# 2018 Richmond Football Club season

The 2018 season was the 111th season in which the Richmond Football Club participated in the VFL/AFL.

## 2017 off-season list changes
### Retirements and delistings

| Player | Reason | Club games | Career games |
| Ivan Maric | Retired | 80 | 157 |
| Ben Griffiths | Retired | 63 | 63 |
| Steven Morris | Delisted | 87 | 87 |
| Jake Batchelor | Delisted | 84 | 84 |
| Taylor Hunt | Delisted | 42 | 105 |
| Ben Lennon | Delisted | 21 | 21 |
| Todd Elton | Delisted | 10 | 10 |

### Trades

| Date | Gained | Lost | Trade partner |
| 19 October | Pick 53 | 2018 third round pick | Geelong |
| 19 October | Pick 20 | Pick 15 | Brisbane Lions |
| 19 October | Pick 25 | Pick 52 | Brisbane Lions |

### National draft

| Round | Overall pick | Player | State | Position | Team from | League from |
| 1 | 17 | Jack Higgins | VIC | Forward / midfielder | Oakleigh Chargers | TAC Cup |
| 2 | 20 | Callum Coleman-Jones | SA | Ruck | Sturt | SANFL |
| 2 | 25 | Noah Balta | VIC | Tall defender | Calder Cannons | TAC Cup |
| 2 | 34 (F/S) | Patrick Naish | VIC | Small defender / wing | Northern Knights | TAC Cup |
| 4 | 63 | Ben Miller | WA | Ruck | Subiaco | WAFL |

### Rookie draft

| Round | Overall pick | Player | State | Position | Team from | League from | Ref |
| 1 | 18 | Liam Baker | WA | Small forward | Subiaco | WAFL | |
| Next Generation Academy zone selection (Indigenous) | Next Generation Academy zone selection (Indigenous) | Derek Eggmolesse-Smith | VIC | Small defender | Richmond VFL | VFL | |

## 2018 season
### Pre-season
#### AFLX

| Match | Date | Score | Opponent | Opponent's score | Result | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | Saturday 17 February, 4:10pm | 3.2.7 (49) | Greater Western Sydney | 2.2.2 (34) | Won by 15 points | Allianz Stadium | 9,892 |
| 2 | Saturday 17 February, 5:06pm | 4.3.3 (61) | Brisbane Lions | 4.4.7 (66) | Lost by 5 points | Allianz Stadium | 9,892 |

#### JLT Community Series

| Match | Date | Score | Opponent | Opponent's score | Result | Home/away | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | Saturday 24 February, 4:35pm | 19.10 (124) | Essendon | 5.7 (37) | Won by 87 points | Away | Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta | 7,681 |
| 2 | Wednesday 7 March, 7:05pm | 19.14 (128) | North Melbourne | 8.10 (58) | Won by 70 points | Home | Ikon Park | 4,197 |

### Home and away season

| Round | Date | Score | Opponent | Opponent's score | Result | Home/away | Venue | Attendance | Ladder |
| 1 | Thursday 22 March, 7:25pm | 17.19 (121) | Carlton | 15.5 (95) | Won by 26 points | Home | MCG | 90,151 | 7th |
| 2 | Thursday 29 March, 7:20pm | 12.10 (82) | Adelaide | 18.10 (118) | Lost by 36 points | Away | Adelaide Oval | 49,743 | 12th |
| 3 | Sunday 8 April, 1:10pm | 15.12 (102) | Hawthorn | 13.11 (89) | Won by 13 points | Home | MCG | 70,701 | 9th |
| 4 | Saturday 14 April, 2:10pm | 16.14 (110) | Brisbane Lions | 2.5 (17) | Won by 93 points | Home | MCG | 32,870 | 3rd |
| 5 | Tuesday 24 April 7:25pm | 15.12 (102) | Melbourne | 8.8. (56) | Won by 46 points | Away | MCG | 77,071 | 1st |
| 6 | Sunday 29 April, 3:20pm | 16.17 (113) | Collingwood | 10.10 (70) | Won by 43 points | Away | MCG | 72,157 | 1st |
| 7 | Sunday 6 May, 1:10pm | 15.20 (110) | Fremantle | 4.9 (33) | Won by 77 points | Home | MCG | 43,240 | 1st |
| 8 | Sunday 13 May, 1:10pm | 12.10 (82) | North Melbourne | 11.6 (72) | Won by 10 points | Away | Etihad Stadium | 29,153 | 1st |
| 9 | Sunday 20 May, 2:40pm | 12.11 (83) | West Coast | 20.10 (130) | Lost by 47 points | Away | Optus Stadium | 57,616 | 2nd |
| 10 | Saturday 26 May, 1:45pm | 15.15 (105) | St Kilda | 12.5 (77) | Won by 28 points | Home | MCG | 48,850 | 2nd |
| 11 | Saturday 2 June, 7:25pm | 17.12 (114) | Essendon | 6.7 (43) | Won by 71 points | Away | MCG | 81,046 | 2nd |
| 12 | Friday 8 June, 7:20pm | 8.10 (58) | Port Adelaide | 10.12 (72) | Lost by 14 points | Away | Adelaide Oval | 39,936 | 2nd |
| 13 | Sunday 17 June, 3:20pm | 12.11 (83) | Geelong | 9.11 (65) | Won by 18 points | Away | MCG | 46,423 | 1st |
| 14 | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | BYE | 1st |
| 15 | Thursday 28 June, 7:20pm | 14.9 (93) | Sydney | 11.1 (67) | Won by 26 points | Home | Etihad Stadium | 43,519 | 1st |
| 16 | Friday 6 July, 7:50pm | 15.13 (103) | Adelaide | 8.8 (56) | Won by 47 points | Home | MCG | 54,934 | 1st |
| 17 | Saturday 14 July, 7:25pm | 10.17 (77) | Greater Western Sydney | 11.13 (79) | Lost by 2 points | Away | Spotless Stadium | 14,456 | 1st |
| 18 | Friday 20 July, 7:50pm | 16.15 (111) | St Kilda | 8.9 (57) | Won by 54 points | Away | Etihad Stadium | 36,269 | 1st |
| 19 | Saturday 28 July, 1:45pm | 16.9 (105) | Collingwood | 12.5 (77) | Won by 28 points | Home | MCG | 88,180 | 1st |
| 20 | Friday 3 August, 7:50pm | 12.13 (85) | Geelong | 12.10 (82) | Won by 3 points | Home | MCG | 67,054 | 1st |
| 21 | Saturday 11 August, 2:10pm | 19.11 (125) | Gold Coast | 7.9 (51) | Won by 74 points | Away | Metricon Stadium | 18,102 | 1st |
| 22 | Friday 17 August, 7:50pm | 12.9 (81) | Essendon | 11.7 (73) | Won by 8 points | Home | MCG | 76,424 | 1st |
| 23 | Saturday 25 August, 2:10pm | 15.8 (98) | Western Bulldogs | 14.11 (95) | Won by 3 points | Home | MCG | 56,998 | 1st |

### Finals

| Match | Date | Score | Opponent | Opponent's Score | Result | Home/Away | Venue | Attendance |
| Qualifying final | Thursday 7 September, 7:20pm | 13.17 (95) | Hawthorn | 9.10 (64) | Won by 31 points | Home | MCG | 91,446 |
| Preliminary final | Friday 21 September, 7:50 pm | 8.10 (58) | Collingwood | 15.7 (97) | Lost by 39 points | Home | MCG | 94,959 |

## Ladder

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Richmond | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2143 | 1574 | 136.1 | 72 | 2018 finals |
| 2 | West Coast (P) | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2012 | 1657 | 121.4 | 64 | 2018 finals |
| 3 | Collingwood | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 2046 | 1699 | 120.4 | 60 | 2018 finals |
| 4 | Hawthorn | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1972 | 1642 | 120.1 | 60 | 2018 finals |
| 5 | Melbourne | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 2299 | 1749 | 131.4 | 56 | 2018 finals |
| 6 | Sydney | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 1822 | 1664 | 109.5 | 56 | 2018 finals |
| 7 | Greater Western Sydney | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 1898 | 1661 | 114.3 | 54 | 2018 finals |
| 8 | Geelong | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2045 | 1554 | 131.6 | 52 | 2018 finals |
| 9 | North Melbourne | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1950 | 1790 | 108.9 | 48 | |
| 10 | Port Adelaide | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1780 | 1654 | 107.6 | 48 | |
| 11 | Essendon | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1932 | 1838 | 105.1 | 48 | |
| 12 | Adelaide | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 1941 | 1865 | 104.1 | 48 | |
| 13 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1575 | 2037 | 77.3 | 32 | |
| 14 | Fremantle | 22 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 1556 | 2041 | 76.2 | 32 | |
| 15 | Brisbane Lions | 22 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1825 | 2049 | 89.1 | 20 | |
| 16 | St Kilda | 22 | 4 | 17 | 1 | 1606 | 2125 | 75.6 | 18 | |
| 17 | Gold Coast | 22 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1308 | 2182 | 59.9 | 16 | |
| 18 | Carlton | 22 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 1353 | 2282 | 59.3 | 8 | |

## Awards
### League awards
#### All-Australian team

| | Player | Position | Appearance |
| Named | Dustin Martin | Centre | 3rd |
| Named | Alex Rance | Full-back | 5th |
| Named | Jack Riewoldt | Full-forward | 3rd |
| Named | Shane Edwards | Bench | 1st |
| Nominated | Josh Caddy | - | - |
| Nominated | Trent Cotchin | - | - |
| Nominated | Dylan Grimes | - | - |
| Nominated | Kane Lambert | - | - |

#### Brownlow Medal tally

| Player | 3 vote games | 2 vote games | 1 vote games | Total votes | Place |
| Dustin Martin | 2 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 6th |
| Kane Lambert | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 28th |
| Trent Cotchin | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 35th |
| Jack Riewoldt | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 35th |
| Shane Edwards | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 55th |
| Josh Caddy | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 64th |
| Dion Prestia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 105th |
| Toby Nankervis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 105th |
| Shaun Grigg | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 142nd |
| Nick Vlastuin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 142nd |
| Daniel Rioli | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 169th |
| Jayden Short | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 169th |
| David Astbury | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 169th |
| Reece Conca | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 169th |
| Total | 11 | 15 | 15 | 78 | - |

#### Rising Star

Nominations:
| Round | Player | Placing | Ref |
| 18 | Jack Higgins | 4th | |

#### 22 Under 22 team

| | Player | Position | Appearance |
| Named | Jayden Short | Half-back | 1st |
| Named | Dan Butler | Bench | 2nd |

### Club awards
#### Jack Dyer Medal

| Position | Player | Votes | Medal |
| 1st | Jack Riewoldt | 81 | Jack Dyer Medal |
| 2nd | Kane Lambert | 68 | Jack Titus Medal |
| 3rd | Dustin Martin | 66 | Maurie Fleming Medal |
| 4th | Shane Edwards | 65 | Fred Swift Medal |
| 5th | Dylan Grimes | 64 | Kevin Bartlett Medal |
| 6th | Alex Rance | 63 | |
| 7th | Trent Cotchin | 58 | |
| 8th | Nick Vlastuin | 51 | |
| 9th | Jayden Short | 47 | |
| 10th | Josh Caddy | 45 | |
| Source: ||||

#### Michael Roach Medal

| Position | Player | Goals |
| 1st | Jack Riewoldt | 70 |
| 2nd | Josh Caddy | 46 |
| 3rd | Dustin Martin | 31 |
| 4th | Jason Castagna | 26 |
| 5th | Dan Butler | 18 |
| Source: |||

## Reserves

The 2018 season marked the fifth consecutive year the Richmond Football club ran a stand-alone reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Richmond senior and rookie-listed players who were not selected to play in the AFL side were eligible to play for the team alongside a small squad of VFL-only listed players. The team was captained by former AFL listed defender Steve Morris. Hugh Beasley, Jake Aarts, Jacob Ballard and Tom Silvestro are also in the team's 2018 leadership group.
The team finished the home and away season with 14 wins and four losses, earning the minor premiership as a result. They were eliminated from the finals series after successive qualifying and semi finals matches against Williamstown and Essendon respectively.
AFL-listed midfielder Anthony Miles won the club's best and fairest award for the second year running, along with the league's best and fairest award, the J. J. Liston Trophy. AFL-listed small forward Tyson Stengle led the team's goal-kicking with 33 across his 19 matches. Another AFL-listed small forward, Shai Bolton, received both the league's Mark and Goal of the Year awards.

### Playing squad
## Women's team

The 2018 season marked the first year the Richmond Football club ran a women's team and the first year in the VFL Women's competition (VFLW). Former men's VFL assistant coach Tom Hunter was named the team's head coach in November 2017. Jess Kennedy was named the team's inaugural captain in May 2018. The team finished the season with four wins and 10 losses, placing 11th on the ladder of 13 teams and failing to qualify for the finals competition.

### VFLW Best and Fairest

| Position | Player | Votes |
| 1st | Jess Kennedy | 49 |
| 2nd | Jacqui Graham | 48 |
| 3rd | Evelyn Burry | 45 |
| 3rd | Lisa Davie | 45 |
| 3rd | Phoebe Monahan | 45 |
| Source: |||