Tigers must prove themselves in AFL: FoleyRoger Vaughan
WWOS.ninemsn.com.au
Sat Jul 20 2013Nathan Foley has been through too much in his nine years as a senior Richmond player to call this the best Tigers side of his AFL career.
Like everyone else at Punt Rd, the 27-year-old is excited and confident about Richmond's development under coach Damien Hardwick.
But results come first.
Sunday's clash with Fremantle at the MCG is the start of a pivotal three-game block that will go a long way to deciding whether the Tigers make the finals for the first time in 12 years.
After the fifth-placed Dockers, sixth-placed Richmond face Hawthorn (top) and Sydney away (fourth).
Asked if this is the best side he has played in, Foley replies: "It certainly has the potential to be.
"We still have a fair bit to prove.
"We haven't competed like we would like against the teams above us - those real top-four and top-six finals contenders."
Foley, former captain Chris Newman, Shane Tuck and Brett Deledio are the old hands at Richmond.
None of them has played a finals game, but there is a growing sense that could soon change.
"It's been the progression that 'Dimma' (coach Damien Hardwick) has made since he came in 2010," Foley said.
"It's been building and getting a lot of quality people around the club.
"From year to year, you've seen it improve, so it's certainly some exciting times ahead."
But for all the quality people at the club, there's one small group that Foley wants nothing to do with any more - the injury rehabilitation staff.
The speedy midfielder has only managed 129 games since his 2005 debut and, most recently, has made a successful return from an achilles injury.
"I say that to our rehab coach constantly - I don't want to have anything to do with him," Foley said with a rueful laugh.
"I avoid him as much as possible."
But there is no avoiding the hard work needed to beat the Dockers and their manic defensive intensity.
Foley's midfield run will be crucial as the Tigers try to pressure Fremantle when they move the ball out of defence.
"They work really hard through their midfield - they have some elite runners through there and their high forwards," he said.
"They certainly push really hard to get uncontested marks, so that's something we'll have to look at.
"You look at the players they have through there (midfield), they have some really big 'tanks' on them - (Michael) Barlow, these sorts of blokes.
"It will be a really good challenge for our midfield."
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