Toothless Tigers?
Dan Lonergan | abc.net.au | May 19, 2008
Grandstand's Dan Lonergan questions whether Richmond is making progress in its bid to break a seven-year finals drought.Richmond endured a dreadful year in 2007, winning just three games and posting a draw.
It was little wonder then that it claimed the wooden spoon, so in its quest for improvement this year they were coming off a low base.
So far the Tigers have performed better, winning two and drawing another. This compares favourably to their progress at this stage last season when they had been well beaten in their first eight encounters.
The Tigers have been pretty competitive this year, beating Carlton and Fremantle easily and earning a draw against the undefeated Western Bulldogs.
They have also suffered narrow losses to Hawthorn and St Kilda, as well as pushing another team at the weekend, defending premiers Geelong.
This form guide indicates they are slowly on the rise, but whatever way you look at it, they still have only tasted victory once since round one and sit in 12th place on the ladder on 10 points.
They should have beaten the Western Bulldogs, who they led by three goals inside the last five minutes before seeing Rodney Eade's mob snatch a draw at the death. They also had the better of the Saints in their round seven clash, but fell three points short.
And although they got within 12 points of Hawthorn, the Hawks did kick badly and should have thrashed them.
Tigers supporters are an impatient lot and would be sick and tired of these brave performances, which have produced few victories and I am sure privately the coaching staff would be just as frustrated.
They are blooding young players and the likes of Brett Deledio, Shane Edwards, Will Thursfield and Richard Tambling are developing nicely as senior footballers. On the weekend, their number one draft pick of last year, Trent Cotchin, made his debut and showed he will be a good player.
The Tigers though, still have a flawed recruiting policy in that they always trade away one early draft pick. Last year they gave up pick 19 to the Western Bulldogs for Jordan McMahon, who has produced mixed performances so far.
The good news is that unless there is an implosion and West Coast, Fremantle and Melbourne perform better than they are at the moment, the Tigers will stay away from the bottom.
At times they play attractive football and have been more than competitive, but now is the moment or the credible displays and honourable losses to be turned into regular victories.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2008/05/toothless-tiger.html?site=afl
