FORMER Richmond coach Danny Frawley has slammed the Tigers for their “mental disintegration” in the wake of Saturday’s loss to Sydney at the MCG.
The Tigers led by as much as 36 points midway through the second term only to concede nine goals to three to be overrun in the second half.
It was Richmond’s fourth narrow loss of the season and would have been its fourth loss under a goal if it weren’t for a Gary Rohan major with 12 seconds remaining.
The 7-5 Tigers currently sit in fifth position on the ladder and appear set to play finals but St Kilda great Frawley believes the yellow and black pose no threat to rivals should they reach September.
“Every coach in the competition would love to play Richmond in a final at the moment because (of) their mental disintegration,” Frawley said.
Richmond players leave the MCG after Saturday’s loss to Sydney. Picture: Getty
“(Damien Hardwick) has done an outstanding job this year but the facts remain — you are in any game you play against Richmond.
“If I’m a coach, I would love to play Richmond in a final because (if) we’re four goals down, five goals down, if you bring heat and pack it in and give it to them, they will disintegrate under pressure as we saw yesterday and as we’ve seen in three or four games.”
Richmond has lost to Western Bulldogs (five points), Fremantle (two), GWS (three) and now Sydney (nine) in close finishes this year.
It is a sign the Tigers crumble under intense pressure from opposition teams according to Frawley who disputed Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd anointing Damien Hardwick the coach of the year in a column for the Herald Sun.
“People go ‘gee, if they didn’t lose those games they’d be on top of the ladder’,” Frawley said on SEN.
“Football is a ruthless game. Damien Hardwick is not the coach of the year.
“I don’t know how he could be the coach of the year when there’s this mental stigma.
Gary Rohan, Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy celebrate on the final siren. Picture: George Salpigtidis
“Point in case, yesterday 15-minute mark of the last quarter (Shaun) Grigg, (who’s) not a bad kick and not a great kick, kicks off one step 30 metres out from Sydney’s goal.
“Turns the ball over, spills to (Sam) Reid (who goals). Game over. They were 15 points up at that stage and that to me is mental disintegration.”
The Tigers kept the Swans goalless in the opening term and Sydney didn’t record their first major until the seven-minute mark of the second term, while Richmond had piled on six of their own.
There is no doubt Richmond was in a winning position and midfielder Josh Caddy said the Tigers should have been able to secure the four points.
Saturday wasn’t the first time the Tigers have lost from a winning position this year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
“It was really disappointing not to win. We were in a position to win the game and probably should have,” he told Channel 9.
“Their ladder position probably doesn’t reflect the side they are. They’ve been so good for so long and they’ll be thereabouts again.”
Former St Kilda and North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo also raised concerns over the Tigers’ ability to win close matches despite having a number of opportunities this year to learn from their mistakes.
“Their three close losses a month or so ago, have they learnt anything from it?” he said. “Watching the game yesterday I was worried.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-criticised-for-crumbling-under-pressure-in-wake-of-fourth-narrow-loss-this-season/news-story/aa572a4286851ca477f8705ac92fef5a100% correct. Would bend over like a deck of blokes at the blue oyster day come september this club.
