Shame could spur Tigers - Mike / Tigers' night fever (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Shame could spur Tigers
10 August 2007   Herald Sun
Mike Sheahan

CAN a team be shamed into bringing an embarrassing run of losses to an end? As Mike Sheahan writes.

Can the spectre of a piece of damning history move a group to perform at a level apparently beyond it for the previous four months?

There is a growing suspicion we shall see a different Richmond at the MCG tonight. That the team known as the Tigers finally may live up to its name.

While it is improbable to think the bottom team might beat the sixth team (Collingwood), there is movement at the station.

Perhaps it's just a hunch - the bookies certainly don't see it as a contest - yet there are times when a club simply has to rise to the challenge.

Every person in this football club is feeling the heat: players, coaches, officials alike; supporters are embarrassed.

Richmond sits at the bottom of the AFL ladder, with one win and a draw from 18 rounds.

Not only is it headed for its seventh wooden spoon, it is on the brink of its worst season since joining the AFL in 1908.

The worst came in 1960 when the Tigers finished last of 12 in the VFL, with two wins and two draws.

Richmond has had a shocking month. It has lost to Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Sydney and Geelong by a total of 244 points. The equivalent of 40 goals in four games.

That's embarrassing, demeaning. That's more than enough to spark a rearguard action at some point.

If there's any situation that can spark a response from a group in a trough, it's a clash with Collingwood at the MCG on a Friday night and national television.

Funnily enough, it's probably the perfect match-up for the Tigers.

Collingwood won their Round 3 encounter by 25 points, but the Tigers led by 22 at halftime. Richmond beat Collingwood in their only meeting last year and in 2005.

They were 1-1 in 2004 (Collingwood won by five points). So, in four seasons, Richmond leads 3-2.

Coach Terry Wallace reportedly laid it on his senior men last week.

Despite the dismal record this year, the coach isn't going anywhere. It's his players who are playing for their future.

Nathan Foley is the only Richmond player who has enhanced his reputation this year. He and Graham Polak would have the best-and-fairest between them.

The rest of them owe the club, owe themselves, although Richo has been Richo and has earned himself a place in the top 10 on the goalkicking table and you've got to admire Chris Newman's attitude.

If the Tigers fly the white flag again tonight, the fallout is going to be extensive, despite the unusual unity within the club.

Collingwood may be playing for its place in the final eight, but the stakes are even higher for Richmond.

Pride is a powerful force. If there's any pride left at Punt Rd, it will manifest itself tonight.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22219190%255E19771,00.html

[one-eyed]

Tigers' night fever
10 August 2007   Herald Sun
Michael Horan

 IN A season of almost complete doom and gloom, Friday night fever at the MCG has given Richmond the occasional thing to smile about.

Despite having only one win, in Round 12, assistant coach Jade Rawlings said the Tigers believed they could rattle Collingwood tonight.

"It's been difficult, but the optimism of Friday night footy and getting that elusive win is around the footy club," Rawlings said yesterday.

In Round 3 the Tigers jumped the Pies and led handsomely at halftime.

Save for a few wasteful set shots, the Tigers could have been six or seven goals up, but they ultimately lost by 25 points.

"That period over the first five weeks we were close, but couldn't quite get the result, and it really affected our season," Rawlings said.

"Had we got a couple of wins early, who knows where it could have led?

"But it was a really good contest against Collingwood last time - we got five goals up at one stage - and this time we really feel we can give ourselves a good sight.

"The last two weeks we've played really well for 2 1/2 quarters against quality sides - Sydney and Geelong - before the weight of numbers got us."

Since the two sides met, gun forward Nathan Brown has returned. The Tigers also have Brett Deledio better for his run last week, when he returned from a broken hand.

Rawlings admitted the side had a lot of work to do to change its loser mentality.

"There's no doubt it's draining over a period of time when you lose all the time," Rawlings said.

"Statistically it's the worst ladder position for all of us in our careers."

"But we do believe in the path we're taking. It hasn't resulted in the amount of wins we would have liked.

"But there is still optimism we can get a couple of wins before the end of the year and have a wet sail going into the summer."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22219192%255E19771,00.html

[retygas]

When it comes down to it we really did play some close games without the win. But then we sort of lost our way and we are in the position we are in now.
But Terry said we are goig down the youth policy. Far enough, but the next minute he's blaming our loses on our youth. Not far enough. We have got a good team on paper. But it seem that shame hasn't worked to spur us on.
So now its really time to drop big name players and let us suffer the lose but I reckon we might get a decent fight this way. Some of the oldboys there have lost the passion for the jumper. After allisn't that what they are playing for, well supposably and if not they should be. So I think the shame of Johnson, Richo, Bowden and a couple of others in the Coburg team till round 22 might give these lazy arses the boot they need. But I doubt it

[Tigermonk]

When it comes down to it we really did play some close games without the win. But then we sort of lost our way and we are in the position we are in now.
But Terry said we are goig down the youth policy. Far enough, but the next minute he's blaming our loses on our youth. Not far enough. We have got a good team on paper. But it seem that shame hasn't worked to spur us on.
So now its really time to drop big name players and let us suffer the lose but I reckon we might get a decent fight this way. Some of the oldboys there have lost the passion for the jumper. After allisn't that what they are playing for, well supposably and if not they should be. So I think the shame of Johnson, Richo, Bowden and a couple of others in the Coburg team till round 22 might give these lazy behinds the boot they need. But I doubt it

l would not reward those senior players above going back to Coburg & destroy a good team of winners they need to be left in the seniors & taught lessons

[retygas]

Actually never thought of that if we sent them to Coburg they would stuff up a good winning team. LIke you were saying I suppost they would bring the loosing culture there to, so point taken. So why not just make them the runners for the rest of the season and the rub down men. As to put them on the feild is ruining the game and isn't teaching them one thing.