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Now it's official, Richmond is a rabble
13 April 2004 Herald Sun
WHEN a club sits at the bottom of football's darkest hole, the upside about meeting an opponent in the same bind is the chance to pinch a win.
The downside, though, is that a loss will snuff out the last remaining ray of hope. Lose and all hope is lost.
The stakes are massive for both Geelong and Richmond at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
Forget Essendon v Carlton, West Coast v Brisbane, the Roos v Sydney; as perverse as it may be, it's Geelong and Richmond that carries the broadest appeal in Round 4.
Richmond and Geelong have one win between them this year and administrations and coaches under fierce and mounting scrutiny.
Geelong has seven wins from its past 25 starts; Richmond eight, but just two from its most recent 17.
Danny Frawley (Richmond) and Mark Thompson (Geelong) both are fifth-year coaches.
While Geelong regained a little honour on Saturday night with a spirited performance against Sydney, Richmond's credibility fell again yesterday when it was towelled up by St Kilda by 45 points.
In the corresponding game last year, Richmond won by 26 points.
It was the occasion when St Kilda coach Grant Thomas famously declared his team superior to the Tigers, which, of course, we all know now to be true.
The only constant about Richmond is its ability to make you ask: is football that difficult?
The Tigers are a rabble. They play a possession game with a group incapable of executing basic skills under pressure, and seem blind to the benefits attached to going forward long and directly.
Then again, perhaps they don't go long and straight because there's no one to aim at. Matthew Richardson was out of the game in the opening minutes with a hamstring problem, and the void was never filled.
When St Kilda skipped away to a 23-point lead in the second quarter, it seemed Richmond revised its pre-match aims to settle for a loss by as few points as possible.
The extra man went back into defence, creating the farce of three and even four St Kilda defenders for each opponent when Richmond managed to go inside the forward 50 from then on.
After kicking 7.2 in the first half, Richmond added just 3.7 in the second. The defensive plan did nothing but create an ugly spectacle, with the Saints restricted to 6.12 after halftime.
Perhaps it was so congested, the Saints couldn't distinguish goal posts from behind posts.
Nathan Brown illustrates Richmond's long-running problem of lack of class. The former Bulldog is one of precious few players with the skills required to win and use the footy against quality opposition.
On exposed form this year, Andrew Krakouer is next best, and he is 21 with 37 games to his name.
Kane Johnson is excused. While you wouldn't back him in Channel 7's old favourite, , his work ethic and courage are faultless.
Richmond has two or three players out of their depth at the level and a couple of decorated players performing significantly below previous standards.
St Kilda's progress, though, should be acknowledged.
The Saints are three from three, and very exciting.
Riewoldt keeps taking hangers, Jones constantly reminds us of the value of accurate disposal, Gehrig looks sharper and keener than he's ever been, Powell hustles and bustles, Hayes and Harvey plough on, and Ball builds his reputation by the week.
Only top-quality players kick goals from 50m with their non-preferred foot in the tense opening minutes of a game on the way to 21 possessions for the match. That's class
13 April 2004 Herald Sun
WHEN a club sits at the bottom of football's darkest hole, the upside about meeting an opponent in the same bind is the chance to pinch a win.
The downside, though, is that a loss will snuff out the last remaining ray of hope. Lose and all hope is lost.
The stakes are massive for both Geelong and Richmond at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
Forget Essendon v Carlton, West Coast v Brisbane, the Roos v Sydney; as perverse as it may be, it's Geelong and Richmond that carries the broadest appeal in Round 4.
Richmond and Geelong have one win between them this year and administrations and coaches under fierce and mounting scrutiny.
Geelong has seven wins from its past 25 starts; Richmond eight, but just two from its most recent 17.
Danny Frawley (Richmond) and Mark Thompson (Geelong) both are fifth-year coaches.
While Geelong regained a little honour on Saturday night with a spirited performance against Sydney, Richmond's credibility fell again yesterday when it was towelled up by St Kilda by 45 points.
In the corresponding game last year, Richmond won by 26 points.
It was the occasion when St Kilda coach Grant Thomas famously declared his team superior to the Tigers, which, of course, we all know now to be true.
The only constant about Richmond is its ability to make you ask: is football that difficult?
The Tigers are a rabble. They play a possession game with a group incapable of executing basic skills under pressure, and seem blind to the benefits attached to going forward long and directly.
Then again, perhaps they don't go long and straight because there's no one to aim at. Matthew Richardson was out of the game in the opening minutes with a hamstring problem, and the void was never filled.
When St Kilda skipped away to a 23-point lead in the second quarter, it seemed Richmond revised its pre-match aims to settle for a loss by as few points as possible.
The extra man went back into defence, creating the farce of three and even four St Kilda defenders for each opponent when Richmond managed to go inside the forward 50 from then on.
After kicking 7.2 in the first half, Richmond added just 3.7 in the second. The defensive plan did nothing but create an ugly spectacle, with the Saints restricted to 6.12 after halftime.
Perhaps it was so congested, the Saints couldn't distinguish goal posts from behind posts.
Nathan Brown illustrates Richmond's long-running problem of lack of class. The former Bulldog is one of precious few players with the skills required to win and use the footy against quality opposition.
On exposed form this year, Andrew Krakouer is next best, and he is 21 with 37 games to his name.
Kane Johnson is excused. While you wouldn't back him in Channel 7's old favourite, , his work ethic and courage are faultless.
Richmond has two or three players out of their depth at the level and a couple of decorated players performing significantly below previous standards.
St Kilda's progress, though, should be acknowledged.
The Saints are three from three, and very exciting.
Riewoldt keeps taking hangers, Jones constantly reminds us of the value of accurate disposal, Gehrig looks sharper and keener than he's ever been, Powell hustles and bustles, Hayes and Harvey plough on, and Ball builds his reputation by the week.
Only top-quality players kick goals from 50m with their non-preferred foot in the tense opening minutes of a game on the way to 21 possessions for the match. That's class

