Tigers can't handle expectationAuthor: Ben Hocking, Bradley Dawson and Glenn Valencich
Sportsfan
June 23, 2015Five minutes into Friday night's game, Damien Hardwick and all Richmond fans knew which Tigers had turned up to play – and it wasn't the sure-footed, precise team that tore Fremantle apart the fortnight before. The 'bad' Richmond butchered the ball numerous times early, missing targets and/or kicking it to West Coast players while under little or no pressure, setting the tone for a lacklustre night. The Eagles' defence completely stifled the home side's supposedly dangerous forward line, and with Nic Naitanui dominating in the centre plus around the ground the Eagles never looked like losing a game they had every right to: it was their third match in 13 days, which included trips to Hobart and Melbourne, their best defender Jeremy McGovern was still proppy, and the Tigers had had an extra week's rest. But then again, it was no surprise to see the boys in yellow and black fail to handle being favourites yet again. If there is one thing you can predict about this unpredictable Tigers side it's that they will struggle with expectation and, conversely, they frequently play better when no one gives them a chance. The bye came at just the wrong time for the Tigers, too. If they had played the Eagles the week after beating the Dockers, who knows how they might have fared. And with a game next week against the mighty Swans and everyone tipping against the Tigers, you just know the boys from Punt Road are probably half a chance. Who'd be a Tiger supporter?
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