Tiger wrap

[Piping Shrike]

If I may offer my summary of Michelangelo Rucci's summation/prediction in the Advertiser today (they're doing one for each team):

Richmond Football Club is a joke
Richmond's team is a joke
Richmond's coaching staff is a joke
Prediction: Bottom Four - in fact based on their review you'd think 13 and 14th would be a big ask.

A dismal read indeed!

 

[Rodan#18.]

who ?

so a glorified troll from adelaide has an opinion richmond won't measure up ?



we'll just see about that...

 

[TheFoxhat]

Fine it's typical of an Adelaide Newspaper & i suppose Port & the Crows will finish 1&2 as well ....
As my dad always used to say to me "Son if you can't what you read in The Truth then what can you belive"....

 

[One-eyed Tiger]

Tigers must win respect: Frawley
By MICHELANGELO RUCCI
07mar03

IN 1995, on a sunny Melbourne day in September, the siren announcing Richmond had beaten Essendon in a semi-final never echoed because the MCG quickly reverberated to the repeated singing of the Tigers' club song.

The great pilgrimage through football's wilderness – a decade of no finals action – seemed over. It was another false prophecy.

Every year since, the Tigers have lived off that promise but delivered very little. Just one finals series in the seven seasons since, three coaches and just as much change off the field. But little credibility.

It is a club which subjects itself to ridicule. And this has stuck under the skin of fourth-year coach Danny Frawley, who cannot expect patience in his tenure to hold if the Tigers stumble again.

"The respect was there at the end of 2001," says Frawley, overstating the conclusions drawn after Richmond reached the preliminary finals that season. Reality was no-one could afford Richmond any respect until it established itself as a consistent finalist.

Season 2002 brought the crash from third to 14th.

"Everyone was still waiting and seeing," admits Frawley. "And that was the disappointing part – not to back it up and play in successive finals series.

"Without talking about where we might finish, you only gain respect by winning more than you lose. Our expectations are of gaining some respect back in the competition."

Once again there is much anticipation and brash confidence at Punt Rd.

The Tigers believe they have strengthened their midfield by signing two gun players who have tasted premiership success – Justin Blumfield from Essendon and Kane Johnson from Adelaide.

And Richmond expects its home-grown midfielders, David Rodan and Mark Coughland, to vastly improve this season. Frawley also believes it is time to move the exciting Andrew Krakouer out of his apprenticeship role in a forward pocket to work his quick hands in the midfield.

But the doubts over Richmond's midfield are not only related to personnel but how this crucial section is managed from the coach's box when put under intense pressure.

On either side of the midfield there are vital questions to be answered. They range from the ability of key players to match expectations with performance – forward Matthew Richardson, ruckman Brad Ottens, full back Darren Gaspar and young gun Aaron Fiora.

Richmond cannot afford to be built around Wayne Campbell and Joel Bowden and cameos.

Until there is solid proof of a true revival at Punt Rd, don't expect much.

Burning question

Q: Only one question is on the lips of the Tiger fans – can Richmond make the finals this year?

A: Anything is possible in the AFL but the inconsistency of Richmond suggests a realist would not expect a finals appearance from the Tigers. There are still too many question marks hanging over Punt Rd – and in every facet of the Richmond line-up, from the moods of key forward Matthew Richardson to the durability of the Tigers' defence. And the biggest question marks rest over the midfield, despite Richmond being upbeat about trading up with Kane Johnson and Justin Blumfield.

2002 at a glance

Position: 14th
Win-loss: 7-15
Players used: 34
Points for average: 82
Points against average: 99
Best and fairest: Wayne Campbell
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Richardson (36 in 13 games)
Most kicks: Joel Bowden (334)
Most handballs: Wayne Campbell (216)
Most marks: Andrew Kellaway (139)

Vital stats

Total Players 39
Average Age 23.9
Average Games 70

Players to watch

Matthew Richardson
IF Australian television was advanced enough to allow fans to ignore the total context of a match to watch just one player, on Player Cam, there is no doubt Matthew Richardson would have a high subscription rate. Few players are more under the microscope than Richardson, the enigmatic forward who was dumped to the reserves last year after he dropped the bottom lip and gave up chasing the ball if it was not put on his chest. They say "Richo" is the soul of Tigerland and this prompted a three-year contract for him. Other clubs would have put him on notice with a one-year deal.

Darren Gaspar
ANOTHER Tiger who was handed the big bucks but has disappointed in return. After being an All-Australian defender in seasons 2000 and 2001 and Richmond's best-and-fairest winner in 2001, Gaspar was – as commentator Denis Cometti noted – just a ghost of the defender who confidently thrust himself at every play, reading the game perfectly. The instant excuse is the floodgates had opened in the Richmond midfield ... but Gaspar's reputation also is under the microscope this year.

Coming and going

IN: Justin Blumfield. Gained from Essendon for draft pick No. 28. Key addition to Tigers' toothless midfield.
Kane Johnson. Gained from Adelaide for Jason Torney and three draft picks. If the body stays sounds, the Tigers will rejoice in his power in the midfield.
Jay Schulz. No. 12 draft pick from Woodville-West Torrens. Strong-marking forward.
Tim Fleming. No. 41 draft pick. Ex-Carlton reserves. Hard midfielder with plenty of run.
Bill Nicholls. No. 47 draft pick. Recycled from Hawthorn list. Half-forward who can slip into the midfield.
Daniel Sipthorp. No. 62 draft pick from Calder under-18s. Utility.

OUT: Jason Torney. To Adelaide.
Ezra Poyas. To Melbourne rookie list.
Matthew Knights. Retired.
Paul Hudson. Retired.
Steven Sziller. Retired.
Craig Ednie. Delisted.
Scott Homewood. Delisted.

We predict

Bottom four

 

[Brad-clare]

Would you really care what that twit has to to say anyway? I read his book on the Port Adelaide Footy Club "Dynasty' and I reckon it would have to be the book which could have been cut in half had he not kept repeating his crap about Port being such a great club full of tradition. Living in SA I get so sick of crows and power and if nothing else in the season i hope we beat both these up starts. GO TIGES

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

homegrown talent in coughlan?
this just shows he has no idea what he is talking about.

cheers!

 

[donkey trucker]

Bandwagon

oh who else wants to jump on the bandwagon. they had on aw talkback the same thing. the four teams that would not make the eight.
oh do behave! the press would prolly try and guess how many times jacko scratched his head.
I cant see what matters, the tigers are there and if they do make the finals then the press will jump on the bandwagon. or, if they don't. i'm sure they'll help someone else not make it! i'm sure the tigers will help make another enjoyable AFL year.I will be getting a tiger home game membership and the fact that they finished last year in the lower part of the ladder,doesnt phase me one bit! is all relative i enjoy richmond games and i will be there yelling my support for the tigers and the game of football. I would be wrapped if they got up there and won a flag reason to celebrate but i'm still gonn a go if they lose
players put alot on the line ....all players .... is a big game very competitive game heaps of guys don't make it. some of these critical ****ers should try and play footy afl level
I spose its apart of the game you have to take with a grain of salt "the Pressjunkett" headline addicts

 

[diggler]

I saw the article to and agreed 100% with it. We have been a joke for years. Do you really think they are going to say we are top 4 material with our track record of capitulation? Only one way to change this perception.

 

[Tigers_Goddess]

Admit it diggles you wrote the article

 

[TigerFurious]

I'll go with Diggler on this one. That article is spot-on.

Surprising considering its from South Australia, I suppose that law of averages says they will get something right eventually.