RFC back-to-back difficult in tightess comp in 20 years: Connolly (SportingNews)

[one-eyed]

Connolly: 'We’ve got the tightest competition we’ve had for 20 years'

Angus Reid
Sporting News
12 October 2017

Sporting News' own AFL guru Rohan 'RoCo' Connolly has praised the level of competitiveness within today's AFL competition, whilst also revealing a key component to your club winning their next flag.

Whilst responding to queries about Richmond's chances to back up their historic premiership, RoCo suggested the tightness we see in the current competition makes it incredibly difficult for clubs to repeat.

“I just think it’s going to be harder now for any side to back up a flag," Connolly said.

“Sounds pretty funny seeing Hawthorn managed to win three in a row, but you have to remember that two out of those three years they didn’t finish on top of the ladder and were probably just about underdogs going into those games.

“I think more and more premierships will be won by sides that are in the mix and then hit the right notes at the right time of the year. That’s definitely what the Bulldogs did last year and I think Richmond, as consistent as they have been this season I’m not underplaying that for a minute - they were good enough to finish top four, they definitely went to another level in September”.

RoCo commented on how the current competition differs from years gone by, and that elusive factor that your club needs to break their premiership drought.

“Have a look at the nature of the competition. You had the side that finished on top this year have 15 and a half wins, which was the least amount to top the ladder since 1997, and the other side of the coin you had the bottom side of the ladder winning five games, which was the most a wooden spooner had won since 1998," Connolly said.

“You could argue we’ve got the tightest competition we’ve had for 20 years. I think the situation at clubs is more changeable. We’ve seen that it’s possible for clubs to rise and fall quicker than they were perhaps a decade ago.

“It’s not very scientific, but you need luck to win a flag. Every premier has the cards fall into place, as well as playing it’s best footy and being well coached…and not all the planets can align year after year."

http://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/afl-rohan-connolly-richmond-tigers-premiership/8mrhdo6vx77019pazw6t0mpak

[Gracie]

We definitely went to another level in August and September on the back of the team gaining that belief level.

Now it will be interesting to see if we can continue to build - which I think we can - the belief (and hunger) for the longer term. All other teams will be coming at us and there will not be any easy games. Also more time will be put into breaking down our pressure levels and/or increasing the pressure on us.

The side will need to evolve and the game plan adapted/changed to stay in front of the chasing pack.

[Diocletian]

"RoCo"?