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Ten weeks ago, after Richmond lost to the Sydney Swans by 11 points on the Friday night stage at the MCG, I wrote on article on The Roar asking where it all went wrong for the club this year.
Their tenth loss of season 2014 saw them slump to 16th on the ladder with a 3-10 record, ahead of only the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda. At the time, it appeared as though finals would be a virtual impossibility for the Tigers.
It was suggested that the rest of the season would be used to regain some respect and salvage something from what had been a disappointing season for Damien Hardwick’s men, who last year reached the finals for the first time since 2001, finishing fifth and ultimately losing an elimination final to Carlton.
But flash forward ten weeks and nine consecutive victories later and the Tigers have come from nowhere to clinch the last place in the eight and sentence the West Coast Eagles and Adelaide Crows to finish their seasons by playing dead rubbers.
The Tigers entered the round having climbed into the eight for the first time this year courtesy of a 26-point victory over St Kilda last week, which marked their eighth in succession since that loss to the Swans on June 20.
Thus, entering their final round rematch against the Swans, a finals berth was at their mercy – a win by any margin would see them guaranteed September action for a second consecutive year, while a loss would have left the door open for the Eagles or Crows to inherit their place in the eight.
Their task was made slightly easier when Lance “Buddy” Franklin was rested with a minor knee injury, adding to a Swans casualty list which already included Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn, Craig Bird and Mike Pyke.
What resulted was the Tigers’ best start to a match for a while when they kicked the first 33 points of the match. It was to be, defensively, the Swans’ worst first quarter for the season.
That would provide the basis for one of the Tigers’ best wins of the season, eventually hanging on to win by three points after the Swans threatened to take over the match numerous times during the second half.
Despite the loss, the Swans still clinched their first minor premiership since 1996, finishing equal with Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats in a three-way tie for top spot on the ladder but ahead with a superior percentage to the other two teams.
It also renders the remainder of the round meaningless as far as the race for the finals are concerned, however St Kilda will have one final chance to avoid the wooden spoon when it plays the Adelaide Crows at the Oval later this afternoon.
Melbourne still remain at risk of finishing last after they lost their tenth consecutive match, a five-goal loss to the Kangaroos under the roof at Etihad Stadium. However, they did deliver their best attacking performance of the year, falling seven points short of the ton and being level with the Roos at quarter and half-time.
Anyway, the Tigers will carry their nine-match winning streak, and more importantly their momentum gained from it, to the Adelaide Oval next Sunday where they will face Port Adelaide in a sudden-death elimination final.
Only the Sydney Swans (twelve in a row between rounds 5 to 17) have had a longer winning streak this season.
Damien Hardwick’s men will have reason to believe they can continue their winning run – not only did they defeat the Power by 20 points back in Round 17, they also won on their most recent trip to the Oval when it knocked off the Crows by 10 points in Round 21.
If the Tigers can defeat the Power for a second time this year, then another interstate trip will await – either a long trip across the Nullarbor to face Fremantle in Perth, or another trip to ANZ Stadium to face the Swans.
Their impressive form over the second half of the season will make them the team to watch throughout this year’s finals series – and it will be interesting to see how they fare after they let slip a 26-point half-time lead against Carlton to crash out in the first round last year.
Will the Tigers extend their winning streak into next week, or will they crash and burn?
And so, what a finals series it promises to be. A full analysis and preview will come later this week, but here is how the first week of the finals series will unfold (all times local) after the draw was released by the AFL.
Qualifying finals
Sydney Swans versus Fremantle, ANZ Stadium, Saturday 6 September 2:45pm
Hawthorn versus Geelong Cats, MCG, Friday 5 September 7:50pm
Elimination finals
Port Adelaide versus Richmond, Adelaide Oval, Sunday 7 September 2:50pm
North Melbourne versus Essendon, MCG, Saturday 6 September 7:15pm
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