Richmond on brink of something special
29 May 2006
Herald Sun
Comment by Mike Sheahan
IT SEEMS there has been a subtle change to the way results are recorded these days.
Instead of the usual eight winners, we now have seven winners and the team that stuffed up against Richmond.
When are the Tigers going to get due credit for a sensational revival after starting the season with three losses? By 172 points.
They have won five of their past six, the solitary loss to the all-conquering Sydney when the Tigers had more senior players on the injured list than the field.
They have won at the Gabba, beaten Adelaide the week after the 118-point loss to Sydney, and ended a 16-year losing streak at Kardinia Park.
All with Nathan Brown nursing his troublesome leg.
Richmond has climbed from 16th to ninth in six weeks to be out of the eight on percentage. With Brown itching to return in the next week or two.
Saturday's win over Geelong was a triumph for persistence, enthusiasm and daring.
Even with Matthew Richardson held goalless until the result was beyond dispute and Brett Deledio out of the game before halftime, the Tigers persisted until they got what they came for.
Terry Wallace has convinced his boys to believe, to aim high, to make their own history.
He has encouraged them to take risks, and it has been mutually beneficial.
Kayne Pettifer knows he can do his Jezza impersonations without fearing he will be dragged if he messes up; Troy Simmonds has vindicated the club's controversial long-term investment in him; Chris Hyde is flying in more ways than one; Richard Tambling is flourishing after seeming lost; Andrew Krakouer is showing encouraging signs.
Saturday's 22 included seven players with fewer than 35 games to their name, and three or four of them look set for long and distinguished careers.
The Tigers look to be on the brink of something special, maybe even a finals berth this year.
If they can successfully negotiate the travel hurdle this week (Fremantle in Perth on Saturday night), they will be in the eight with the Kangaroos and Hawthorn to follow.
They are a much happier lot than the group they upset on Saturday.
Geelong suffered its sixth loss in seven weeks, dropping a must-win home game after leading at every change. Given it had the momentum after three late goals in the third quarter, Geelong looked home.
Not to Richmond it didn't. The Tigers kicked 5.2, the Cats added nine behinds, seven from indecisive players in blue and white, two rushed by the opposition.
The Cats have slumped to 12th, the players and the coaching staff equally frustrated and demoralised.
The only consolation was the return of the sparkle that makes Gary Ablett such an exciting player.
Mark Thompson has much to concern him: another wasted afternoon from Brad Ottens, another goalless afternoon for Kent Kingsley, despite a lively first quarter, another game in which Cameron Ling's statistics painted a misleading picture.
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