Tim Watson talks Tigers and MagpiesJoshua Papanikolaou
SEN
08 Aug 2016, 10:17AMIt was obvious that the bashing Richmond has copped in the media of late had an effect on the team given the raw emotion displayed after beating Collingwood on Friday night, says Tim Watson.
With the coach under immense pressure and murmurings of a challenge to the board the last month has been a torrid time for those working at Punt Road.
Despite that club president Peggy O’Neal gave a strong speech before the 15-point win against the Magpies assuring that their review would be thorough and concise.
“I reckon that was an insight (into how the players were feeling),” said Watson on SEN radio.
“As much as Damien Hardwick and the club would like to have painted the picture that it’s all external noise, it seeped its way in, they felt the pressure.
“That was the release of that pressure the emotional outburst after that game.
“It was a poor game of football, neither of those sides would trouble anyone in the top eight.
“After that win it was a reaction that they have been on the back foot, the players have been smashed around.
“Don’t wallpaper over that though, they’ve got a long way to go before they become a contender.”
The almost non-existent attempt by the Magpies to stop the Tigers from possessing the ball for long periods was a concerning issue for Watson, particularly against a team badly out of form.
“Massively disappointed in Collingwood because we’ve seen them from time to time this year where they’ve been okay and been able to excerpt pressure on opposition sides in the midfield,” he said.
“The most disappointing thing if I’m looking at that game as a fan – it was clear the way that Richmond were playing that game, they were going to chip the ball and maintain possession.
“They did nothing about it, they didn’t change the way they were playing to put extra pressure on Richmond to turn that game around.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/afl/08-16/tim-watson-talks-tigers-and-magpies
