After reaching the finals for the first time in 12 seasons last year, it was widely expected that Richmond would take the next step up and contend for a top-four position in 2014.
Instead, the Tigers crashed to their 10th loss of the season, after failing to convert a strong first half against the Sydney Swans.
Damien Hardwick’s men entered the match against the Swans believing they could take it right up to them; after all, they had won three of their last five against the red and white, though all three had been at the MCG.
The Swans were coming off eight consecutive wins and appeared flat after not only defeating Port Adelaide in front of 41,000 fans at the SCG last week, but also coming off a six-day break and with key players Dan Hannebery and Kurt Tippett out injured.
The Swans were slow to start the match, as Richmond built up a three-goal lead at quarter time. After Brett Deledio goalled midway through the second quarter, the Tigers were 26 points up and a fourth victory this season was within sight.
But from there the Swans rediscovered their form, with four goals from Lance Franklin helping the Swans win by 11 points and extend their winning streak to nine.
The defeat continues what has been a poor season from the Tigers this year. Hardwick’s men could find themselves on the bottom of the ladder after 14 rounds if the Greater Western Sydney Giants, Brisbane Lions and St Kilda all spring upsets this round.
Richmond’s horror season all started with a three-goal loss to bogey side the Suns on the Gold Coast in Round 1. Apart from last season, when they finally got it right against one of the AFL’s improving teams, the Tigers have struggled to contain the talent-laden Suns outfit.
They started to find some form with wins over Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, the latter being at the Gabba where the Tigers haven’t lost since 2004. However, three more losses, including an upset 20-point loss to Melbourne in Round 9, saw the critics all but write the Tigers off for 2014.
Add to that Jack Riewoldt’s criticism of their game plan from the loss to the Demons and you had a team that was further in crisis. After avoiding being dropped by Hardwick, he and the Tigers bounced back in the most devastating way possible, and it was the Giants on the receiving end.
Riewoldt kicked 11 goals against the hapless Giants to not only boost his chances of winning a third Coleman Medal, but also single-handedly (and supposedly) get the Tigers’ season back on track with the 113-point victory.
Any faint hope the Tigers had of repeating their run to last September were revived, but it would be short-lived as they reverted back to their old ways seven nights later against Essendon, losing in the annual ‘Dreamtime at the G’ match by 50 points.
Two of the Tigers’ last three matches have seen very good first halves, but poor second ones.
The match that has undoubtedly been the story of their season was the Round 12 loss to North Melbourne, when they led by 35 points at half-time only to completely unravel in the second half. In the third quarter of that match, they coughed up eight unanswered goals in just under 20 minutes on their way to a 28-point loss.
Almost the same was displayed against the Swans on Friday night; after leading by 26 points late in the second quarter, they kicked only one goal for the remainder of the match.
The loss has all but ended Richmond’s finals hopes, and now their biggest challenge will be not only to avoid the wooden spoon, but also to win back the respect of fans.
While the team could not win where it mattered most, at least four players could hold their heads high, with Dustin Martin, Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin and Bachar Houli all gaining at least 30 disposals. It was a good team effort from the Tigers but had Riewoldt received more support, the Tigers could have pulled off a morale-boosting victory over the competition heavyweights.
It’s pretty clear last year’s finals breakthrough was a one-off, as has been the case since 1982, with the Tigers reaching only three finals series since then. Their previous two finals appearances prior to last year came in 1995 and 2001.
Compare the Tigers’ recent finals woes to that of the Sydney Swans, who have missed the finals only three times since reaching the grand final in 1996. Prior to that, the Swans were the laughing stock of the AFL, picking up a hat-trick of wooden spoons between 1992 and 1994.
That surprise grand final appearance has proven to be the turning point in the history of not only the Sydney Swans, but also the game of Australian rules football in New South Wales.
We all know what the Swans achieved in the almost two decades since then; they have produced one dual Brownlow Medallist in Adam Goodes, won two premierships (2005 and 2012), and developed the ‘no dickheads’ policy which has even been praised by rugby union’s All Blacks.
If the Tigers are to find their way out of their poor recent finals record, which stretches back more than three decades, they need not look back at what the Swans have achieved.
Maybe one day the men from Punt Road may develop their own dynasty or culture, and if they can maintain it for the long term – something the Swans have been able to do under Rodney Eade, Paul Roos and now John Longmire – then the Tigers might be onto something in the near future.
But for now, the rest of the season will be about trying to salvage something. Even if they win most of their remainders and make a late charge, they could still finish in that all-too-familiar position of ninth.
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