It's not too late, says Richo
richmondfc.com.au
By Mic Cullen 4:42 PM Tue 21 April, 2009
DESPITE four losses from its first four games, Richmond veteran Matthew Richardson says his club isn't writing its season off.
The Tigers fell to Melbourne on Sunday, prompting speculation about coach Terry Wallace's future and the fate of his side's 2009 campaign.
Richardson said that with at least 18 weeks to play in the season his teammates couldn't be thinking of "doom and gloom".
"We've got to get out there this week and try and get a result and get the ball rolling," he said.
"Once the ball gets rolling I think some of our players will gain some confidence and I'm sure we can turn things around."
Confidence seems to be one of the Tigers' bigger hurdles and Richardson was quick to identify the mental struggle.
"There have been periods in the last three weeks where we've been right in the game," he said. "Half the game against Geelong, half the game against the Bulldogs and in three quarters against Melbourne we outscored them. Then we had one quarter where we got totally blown away.
"As soon as something goes wrong, or the other team kicks two or three goals, we seem to go back into our shells. We start playing safe footy, missing obvious targets, and it just snowballs from there."
However, Richardson said the ability of Richmond's list wasn't holding it back from improvement and claiming elusive victories.
"The only way to get out of it now is to work hard and continue to believe in yourself," he said.
"We do have belief among the playing group. We’ve got some good players, I believe in them and I'm sure they believe in all their teammates as well."
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