Why I'm prepared to write the Tigers off as premiership contendersWayne Carey
The Age
9 July 2020Even when Richmond had their four best players missing through injury last year, there were still a lot of believers.
While that might be easy to say in hindsight, from the outside the Tigers still seemed to be driven by a hunger to right the wrongs of 12 months earlier.
Clearly, they were the best team in 2018, but as we all know they were beaten by a better side on the night in their preliminary final against Collingwood.
That result burned within them over summer.
It meant even when stars Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin weren't on the team sheet there was still a sense of purpose and direction.
While they didn't always have the same polish, the Tigers had their trademark pressure.
This year, though, the 'vibe' is very different.
We certainly saw that manic pressure resurface last week against Melbourne, but in 2020 there simply hasn't been the same consistency.
After two flags in three years, and with all the unprecedented circumstances of this season, do the players want it enough?
Have they already accepted this is not their year?
Only those at Richmond can answer that question but, despite being just five rounds in, I'm prepared to write the Tigers off as genuine premiership contenders.
Sure, they will trouble teams on their day, particularly when the likes of Dion Prestia and Trent Cotchin return, but it might not be enough.
This week against Sydney, they'll be without Cotchin, Prestia, Toby Nankervis and David Astbury as well as Shane Edwards and Bachar Houli, who elected to remain in Melbourne for family reasons.
I don't begrudge them that decision at all, but they're both All-Australians and crucial to the way Richmond play. Edwards was basically the glue that held the Tigers together last year.
That shortage of key personnel is just one of the red flags I'm seeing. Their patchy form is obviously another.
As is often said, you only need to be a few per cent off and you'll be beaten, because the competition is so even. Clearly, Damien Hardwick's men are not at 100 per cent.
The other warning sign is the language that's being used by some of their leaders.
I applaud Riewoldt for his honesty on Fox Footy during the week about the challenges of leaving his family in Melbourne.
But the questions he was asking himself about 'why am I here, why am I doing this?' were also a little troubling.
First, there can be no doubting Jack's selflessness. In the past three years he's transformed himself into a team-first player, who'll happily sacrifice his own game for the greater good.
Previously a Coleman Medal winner, Riewoldt has become a better player despite kicking fewer goals. If he hadn't accepted that role, the Tigers probably wouldn't have enjoyed the same success.
But the language he's using is concerning on a few fronts. With Cotchin sidelined, Riewoldt is the man many young Tigers will be looking up to.
The players have made incredible sacrifices to keep the game going, but the answer to Jack's question about why he is in a hub should also be obvious.
By keeping the game afloat he is not only ensuring he and his family maintain their income, but it also means hundreds of others will keep their jobs and can pay their rents or mortgages at a time when employment is hard to come by.
That, in itself, is purpose enough.
But beyond that, there is still a premiership to win. Of course, Jack wants to win. But are the same questions being asked if the Tigers hadn't already won two flags? Maybe not.
I sympathise with Riewoldt immensely, but at the same time he needs to be the rock for his teammates.
Honesty is great, but from here he must be positive. There are many on far less money and with far less security than him who will no doubt be feeling vulnerable over this period.
The other player I want to see more from is Dustin Martin. He set an impossibly high bar for himself in his Brownlow Medal year, and even now his footy has been solid.
But for the Tigers to hang tough during the hub period he needs to find his top gear.
Albeit in shortened matches, since footy's restart, he hasn't got more than 20 touches in a game and has only kicked one goal.
I hope the Tigers can prove me wrong. But I just can't help but feel the 2020 season might be a mountain too high for them to climb.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/why-i-m-prepared-to-write-the-tigers-off-as-premiership-contenders-20200709-p55ahz.html
