Dual Crows premiership captain Mark Bickley says Richmond can lock in a top-four spot and chase a drought-breaking AFL premiershipMark Bickley,
The Advertiser
23 August 2017IS Richmond the 2017 version of the Western Bulldogs?
Right now Richmond is on the cusp of its first top-four finish in 16 years, yet still there are very few real believers who think the Tigers can seriously challenge for the flag. I, for one, have been waiting for the Tigers to fall over as the pressure and expectation increased. While there was a hint of that in their first half capitulation to the Saints last month, the only other loss in the past nine weeks has been to Geelong at Kardinia Park.
The question about the belief of the footy experts on how far Richmond can go this year means very little, what really matters most is the belief amongst the players. They have to believe they are good enough and, from what I’ve witnessed in the last half of the season, that confidence is in place and they are putting no limits on how far they can go.
Hence the comparisons to the 2016 Bulldogs.
One of the key factors Luke Beveridge embraced last year was daring to dream. He let his side ride a wave of momentum from the media and footy supporters alike. It became the feel-good sporting story of the year.
Could Richmond do the same? The Tiger army is mobilising as we speak! Although the premiership drought is not in the vicinity of 61 years like the Western Bulldogs, you do have to go all the way back to when Kevin Bartlett booted seven goals on the September 27, 1980.
Thirty-seven years is a long time between drinks.
There is, however, more to winning an AFL premiership than the romance of breaking a long drought. Richmond has been building. The resilience of the group is greatly improved with five wins on the road, including strong victories in Adelaide and Perth.
The Tigers also brushed off a disastrous three-week period from rounds seven to nine, where they lost all three games by under a kick, surrendering leads each time. From that has come a strong resolve and a maturity we haven’t always associated with the Tigers. On-field among the playing group there is a lot to admire. Dustin Martin has strong claims as the game’s most devastating midfielder, flanked by Trent Cotchin, who looks much more comfortable in his role as the leader of this team. Alex Rance is the competitions best defender, and he now has support. The consistency of Astbury, Grimes and Vlaustin has allowed him more freedom to attack. Richmond have conceded only 230 goals for the season, just one more than Sydney who are the stingiest defence in the competition.
Much like the Bulldogs of 2016 they share the goal scoring duties. Jack Reiwolt is the standout and leads the list with 47, but it’s the cameos from Martin (30), Butler (24), Castagna (23), and Rioli (21), that make them difficult to plan for and stop. They also produce the same feverish forward pressure creating more forward half turnovers than any other team this year.
Both strong defence and high pressure are key ingredients of finals success.
So on the eve of the 2017 finals series, beware the sleeping giant, and I don’t mean the Greater Western Sydney variety. Could Richmond get on a roll and ride that same wave of emotion that carried Luke Beveridge and his men to an unlikely grand final and ultimately a premiership?
Will we see Matthew Richardson enjoy some Tiger success? Will KB return to the hallowed MCG turf to present the premiership cup to Damien Hardwick and Trent Cotchin?
As unlikely as all this sounds, Richmond with a win against St Kilda this weekend will finish in the top four, with a strong chance of playing week one of the finals against Geelong at the MCG in front of the Tiger Army.
But it’s not about whether we believe Richmond can win it or not. It’s the players’ belief that is most important, and right now that’s the strongest it’s been in 20 years.
In what has been the craziest season for a long, long time nothing should surprise.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/mark-bickley/dual-crows-premiership-captain-mark-bickley-says-richmond-can-lock-in-a-topfour-spot-and-chase-a-droughtbreaking-afl-premiership/news-story/8e9414ded1fbe136278973f87ac31d0c
