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Zhǐlǎohǔ (Chinese word for ‘paper tiger’) – Something that seems as threatening as a tiger, but does not withstand challenge.
The lid was supposedly off at Tigerland last week. After Saturday’s events it should be firmly back on, so much so that the Hulk himself couldn’t remove it.
In Round 1 Richmond put their Carlton hoodoo to rest, but the mental scars of not being able to close out matches, so prevalent in 2012, were shown to be unhealed.
The Tigers led by 42 points halfway through the third quarter on that Thursday night, and arguably should have been further in front such was their dominance. In the end, they were lucky to hold on for a five point victory.
While the celebrations of the players were understandable, it shouldn’t have gone unnoticed that the Blues had three relatively easy shots at goal in the dying minutes to win the game, but couldn’t convert truly.
A side without such mental insecurity wouldn’t have allowed a significant lead to be in such jeopardy, especially against what had proven to be inferior opposition.
Richmond has finals pretensions, while their Round 2 opponent, St Kilda, is a bottom six side at best. The Tiges once again were by far the better side in a scrappy affair, but continued to allow the Saints back into it rather than shutting them out.
Late in the game a 24 point lead was cut to four points, and Tigers fans were once again reaching for the heart pills. This time, they were able to stabilize, as they should against a lowly opponent, but once again the signs weren’t great.
No credits were earned with either win.
In the big game on Saturday at the MCG in front of 81,950 people, Richmond had control in the first quarter, running Collingwood off their feet through skilful ball use to players who run hard into space. The 11 point lead at quarter time was the minimum required.
The Pies worked their way back into the game, as a good side is going to do. But this was a team coming off a 55 point thumping at the hands of Hawthorn, missing a minimum six players of their best 22. The view of the football world was that the Pies were ‘gettable’.
Richmond resumed at the half time break with a three point lead and credibility on the line. Were they going to stand up with the eyes of the football world on them?
Minds went back to the corresponding match-up last year when the Pies put on five goals in seven minutes of football to start the third term, ripping the game away from the hapless Tiges.
Sadly for fans in the black and yellow army, a year later, and the more things appeared to have changed, the more they’ve actually stayed the same.
This time Collingwood, inspired by a rampant Travis Cloke, slammed on eight goals among twelve unanswered scoring shots as Richmond folded quicker than a Texas Hold ‘Em player with two-seven unsuited after a pre-flop raise.
As a unit, these paper Tigers were unable to offer any resistance. They couldn’t get their hands on the ball at the stoppages or around the ground, and refused to keep it when they did. Melbourne fans know the feeling.
The upcoming Star Trek movie will have less men in space than the Pies had in their forward fifty at various stages throughout the match. And when Cloke was getting a hold of Rance, who is an overrated defender at the best of times, no teammates were working hard enough to give him a hand as third man up.
Are Richmond still on track under the guidance of Damian Hardwick? There’s no doubt they are, having improved season upon season since the former Essendon and Port hardman took over.
But even if they win enough games to play finals this year, a likelihood given the amount of talent on the field combined with a reasonably friendly draw, the mental gap between the Tigers current level and those of the sides that will finish above them is stark.
Fremantle at the WACA is next for Friday night football, followed by a big Saturday night at the MCG against Geelong. Drop both of those, and the resurgent Port is waiting at AAMI Stadium. All of sudden, a 3-0 start could be 3-4, and all the positivity from the early season will have been blown away.
‘Paper’ Tigers would lose all three of those matches. Will Richmond stand up to the challenge?