Tigers threaten a top-four finish

The teams which will finish top four at the season’s end all played during last weekend’s split round.

Well, that was the general consensus in football circles before the weekend, and – with apologies to Essendon supporters – it still would be the case following the Round 13 results.

But, the question is now, are the pre-weekend predicted four the same as the ones being spoken about post-weekend?

Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney and Fremantle were the quartet touted by most as a solid step above everyone else. Essendon and possibly Collingwood were the pair most likely to offer a challenge – if one arises – for a top four berth.

Hawthorn were again methodical. Fremantle continued to win those games they are supposed to win… but Geelong and Sydney – seriously shock losers?

“Mere hiccups,” I hear their respective fans shout. The Cats’ fourth quarter capitulation against Brisbane had to be seen to be believed, while the Swans too were swamped in the home stretch by a more determined and committed Port Adelaide outfit on the day.

While credit is due to both Brisbane and Port, you do expect more from supposed top four teams.

“Just a glitch,” I hear those supporters say. “Those results always happen during the split round time of the season. We’ll be back on the winning list next round.”

And maybe they will, and if you glance at the ladder you see that quartet – along with Esssendon – still occupy four of the top five rungs. But there was also a wildcard tossed into the equation over the weekend.

While they might want to keep a lid tightly on the emotional side of things, and want to continue to travel along under the proverbial radar, the facts are, the Tigers really can’t any more.

Not only are they a legitimate finals’ contender, and short odds to have their first taste of September football since 2001, but, just like they did 12 years ago, Richmond could head into finals in the top four.

It wasn’t just their 10 goal win over the Western Bulldogs that started me thinking about a top-four finish. They were expected to win easily and did just that, but they went about the job with a professionalism expected of a top echelon team.

And then, suddenly, when the dust settled on a round – which was supposed to be very lopsided and favourite dominated, but threw up some dramatic upsets – a glance at the ladder saw the reality of how 2013 is setting up for those in Tigerland.

Today they sit in sixth position, a win and percentage outside of the top four, and two wins off second-placed Geelong.

But here is the thing … the draw. The Tigers now meet St Kilda, North Melbourne and then the Gold Coast. All very winnable matches.

They then host Fremantle (looking to avenge a one-point loss to the Dockers in Perth earlier in the season), head to Sydney to meet the Swans (a team they have competed well with in recent seasons, and one they have beaten convincingly the last two times they met), and then Hawthorn (another team they belted when they last met, back in 2012) in a blockbuster in Round 19.

The Tigers then follow that with home games against Brisbane and Carlton – both definitely potential wins – followed by a should win against GWS in Sydney, and finish with what could be a massive match against Essendon in the final round.

Who knows where it will all end for the Tigers. Inside the eight? Definitely I feel. Inside the four? As bizarre as that statement might have sounded a few weeks back when they lost to Collingwood, Fremantle, and Geelong in successive weeks, it’s now not as silly at it seemed.

We all know there is a lot of footy left in this season, with many twists and turns. We saw some last weekend, and we will see plenty more from rounds 14 to 23.

And who knows when all the pieces fall into place on the afternoon of September 1, just where the Tigers will be?

One statistic I do have though. Every time Richmond have made the VFL/AFL finals, they have done so by finishing in the top four.