When we were KingsBy Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
Tue 15 Mar, 2011While the Fighting Tiger Fund’s goal is to ensure Richmond’s future prosperity, it also rekindles magical memories of past Yellow and Black glory.
As the Club’s CEO Brendon Gale puts it: “Historically, we have been hard-wired for success . . . premiership success is part of our DNA”.
Chief football writer of the ‘Herald-Sun’, Mike Sheahan, knows full well just how big the Tigers can be . . .
“I was at the ’67 Grand Final, so I’ve seen a fair bit of the mighty Tiges over the years,” he said.
“They were huge when they were up and about.
“I’m pretty close with TJ (Richmond’s last premiership coach Tony Jewell) . . . We used to play tennis every Wednesday in 1980 at TJ’s place, and the Tigers were massive that year.
“Every time they had a home game, the talk would be about how they’d get 70,000 there, or even 80-90,000. That’s how powerful they were.
“You know how everyone talks about them being the “sleeping giant”, and all that jazz? Well, I remember when the giant was the giant . . .
“Just going to the footy, seeing all the Black and Yellow, and then watching them play, was a real experience.
“I mean, I didn’t have a great affection for the Tiges back then, but I certainly did admire them . . . I thought they were unstoppable . . .
“The ’67 premiership was the Club’s first one for 24 years, so that was big, but in ’73-’74, we saw just how huge the Tigers could be.
“They came again in ’80, and that’s the one I remember best because of all the huge names in the team . . . There was Bartlett having that fantastic season at his age, ‘Roachy’ kicking the hundred, and Raines in the middle. I mean, it was just such a powerful team.
“With (Mark) Lee shovelling the ball down to (Dale) Weightman, Raines, Rowlings and Wiley, and those blokes kicking it up in the air to Roachy, it was fantastic to watch.
“They were very good, they were popular, they were arrogant . . . they were all that you expect of a club that’s just a powerhouse in the competition.”
When it comes to today’s Tigers, Sheahan is convinced they’re on the right track . . .
“The direction has changed at Punt Road,” he said.
“Damien Hardwick has come in and said that we’re going to build from the bottom here, and we’re going to do it no matter how long it takes. And, they’ve done that.
“They’ve got some exciting kids . . . The Richmond faithful have had to be more patient than any other team, with the possible exception of the Bulldogs, but they’ve seen players such as Deledio, Cotchin, Martin and Riewoldt emerge.
“So, that’s given them something to really look forward to in 2011.
“That’s not going to take Richmond to the eight this year, but, hopefully, it’s going to be a continual rise on the graph.”
Sheahan is an unabashed fan of Riewoldt, who had a breakout season in 2010, winning the Coleman Medal (with 78 goals), the Jack Dyer Medal, and All-Australian selection.
“He will need some help because, you know what happens every time a player has a good season, the next year . . . I mean, the attention on him is just huge. They’ll double-team him and they’ll put pressure on the ball-carriers up the field. But he’s an outstanding player, Riewoldt,” Sheahan said.
“His hands are so good, and he puts himself in a position to get it.
“I don’t know if he can replicate the 80 goals, because it just puts all their eggs in one basket if that happens. But he’ll be very, very formidable.”
The other big plus for Richmond this season, from Sheahan’s viewpoint, is the return from injury of quality midfielder Nathan Foley.
“I like Foley. He’s quick, he wins his own footy, and the thing that he does do is, when he gets it, he runs towards goal, and he runs in a hurry,” he said.
“When he goes as quickly as he does, and as directly as he does, the forwards get a chance to win it one-on-one.
“So, he is a major plus for Richmond.”
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