Things are looking up for Richmond, but ...Brad Elborough
The Age
22 May, 2016Take it easy on any Richmond supporters that you know over the next couple of months.
A one-point win over Sydney, backed up with a convincing 38-point win over Fremantle, in Perth, has breathed some life into the Tigers season.
And the upcoming six-week stretch is by far the softest part of their draw. Besides North Melbourne, they play Essendon (next week), the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Port Adelaide. And they have a bye.
Realistically, the once 1-6 record could improve to 7-7 by the end of round 15.
If all goes to plan, the "yellow and black" will be well and truly ringing in your ears.
However, finding the four or five wins required to play finals football, from the remaining eight games after that, poses a massive problem.
The Tigers play the Bombers again (in round 17), but of the other seven sides, five of them (the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, GWS, Geelong and Sydney) are all in the top eight, Collingwood have found some amazing form and St Kilda are also on the improve.
The emotional roller-coaster that the Tigers faithful have in front of them could be akin to a Disneyland attraction.
But surely they are used to that by now.
There is renewed belief in the group now though and coach Damien Hardwick said that his side had taken a step in consolidating the after-the-siren win over Sydney with a win over Fremantle.
"It was really important to back it up and make sure we gain some momentum," he said. "We spoke about it during the week. The win was terrific last week but what the players wanted to do with it; it could either be a great win and they don't capitalise on it or they continue to work in the game and get the result they required this week.
"Every week in the AFL competition, you are seeing good sides get up. You only have to be off your game by 10 per cent and you'll get beaten.
"We have got a side in Essendon that has played incredibly well this year at times in stages. They are like a younger side at stages that hasn't been able to finish off.
"But if you don't come to play, you'll get beaten."
That could be great advice for sides coming up against Richmond in the second half of the season.
Especially if Trent Cotchin stays fit.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/things-are-looking-up-for-richmond-tigers-but-there-could-be-speed-bumps-in-their-draw-20160522-gp0s3m.html
