Robbo talking about Richmond in his 'The Tackle' column today ....It’s always the question when a team — and Richmond is the same — produces football many expected to be its trademark and not its exclamation mark.
People with masters degrees in football mentality might be able tell us if it is pressure of expectation. But right now, Eagles and Tigers fans are not overly caring.
They are seeing ultra-competitive and ultra-attacking teams, and finals positions are not beyond them.
Both teams can’t make it, probably neither team will make it, but they get to decide that. This week, the Eagles have the Dons (eighth) and the Tigers play the Crows (seventh), and they are four points behind both teams.
And what of the Tigers?
That’s six in a row and all the qualities we were looking for at the start of the year are materialising. Resilience and toughness comes to mind and it’s why coach Damien Hardwick played the happy fan after the game.
They stood up when challenged and then ran away with the game.
It gave the players and coach confidence in the direction and substance of the team. And there was a nod of appreciation from Jack Riewoldt for his skipper Trent Cotchin in the wash-up.
“We’ve developed a bit of steely resolve and I suppose all of the credit, or most of the credit has got to go to the captain,” Riewoldt said.
“He’s the one who has stood up and grabbed the group by the scruff of the neck, along with Ivan (Maric) and the rest of the leadership group, and said, ‘Boys we are not copping this and this is where we need to get better’.”
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/the-tackle-effort-being-given-by-teams-outside-top-eight-proves-footy-is-in-posttanking-era/story-fndv8f7j-1227020015195