa Lavey
#38 Imogen Brown
Tamara Luke

* inactive

SQUAD CHANGES

In: Tesa Lavey (back from inactive), Jodie Hicks, Tamara Luke, Ally Dallaway, Isabel Bacon, Mackenzie Ford, Imogen Brown, Montana McKinnon

Out: Katelyn Cox (inactive), Jess Hosking, Sarah D’Arcy, Meagan Kiely, Stephanie Williams, Lilly Pearce, Meg Macdonald

FIXTURE

Match 1: August 30 vs West Coast at Mineral Resources Park
Match 2: September 8 vs GWS at Swinburne Centre
Match 3: September 14 vs Sydney at Coffs Harbour
Match 4: September 19 vs Carlton at Ikon Park
Match 5: September 24 vs Port Adelaide at Ikon Park
Match 6: September 29 vs North Melbourne at UTAS Stadium
Match 7: October 5 vs Collingwood at Swinburne Centre
Match 8: October 12 vs Geelong at Swinburne Centre
Match 9: October 19 vs Melbourne at Casey Fields
Match 10: October 26 vs Essendon at TIO Stadium
Match 11: TBC vs Hawthorn at Swinburne Centre

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Can they avoid the injury issues of last season?

Injuries were certainly not the friend of Richmond in 2023. Several of their key players missed patches of the season through injuries, which derailed Richmond’s momentum. The question is, are the Tigers past their injury issues of last season and can they have a smoother run on the injury front in 2024?

Can they fix their forward structure?

After Courtney Wakefield retired at the end of season 7, that left a hole in Richmond’s attacking power that they arguably have not quite replaced properly. Caitlin Grieser did not give the volume of goals Wakefield had been giving, and did not quite match the heights of her debut season, so the Tigers will be looking for her to boost her goal numbers this year.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Ellie McKenzie

McKenzie was one of those caught up in Richmond’s injury crisis last season, only managing to get out on the park once in 2023.

But she will be looking to not repeat that in 2024, and if she can get back to her best she will be a huge weapon for Richmond in the midfield.

PREDICTION

Season 7 was momentous in so many ways for Richmond, but 2023 was a real crash back to earth. The question is, which kind of season will they have this year? If everyone stays fit, they have the threats to make the finals and do some damage. If they have more injury problems, finals will likely be out of the question and it will be another tough year for the Tigers.