Nine's a charm: How Richmond stormed into September (afl site)

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Nine's a charm: How Richmond stormed into September
afl.com.au
August 31, 2014

IN LATE June, at the end of round 14, the Tigers sat two spots from the bottom of the ladder. A Friday night loss to the Swans at the MCG saw their record plummet to 3-10, leaving them level on wins with the two sides propping up the competition.

Barely two months on, Saturday's three-point victory over the Swans at ANZ Stadium capped a nine-game winning streak that catapulted Richmond into a second straight finals series.

Here's how one of footy's most remarkable comeback stories unfolded.

Round 15 - St Kilda 11.7 (73) lost to Richmond 18.9 (117) at Etihad Stadium

The result
A six-goal opening quarter proves enough for the Tigers, who fail to convince after quarter time against the lowly Saints. Skipper Trent Cotchin responds to midweek criticism about his failure to hurt teams. He kicks a career-best five goals.

The ladder
The Tigers start the round in a miserable 16th position. With just 12 points on the board they are equal on wins with the two sides propping up the table: the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda. The win over the bottom-placed Saints lifts them to 13th, four wins and percentage adrift from Gold Coast in eighth spot.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
12    WB    14    5    9    20    82.4
13    RICH    14    4    10    16    96.5
14    CARL    14    4    10    16    87.1

What the coach said
"It's always good to win – obviously we (hadn't) had one for a while. We have been incredibly disappointing this year. Me (and) the players … share the fans' frustration."

Round 16 - Richmond 12.7 (79) d Brisbane Lions 7.12 (54) at the MCG

The result
The comfortable 25-point margin belies periods of panic for the Tigers. The Lions close within a point in the third quarter and hammer Richmond for the opening seven minutes of the final term. They blow three shots on goal before the ball sails down the other end, where a grateful Jack Riewoldt kicks the sealer. Cotchin is again best afield, racking up 37 touches.

The ladder
Another win and another spot gained for the Tigers, who climb to 12th. The progression seems academic though. The Suns' win over Collingwood keeps Richmond a massive 16 points from the eight.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
11    WCE    15    6    9    24    107.7
12    RICH    15    5    10    20    98.6
13    CARL    15    5    10    20    93.6

What the coach said
"I thought we were poor today … We constantly gave the ball to a guy who was in a worse position … I started jeering as well (as the fans) when we kicked the ball forward."

Round 17 - Richmond 19.12 (126) d Port Adelaide 16.10 (106) at Etihad Stadium

The result
Damien Hardwick praises his side's hardness as the Tigers deliver the upset of the round. Switched on from the opening bounce, the Tigers boss the contested ball and surge to a 20-point lead at half-time. Unlike against North Melbourne in round 12, when they conceded a 36-point lead, they put Port away in a fiercely contested second half.

The ladder
The win over the Power, who were third coming into the match, does nothing for the Tigers' ladder position. However, they do gain on the pack. Gold Coast stumbles against the Bulldogs and Collingwood is thrashed by Essendon. Those results leave Richmond three games shy of the eight, with a percentage over 100 for the first time since round 10.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
11    WCE    16    7    9    28    108.2
12    RICH    16    6    10    24    100.1
13    WB    16    6    10    24    84.9

What the coach said
"I thought our guys' hardness and ability to win the ball inside and then get it outside was really evident on the day. It's something we've worked incredibly hard with over the course of, probably, the last six weeks."

Round 18 - West Coast 6.6 (42) lost to Richmond 8.11 (59) at Patersons Stadium

The result
Tyrone Vickery spoils the celebrations as the Tigers knock off a finals contender for the second game running. Vickery's KO of West Coast ruckman Dean Cox later earns him a four-week suspension. The incident overshadows a hard-fought win in atrocious conditions, with a Trent Cotchin soccer goal a rare highlight.
Read the match report

The ladder
Though the Tigers finish their third straight round in 12th position, the continuing decline of Collingwood and Gold Coast puts them within view of the finals. The Crows are now in eighth place, with nine wins to Richmond's seven.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
11    WCE    17    7    10    28    106.6
12    RICH    17    7    10    24    101.3
13    CARL    17    6    11    24    91.5

What the coach said
"There's some things that went against us, some sliding doors (earlier in the season). We lost a couple of games by under two or three goals, but unfortunately when things aren't going well you don't take your luck.

"The disappointing thing (about the club's four-game winning streak) is whether it's too late.

Round 19 - Richmond 13.11 (89) d GWS 8.14 (62) at the MCG

The result
Two MCG light towers fail during the second quarter of this twilight clash, leaving both sides playing in dim light for around 10 minutes before half time. The gloom appears to benefit the Tigers, who pile on 5.3 to 0.4 in the quarter to set the course of their fifth consecutive win. Brett Deledio stars, while Reece Conca's brain fade sees Richmond lose another player to suspension.

The ladder
Damien Hardwick's men find themselves treading water again. Still 12th, they stay firmly among the also-runs. Collingwood's win over Port to close the round creates a log jam around eighth spot, with four teams on 40 points. In a poll on AFL.com.au, 52 per cent of over 20,000 voters tip Adelaide to finish highest.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
11    WCE    18    8    10    32    108.3
12    RICH    18    8    10    32    103.1
13    CARL    18    6    12    24    91.6

What the coach said
"We've got to win a lot of games. We're capable of upsetting some sides but we look no further than Essendon next week."

Round 20 - Richmond 14.11 (95) d Essendon 11.11 (77) at the MCG

The result
Despite round 17's win over Port, crowd wisdom held that the Tigers hadn't beaten significant opposition in their five-game streak to this point. This win in a Friday night blockbuster changes all that. Brandon Ellis calls the shots as a six-goal second term does the damage; young recruit Anthony Miles also continuing a rich vein of form. The streak stretches to six games – the club's best run in 19 years.

The ladder
The win over an old enemy is sweetened further by a round in which almost everything goes the Tigers' way. Collingwood loses to the Eagles in Perth and Carlton rolls the Suns, drawing the Tigers within four points of Essendon, in eighth. For all this, they remain 12th.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
11    WCE    19    9    10    36    111.8
12    RICH    19    9    10    36    104.1
13    CARL    19    7    12    28    94.0

What the coach said
"I think [we are better than last year] . It's probably a more consistent brand of footy.

"You've got to remember we … lost six games by under three goals, which is a story. We should have beaten sides that we didn't and didn’t take our chances when they presented so we only have ourselves to blame."

Round 21 - Adelaide 9.15 (69) lost to Richmond 10.19 (79) at Adelaide Oval

The result
If Tiger fans didn't believe finals were a possibility before the trip to Adelaide, they certainly do once Dustin Martin's late sealer earns another win on the road. Deledio and Ellis are again at the heart of the victory at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval.

The ladder
Once again, results elsewhere benefit Richmond. The Magpies suffer a season-wrecking Saturday night at the Gabba, losing three key players to injury and collapsing to a 67-point loss to the Brisbane Lions. The Suns and West Coast also lose, and by round's end the Tigers are in a position with which their fans have become wearily familiar. Ninth.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
8    ADEL    20    10    10    40    111.2
9    RICH    20    10    10    40    104.5
10    COLL    20    10    10    40    96.9

What the coach said
"We always knew that if we continued to work hard the wheel would turn.

"I'm incredibly proud of our footy club the way they've battled against the odds to get us in a position to play [finals]. We've just got to hope that we continue to win games to get that reward."

Round 22 - Richmond 15.8 (98) d St Kilda 10.12 (72) at the MCG

The result There are few signs of nerves in a match the Tigers are expected to win, as Jack Riewoldt's six-goal haul makes short work of the Saints. Seven straight goals opens up a 50-point lead before Hardwick's men take the foot off the gas. Riewoldt takes best-on-ground honours while Shane Edwards impresses in his 150th game.

The ladder
In the accepted wisdom of the week, this was the rise before the fall. The routine win over the Saints lifts Richmond into the eight for the first time all season. Of course, a round-23 date with the league leaders in Sydney means they are unlikely to stay there. Voting on an AFL.com.au poll at the end of the round, 53 per cent of fans pick the Eagles to soar past the Tigers into the finals.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    Pts    %
7    ESS    21    12    9    48    106.7
8    RICH    21    11    10    44    105.8
9    COLL    21    11    10    44    97.4

What the coach said
"There's no better way to try and earn your spot by trying to beat the best. The reality is this is a finals game this week. Most people will say it starts the week after, but for us it's as good as (a final). We'll just make sure we go out and leave nothing in the tank."

Round 23 - Sydney Swans 9.11 (65) lost to Richmond 10.8 (68) at ANZ Stadium

The result
Rank outsiders before the match, the Tigers hit the table-topping Swans like a freight train. With Lance Franklin's late withdrawal doubtless providing a welcome boost, they rattle up 5.3 before the Swans kick their first score. The league leaders hit back as their unrivalled midfield shifts through the gears. The Swans take the lead early in the final quarter, setting up a grandstand finish in which the Tigers, defying all expectations bar their own, somehow prevail. Read the match report

The ladder
The tackle on Adam Goodes. Ted Richards' slip and Dustin Martin's gleeful canter into an open goal. Pick your moment. The round-23 miracle at ANZ stadium completes one of the most remarkable runs to September for many years. It secures eighth place, earning the Tigers' second finals series in a row, and only their fourth since losing the 1982 Grand Final.

Pos    Team    P    W    L    D    Pts    %
7    ESS    22    12    9    1    50    106.3
8    RICH    22    12    10    0    48    105.8

What the coach said
"(Round 14) seems like a lifetime ago. It's been an enormous journey since then.

"Credit to our footy club though, every time we set foot in those four walls, we remained upbeat and at no stage did anyone come in and look down on life.

"We’ve turned the corner and laid the foundations of sustained success. It’s been an important year for us.

"Any boss that doesn’t give a Tiger fan a day off next Friday to start the drive to Adelaide is a mug."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-30/how-richmond-stormed-into-september

[one-eyed]

How a Richmond’s AFL miracle unfolded from 3-10 record to September dreaming

Al Paton
Herald-Sun
September 1, 2014

HOW did Richmond go from the depths of despair to the excitement of a fourth finals appearance in 30 years?

For Tiger fans the rollercoaster of emotions is par for the course, although this year has been remarkable even for Richmond.

Three months ago the Tigers couldn’t find a way to beat Melbourne to honour the memory of club legend Tom Hafey. The coach was on the verge of tears. The star full-forward was trying to figure out a Myki machine in an effort to escape the media after putting his foot in it by publicly questioning the game plan.

Fast-forward 12 weeks and Jack Riewoldt kicks four goals to help Richmond to a stunning win against the top-of-the-ladder Swans in Sydney. And next week the Tigers will play finals.

Even non-Richmond fans have been caught up in the emotion-charged September fairytale. Here’s how one of footy’s most remarkable seasons unfolded:


PRE-SEASON

A shock loss to Melbourne had some alarm bells ringing, but after a comfortable victory against Collingwood in Wangaratta the Richmond rebuild seemed on track.

R1 GOLD COAST 87 d RICHMOND 69

A lethargic Richmond didn’t get out of second gear at Metricon Stadium. Despite leading in the final term, goals to Sam Day and David Swallow took the Suns’ record against Richmond to 3-1. It was a disappointing result but no panic stations yet.

Record: 0-1 (10th)

R2 RICHMOND 98 d CARLTON 86

After storming to a 37-point lead in the third quarter the Tigers scraped home thanks to some horrendous Jarrad Waite goalkicking. Dustin Martin turns Zach Tuohy inside-out to kick the sealer. Alex Rance is a late withdrawal after breaking his foot falling off his bike.

Record: 1-1 (9th)

R3 WESTERN BULLDOGS 100 d RICHMOND 98

Richmond lets the Dogs out to a 37-point half-time lead but Jack Riewoldt inspires a comeback and a Ben Griffiths bomb puts Richmond in front with a couple of minutes left. Enter wily old Dog Daniel Giansiracusa, who draws a free kick against Brandon Ellis and kicks the matchwinner.

Record: 1-2 (12th)

R4 COLLINGWOOD 110 d RICHMOND 72

Concerns rise as the Tigers kick only three goals to three-quarter time and Brent Macaffer mauls Trent Cotchin. Brett Deledio misses with an Achilles injury and Damien Hardwick says “this is the biggest hole we’ve been in”.

ROUND 9 MELBOURNE 91 d RICHMOND 74

An unmitigated disaster. Club legend Tom Hafey dies during the week and Richmond pays an emotional pre-match tribute, then can’t find a way to beat the Demons despite having nine more scoring shots. Hardwick was at a loss to explain what happened: “It’s incredibly disappointing, one from a season point of view, but after the death of an icon of the football club to dish up that kind of performance is really disappointing. Melbourne turned up to play and we didn’t. It’s just not good enough.” Asked by reporter Sam Edmund if the Tigers’ form slump was frustrating, Hardwick was close to tears: “You’ve got no idea. No idea.”

Record: 2-6 (16th)

MAY 21: JACK PUTS HIS FOOT IN IT

Jack Riewoldt fronts the media for a McDonalds promotion and questions Hardwick’s game plan. “Unfortunately, we went one way with our game plan and the game went the other way, really. We probably tried to copy Hawthorn a bit too much with their kicking style.”

Hardwick earns a rebuke from Hardwick and late in the week is seen battling with a Myki machine at Richmond station as he tries to evade the media storm.

ROUND 10 RICHMOND 154 d GWS 41

Jack kicks 11 goals as the Tigers smash the Giants to release the pressure valve a little.

Record: 3-6 (13th)

ROUND 11 ESSENDON 104 d RICHMOND 54

Season hits a new low with an uncompetitive performance in the Dreamtime at the G game. The match is over as a contest from the moment Dustin Fletcher strolls down the wing to kick a goal from 60 metres 30 seconds after the opening bounce.

Hardwick gives his players a fierce spray in the rooms after the final siren, but says “the buck stops with me. I’ve got to get the players playing better. We’ve just got to make sure we work our backsides off because we need to start winning some games, not so much from a making finals point of view, but just to get some respectability back to our footy club.”

The media questions Richmond’s recruiting and direction and calls grow for Hardwick to “play the kids” to get something from the season train wreck.

Record: 3-7 (13th)

ROUND 12 NORTH MELBOURNE 116 d RICHMOND 88

The Tigers find a new way to torture their fans, jumping to a 35-point lead at half-time only to see the Roos kick eight unanswered goals in a 20-minute blitz. One positive is the encouraging debut of former GWS midfielder Anthony Miles.

Record: 3-8 (13th)

ROUND 14 SYDNEY 62 d RICHMOND 51

The Tigers lead early but four goals from Lance Franklin are the difference in a low-scoring slog.

Some encouraging signs on the field but the season lurches to another unwanted milestone, with the Tigers below GWS and Melbourne on the ladder and only percentage away from the wooden spoon.

Record: 3-10 (16th)

ROUND 15 RICHMOND 117 d ST KILDA 73

The Tigers bank a fourth win of the year and celebrate in the rooms with five-year-old cancer patient Nate Anderson.

Record: 4-10 (13th)

ROUND 16 RICHMOND 79 d BRISBANE 54

A scrappy win lifts the Tigers to 12th. Meanwhile, Gary Ablett suffers a season-ending shoulder injury, all but ending Gold Coast’s finals dream.

Record: 5-10 (12th)

ROUND 17 RICHMOND 126 d PORT ADELAIDE 106

Something is stirring. The Tigers claim their first scalp of the season, winning the contested possession count by 34 as unlikely hero Troy Chaplin kicks two goals in a pulsating final quarter.

Record: 6-10 (12th)

ROUND 18 RICHMOND 59 d WEST COAST 42

A big win on the road but all the headlines are for Ty Vickery’s roundhouse punch that KOs Eagles champ Dean Cox.

Record: 7-10 (12th)

ROUND 20 RICHMOND 95 d ESSENDON 77

Ivan Maric stands tall as the Tigers get home in another close one. The Tiger train is out of the station and gathering momentum.

Record: 9-10 (12th)

ROUND 21 RICHMOND 79 d ADELAIDE 69

The Tigers control most of the classic eight-point game but the Crows hit the front in the last quarter and with the Adelaide Oval crowd roaring, commentator Brian Taylor says “the world is against Richmond”. The Tigers respond, with Nathan Gordon snapping a goal from close range and Dustin Martin sealing the deal after winning a crucial one-on-one contest against Ricky Henderson. The same night Brisbane demolishes an injury-ravaged Collingwood. They couldn’t, could they?

Record: 10-10 (9th)

ROUND 22 RICHMOND 98 d ST KILDA 72

The Tigers fly out of the blocks then do what they have to do to claim win No.8. With North Melbourne holding out Adelaide in a thriller, the equation is simple: beat Sydney in the final round and Richmond plays finals.

ROUND 23 RICHMOND 68 d SYDNEY 65

Another fast start gets the Tigers to a 33-0 lead inside 20 minutes but the Swans grind their way back and hit the front late in the third quarter. Richmond wins it back and the last quarter is a heart-stopping arm-wrestle all the way to the final siren. The Swans attack repeatedly in the final three minutes but can’t find the winning goal as Alex Rance and Troy Chaplin repel attack after attack. Jack Riewoldt marks on the wing with two seconds left and pubs across Melbourne erupt. Bring on September.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/how-a-richmonds-afl-miracle-unfolded-from-310-record-to-september-dreaming/story-fndv8t7m-1227042872170