Richmond Tigers fans finally headed for good timesBy Dan Lonergan
abc.net.au
Saturday, June 29, 2013Richmond Tigers fans are excited about the prospect of playing in the finals for the first time in 30 years.
For the past three decades Tigers fans have done it tough, putting up with one disappointment after another, with their team only playing in the finals twice in that time in 1995 and 2001, making the preliminary final on both occasions.
It's been barren as far as success is concerned for one of the most passionate group of supporters in the AFL.
However, another rebuild, this time done the right way over the past three seasons by coach Damien Hardwick has the Tigers on the cusp of being part of the September action after a 12 year absence.
They have eight wins and four losses and I know Tiger fans won't be resting easily yet, because they've been through the pain over this long and at times harsh journey of thinking their side will make the eight, only to fall away quickly.
But this side seems much more mature and talented than previous ones wearing the yellow and black, and are starting to do what they couldn't do often enough in the past and that is beat easily the teams they should beat.
After they lost to Essendon in the 'Dreamtime at the G' match in round nine, the jungle drums were beating that Richmond was still a fair way off the pace.
But a famous win over one of their rivals for a top eight spot, West Coast at Subiaco Oval and then Adelaide proved this team had certainly improved.
Last weekend, they did what they needed to do to enhance their credentials in thrashing the insipid Western Bulldogs by ten goals. They did it without two of their stars dominating in Jack Reiwoldt and Trent Cotchin.
They played their part as usual, but Richmond sides previously have always relied on stars like Matthew Richardson to dominate to win and when he struggled they were badly beaten.
The 2013 model has plenty of depth and talent across all lines and that has much to do with excellent recruiting over the past six years.
Richmond's recruiting lessonsThe Tigers throughout the late 90s and especially in the first part of the previous decade between 2001 and 2006 made some bad recruiting decisions. They often traded out early picks for recycled players, which didn't work.
They also wasted some early picks with 1999 bringing back bad memories in particular.
They selected a skinny outside runner in Aaron Fiora with pick three, ignoring Fremantle great, Matthew Pavlich, who the Dockers chose next.
Fiora's career faded away after he ended up at St Kilda. In 2004, after securing Brett Delidio with the first pick and that has been successful, they had selection four and went for the highly skilled midfielder Richard Tambling.
Hawthorn then swooped on Lance Franklin at pick five. Tambling is now plying his trade in the SANFL, despite being on Adelaide's list and like Fiora is another top ten pick that hasn't quite lived up to his potential.
The Tigers also had three other selections in the top 20 of the 2004 draft, but none of them, Danny Myer, Adam Pattison and Dean Polo were successes.
They did though learn their lesson and since 2006, they haven't had too many failures, picking up players of the calibre of Reiwoldt, Cotchin, Ty Vickery, Dustin Martin, Reece Conca, Brandon Ellis and Nick Valustin with first round selections at the past seven drafts.
They are now all permanent members in Richmond's best 22 and playing great footy. Shane Edwards and Alex Rance can also be added to that impressive list.
Richmond through recruiting manager, Francis Jackson and list manager, Blair Hartley have also traded wisely securing players from other clubs in recent times who are now much better since coming to Tiger land. These include former Adelaide ruckman Ivan Marich and two excellent outside runners and midfielders, the ex-Bomber Bachar Houli and Shaun Grigg, who started his career at Carlton.
They have an excellent midfield, a solid defence and a forward line with multiple options meaning Reiwoldt doesn't have to kick the majority of their goals for the Tigers to register a winning score.
Richmond plays St Kilda, North Melbourne and Gold Coast at their bogey venue Cairns in the next three weeks and will start favourites in all of those.
If they win them all, top four would be a possibility. Imagine how full the bandwagon would be then!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-29/richmond-tigers-fans-finally-look-headed-for-good-times/4789544?section=sport
