David King: Can Tigers be 2014 Port?Joshua Papanikolaou
SEN
07 Aug 2015, 03:13PMRichmond is likely to finish the regular season just outside the top four and David King has proposed they could be this year’s version of Port Adelaide in 2014.
If not for a critical mistake last in the game against the Dockers a few weeks ago the Tigers could be right in the race for a top four finish, but will likely have to enter the finals without a double chance.
“If Bachar didn’t have his moment the ladder would be Hawthorn, Sydney and Richmond on 48 points,” said King on SEN radio.
“Top four ramifications would have been huge every week, so in my eyes they will logically finish fifth.”
The Power came precariously close to playing off for a premiership last year and King has suggested that Damien Hardwick’s team is in a similar position.
“Is their fifth this year any better or worse than the fifth of Port Adelaide last year?” he pondered.
“And when you look back to last year they were basically conversion in that first quarter and two minutes at the end away from a Grand Final.”
However, looking purely on statistics it seems the Tigers have got improving to do before they can be considered legitimate contenders.
Their biggest strength has been contested football in the last two months but they still only average 83 points per game, which would make them the lowest scoring premier since 1965.
“You could mount a case for any of those five really,” said King.
“You’d have to say the Tigers can win it, if they can do what they did against the Hawks with a methodical performance.
“Last year two of the top four teams were out in straight sets, that’s never happened before.
“Everything is important now – how you’re playing, suspensions and injuries.”
http://www.sen.com.au/news/08-15/david-king-can-tigers-be-2014-port
