As soon as an AFL team is put on a pedestal as the ’next big thing’, the sand beneath its feet sinks fastMichelangelo Rucci
The Advertiser
10 July 2017ONE week it is novel — and forces the opposition team to rethink. The next week a small-size forward system around Jack Riewoldt is junk.
One week it is the play no AFL rival can stop. The next, the Dustin Martin fend off is conquered by the smart tackling Dylan Roberton.
One week an AFL coach is brave to declare: “Our best footy, mark my words, is still in front of us.” The next, Damien Hardwick has to eat such enthusiasm as his Tigers deliver their worst performance of the season.
This week it is Richmond to befuddle all. Next week?
This is the AFL of fine margins. It is the unscripted, ever-changing “reality” that makes television executives pay billions for AFL television rights for guaranteed ratings.
It excites the fans to think their team starts every game with the chance of winning.
Pundits — let alone the bookmakers — struggle to understand where a team actually fits in the race to the flag on September 30. Who can you truly trust?
“How would you know?” says North Melbourne premiership defender and television analyst David King.
“If your stars do not perform, you are asking more of your other players ... and they won’t always deliver.”
And it is the uncertainty that makes coaches edgy ... or, as Adelaide mentor Don Pyke can do as if he was on a sensor-triggered recording, reminds all that this 18-team AFL is a “tough competition”.
The Tigers’ fall into the abyss in the first half against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night — with a 92-10 scoreline — will have many say “Richmond did a Richmond”.
That is, once again not live up to the expectation of being a genuine marker in this year’s premiership race.
And who hasn’t this season? Essendon questions itself about its finishes — and is brutally tagged, by statistical analysis, as “soft”.
Port Adelaide is questioned about its merit as a top-four contender. Geelong constantly has to prove it is more than Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood.
One week, Adelaide is too easy to “work out”. The next, the top-ranked Crows prove to be the most-adaptable team in the wet.
But the Western Bulldogs can no longer live in denial that they are in a premiership hangover.
St Kilda started the Richmond game as the team — of the nine now seen in the race to September — most likely to miss the eight.
For much of the match they held fourth spot after starting the night in ninth. And coach Alan Richardson noted if his Saints play as they did against the Tigers, they would “scare” anyone.
Next week St Kilda plays Essendon ... chasing its fifth win in a row.
“How would you know?” repeats King.
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