Tigers could play a spoiler role
Adam Cooper | July 11, 2009
THE Tigers won't be there when it matters, but Richmond hopes to have a say on the shape of the AFL's top eight.
Carlton, its opponent today, is one of five aspiring finalists the Tigers will play in the remaining eight rounds and acting coach Jade Rawlings said it was important Richmond kept motivation levels high over the last third of the season.
"We've got seven games at the MCG and then we finish up with West Coast at Subiaco and we've got some teams who we think we're a big chance to compete heavily against and hopefully win," Rawlings said.
"If that means unravelling a couple of finals plans for a few teams along the way, I think that would be good. We've got to hang our hat on something in the last eight games and hopefully that can be part of it."
The Blues set Richmond on its dreadful path in 2009, through the 83-point hammering of the Tigers in the first game of the season.
But Rawlings said the Tigers, who are in 14th spot, had not discussed the round-one result this week because it was history.
"It's been 14 or 15 weeks and there's been plenty of water go under the bridge and there's eight different players in both sides," Rawlings said.
"I don't think there's a mental hurdle our players need to overcome this week."
The form of Carlton's midfield means that the Blues, needing a win to strengthen their hold of seventh spot, will enter the match as warm favourites.
But Rawlings was hopeful Richmond could match Carlton in the middle of the ground and draw on the rivalry between the clubs to produce a boilover.
"I've been at this club for three years and every Carlton-Richmond game, irrespective of where we are on the ladder, has always drawn a good crowd and there is a healthy rivalry between the two clubs," he said.
"I hope that hasn't been lost — we certainly like pushing that to our group and hopefully tomorrow we put on a good display."
Matthew Richardson joined in skills training yesterday for the first time since May, when he had surgery to repair a hamstring tendon, and Rawlings said the forward was on track for a return in round 18 or 19.
Fellow forward Nathan Brown has overcome groin soreness and will make his comeback in the VFL this weekend, although Rawlings said the Tigers were not sure when he could return to the AFL.
Before he trained, Richardson told radio station Vega that Richmond needed revenge against Carlton for the round-one debacle.
"We need revenge for round one; it's where everything started this year — the bad vibe — so we need to come back," he said.
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