Richo says Tigers can beat the AFL's best teams (Age)

[one-eyed]

Matthew Richardson says Tigers can beat the AFL's best teams

    Jon Pierik
      The Age
    April 9, 2014

Just days after bemoaning Richmond had not improved this season, club great Matthew Richardson has declared the Tigers are capable of defeating the league’s elite.

Having watched the Tigers slip to 12th spot after losses to the Gold Coast Suns and the Western Bulldogs and limp over the line against Carlton, Richardson said on Sunday ‘‘there’s been no improvement’’ in a team crunched in last year’s elimination final by Carlton.

But on Tuesday he insisted the Tigers could yet rebound and torpedo the likes of Hawthorn, Geelong and Fremantle.

‘‘There’s no doubt in my mind that the Tigers’ best is good enough to beat any team in the competition. They’ve shown that over the past couple of years, with convincing victories over premiership sides Hawthorn and Sydney,’’ he said.

‘‘Unfortunately, however, the gap between good Richmond and bad Richmond is just way too wide at the moment.

‘‘Allowing the Bulldogs to race away to a six-goal lead by half-time was simply unacceptable.

‘‘Sure, the Tigers showed admirable fight after that, and played well to eventually hit the front for a brief time late in the game, but they should never have put themselves in such a difficult position.’’

Critiquing the team on the Tigers’ website, Richardson said the challenge was now to tame Collingwood in Friday night’s blockbuster at the MCG, having not beaten the Magpies in their past six clashes.

The Tigers’ last win was in August 2007 - when Terry Wallace was coach and Brett Deledio booted five goals.

‘‘The Tigers have been high on the football critics’ agenda since last Saturday, and they will remain so throughout the week, in the build-up to Friday night’s clash,’’ Richardson said.

‘‘But, rather than see that as a negative, the Richmond players should turn it into a positive. What better way to silence the knockers than beat a team we haven’t won a game against for seven years! They should be embracing the challenge ... ’’

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/richmond-tigers/matthew-richardson-says-tigers-can-beat-the-afls-best-teams-20140408-zqs38.html#ixzz2yJefa0DW

[mat073]

Face reality Richo. The house of cards is about to collapse.

If only there was a competition to see who could attain the most recycled rejects. We would be handsome winners.

Richmond will always be a mentally weak club.

[Phil Mrakov]

Face reality Richo. The house of cards is about to collapse.

If only there was a competition to see who could attain the most recycled rejects. We would be handsome winners.

Richmond will always be a mentally weak club.

Injuries to key players don't help!

[lamington]

Richmond's best requires a fit Deledio, Maric, Rance, Vlastuin, and Knights.

There's a few question marks in the aforementioned players so I really don't think we'll be at our 'best' vs. Collingwood this week. Bracing myself for a reaming.