Tigers burn bright for top flight
31 December 2006 Sunday Herald Sun
Jackie Epstein
RICHMOND's leaders Kane Johnson and Nathan Brown have declared a finals or failure ultimatum for the club.
The duo is focused on one goal only in 2007 for the team considered by many to be the best outside the eight last season.
"Definitely we're coming in with a lot stronger resolve than what we have before and we're ready to take that next step," skipper Johnson said.
"I think last year was a bit disappointing for us not to make finals. Just little things didn't go our way.
"I think with everything going right next year, if we don't make finals it's a massive failure and we all know that.
"So we're pretty keen to make that our next step. How far up the ladder I don't know, but as long as we're going in the right direction is the key."
The Tigers finished ninth last season and 12th in 2005 after coach Terry Wallace's first season at the helm.
Vice-captain Brown said the strong vibe around the club should translate into success.
"Definitely in my mind, and I guess I don't speak for the rest of the football club, it'd have to go down as a failure (if we missed finals)," he said.
"We finished ninth and there's one more position to climb and anything other than finals should be put down as a lost opportunity."
Johnson said Wallace's NAB 15 plan had instilled confidence and discipline among the group.
"It's the first time over pre-season, that I've heard so many blokes doing a lot of training," he said.
"I've never heard that before from the oldest to the youngest, everyone is doing a lot.
"Everyone came back as fit as I've ever seen a group come back, so I think that's a fair indication the boys are pretty keen to have a good crack at it."
Brown says the team's forward line could be the most potent in the competition next season.
Having acquired former Cat Kent Kingsley in the pre-season draft, Brown said the attack would strengthen considerably.
"I see the forward line being a very dangerous one," he said.
"It's a very talented one but sometimes can be a bit erratic.
"We're going to do a lot of work with Jade Rawlings, who is our forward line coach.
"Kent can kick 50 (goals), I can, Matthew (Richardson) can, you'd like to think Kayne Pettifer could and there's Jay Schulz.
"It's a very dangerous forward line where we play right down to our sixth man.
"We've got a lot of work to do over the summer because forward lines just don't click.
"But I think there's no better example for us to look at than Sydney.
"The way they structure up their forward line and the way they work for each other is second to none.
"It's led by Barry (Hall) and Ryan (O'Keefe), and it's a fantastic benchmark for us to look at."
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