Tigers come of ageBy Gerard Whateley
abc.net.au
Updated May 28, 2012It was the day the rollercoaster turned joyride. Richmond’s yearning became an awakening.
Long-promised, it unleashed as a torrent. The Tigers kicked nine goals in 20 minutes to graduate from a position of challenge to heralded dominance.
This was the push to base camp two and a half years in the making. The foundations proven to be dependable. That went for belief and attitude through to personnel.
Both coach and captain spoke of the uncertainties of the past. Fluctuating levels of resilience and commitment. The newfound surety brings with it calm. And in the calm can be found confidence.
Much was spoken about what Richmond did not have against Hawthorn. It was threadbare in defence against the most feared attack of all. This was a day that threatened to erode the unrequited gains of recent times.
Old Richmond would have suffered a lull on such an occasion, belted in a manner that left to question the anticipated progress.
New Richmond brought the attitude and the game. It terrorised Hawthorn. Rather than be flattened by last week’s near missed, it was infused by it. The Tigers hunted and destroyed. They put to shame the hardnosed midfield the Hawks build their game from.
There was a suspicion entering the match that the ensemble of Ivan Maric, Shane Tuck, Nathan Foley, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin and Shaun Grigg might have been superior to Hawthorn’s assemblage. By the end it was undeniable.
Much will be said of the Hawks failure given its unwarranted status as premiership favourite. But this runs straight to the heart of the Hawthorn delusion. It lacks speed and depth in the middle. It is vulnerable down back and a one trick pony up front.
Alex Rance and Steven Morris quelled Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli. It rendered them impotent.
Richmond poured forth with such frequency and ferocity as to eventually be irrepressible. Where it was low on technique it compensated with endeavour. Robin Nahas, Shane Edwards and Jake King embodied those characteristics.
It was repeatedly challenged in the third quarter. Dared to cough up a lead, to choke down in the face of breakthrough. Old Richmond would wilt under stern questioning. New Richmond held its nerve and made the decisive move as the last break loomed.
Jack Riewoldt arrived at the peak of the onslaught and drove the dagger hard and deep. It prompted a euphoric reaction from the faithful who have waited, not always patiently.
The win felt neither fluky nor fleeting. This was deliverance.
The exuberance will be complemented soon enough with maturity. This will not be the peak performance but the standard. Consolidation is the next phase for Damien Hardwick. Then the ascent can begin.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-28/whateley-on-richmond/4037344?section=vic
