The Top 5 things we learnt from AFL Round 1. 1) Toothless Tigers. If the Richmond Football Club were a song it would be I Go To Extremes by Billy Joel.
The hype before their Round 1 match against Carlton was being compared to a Grand Final. This wasn’t the last weekend in September just the last in March and the match was between two sides who hadn’t been to the finals since 2001.
But a Tiger doesn’t change its stripes; they wilted under the pressure like a stick of butter in the microwave and the calls for Terry Wallace’s resignation began before the match was even over. Such radical extremes and this was just Round 1 – how on earth will they make it through the season?
2) Press Ups
Much of the Tigers false hopes had been promulgated by the media. With nothing much else to write about, there were a number of articles pressing the claims of the Yellow and Black. So much so that everyone felt they had been transformed into Geelong over the off-season. As usual, the press wanted it both ways when they got stuck into the Tigers following the match. The truth of the matter was that this is a side who is young and developing. The expectations placed on them simply weren’t justified. God help them against Geelong.
3) Swan Dive
There is something about Sydney – St Kilda matches which brings out the worst in football. The Swans kicked 5 goals in the opening quarter and then followed that up with just two points in a half. That is inexcusable atrocious football. It seems just about impossible that in the modern game this could be the case. Unfortunately the two meet again this year.
4) It’s only Round 1
Eight teams are feeling grim after the weekend but it is just only Round 1. Last year North Melbourne were pummeled by the Bombers in the opening round and went on to make the finals while the Bombers didn’t. Too early to make any calls this year.
5) Too little too late
There wouldn’t be a Geelong player who wouldn’t want to trade Friday’s night win for a win in last year’s Grand Final. Everything from now and for the next 21 weeks is just to put yourself in the best position to play in the Grand Final. The Cats did that last year and then put on their most miserable performance in the game which mattered most. It will be very hard for Cats fans to get excited about this season until they are back in the Grand Final.
Tiger fans wish they had these problems.
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