Richmond vs Brisbane @ the 'Gabba --- 2nd Qualifying Final, 2020

[georgies31]

Alot of cheap talk out from the lions .You did miss alot of shots that's because we forced you out wide to have those shots not through the corridor.

[one-eyed]

Despite 15 consecutive wins against Brisbane since 2009 – Hardwick is yet to lose to the Lions as coach – Jack Riewoldt said this match would be a different kettle of fish as he expected his opponents will be "hungry to win".

The Tigers are aiming to become the first Richmond team to go back-to-back since 1973-74 but Riewoldt said that fact had not been emphasised.

He said they had spoken about embracing the imperfections of the season, the topsy-turvy nature of it and the fact you have to be ready to go at any second, Riewoldt said.

However the 31-year-old said experience built up over three consecutive post-seasons – where the Tigers have won seven of eight finals matches – gave them confidence.

"[It] builds good evidence for myself and for the side as well. We have found ourselves in this position before and we have been successful," he said.

Source: The Age

[one-eyed]

A little reign of sunshine: Tigers look to continue Queensland dominance

By Peter Ryan
The Age
September 28, 2020 — 2.33pm

Richmond have not lost in Queensland since 2014, a run of 15 straight wins. They have also not lost to the Brisbane Lions in their past 15 encounters, dating back to 2009.

When it comes to finals, the Tigers have won seven of their past eight, collecting two premierships on the way.

Ahead of Friday's qualifying final, last year's best and fairest Dion Prestia is preparing to return from a syndesmosis injury suffered in round five while Tom Lynch's hamstring was timed well enough that he will just be available to face the Lions.

Marlion Pickett will keep his spot as will Kamdyn McIntosh, while Shai Bolton will return from a rest in round 18.

It's why Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and captain Trent Cotchin stood under the sunshine state's blue skies on Monday with an air of confidence.

They know they are in for a fight against hungry opposition – the Lions haven't won a final since 2009 and suffered a straight-sets exit last year – with Hardwick saying they are in for "a hell of a game". But they have been in such bouts before and prevailed.

"I think our system holds us in good stead," Hardwick said at Metricon Stadium.

"As long as we're playing our best footy, we're every chance."

The Tigers base their game on getting the ball inside 50 and scoring from chaos, whereas the Lions excel around the contest. Richmond's defence pushes the Lions far and wide as they roam searching for an avenue for goal, negating the impact of Brisbane's ability to win contested ball.

Ever the coach, Hardwick kept talking the opposition up, saying all the right things about Friday's hosts who finished above the Tigers on the ladder for the second year in succession.

"They're second on the ladder for a reason and have won a lot of footy games over a long period of time so we're going to have our work cut out for us," Hardwick said.

"There's no doubt it's gonna be a really fierce contest."

The Tigers won't tag Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale, confident two-time Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin, premiership captain Cotchin, club champion Prestia and emerging centre square specialist Bolton can handle the likes of Neale, Dayne Zorko, Hugh McCluggage and Jarryd Lyons head to head.

Under Cotchin's leadership, the Tigers will be chasing their third flag in four years as hard as the Lions will be chasing their first in 17 years.

"What make teams continue on that charge is that competitive edge and I don't think you reach the top in the past nor get back to it if you don't have that hunger," the captain said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/a-little-reign-of-sunshine-tigers-look-to-continue-queensland-dominance-20200928-p55zyg.html

[one-eyed]

Hutchy tipping Brisbane to beat us because we've been "on the road" for a long time as well as trying to claim due to our off-field indiscretions that the finals may come back to bite us.

 

[one-eyed]

The questions to be answered for each team in the 2020 AFL finals series

By Andrew McGarry
abc.net.au
29 September 2020

Will the Tigers stay under control in the finals?

Richmond's all-out approach to football has brought them great success in recent years.

That high-energy, get-it-forward-at-all-costs game style has proven hard to stop for opposing teams.

However, there have been times this season when the Tigers have taken things a little too far.

Aside from a couple of high-profile COVID-19 protocol breaches, the team has had a number of on-field incidents where their version of unsociable football got them in trouble.

Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt are among a number of Richmond players that have been guilty of going a bit too hard at times this season.

While Lynch has been ruled out of week one of the finals against Brisbane with a hamstring problem, the Tigers will hope to have him back for the business end of proceedings.

At their best, the Tigers appear capable of taking care of anyone in their way as they challenge for a third flag in four years.

They have game-winners like Dustin Martin, who has plenty of room for improvement in October.

The Tigers have handled playing in Brisbane well — and they trounced the Lions at The Gabba last year in the qualifying final so the venue should hold no fears for them.

The bottom line is that finals campaigns can turn on a few incidents. The question for Richmond is whether the team can produce controlled aggression that helps them get the edge on their rivals, or will someone step over the line and disrupt their challenge for the flag?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-29/eight-questions-to-be-answered-in-the-afl-finals/12708140

[one-eyed]

Fagan today:

'They are not supernatural': Lions stare down Tigers

"I'm not sure they are supernatural. They are just human beings like we are," Fagan said, echoing the sentiment of Matthews' famous "if it bleeds, we can kill it" line.

He also had a reassurring message for whoever is matched up against Martin, who is at his best in finals.

"He's like anyone. He's got strengths and weaknesses," Fagan said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/they-are-not-supernatural-lions-stare-down-tigers-20200929-p5607s.html


Fagan turns to Freeman in bid to break Tigers hoodoo

The Lions coach hopes Olympic heroics can help his side get over Richmond.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/511647/fagan-turns-to-freeman-in-bid-to-break-tigers-hoodoo

[georgies31]

Yeah whingers to much alot of cheap and garbage talk by him acts like is achieved something with this team still unproven.

[Francois Jackson]

Yeah whingers to much alot of cheap and garbage talk by him acts like is achieved something with this team still unproven.

i have been thinking this for some time. The last presser when they lost to us was enough for me.

turning into a chris scott type if you ask me.

[georgies31]

Yeah whingers to much alot of cheap and garbage talk by him acts like is achieved something with this team still unproven.

i have been thinking this for some time. The last presser when they lost to us was enough for me.

turning into a chris scott type if you ask me.

Yeah spot on quotes this stat and that stat we led and got done by 40 points.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I think he sounds a little desperate / not so much a whinger. He definitely needs a circuit breaker but I’ve always thought that their issues the past few losses aren’t their kicking for goal but the combination of their game plan and being outplayed.
That’s what they should be focused on

[pmac21]

Living rent free in their heads

[one-eyed]

The Brisbane Lions have tightened from as much as $2.40 to $2.10 to upstage Richmond (as short as $1.57 to $1.74) at the Gabba on Friday night in their qualifying final

https://www.sportsnews.com.au/afl/afl-finals-week-1-betting-and-odds-update-2020/545917

[mightytiges]

Fagan and the Lions are talking like they are trying to convince themselves. Hoping to win rather than believing they can.

[Andyy]

Fagan and the Lions are talking like they are trying to convince themselves. Hoping to win rather than believing they can.

X2

[one-eyed]

Look out, Tigers: Lions enforcer is firing and itching for finals

Mitch Robinson loves finals footy and can't wait to take on the Tigers.

We've been pretty close the last couple of years," he said.

"We believe being cleaner with the ball, back to our fundamentals, would hold us in good stead.

"If we do the little things right - they're so clean, so efficient, so many forward handballs and surging the ball, they know each other really well.

"We've got to win the ball at the source and get it going forward. It's pretty simple."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/510964/look-out-tigers-lions-enforcer-is-firing-and-itching-for-finals