Back to Back

[DontArgue4]

No doubt we have the right mindset and the right gamestyle to be a good chance. However its way too early to say, like others have said there are so many factors which are out of our control like injuries, etc.

Other teams that were below us have improved so we need to be even better to win again.

I'm just glad the boys believe now and they all work their asses off whether it's JLT or its a granny. Its what I've always wanted to see us do and we are finally doing it.

We are lucky in that the ages of the players show there is room for improvement which is a must.

 

[Tiger Toffee]

I'll just say this.

In all my time on this earth which goes back to the early seventies, i have never seen Richmond play like this, the harrasement, chasing, tackling, defensive set up's and now we have the attack to go with it.

One other key ingredient and it's a big one, the players look like they are taking great delight in flogging teams which has been a flaw of this club for many a year.

Can we go back to back, you betcha we can and i am going to enjoy the ride this year seeing what plays out.

 

[TigermanM2]

Lads, I know you don’t want to get carried away, but if I said you’d just scrape into the top 6 you’d defend your flag opportunities in 2018 with vim and vigour!

I think that based on what I’ve seen, you look really really sharp. I give you a very good opportunity. Very good.

You know what that means don't you? If we make finals then the Dees won't. That's the way it has played since 1941.

 

[Tony Harrison]

This perhaps provides some of the answers

How Richmond players proved winning isn’t everything in footy
Mark Robinson, Herald Sun

I HAVE always thought — or been made to believe — the essence of football was winning.

Winning premierships and knowing, forever, you were someone who helped create something so powerful.

Slogging it out on a grey, rain-spitting Sunday afternoon at the MCG in the middle of July, squeaking home by a goal in a wretched contest, and trudging off exhausted and satisfied, then singing the song, the smiles and collective relief overpowering the pain of the corkie or the bung ankle.

Winning on the road against all odds and 50,000 opposition fans.

But, really, the essence of football exists way before and way above any triumph at the weekend.

The essence of football is connection and belonging.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale this week announced to the players Damien Hardwick’s reappointment for three more years.

It was expected, but the reaction from the players at Punt Rd was something else.

On the way to the sports hall near the gym, where the players had gathered before training, Gale was asked by the Tigers’s digital media guy if he could film the announcement.

“I don’t think like that,” Gale said later, “but I said, ‘Yeah, whatever’.”

The video — watch it above — shows the players swarming over Hardwick, patting his back, ruffling his hair and some even tackling him in what looks like a schoolyard stacks-on.

It was tender and playfully rough and makes you curious about Hardwick and what qualities he has to command such affection.

“Whether you’re playing for Richmond or playing for Rochester, players want to be with their coach,” Gale said when asked about the unscripted eruption.

“They want to hear from their coach, they want feedback from their coach, they want that proximity with their coach.

“Over the past few years as footy has evolved, we’ve put more and more blockages in front of that, really. We’ve got assistant coaches, we’ve got meetings, we’ve got a full schedule, coaches are being pulled in so many different directions.

“You can have the best list and the best game plans and the strongest, the fastest and the fittest, but if you don’t have that fundamental connection with your coach, you’re not going to execute under pressure or when it’s hard.”

The reaction from the players was instantaneous and real and for every fan who doesn’t barrack for the Tigers, you can only hope the connection between your coach and his players is so powerful.

Does Buckley have it at Collingwood? Worsfold at Essendon? Lyon at Fremantle? Bolton at Carlton? Any of the coaches? Some of the coaches?

You wonder what they thought, if they have seen it, of the Richmond players’ reaction to what was a largely expected announcement.

Are they envious, curious, do they question their own relationships with the players, singularly and collectively?

Of course, a premiership helps, but it was the connection before the premiership which delivered the flag to Richmond.

“Part of Dimma’s growth was recognising what he’s good at and what are his values and what makes him him,” Gale said.

“To say that of itself explains why we won the premiership is simplistic because we obviously had some great players, some good additions and a game plan that played to the strengths.

“I wouldn’t know because I sit in an office, but I think we’re entitled to ask have we over-complicated things.

“It’s become an elite, high-performance program, everything is quantified and measured and benchmarked and it’s scientific ... but surely the real priority is the relationship, the connection between players and between the players and the coach and the coaches.

“That’s what you saw on the video. I’ve been around footy cubs and I can see it, I can smell it when it’s not there.”

Football is connection and belonging. And Richmond is swimming in it. From players and the coach, as we see on the video, to the mighty Richmond army.

This week, the Tigers passed the all-time AFL membership mark. They clocked over 82,000 members and we’re still two-and-a-half weeks from Round 1.

Indeed, football is connection at all levels.

It’s why the disconnect between small towns and leagues and the AFL right now is of major concern.

Country footy and netball is about community. There’s a sense of belonging, about gathering on a Saturday to watch the thirds, the ressies and the ones, and cooking the barbie, making sandwiches and taking turns behind the bar.

The AFL must be careful about messing with the fabric of country football because it also messes with the fabric and soul of small towns.

Football has connected indigenous Australia and non-indigenous more than anything else in this country. And it’s why the disconnect in Tasmania is felt by many across the AFL states. Why leave Tassie to wither? Why AFL?

The Hardwick video clip points to something much bigger.

Of course, it won’t last forever at Richmond.

Luke Beveridge can testify to that. At the end of 2016, it was stacks on Beveridge and 12 months later the Bulldogs didn’t even play finals.

“We know it’s a ruthlessly competitive business,” Gale said.

“I know the players are humble and very hungry, they’ve got the taste, and the connection is strong. But there’s no guarantees in football.”

Is Robbo off the booze or what?

 

[demondavey]

Is Robbo of the booze or what?

He was due

 

[BF Tiger]

Disappointed OP has stopped at b2b, when we're all thinking threepeat at a minimum.

 

[Nebular]

Lads, I know you don’t want to get carried away, but if I said you’d just scrape into the top 6 you’d defend your flag opportunities in 2018 with vim and vigour!

I think that based on what I’ve seen, you look really really sharp. I give you a very good opportunity. Very good.

Always thought you were level headed in your comments on the main board no matter what was being discussed. Very unbigfootylike.

I think a majority of us would agree we could finish anywhere in the top 8. I am quietly confident of top 2, but it could be that we just scrape into the 8.

A lot of things need to go right for us to win the flag again but I believe we have the gameplan and players to do it.

I'm also confident that we can still make the grand final even if we don't make top 4.

But it all depends on injury, opposition form, and whether a butterfly flaps it's wings in africa at the right time.

 

[DickieKnee]

Disappointed OP has stopped at b2b, when we're all thinking threepeat at a minimum.

I'd be disappointed in anything less than a 3peat to be honest.

 

[_Wang_]

I've already #eco 'd

 

[Fraser67]

Very respectful post & good points you raise. I don't take much at all from practice matches but the thing I'm most pleased with is the way we've gone about both of them. The players look hungry for more which is a great sign they're not satisfied with just reaching the summit once. We've got a strong game plan that suits finals, players that believe in each other & we're not short of talent despite what some opposition supporters think. We've got self belief because we've achieved the ultimate. Can we do it ? Absolutely. Will we ? Much more difficult to say. We probably won't get as good an injury run, other teams are improving, we'll be the hunted now. History says it's very difficult to do. Fingers crossed planets align again. Can't take anything for granted. For what it's worth I think the Dees are a decent show this year if things click for you

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

What we currently have at Richmond...won't last for ever....

 

[HTT]

The actual results from the pre season aren't really indicative of our form - but they do indicate a premiership hangover is unlikely. I'm mainly looking at our season post the St Kilda debacle for an idea of what we could be like. Something after that - and particularly in the last 5 games - just clicked from an offensive perspective. For what seemed like most of the season we'd scrape our way to 70-80 odd on the back of one big quarter. In the last 5 we scored almost at will. I've got no doubt our list has improvement in it - Butler, Castagna, Rioli, Graham, Broad, Nankervis, McIntosh, and Vlastuin all still should improve dramatically, and that's just from the premiership team itself. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely excited by the prospects of our list. We should be back up there again.

But there'll be a number of other sides up there with us - Adelaide, Geelong, Sydney, GWS almost certainly will be up there again, and then Melbourne, Port, Essendon and even the Bulldogs could jump right in there. That could be 9 teams total, and I wouldn't be completely shocked if any won the flag. It's a very even competition now, and even a 4 week long lapse could completely destroy our chances. Like almost all other premiership sides, we need a bit of luck with injuries. A lot still needs to go your way to win a flag. Should be a fun season.

 

[Gosha]

Form means f*** all now, especially in the JLT series and against two shithouse teams. Sides will have a full season to figure us out and they’ve already had the whole pre-season. Eventually our game plan will expire, just hope we have a plan B for when it does.

 

[biaseddustyfan]

Form means f*** all now, especially in the JLT series and against two shithouse teams. Sides will have a full season to figure us out and they’ve already had the whole pre-season. Eventually our game plan will expire, just hope we have a plan B for when it does.

they figured us out 10 rounds into last year n couldn't do shit. we are better now so good luck to the spud oppo sides stopping us in 2018

only worry is GWS in a final otherwise easy 2peat on the cards. hopefully someone else knocks them out for us while we pump geelol at the G again

 

[fumbler]

Pump us up all you like.

 

[TigerImposter]

Lads, I know you don’t want to get carried away, but if I said you’d just scrape into the top 6 you’d defend your flag opportunities in 2018 with vim and vigour!

I think that based on what I’ve seen, you look really really sharp. I give you a very good opportunity. Very good.

Personally ICGAF what you think unless you convert to a Tiger on the spot.

 

[thecotch]

We WILL be 2018 premiers. Bookmark it.

 

[Rezza Tiger]

I thought we were underrated all the way through 2017 even after winning the flag. In retrospect I think our 2017 season was one of the best seasons put together by a team from start to finish in recent times. A few hiccups in the H&A rounds and a demolition throughout the finals. I think we will pick up where we left off and will just need the footy gods on our side for another tilt.

 

[smasha]

Spirit,belief.

We had tons of spirit last year but this year our belief will go through the roof.

Players like Caddy already are looking to improve on last year.

Towno,Lambert,Short,Broad,Graham these five will also improve on the great Tiger toughness and belief we already have.

Nank ,bloody big and bulky but so mobile and can kick a goal,love this player.

Big Neil Balme for instilling belief in the playing group and Leppa,Ruttin and Caracella for their coaching prowess.

Roll on 2018.

Another element which every team needs to win a flag is luck,hopefully that carries on to this year as well.

Who doesn’t love Peggy and Benny,may they stay at Richmond as long as they can.

 

[YeOldTiger]

Very early crow. A ball hasn't been bounced yet. It is good to be mentioned in despatches tho. That's a nice change and the first time in a loooong time. What I like is the hunger seems to be there. Competition for spots. Promising young guns coming through and players banging on the door. That's healthy. Clearly The Connection is real. We're not imagining it. Back to back would be cherry but I just love seeing them hang a real crack.

What's with the Michaelia Cash like reference to Luke Beverage ? Do you withdraw it only if anyone is offended ?

 

[THE_GUN]

No Chance B2B - We fluked it and #lolnorf have a better list than Richmond without Martin - Snake_Baker

 

[Madtiger2006]

Top 4 certainties

 

[The Dice Man]

itshappening.gif

 

[THECHIEFTON]

I think last year was only the beginning. I think we can and will improve alot. Some people think we have peaked. I think the end of last year we only just figured out how good we can be.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Last year i thought we were a chance to win it...and it was a thrilling ride!
This year i'm not so sure...and it's scary! cos i want to win it!