1994 to 2001

[mat073]

During the period 1994 to 2001 Richmond actually had the 6th best win/loss record in the comp.(53%)Strange we only made the finals twice in this 8 year period.

What are your memories from this era of frustration

The Good

* our 6 game winning streak in 1994 that brought many long suffering Richmond supporters out of the woodwork.
* Our -11-1 start to the 95 season.
* Big wins over Essendon and Carlton in 2001
* Always having the better of Collingwood.

The Bad

* Being knocked out of the 8 at the 11th hour in 94/96/98/00 after spending the entire year in finals contention.
* watching teams make the finals wth 10.5 wins when we failed after winning 12.

Not sure how close we really got to winning a flag during this period... but it was a time when you could look forward to the weekend and expect a decent contest every week.

[Francois Jackson]

How we screwed over some descent coaches in that time is beyond me yet we signed up the tanned one for 5 years.

Matty boy those days are at least 3 years away but i am more confident now than i was a year ago with that loser as our coach

[mightytiges]

We were stiff not to make more finals in those years when we were half-decent in the years we finished 9th you needed more than 12 wins to make the finals which is not the norm. In 94 we came home like a train in the second half of year and had 12 wins with two rounds to go but thanks to the draw  we copped the top two sides Carlton and Geelong in the last two rounds. In 1996 we should have made the finals and probably would've if Northey had still been coach. Those narrow losses early on to the Swans (thanks to that BS free against Richo) and then poor Naishy missing after the siren at Kardinia Park put us back into the back. Once again we had to play the top side (North) in the last round and lost. 1998 showed the fragile mentality that would be the legacy of the past 10 years. Winning in black shorts but losing in white ones  ???. The Club should have had a massive cleanout after the Melbourne debacle once again in round 22  . We got screwed by injuries in 2000. Half our list was injured in the last 7 weeks. Oh well if and buts  .


My good memories

- Duncan Kellaway couldn't kick to save himself but the reason we owned Collingwood in those years is because "the glove" had it all over Buckley nearly everytime we played the Pies.

- The second half of 94 was such a great feeling after all those dark years fighting for survival. We were back or so we thought at the time.

- A Collingwood friend at the time said he felt intimidated for the first time at a gme by an opposition crowd when we played them in 95 given the roar.

Bad memories

- the worst was Freezer doing his knee and then Richo being pushed into the fence at the SCG by Dunkley  . Stuart Wigney who had a great first 9 weeks of '95 also stuffed up his ankle in the same game Richo did his knee. So after winning 8 of 9 we had lost our leader and toughest midfielder, our CHF and our CHB. I still seriously believe that with a full side the whole way through '95 except for Geelong we had the edge over the other 14 sides including eventual premier Carlton. Finish on top of the ladder and we would've avoided Geelong in the finals and who knows a flag may not have been out of the question. All the other years we were simply not good enough against the best sides and got flogged.

[eliminator]

Northey was an outstanding coach. If he had stayed we could have won a premiership. Like at every other club Walls stuffed up at Richmond. 1994 and 1995 were highlights. If we had met Carlton in the grand final in 1995 and Richo had not got injured that year we would have won. We had some outstanding players like Broders, Gale brothers, Richo, Naish etc. We had a good defence Bully Kellaway and Turner and had players like Rogers and Merenda who were clever and elusive. Highlight beating Hawthorn in 1994 and thrashing Geelong in 1996(Howat getting stuck into Barnes)

[Hellenic Tiger]

We also overestimated our team as well and made some tragic errors.

When Campbell publicly ridiculed the club post our failure to make the finals in 1998 he should have been let go to Melbourne.

When Ben Holland wanted to go to Adelaide in 2001 let him go. Torney was a big loss.

The Campbell ascension to captaincy at Knighta's expence.

The Northey/ Robert Walls fiasco.

Unfortunantely despite our win loss record and the perceived eveness of the comp between 1996-1998 we were unable to replicate them into finals where in 1996 we had 11 wins lost all the close games had the second or 3rd best % in the league yet still finished 9th to Hawthorn who we thrashed twice and Geelong who we beat by 11 goals in rd 20.
In 1997 St Kilda topped the ladder with 15 wind and Adelaide won the flag having won 13 in the H&A yet we won 10 when 10.5 would get you in finished 13th including 4 out of our last 5 when Giesche was appointed. Narrow losses to Melbourne, Bulldogs and Carlton in the first half of the year as well as floggings to North Adelaide Port Essendon and Sydney pretty much summed us up as a club. No pressure on the club and stability for short period and we prosper.
By 1998 we could not win away but won all our home games won 12 matches and still failed to make the 8.

The second of our finals appearances in 2001 was just token and in fairness we did well to get to the prelim. Unfortunantely Spud as well as many of the fans overestimated our abilirties and talent and by 15 minutes into our round 2 game against Essendon in 2002 or for the more optimistic fans the second half against Freo in round 4 our bubble had burst and we were officially and universally crap again.

Were some great games and times too.

1994 Queens Birthday thrashing the Skunks and keeping them to 4 goals.
6 wins in a row. Including wins against prelim finalists North and finalist Footscray. If my memory serves me correctly Benny was the hero in both games kicking the winning goal against the Roos and taking the match saving mark against the Dogs.
I remember most fondly that win on Sunday Twilight against Adelaide at Footy Park with Rogers Tape Richo Freezer Bond and Maxfield the heroes coming from 3 goals own at half time to win by 7 points.

Winning 7 in a row to start 1995 including wins against North in that Monday night game where we kicked 6 goals in the first six minutes. The draw with Essendon. Huge crowds watching us play against Coll, Carl and Ess and even 39000 venturing to the G on a wet Friday night to watch us beat the Crows. That comeback against the Dons on 2nd semi final day. What a day and what a night. I reckon everyone I bumped into that night was either an upset Essendon fan or a joyous Tiger fan.

Winning at Optus Oval in 1997 and denying the Filth a finals spot. Aaagh the memories.

[mightytiges]

When Campbell publicly ridiculed the club post our failure to make the finals in 1998 he should have been let go to Melbourne.

I think Cambo gets harshly judged for this. It hurt his standing with supporters but the Club needed a wake up call in '99. Sadly those in higher places at the Club couldn't see it. There was an opportunity to change the culture and offload some names who didn't stand up in big games such as that round 22 game in '98. Yet despite promises straight after the game in the rooms that there would be massive changes, nothing changed, and the Club just signed up every high profile player to ridiculous $$$ long-term contracts that would come back to bite.

Agree Tucky about Dutchy. One good year in 5 years and he then threatens to leave if not offered a big contract  . Gas was another who Freo chased with a $700k per contract despite if that had gone ahead it would've put them over the salary cap  . Our admin caved in everytime a hard decision had to be made  .