Base built, time for second step: Tigers (AAP)

[one-eyed]

Base built, time for second step: Tigers
By AAP
3:49 PM Mon 28 May, 2012


FOR WEEKS as they got so close to the AFL's best without winning, Richmond's players were finding it hard to believe.

Now, after the Tigers' extraordinary hammering of Hawthorn, it's everyone else finding it hard to believe.

Suddenly Richmond, who has spent a decade clocking off in late August, is a legitimate chance of making its first finals series since 2001.

The players' confidence could have been shaken after narrow losses to Geelong, West Coast and Essendon ahead of their breakthrough 10-goal smashing of the Hawks.

But defender Bachar Houli says the club's leaders have been vital in getting the players to maintain belief through a season of excellent performances without winning.

"Believing in our ability doesn't come easy, but definitely everyone's up and about week in, week out," Houli said on Monday.

"[Coach] Damien Hardwick has put a stamp on things. He's said it's no longer about development, it's about moving forward and aiming for finals football.

"Credit is due to the leaders, standing up and providing the confidence that we deserve.

"We've worked extremely hard on our defensive side, and believe we can be right up there with the likes of Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn."

Houli said talk of finals was premature.

But the Tigers could convince even their hardest markers they have taken the next step if they beat fellow finals hopefuls St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Houli, part of a much-improved Richmond back-six, believes the Saints remain a potent force.

And he rates them even more dangerous after an injection of youth and speed into the side - notably Ahmed Saad and Terry Milera whom Houli may find himself matching at some stage.

"Their forwards are very lively, and people forget the experience the Saints players have got," Houli said.

"Their experience is starting to step up again, and the inclusion of the two smalls in Saad and Milera obviously makes them a little more exciting as well, so we're definitely going to focus on them this week."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/137101/default.aspx