So Geolong and Collingwood are proven finals contenders so therefore we forget their erratic preformances this year but remember ours?! I believe, right at this moment, we are 3 games clear in the eight and earned our position through as consistent of performance as any of the other teams in there atm. We are as much a 'finals team' this year, as we speak, as any other team based on our win/loss ratio and performance against the rest of the competition.
I reckon teams that have consistently made finals, stood up in the crunch games consistently over a period of time get excused rightly for the odd poor performance. I am not disputing for one minute that both those teams played badly last week but those sort of performances are the exception rather than the rule
How many "shockers" have they had over the last 5-7 years. When the acid has been really on and they needed to win important big games have they really failed? How many have we had in not the last 5-7 years but just the last 2 and succeeded?
Yes we've been consistent in our wins and our current ladder positions reflects it but we've also been very consistent in our losses and that's my concern. Hence, why I keep banging on about us needing 13 wins. One more heavy loss and our % takes a battering. Biggest concern for me this year with Richmond hasn't been who we have lost to but the margin in the losses. Outside the Freo game, our losses have been heavier this year against teams above us than last year.
You can argue that you won't be counting your chicken just yet until it is a certainty but I believe we have proven we are now a team that not only deserves to be playing finals but has proven it.
Fair call and you are correct until it's guaranteed no chickens will be counted
You say that even when we make the finals we won't be a finals team in yours eyes. Well when will we be? When Cotch is holding the cup? I say celebrate the moment because, hell, life is a roller coaster and if you are always preparing for the worst you'll never enjoy the best.
I thought I explained that and I noticed you didn't answer my question about N0rt & Adelaide. One year in the finals and now about to miss, don't think we can refer to them as "finals teams".
But to answer your question I will see us as a "finals team" we are playing in September year after year. maybe I should have added the word Consistent
We play finals this year it will be fantastic but it would feel hollow if we back it up with missing out in 2014. However, we do it now and then back it up and play finals again 2014 and then yeah we can claim to be a finals team
Believe me no one will be celebrating more than me once we are guaranteed finals but until that point I will keep doing what I've been doing all this season and that's go to the games, enjoy watching the team play and see the improvement
We are a final team. Now we just have to get that last game to prove it to those scarred Tigers supporters refusing to let themselves possible get hurt again. Believe WP, Believe
We need to get those
2 games
Great clubs play finals consistently and are Finals teams. That's what I want Richmond to be, it all I've ever wanted for Richmond. Hopefully in a few weeks time we will be on our way