Tiger cubs lead the way
abc.net.au
By Dan Lonergan
I've spoken many times in this column about the fanaticism of Richmond supporters.
They experience incredible highs when they are winning and dreadful lows when they lose - which has been more often over the past 20 years.
So far in 2006, they've experienced three wins and three losses, with the victories coming in consecutive weeks after a poor start to the year.
In the opening round the Bulldogs smashed them by 115 points and you would have thought the fans might have vented their spleen. But compared to previous examples, the supporters were low key this time.
However, fast forward five weeks and Richmond finds itself out of the eight with a poor percentage after holding out Essendon in an error-riddled but absorbing struggle to celebrate our Indigenous culture on Saturday night.
The Tigers led for most of the night, but a barnstorming five-minute burst from the Bombers saw them turn a 16-point loss into a 10-point advantage just before time on, and it looked like the Dons would prevail.
However, Richmond is starting to learn how to win and found more steely resolve to hit the front and hang on - much to the delight of their passionate supporters, who almost raised the roof off the new Northern Grandstand with their rousing rendition of that popular theme song.
In the past the Tigers would have lost that game and probably would have been beaten easily.
But now they have a batch of exciting youngsters and plenty of players either approaching or in their prime and determined to stamp out a successful era at Punt Road.
Matthew Richardson is the wrong side of 30, but plays like he's in his mid-20s and is close to career-best form.
Richmond is always a chance, because they have options galore to cater for the 'get out kick', which means their midfielders, if they are under pressure, don't have to use precise skills every time they enter the forward line to kick to a team-mate.
They can bomb it long and know that the big-bodied players like Richo, Greg Stafford, Troy Simmonds and also youngster Cleve Hughes are a chance of taking a contested mark or bring it to ground to accommodate the crumbers.
Some clubs don't have that luxury. The Bulldogs are a prime example, and with more injuries to their six-foot-five-plus players, - seven are now carrying knocks - their aspirations to feature in September could soon be in tatters as there are no suitable replacements.
Trent Knobel is still to return for Richmond, so Simmonds could play forward permanently - and not too many teams have three or four tall key defenders to keep all these giants in check.
For the first time in ages the Tigers have some excellent young players who will serve them well in the future.
The 2004 Draft attracted 2005 Rising Star Brett Deledio, who is a key player already; Richard Tambling, another tall; Adam Pattison and hard midfielder, Dean Polo, who made his debut on the weekend and looked like he'd been playing AFL for 10 years.
He racked up 28 touches and kicked three goals and he gives them another option in a developing midfield containing Mark Coughlan, Shane Tuck and Kane Johnson - all with a lot of footy left in them.
Jarrod Oakley-Nicholls began his AFL journey as well and again possesses what all Indigenous footballers have - skill and excitement.
Andrew Raines and Brent Hartigan continue to develop and do what coach Terry Wallace loves - running and carrying the footy with adventure and creativity from the back half.
On the weekend they beat the Bombers without Johnson, their best defender, Darren Gaspar and their best player, Nathan Brown.
They will all return soon and they will be welcomed back with open arms. The Tigers have just beaten the three bottom teams but now they have reigning premiers Sydney, premiership favourites Adelaide, preseason flag winners Geelong and the improving Fremantle in Perth to get past.
To use an old but good cliche, we should have a fairly good idea of how good Richmond is after that.
If it can win two of them, finals are a possibility as it has a number of home games at the MCG in the second half of the season.
It's been a tremendous turnaround from Richmond after that horrible opening. They have forgotten about it and played good footy since, although a poor percentage will be a constant reminder unless they can produce some thrashings themselves.
Richmond fans ... it's too early to get too excited about this year, but there are some good signs. The depth is improving, the youngsters look good. Terry Wallace has a five-year plan. He looks to be on the right track - and the faithful seems to be believing.
http://www.abc.net.au/sport/columns/200605/s1633154.htm?afl
