Regarding your first point, you noted we sputtered during our injuries, but I though playing 1st and 2nd year players Stack, Ross, Naish, Baker, Eggmolesse-Smith, Balta, ColemanJones, Bolton, Garthwaite and Chol, most of which were playing their first few games, many at once, is going to make you stumble somewhat.Pessimistic raised a good point though. It is strange to see Tiger's in here saying that 2019 showed they can win without their older star players considering the period that they were all out coincided with the Tigers spluttering a bit in the period before the bye and were outside the 8 with a percentage below 100.
You're right in that that retirements don't all happen in one go, but Richmond have 4 players, Rance, Houli, Riewoldt and Cotchin who are important to their structure and closely grouped together by age. 2019 showed that the back six can be a great unit without Rance, so that would probably ease many tigers supporters about the idea of Rance potentially retiring when his contract is up in 2021.
I'm not that familiar with the Richmond list outside of their best 22. Who are the young players on their list that could step up in the next couple years to take over from Cotchin, Houli, Riewoldt and Rance over the medium term, or do you think that they could fill the gaps luring FA's over the next couple of years?
FWIW I don't think Richmonds age profile will have an impact on their 2020 season, looking beyond that though will be interesting to see how the list transitions to a new batch of players.
Players that will take us forward, Stack is already a beauty, Bolton has x factor to burn, Ross was getting 25+possessions in the midfield before he was injured. Balta's is raw but he is already a cult figure due to his athleticism. Coleman Jones is very promising ruckman. 18 year old Collier-Dawkins is a 193cm midfielder with explosive pace and a real hard edge was my BOG in the VFL final. Premiership players like Short, Broad, Baker and Graham are not in my best 22. Our VFL won the Premiership
I have been watching Richmond forever and have never seen such depth at the club. Pickett is a handy addition.