Tigers rehearsing for tight finishes

Defender Steven Morris at Richmond pre-season training. Picture: Richard Serong. Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND has spent its pre-season rehearsing how to close out tight matches in a crucial bid to regain confidence at the death of matches and leapfrog into the top eight this year.

The Tigers lost six matches by less than 13 points last year - including three consecutive games by a total of 10 points - to crash out of September contention.

They leaked three goals in the final minute against Gold Coast, prompting premiership coach Paul Roos to label the Tigers' finish "the worst 47 seconds" in football.

But defender Steven Morris said there would be no lingering mental demons as Richmond enters 2013 hoping to snap a 12-year finals drought.

"It's all about education. The more people that are on the same page as to what we'll do when we're faced in those situations the better," he said.

"If we find ourselves in the position of close matches like last year, we can use the tools we've learnt in our education to get a better outcome.

"If we can close out those games I think we'll rise up the ladder."

Morris, 24, said the spate of seasoned recruits - including Troy Chaplin, Chris Knights, Ricky Petterd and Sam Lonergan - would ramp up the competition for places this year.

And he said the return of Tyrone Vickery would boost the firepower up forward with the injury-prone big man set to join Jack Riewoldt in attack.

"It's exciting for Tigers fans that Ty Vickery is looking as strong as he is at the moment," Morris said.

"He's training the house down and that's one area that we could've used Ty late in last season and we didn't have him as a focus point up there to kick to.

"To see him in such strong form is really pleasing."

Morris said first-round draftee Nick Vlastuin, who has been likened to Brad Sewell, was impressing with his competitiveness, while luckless backman Dylan Grimes was progressing well from surgery on his hamstrings.

The second-year defender, who endured a late start to pre-season due to shoulder surgery, spent his off-season in Bali and on fishing trips but said he was now craving the return of footy season.

"With the pre-season it drags on and when you can start smelling footy coming up it's an exciting time," Morris, who is spending the Australia Day weekend fishing in Coronet Bay, said.

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