Games that shaped Richmond's seasonSource: SportsFan
Author: Ben Hocking
Wednesday, October 01, 2014 Remembering that Richmond had not played in successive finals campaigns since 1974-75, what the Tigers achieved this year was nothing short of ground-breaking. But the manner of their exit at the hands of Port Adelaide makes it difficult to judge their season as little more than being the best of the teams that were not really good enough to compete in September.
Many judges (including us here at SportsFan) considered Richmond a potential top-four team before the season started, but that quickly disappeared when they made a terrible start, dropping games against lowly teams that were never expected to figure in September. Despite the horrible opening, the Tigers surged home with nine straight wins, beating eventual grand finalists Sydney to finish the season in eighth place.
One thing that became clear during the early-season losses was the importance of Brett Deledio to the side. When he was missing, skipper Trent Cotchin was easily tagged out of games and the Tigers suffered as a result. When Deledio returned, things started to look better. Another great find for the year was Anthony Miles, who came into the side from the rookie list after two years at GWS and added another ball-winner to the midfield mix.
Round 5: Richmond 15.16 (106) d Brisbane 9.9 (63)The week after being comprehensively shut down by Collingwood's Brent Macaffer, Cotchin bounced back in the best way possible with a dominating display in a gritty win – just their second of the season so far – against Brisbane. Cotchin finished with 32 possessions and a clutch goal in the third quarter after the Lions had temporarily hit the lead. Jack Riewoldt also seemed to thrive in a forward line missing Tyrone Vickery, kicking four majors.
Round 10: Richmond 24.10 (154) d GWS 5.11 (41)Riewoldt was dropped from the leadership group at the start of the year and he swore off media commitments immediately afterwards. He also fronted very few press conferences, except in the lead-up to this game. During the week, Riewoldt questioned the game plan and suggested the players were not capable of playing the same way as Hawthorn. He got a very public dressing down from coach Damien Hardwick and was chased by the media until he escaped into a train station. The Tigers then lifted to another level on game day, thrashing the hapless Giants, with Riewoldt kicking 11.2 in the 113-point win.
Round 14: Sydney 9.8 (62) d Richmond 7.9 (51)The Tigers flew out of the blocks here to snare an 18-point quarter-time lead against a red-hot Sydney outfit that had won their last eight games in a row. At that point, they led the disposal count 115 to 58; Cotchin had 14 touches to his name and Dustin Martin nine. It was more of the same early in the second term and Richmond led six goals to two when Deledio dribbled one though at the 17-minute mark. From that point on the Tigers could only manage one more goal for the match and they tasted yet another defeat while Sydney went on to record their ninth consecutive win. This was the last home-and-away loss Richmond suffered as they began their own nine-game winning streak the very next week.
Round 16: Richmond 12.7 (79) d Brisbane 7.12 (54)Vickery had been in and out of the side as he failed to live up to his expectations and proceeded to cop it from the Tigers faithful. He put things together in this game against Brisbane, kicking four goals for the match, including two inside the first two minutes, before the Lions had even registered a kick. He also finished with 16 possessions and four marks. While this was his best performance of the season as things started to look like they were clicking for the big man, just two weeks later he would king-hit West Coast ruckman Dean Cox and cop a lengthy suspension from which he was unable to force his way back into the side.
Round 17: Richmond 19.12 (126) d Port Adelaide 16.10 (106)Before this game, the Tigers had shown patches of brilliance against the top teams but had always fallen away and lacked the nerve to go on and get the four competition points. Here at Etihad Stadium was a turning point because they finally showed the resilience and resolve necessary to match it with one of the best sides in the competition. They were ferocious and determined, and they weren't going to be denied. Miles was superb for Richmond with 28 disposals and eight clearances, as were Brandon Ellis and Cotchin.
Round 22: Richmond 15.8 (98) d St Kilda 10.12 (72)Earlier in the round North Melbourne had done the right thing by beating Adelaide, and all the Tigers needed to do was get across the line against bottom-of-the-ladder St Kilda and they would find themselves in the eight. They secured an eighth-straight win, a streak the Tigers hadn't seen in 34 years, and put their destiny in their own hands. Riewoldt led the way with six goals and Richmond led by as much as 50 points at one stage before taking their foot off the gas to ensure no-one was injured before next week's crucial clash with Sydney to earn a finals berth.
Should Richmond have achieved more this season?
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