Richmond’s loss to Carlton in the elimination final two years ago still makes Tigers fans cringe. However, the similarities between that game in 2013 and the 2015 finals loss to North Melbourne are frighteningly similar.
Both games were played on a Sunday afternoon, at 3:20pm. The weather was also similar – sunny, without a cloud in the sky.
The match was also a fifth versus eighth contest, even though Carlton made the finals through Essendon being stripped of their finals place as a result of the supplements saga. Even so, most football fans had a feeling that the Tigers would not win.
The crowds were both similar, with the 2013 final having an attendance of 94,690 and the 2015 final being viewed by 90,186 spectators.
Even the games were similar, with the Tigers holding a 20-plus margin in the second quarter of each game, only to fall away in the respective final terms. The end margins of the games were only three points apart, with the Blues defeating Richmond by 20, and the Kangaroos winning by 17 points.
In 2013, the Tiger Army farewelled Shane Tuck, while this season the club said goodbye to club champion and former captain Chris Newman. Both retirees left the MCG after games they would want to forget.
Jarrad Waite, who played against Richmond in both games, kicked four goals in each match, putting a nail in the coffin of two out of Richmond’s last three seasons.
Reece Conca has also had a role to play in the uncanny resemblance between the two games. Against the Blues, he was subbed out in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. He was again the substitute against North Melbourne, albeit this time he wore the green vest to come on instead of leaving the ground.
In the final quarter against North Melbourne, Tigers fans would have had a sense of déjà vu when Kangaroos small forward Robin Nahas took the ball on the wing in open space, just as Jeff Garlett did for Carlton two years prior. Although the latter kicked the goal, Nahas, against his former club, planted the ball on Jarrad Waite’s chest to seal the game for North.
If that isn’t all, the night before the 2013 match-up, Tony Abbott was elected as Australia’s Prime Minister, replacing Kevin Rudd. Now, a day after the 2015 final, there was another leadership change, with Abbott being replaced by Malcolm Turnbull.
Players having similar stats, the same climate, changes in Prime Minister, a crowd that is just too close to be funny, and a three-point difference in final margins? This surely cannot have been a coincidence, could it?
WhereIsGene
Guest
Richmond's on-field leaders always go to water in finals. The club has no backbone and no ticker. Flat track bullies.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Richmond definitely provides plenty of entertainment value for the neutral. Don't forget, when they lost that final against Carlton two years back, Carlton had not even done enough to make the finals on merit, and still managed to roll the tiges.
Stephen
Guest
Had an easy draw
slane
Guest
I'm loving North Melbourne's stance against poker machine revenue and their 'Huddle' program. If I didn't bleed yellow and black I would choose to follow North.
Michael Huston
Guest
By the AFL, I meant everyone in it's community, the fans, the media, the commentators etc. How many times have you sat down each year and watched Richmond beat a premiership side like Hawthorn or Sydney, and then had the "Could this be the Tigers year?" headlines follow. It's the same rhetoric each year. They have a good side, and a few stars (Reiwoldt, Deledio, Martin, Miles, Rance) but they don't always play that great. It's like North Melbourne last year: beat all the top sides, but under-performed against the average sides. What happened? They were ousted of a preliminary final by 71 points. To summarise: we should have seen this coming.
Michael Huston
Guest
Well I'd agree with that. Have you seen the way Sydney and Hawthorn have played for parts of this year?
bart
Guest
Yep, they try very hard, but they need some more class finishers.
Roger of Sydney
Guest
Richmond are a good team but certainly not a great team, anyone who gets into the finals can win , but some teams can lift the 10% needed in a final and some teams are already at 100%. Richmond never looked like they had another level. Played some good games during the year but Hawthorn in a final and Swans in a final are nothing like the teams they are during the year. Everything lifts. By the way Stevie J would be a great buy for them.
bart
Guest
Shinboner spirit !, there is no denying a smaller team that has run on the smell of a oily rag for many years builds a us against them culture, of course it is not sustainable at all times, but North always seems to comeback. I think they are a viable entity, but the premierships from the 1970's and 1990's don't appear to have really expanded the support base a whole lot, i guess the opposite may also be said .... if they did not win those premierships may be they would be up at the Gold coast.
JohnD
Guest
I reckon you are right about that, admittedly only based on brief impressions. It stood out on Saturday night during the Lindsay Thomas kicking thing, how Rance was the one who came in and ripped Thomas off of (whoever it was), stood him up and dressed him down - I thought at the time that he got the mixture of aggression and restraint just right (Luke Hodge would probably have headbutted him). Only question in my mind at the time was whether he jumper punched him as it wasn't clear from the angle.
JohnD
Guest
Not sure they'll win the flag, BigAl, but you have to give them a heap of credit for winning finals (two last year, I think and now one this year) after so many people questioned their character.
slane
Guest
I've been hearing the Johnson to Tigers rumour for about a month and a half now. I wasn't sure how I felt back then as Johnson is my least favourite player in the comp (he is easily the dirtiest player going around). That being said, losing our third straight elimination final has pushed me over the line. Get Stevie J down to punt road and get him to teach those Tigers a thing or two.
ProfVonSchrodinger
Guest
I'm not sure how much of a done deal Treloar to Collingwood is however Richmond should go very hard at him. Appointing Rance as captain should be a priority imo as well, Cotchin is not a leader.
Axle an the Guru
Guest
Like I said yesty, if Richmond have any brains at all they will try and recruit Johnson and Kelly from Geelong. Those two players could just be the difference Richmond needs to take that extra step.
BigAl
Guest
Poor old North ! No one here seems to have a good word for them in this discussion, but the fact is they were just too good and coming from behind as they did is a sign of a team with character. They have had a strange season - could well have missed out on making the 8 - could well win the flag...
Greg
Guest
They are, basically, not good enough. Some quality players, 2-3 needed across the ground, and there will be a step up to the next level.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Not a serious article. The team in 2015 is poles apart from the Tigers in 2013. The latter was awestruck in making its first final and overrun by a Judd led Blues recovery after half time. The 2015 team is better but so was their opposition. North was never out of the game on Sunday, just poor kicking (and the reverse by the Tigers) kept them from overrunning Richmond. Unfortunately they match up on Richmond well and the Tigers will have plenty of time to work that one out.
Milo
Roar Rookie
How is the 'AFL' overrating Richmond? Oh you mean by putting its games in prime time? Must be cos they have a lot of supporters, rate through the roof and provide exciting games. Apart from that yeah they've got to stop that , AFL. Terrible.
Darrell
Guest
So Richmond was under the Abbott curse, with all losses under his reign, and with him taken care of the Tigers can finally reach their potential.
Momentbymoment
Guest
Their supporters were gloating about how they would whip Sydney and were planning their trip to the west. I wonder what the players were thinking ...