Tigers deserved drought-breakerROHAN CONNOLLY
May 31, 2010HAS a theme song ever been sung with more gusto than the way Richmond belted out "We're from Tigerland" at AAMI Stadium on Saturday?
In stark contrast to the scenes at Geelong an hour or so earlier, where James Kelly decided to take an impromptu nap on Gary Ablett's shoulder as the Cats sang their song for a 71st time in 80 games, here was a group that hadn't got to sing theirs for 300 days, and responded appropriately.
The thought police should back off Kelly. That was a genuinely funny moment in an otherwise pedestrian afternoon. But it's easy to have a laugh when you're winning like the Cats, far harder being a Richmond team kicked from pillar to post until the last month.
Advertisement: Story continues belowThe Tigers deserve their moment in the spotlight and it's a win that's been looming for a few weeks - a far brighter period than the first six games of this season, after which Richmond was being compared unfavourably to the basket case that was Fitzroy in its final AFL season.
For a young group such as Damien Hardwick's, football has to be a quarter-by-quarter proposition and, to that end, the relevant figures underline beautifully the extent of the Tigers' recent improvement.
After the 108-point thrashing at the hands of Geelong in round six, Richmond was not only without any match points, but had won just three of 24 quarters of football. In four games since, it has won eight of 16.
One shocking quarter cost it a chance of victory against both Adelaide and Essendon, and poor finishing cost the Tigers a win against Hawthorn. But on Saturday, against a lamentable Port Adelaide, it all came together.
Certainly, the unbelievably wet conditions helped, reducing the game to one founded simply on effort rather than execution. On effort alone, Richmond starts equal with anyone and an astonishing record 142 tackles rammed the point home.
What senior hands Richmond has are standing up nicely, as indeed are the kids, notably Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Ben Nason.
Riewoldt right now is in as good nick as any of the far bigger names above him on the goalkicking ladder, Martin and Cotchin are guns, and it's hard to remember too many debutants who've played as well for as little kudos as the shaggy-haired Nason has received.
But there's been a lot more good examples for those kids to follow lately. Skipper Chris Newman was outstanding on Saturday, Shane Tuck has his limitations, but his undisputed ball-winning ability still has to be a plus for this team and, almost predictably, Ben Cousins gave those penning his football obituary something to think about.
Richmond is slowly building a solid midfield group, too. There's a lot to like as a collective about the names Cotchin, Martin, Cousins, Nathan Foley and Daniel Jackson, both of whom weren't there on Saturday.
Angus Graham has done well in the ruck of late, and Shane Edwards has added some bite, as well as enabling those such as Brett Deledio and Tuck to run off half-back, even the still relatively unknown Andrew Collins and Jeromey Webberley offering extra zip from the wings.
It's the basis for at least some sort of future, certainly one a lot rosier than the outlook being painted for Richmond only a month ago.
On their current upward curve, the Tigers won't be waiting anything like another 300 days to burst into song again.
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