Do the last few years make up for the previous 30?

[Hard Roar Tiger]

It’s been such a long time coming and for those of us x geners who lived our best years watching one colossal screw up after another it’s something I’ve contemplated amongst the pure joy of celebrating the flag.

Purely for self indulgence, I’ve thought about not winning a flag through my 20’s and 30’s which is offset by the fact I was away from Melbourne for 7 years which would’ve raised the anxiety levels to get a ticket while being away - I also think winning the flag is as much about the season as it is the actual winning of the gf.

Then there’s the disbelief which came with the way we swept to victory in those last weeks of 2017 and the emotion of winning after such a long wait.

This feeling was franked by the inevitability that the flag was ours to lose after we beat the Eagles late in the home and away season this year.

The 3 years we’ve had has been unbelievable being the envy of the entire competition after 35 years of envying almost every other club at various times is a bit of a conflict but then I remember one thing.

Collingwood have won as many flags in the past 61 years as we have in the past 3 years 

Possibly I should just take what I’ve been given and enjoy it 

[mat073]

I actually think we've experienced a good decade .

The 80s started well but to finish with a winning percentage of 40% was poor. We really bottomed out and collected  2 spoons in 3 years back in 87/89.

The 90s was really the era of "Ninthmond". We started poor but from the mid 90s on we had a "good ordinary team"
From 94 on - you could look forward to the footy each weekend with some expectation. Plus we had Richo.

The 00s were a complete disaster. Carlton and Richmond were statistically the worst two teams of the decade .We suffered a failed rebuild under Plough. We were under resourced compared to the juggernauts of the competition.
A false dawn in 2008. Cousin's hysteria which in hindsight was a flop.

The 2010s considering we started the decade being compared to Fitzroy have been remarkable. The journey has been memorable. The little  patch were we won 5 out of 6 games in 2010 was the beginning. Bookies had already paid out on us winning the spoon. We had to contend with compromised drafts but made a return to finals after an embarrassing 12 year hiatus. We had to face more ridicule after bombing out of the finals in 13/14/15 .
The 9 game winning streak of 2014 was something to remember forever. To go from 3-10 to finals was just an exhilarating ride to go on.
2016 took us all by surprise - It had appeared the old Richmond had returned . We looked miles off . Most of us thought Hardwick had run his race... We've seen it all before.

From as early as the JLT in February 2017 things looked excitingly different. Speed and daring play. Something good was brewing. Sure there was a few "Richmondy"moments but after that St Kilda flogging the team looked unstoppable.

We finish the 2010s as the sixth best team in H&A .
Hawthorn and Richmond are the only teams to have won multiple premierships .

We are currently the envy of the competition. A massive massive juggernaut. We play a style of football that the other clubs can not counter. It's a wonderful time to be alive.

[gtig]

Personally I'm still spewing about losing by a point to WC in 92.
Knights' running goal against Essendon in 95
Plough still gives me nightmares with that basketball game we won against Adelaide. We could win with that style but nobody wanted us to play it, ourselves included.
Sure Cousins was overhyped but for me it marked a bit of a turning point, start of some very positive energy around the club.
Richo on the wing. No it wasn't all bad but there were some fairly empty stretches.
Once we started getting on top of Geelong, that was the sign. They pwned us for years.
Need to set our sights on collecting more cups than carlton now. Then it will be all worth it.

[JP Tiger]

Nope!  Nothing can ever make up for being the lowest of the low for 30 years!  We became the laughing stock of the competition, the media, the people in the street & especially the members of other clubs all paid out on us at every opportunity.  Even many of our own supporters turned to side with the mob, wanting us to lose so they could troll the loyal supporters on blog sites!  Only the weakest turn on their own club ...   
So many loved our misery, not the least of which were the media - they danced on our grave harder than most, it even helped some media personalities to make big personal gains at our expense.  The expansion into the AFL just created more people who loved our misery! 
 
Now we sit here with two flags in 3 years ... & it does feel pretty good too!
 
Gone are the 'Ninthmond' jokes!  Gone are the 'Richmondy' jokes (although a few 'personalities' tried to dredge it up again earlier this year).  Today it just serves as a reminder that many people just want to see us crash, again.  Some can't contain their joy the moment we lose the lead, they eagerly forecast doom & gloom for us at the slightest opportunity.
 
And what does all that mean to us? 

It means that they hate & fear us like never before!  We were feared in our halcyon 'Hafey Era' of the 60's & 70's, but now in the national AFL competition we are hated & feared more than ever!  The hate & fear of all things Richmond is now a national obsession!  Mine salt.  Enjoy every minute of it. 

We (the loyal Tigers of old) deserve to enjoy our rise to success more than most fans, nobody has put up with more cr*p than us. 
We know it wont last forever, it never does, but to grab a few more flags & hold the football world by the throat for as long we can would be totally awesome!         

[Gracie]

Every decision made by everyone at Richmond has led us to this point.

Any change to any decision means we would not be enjoying Martin Jack Rance Cotchin, all the way down to Stack and Pickett.

Sure the 37 years sucked but the last three and - most likely - the next 10 are going to be a wonderful time to bffve a Richmond supporter.

[Diocletian]

Only if Carlton are shyte for another 14 years at least..and we win 8 flags in meantime. ..#first2twenty..

[Assange Tiger 😎]

9-peat....Shh

[wayne]

I was always worried that when we actually got a side together capable of playing finals, we'd be like the Saints a few years ago and not win anything.

[Rampsation]

St Kildas inherent DNA is to be unsuccessful. Ours is that when we have good sides we win flags.

[lamington]

I actually think cousins although on field was a flop was the catalyst we needed for the proper rebuild. I recall Martin and Cotchin saying he had a tremendous impact on believing in their inherent talents and burning others away with their class and skill.

One thing which kills me about the past 30 years was losing both the jack dyer and Tom Hafey tribute games. It was hard being a Richmond supporter then because even north could win their Jason McCartney game against us!

I love the club for being able to break the drought and for being the juggernaut it is right now. I love that they have restored hope and I personally am happy to forgo the past crimes from the Richmond of old for what we are experiencing now

[WilliamPowell]

Not ashamed to say YES

Simply, due to that 30 odd years of "nothingness" I never thought I'd see another flag in my lifetime. They are so bloody hard to win. But we now we've got 2.

The hard times were horrendous. From going through the ridiculous war with Collingwood which we lost (some Club legends should hang their heads in shame for what they did), to facing the prospect of not having a Club at all, to so many false dawns they made the supporters stronger

And because of those times I've learnt not take anything for granted because when I was a kid as Tiger supporters we did. And the nothingness period hurt like hell.

This is a special time one we should embrace and cherish but at the same not forget where we've come from to get back here.

Everyone has the right to celebrate where we are now in any way they chose.

Personally, I won't be going back the to the arrogance of the 60s and 70s because that's what led us to the horrendous and I for one don't want to go through that again. We can be the most powerful Club in the land and still be respectful, humble and admired.

 Right now that's what I'm most proud of, what we as a Club have become.

[cub]

Yes

The last 30 odd years have made this as special as it is, so happy and fullfilled after 2016 thinking I would never get to see it!
But yes more please, going to be a good/great team to watch and follow for at least another 5 odd years.

[big tone]

100% yes from me too.

The past is the past for me.
For a long time I supported the club but in no way did I have any respect for it.
It was definitely a love hate relationship at times.

But the last 3 years is all I remember now.

‘17 and ‘19 Grand Final days are the best days of my life.
I celebrated both days with 3 life long mates and Tiger supporters.
It actually make me emotional even thinking about it.

Love the RFC.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Not ashamed to say YES

Simply, due to that 30 odd years of "nothingness" I never thought I'd see another flag in my lifetime. They are so bloody hard to win. But we now we've got 2.

The hard times were horrendous. From going through the ridiculous war with Collingwood which we lost (some Club legends should hang their heads in shame for what they did), to facing the prospect of not having a Club at all, to so many false dawns they made the supporters stronger

And because of those times I've learnt not take anything for granted because when I was a kid as Tiger supporters we did. And the nothingness period hurt like hell.

This is a special time one we should embrace and cherish but at the same not forget where we've come from to get back here.

Everyone has the right to celebrate where we are now in any way they chose.

Personally, I won't be going back the to the arrogance of the 60s and 70s because that's what led us to the horrendous and I for one don't to go through that again. We can be the most powerful Club in the land and still be respectful, humble and admired.

 Right now that's what I'm most proud of, what we as a Club have become.

Brilliantly put WP. I agree 100%. Absolutely spot on!

[pmac21]

Put yourself in Melbourne's, Saints shoes and the answer is yes.  They'd kill to win a premiership.  37 years compared to those teams still searching.  Wow.