I remember many years ago, when videos were in vogue, watching a VHS which marked the first 100 years of AFL/VFL football.
Being a passionate historian of the game, I loved every minute of it and watched it so much that I can remember nearly every segment and every word said by the game’s legends who contributed.
The late, great Tom Hafey was there of course as Richmond’s golden era between 1967 to 1975, where they played in five grand finals and won four of them, was highlighted.
The producers of the video had got access to one of Tommy’s halftime speeches. It was the ’75 preliminary final, where the Tigers were in trouble against an emerging North Melbourne combination.
Tom was frustrated, but pleaded with his players, telling Kevin Sheedy, “No more finessing, back pocket plumber that’s what I want”, and his classic line, “There’s nothin’ more than a tigerish tiger!”
It was typical of the coaching traits and fire and brimstone of those days – the dropping of the ‘ings’ off every word was true Tom, but we loved it.
Well, Tom should be looking down proud on his boys, because at the moment there’s plenty of the tigerish tiger in Damien Hardwick’s version of Richmond.
After another tardy start, with just two wins from their first six games, the Tigers have turned it around, winning their past three against solid opponents in Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Essendon.
Most importantly, the victories haven’t been pretty, which Hafey would have also loved. They played good, tough footy, with a self confidence that they didn’t have during the first six rounds.
Brett Deledio being back helped. He is the barometer as to whether they win or lose – his presence makes Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin play better, while Brandon Ellis continues to go to another level.
Alex Rance is holding the back line together like Dick Clay did under Tommy Hafey in the halcyon days, and is the best full back in the competition. You can understand why the Tigers are moving heaven and earth to keep him. They might need to give him more than that.
The forward line is still not firing as well as Hardwick would like. More support is required for Jack Reiwoldt in the form of another tall. Ben Griffiths is improving, but the jury is out on the inconsistent Tyrone Vickery, who has suffered another setback with a knee injury. Still, that defence has tightened up, so low scores are the order of the day in general.
Taylor Hunt has been in many ways a seamless replacement as a tagger for the retired Dan Jackson, and with Jake King gone the experiment of hard-nosed, miserly defender Stephen Morris playing as a defensive forward is also working.
Most importantly, they also have more than one game plan. We know they can take the game on with their quick-moving, attractive style, but plan B has been introduced and that is to slow it down when the opposition is threatening.
They are good enough to make the eight and their form currently indicates they deserve their spot, but we still have more than half the season to go, so this current form has to be taken to another level.
If they are the Tigers of old – as they were when Tommy Hafey was in charge – with that relentless, take-no-prisoners approach, the rest of the competition will have to be on their toes.
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