AFL 2018: Richmond Tigers ready for their premiership defenceThe Australian
Peter Lalor
16 March 2016A week out from the start of Richmond’s first premiership defence in 37 years, the Tigers remained the toast of Melbourne as the countdown to the season proper kicked into full gear.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachan is tipping more than 90,000 fans will be in attendance to witness the Tigers unfurl their first premiership flag since 1980.
Tigers captain Trent Cotchin, who opened proceedings at the season launch, said the perspective garnered by Richmond throughout 2017 was invaluable.
The Brownlow Medallist revealed that before last year’s qualifying final against Geelong, he told Richmond coach Damien Hardwick that he was satisfied with the ground the Tigers had made in 2017.
The three-time Jack Dyer Medallist felt that regardless of what panned out through September, the Tigers’ growth as a team would stand them in good stead to challenge in coming years.
The premiership was a treasured bonus.
Their stunning September has made the Tigers the target, as opposed to a potential contender, and their form in two dominant pre-season wins was convincing.
Several rival captains consider them capable of succeeding again in 2018.
Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt, who stood in for Cotchin yesterday, said he could not wait for the opening bounce.
“You’ve just got to go out in Melbourne or anywhere to understand the buzz that the AFL season, on the eve of it, creates,” he said. “Once you have been to the top and experienced what it feels like, what it tastes like, it is certainly a dream to try to get there again,” he added on Seven News.
The Richmond vice-captain is not certain whether the Tigers will improve in 2018 but said the enthusiasm of younger teammates was a good sign.
“For the older guys like myself, Alex (Rance) and Trent, to sit back and see those guys taking control and taking charge of the game is certainly something that not only excites us, but will be exciting Richmond people this year as well,” he said.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2018-richmond-tigers-ready-for-their-premiership-defence/news-story/531aed2424f0994d1087db2a7c651989
