Tough opening 10 weeks hardens Richmond Glenn McFarlane
From: Sunday Herald Sun
June 03, 2012Damien Hardwick had a few choice words when he first caught sight of the opening 10 weeks of the 2012 fixture.
The Tigers' lot included matches against all eight 2011 finalists - with a couple of 'gimme' games thrown in against Melbourne and Port Adelaide.
It looked like the draw from hell for a team that has spent so long trying to turn false dawns into something more permanent.
But, as it sits right now, that difficult draw might have played a part in steeling the young Tigers up for the sort of form they are currently displaying.
Long-suffering Richmond fans would likely have taken the 5-5 ledger after 10 rounds, particularly after the club's 1-4 start, albeit with luckless losses to Geelong and West Coast that could easily have been victories.
Friday night's coming-of-age win - that's not much of a stretch given the club had not beaten St Kilda since 2003 - caps off a great fortnight after last week's strong statement against Hawthorn.
The bonus is that as hard as Richmond's early 2012 draw was, it looks more manageable after the opening two-and-half months of the season.
Following from the win over the Saints, in the remaining 12 matches the Tigers will meet only two teams that played in last year's final series - rivals Carlton in Round 18 and Essendon in Round 22.
Richmond has Fremantle (MCG) and Greater Western (Skoda Stadium) before their Round 13 bye.
The other opponents for the rest of the season are: Adelaide (AAMI Stadium), Melbourne (MCG), Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium), North Melbourne (MCG), Brisbane Lions (Gabba), Western Bulldogs (MCG), Fremantle (Subiaco), and Port Adelaide (MCG). Of those, only the Crows are seemingly finals contenders.
There is no reason to think that the Tigers, if they maintain their form and have a reasonable run with injuries, might win anywhere between seven and nine of those games.
If they achieve that it would almost certainly result in the club's first finals appearance since 2001.
As uneven as the AFL draw is, and as frustrating as it is for clubs and supporters, a draw alone doesn't guarantee wins or success.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/tough-opening-10-weeks-hardens-richmond/story-fn7si1k5-1226381390467
