WHILE critics have been quick to jump on Richmond after its 2-2 start to the season, the Tigers' performances have left the League's official number crunchers scratching their heads.

The nature of their two losses, to the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, has put pressure on the club, which was seen to have the softest opening draw in the competition.

But across four matches, there are a number of statistical trends highlighted by Champion Data that would suggest the Tigers aren't completely off their game.

When compared with their winning run between rounds 15 and 23 last year, the Tigers have this season improved their differentials in kicking efficiency, inside 50s, time in forward half and points from stoppages – all key performance indicators.

So why have they struggled to the point of producing a round-four performance that coach Damien Hardwick labelled "insipid"?

Part one of the answer is at the coalface, where the Tigers have gone from the No.1 team for clearance differential between rounds 15-23 last season to No.9 this year (dropping from +6.7 to +0.5).

They are also forcing fewer stoppages in their forward half – down from 41.4 a game to 32.5 – and getting fewer scores from that source as a result.

Then there is the biggest drop of all, contested possession differential, which has fallen from +13.9 (ranked No.2) during last season's winning run to +3.0 this season (No.9).

This is the "not tough enough" aspect of the Tigers' game that Hardwick spoke about after the Melbourne loss.

You can lump the team's tackling differential in that category, which has improved ever so slightly to -8.0, but only enough to have them ranked No.16 in the League.

Once Richmond has won the footy, how they use it also tells a story.

They were the third best team in the AFL during last year's purple patch for kicking forward and kicking long, which suggested they were playing with confidence and gaining more inside 50s as a result.

This year they are ranked No.7 for kicking forward and No.12 for kicking long.

When they don't have the ball, the Tigers have been vulnerable on the counter-attack, with Hardwick this week highlighting a number of examples where Melbourne broke through their defensive structure to kick easy goals.

After conceding just 68.9 points a game between rounds 15-23 last season (ranked No.2), they are leaking 76.0 points a game this year (No.8).

The statistics don't unveil major drops – aside from contested possession differential – which makes the Tigers' start more than a little confusing.

Captain Trent Cotchin might have been seen to be putting a positive spin on the team's predicament this week, but his explanation makes sense.

"I think it's just tidying up a few things we know we can do and in the past we've shown we're capable of it," he said.

"It's just a matter of doing it consistently."

Where the Tigers have fallen and where they've improved: