Tiger Army told: enjoy the journey Matt Murnane
The Age
February 25, 2013 PRE-SEASON doesn't seem complete until the Tiger Army has gathered at Richmond's annual family day and the obligatory ''we can play finals this year'' declaration is made.
So it was again on Sunday when coach Damien Hardwick and the players stood in front of a sea of black and yellow at Burnley Park in Richmond.
The venue wasn't the same - because of the significant redevelopment taking place at Punt Road - but the message certainly was.
''We certainly think we are a chance to go where we haven't gone for some 12 or 13 years prior to this - and to bring you that opportunity - and that is to participate in September.
''So enjoy the journey, it will be a good one,'' Hardwick told a crowd of more than 7000 supporters.
It was the same message most of the same supporters heard last year, six months before another Tigers challenge for the top eight fell by the wayside in the final few rounds.
Richmond has been telling its fans for most of the last decade that it is ''knocking on the door'' of the big time. Long enough for a less-fanatical band of followers to stop listening. To stop turning up to family days. To say, ''We will believe it when we see it.''
But there could be something different about 2013. Instead of being deflated by another ''also-ran'' in 2012, it is how they ran last year that seems to have created more expectation for 2014, not less.
And it's not just the Tiger Army creating the optimism. It can be argued that the Tigers have not in recent years knocked harder on the finals door than they did in 2012.
They lost 11 games last season. But in only one of those matches did the losing margin exceed 22 points. In six of the losses, the margin was two goals or less. They also had a draw. And they took a couple of handy scalps, knocking off both grand finalists Sydney and Hawthorn.
It is for all those reasons that Reece Conca and his teammates can sense a palpable feeling around the club and among supporters - perhaps one of confidence, rather than hope.
''The fans seem really, genuinely excited this year,'' Conca said. ''I mean they have been good every year I have been here, but this year, in particular, it's probably been the biggest. There is a really good vibe around, and we sort of feed off that. It's really good to see.''
But as Conca rightfully pointed out on Sunday, it is not that most experts don't think Richmond is good enough to be in the top eight teams this year. It's more about who the Tigers will force out.
''There are a lot of good teams out there,'' the midfielder said.
The Tigers won one of their two NAB Cup matches on Friday night. But that win-loss ledger is of little consequence to Hardwick and his players.
''Obviously we didn't have our full team out there,'' Conca said of the first-up NAB Cup performance.
''But the way we went about it, the style of play, the things we've been incorporating in training,'' he said.
''We showed some signs in those two games.''
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