You can win flag, Sheedy to Tigers
Rohan Connolly | March 19, 2009
TIGERS legend Kevin Sheedy last night told the Richmond players they could win the 2009 AFL premiership.
Speaking at a Richmond official season launch at the Regent Theatre, an impassioned Sheedy addressed the Tigers' senior list directly, imploring them to grab what he believed was a genuine opportunity to defy the odds and win this year's flag.
"It's a great opportunity, and I think to myself, 'Could you win it this year?' I think you could, because I think everybody might drop their guard, and if they drop their guard and you lift 5 per cent and they drop 5 per cent, it's a very even ball game," he said.
"If you do it together as a team, it could be exciting … if you march out and go to war every week."
Sheedy, who returned to Punt Road last year as commercial and membership ambassador, told the players there were good reasons why they were capable of lifting themselves above last year's ninth placing and defying their $18 odds to raise the premiership cup in 2009.
"You've got enough experience, you've definitely got enough youth. For God's sake, you have to have the hunger. I mean, it's a quarter of a century (since Richmond's last flag). So when you reach deep down into yourself, how do you want to see this year?
"Don't just roll out another footy season like the last 25, because you have a chance, and there are a number of reasons you have a chance.
"One is, I think, the draw could be a good draw for you. You don't often get that. Secondly, I think that everyone will talk about Geelong and Hawthorn and that Richmond may make it. Well, that doesn't have to be like that. That's when your willpower comes into it. So when you see yourself sitting down in 10 years, like the great Kevin Bartlett and the great Richmond players looking back at their life, they can honestly, justifiably say, 'I tried my absolute 100 per cent best,' and we may have missed one or dropped one here or there, but I can tell you now, I want to know what you're going to think in 10 years time."
Sheedy, who played in premierships sides in 1969, '73, '74 during his 251-game career with the Tigers, said the spirit of players such as captain Chris Newman, Nathan Foley, Shane Tuck, Trent Cochin and Jack Riewoldt could lift Richmond.
"Yes, there's a bit of class there, and that will take you a fair way, but it's that sort of vision and planning and spirit, along with your coach and your coaching staff you need to go somewhere. And why not this year? Why not?"
Senior coach Terry Wallace last night outlined five reasons he believed Richmond would improve on 2008.
He said the Tigers had finally assembled a list that was good enough. The club's senior players had had fabulous preseasons. The Tigers had more depth, pointing to the likes of former Essendon player Tom Hislop, Port Adelaide's Adam Thomson, along with Ben Cousins.
Wallace said players such as Andrew Raines, Dean Polo and Mark Coughlan were again fit and the club's young leaders wanted to create their own history.
He said the Tigers were ready to handle the hype accompanying their start to the season. "Will there be pressure on us?" he asked. "Yes, there will. But bring on the expectation, because that won't be any greater than the expectation these blokes bring on themselves."
Bartlett last night presented the senior list with their jumpers.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/sheedy-talks-flags-to-tigers/2009/03/19/1237054913511.html
