This time is is somehow ... different

[Rimmer]

I have followed the Tigers a long time, a very long time ...

Something is happening that I don't remember seeing in all of those long lost years.

Seriously we still don't have the cattle to compare with the Geelong's and StKilda's but we seem to have something.

How to put it ... when we were being cut up in early games this year we were still winning clearances and hard ball gets with our novice midfield locking horns with the best ... we were sort of like a fat toddler trying to stand up ... we kept sitting on the cat but we kept trying to get up.

... for the past 5 weeks we have been able to stand up ...

Geelong had a moment in 2007 and a team of capable middle of the ladder battlers suddenly became a 'team', a dynasty and one of the best teams to have ever played ... (don't read anything extra into that comment, it is meant just to show that sometimes what you have is better than you thought ... confused?)

What is happening to us?

I have a sense every week that we can win; we don't have the problem, the other team does! I can't remember having that feeling, at least not for a very long time.

Hardwick arrived with his plan, with his dreams hopes and expectations, just like all of our recent coaches ... is he really THAT good?

Something is happening...

... maybe next time we sit on the cat it will be because we want too

 

[Bojangles17]

I'll put it simply rimmer, dimma has arrived at Punt rd with a plan that has TEAM first and that has not been seen at punt rd since Tom Hafey,,,make of that what you will

 

[godsofrichmond]

I like others saw some great positives from the Hawthorn game. And in a small way the freo one.

One of my favourite parts of the hawks game was Newman. He wears Captian Jacks number because of his position. And for me...that was the first time he was a leader. No he wasnt the best player on the ground. But he bled black and yellow sunday. When he came running up the centre of the ground after kicking that (captians) goal.....gripping at his jumper like it actually meant something to him. And his team mates....his younger team mates saw it...and responded.
All of us supporters share hope for a better season next year, a finals appearence....even a flag. and we have been let down for a long time. What i saw creeping into our young cubs....was belief. In games past, when the opposite team started to kick away in the last quater...we would fade away. Now granted the hawks wearnt that good. But we didnt fade....we moved forward. we advanced. and we threatend. We believed that we could do it.
If the group can hold onto that belief....develop and stick together....us supporters wont need hopee anymore....the opposition will.

Like the tigers of old........cant wait to see and hear that line!

That was my post on 18th of may....just after the hawks game. i saw it then. I think the key word is "Belief". How often are you seeing it now. The players believe, the supporters believe.... like you im as excited as ive ever been. Especially that im more excited to see what happens in the next two seasons.

 

[peejay]

I'll put it simply rimmer, dimma has arrived at Punt rd with a plan that has TEAM first and that has not been seen at punt rd since Tom Hafey,,,make of that what you will

And we have benny Gale as CEO - lets not underplay the footy nouse this guy has got - kinda ties everything together.

 

[Bojangles17]

And we have benny Gale as CEO - lets not underplay the footy nouse this guy has got - kinda ties everything together.

too right I don't underestiamte that, tis not coincidence that the contenders are all elad by quality managers...benny is a smart cookie

 

[Bojangles17]

And we have benny Gale as CEO - lets not underplay the footy nouse this guy has got - kinda ties everything together.

too right I don't underestiamte that, tis not coincidence that the contenders are all elad by quality managers...benny is one smart cookie, funny when he came out with that plan, the wider community looked on like he was on drugs, I suspect there's a bit of jizz on a few mugs out there right now

 

[mcuzzy]

this feels far different to 08/09

 

[pcara]

The main difference is that we are winning with young kids,rather than old recycled players such as Graham,etc in Wallace's first year.
Hopefully these kids are not playing above themselves and we are too getting excited, only to be dissapointed again.

I just hope these kids continue to improve so that we have a sustained period of success.

I have too many scars from previous years to believe that we will not fall in a heap again. But at the moment I am loving the ride.

 

[Greg Brady]

Belief. Your mobs got it at the mo and its great to see. Players give a handball knowing that they've given it to someone in a better position, they kick it into the 50 knowing that young Roo will at least make a decent contest.

And finally your midfield will grow and improve and be immense very soon!

gb

 

[tugga]

Belief. Your mobs got it at the mo and its great to see. Players give a handball knowing that they've given it to someone in a better position, they kick it into the 50 knowing that young Roo will at least make a decent contest.

And finally your midfield will grow and improve and be immense very soon!

gb

Agree and also our kids can make mistakes and take the odd risks knowing that the coach will applaud them for it rather than bag out on them in by name in the rooms after the game accusing them of 'ruining my career'.

 

[Simmonds2Hislop]

Yesterday felt different in a good way.

For the first time ever I felt like I was watching an actual football team, not a piss weak rabble who can't kick or run the other way.

It was nice to see another team actually have to work to get it out of their defensive 50 rather than just waltz out and get it to the wing before we've blinked.

 

[IDGAF]

Lets not start sucking each others c..ks just yet .

...But

A group of players all coming through the system together ... disciplined .... adhering to goals and standards .

Knowing each other and thier games.

Playing for each other

The whole f..king tanking debate ... god it shits me . More high end draft picks has never been our panacea . A bloke like Damien Hardwick is proving to be . Culture ... ethos

Team first attitudes ... not accepting anything less . If they can turn Daniel Connors around which is looking very much like the case then the sky is the limit for mine . He was on the srcapheap

The improvement in White , Graham and Edwards ... astounding . White has been sooo influential when he was all but written off ... written off by Wallace and the faithful ... amazing what confidence , direction and a gameplan can do .

What we need to see is these steps being replicated for a year ... two years ... three years ... then we can start gobbing each other . but Gee ... we better start puckering up

 

[IDGAF]

accusing them of 'ruining my career'.

What a shitman ... seriously .

 

[mcuzzy]

i honestly don't care if i don't see us make a prelim. or anything. making the finals for a few years with the team in high spirits such as we're seeing now is more satisfying for me when we were dominating and the team kind of had a 'meh' attitude

 

[yarran13]

From my point of view I can only agree that it's different. Finally there is a genuine future champ of the game in Martin at Richmond. He is the type you can build a midfield around, he's the type that will take the number one tag and allow others to develop quicker. Jack Riewoldt, I didn't (and probably hoped) that he wouldn't start living up to his potential but he is, and is the type you can build a forward line around. Your backline will be very good in a couple of years too.

I hate the Richmond footy club but I can't wait until they play finals again, and congrats to all you supporters that are sticking through and turning up to games through the tough times I certainly know how hard it is. It will make the wins in the near future feel so much better.

It will be good to see a Carlton Vs Richmond GF in a few years... we can only hope and support the teams we love.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Yesterday felt different in a good way.

For the first time ever I felt like I was watching an actual football team, not a piss weak rabble who can't kick or run the other way.

It was nice to see another team actually have to work to get it out of their defensive 50 rather than just waltz out and get it to the wing before we've blinked.

...exactly......
...this young side is slowly starting to go in the right footy direction...
...with passion, enthusiasm and growing football skill...
...4 out of 5 games won in the most convincing manner in the past weeks...
...dimma and co have moulded a team, something money and draftpicks can never buy...
...a team that plays for the jumper...
...a team that plays for each other...
...a team that has a growing belief in itself to achieve history...
...a team that loves to play...
...as a result the general public are slowly starting to notice them and respond to their new found success...
...the media love them...
...papers and tv cannot get enough pictures of them winning...
...the footy air in general is permeated with this strange new love for the young tigers in their recent passionate football wins...
...but i say i cant wait till they start to hate us!!!......
...hate us for winning...
...hate us for being successfull...
...hate...
...hate...
...hate the richmond football club...
...then i'll know that dimma and co have done their mighty job!......

 

[Rancid_Beasties]

Morton went on a little bit of a rampage after that spray though, kicked 15 goals in the next 5 weeks. Maybe Hardwick should have a few harsh words with him, something along the lines of: terry said you ended his career, now it feels like you're ending your own.

 

[sante]

We're building a team just like Geelong has done. These guys will play footy together for 10 years and it will bring success.

 

[Tiger67]

Lets not start sucking each others c..ks just yet .

...But

A group of players all coming through the system together ... disciplined .... adhering to goals and standards .

Knowing each other and thier games.

Playing for each other

The whole f..king tanking debate ... god it shits me . More high end draft picks has never been our panacea . A bloke like Damien Hardwick is proving to be . Culture ... ethos

Team first attitudes ... not accepting anything less . If they can turn Daniel Connors around which is looking very much like the case then the sky is the limit for mine . He was on the srcapheap

The improvement in White , Graham and Edwards ... astounding . White has been sooo influential when he was all but written off ... written off by Wallace and the faithful ... amazing what confidence , direction and a gameplan can do .

What we need to see is these steps being replicated for a year ... two years ... three years ... then we can start gobbing each other . but Gee ... we better start puckering up

You really do worry me at times IDDY.
However ..... removing the bolded part I agree with everything else you said .

 

[Bojangles17]

Lets not start sucking each others c..ks just yet .

...But

A group of players all coming through the system together ... disciplined .... adhering to goals and standards .

Knowing each other and thier games.

Playing for each other

The whole f..king tanking debate ... god it shits me . More high end draft picks has never been our panacea . A bloke like Damien Hardwick is proving to be . Culture ... ethos

Team first attitudes ... not accepting anything less . If they can turn Daniel Connors around which is looking very much like the case then the sky is the limit for mine . He was on the srcapheap

The improvement in White , Graham and Edwards ... astounding . White has been sooo influential when he was all but written off ... written off by Wallace and the faithful ... amazing what confidence , direction and a gameplan can do .

What we need to see is these steps being replicated for a year ... two years ... three years ... then we can start gobbing each other . but Gee ... we better start puckering up

when talking improvement of the players pal, Id start with Lids, he's gone from a flashy precocious talent to a bloody star that is performing week in week out and seriously putting it on the line...that's the first credit in dimmas book for mine

 

[Simmonds2Hislop]

From my point of view I can only agree that it's different. Finally there is a genuine future champ of the game in Martin at Richmond. He is the type you can build a midfield around, he's the type that will take the number one tag and allow others to develop quicker. Jack Riewoldt, I didn't (and probably hoped) that he wouldn't start living up to his potential but he is, and is the type you can build a forward line around. Your backline will be very good in a couple of years too.

There's already a young bloke on our list doing that role.

 

[RW]

Bruce said it best after the game yesterday:

"That's the stuff that makes a footy club, doesn't it, and a team"

And I'm looking forward to seeing the development of this TEAM.

Geez, I am in a strange mood, aren't I. We just got beaten by the bottom side (well, not anymore ) and I am on here singing your blokes' praises. But they deserve it. Not that you guys should get carried away yet - the challenge now as another poster said is to replicate that attitude for a year so that nothing less will be accepted.

 

[Tetley Tigers]

I must admit that I do get a rush of blood when I see Martin taking off with the ball.

 

[Tiger4Ever]

I think Cuz summed it perfectly the other week when he said that we are "taking baby steps, but they are often the most beautiful to watch".
I think this group is really starting to build something special. You can see what the wins are meaning to this talented but largely inexperienced side. They are loving playing for and with each other, after being kicked in the guts weekly by the media, compared to Fitzroy in their death throws. It seems to have built determination, resolve and a bit of 'Tiger Pride' in this side to just prove them wrong.

Benny and Dimma's appointments could not have made me a happier tiger supporter and we are slowly but surely waking the beast.

*Pissed myself laughing at classified referring to us as "the new glamour team of the AFL" on good call/bad call tonight, these are the same clowns that were describing us as inept and not up to AFL standard 6 or 7 weeks ago. Must think we don't have anything but short term memories!

 

[IDGAF]

when talking improvement of the players pal, Id start with Lids, he's gone from a flashy precocious talent to a bloody star that is performing week in week out and seriously putting it on the line...that's the first credit in dimmas book for mine

good call ... throw Chris Newman in for good measure . been the best month of footy of his career .