For the first time under Damien Hardwick, Richmond have been able to lock the ball in the forward 50 and score.
We are number one in forward defensive pressure. Jason Castagna, Dan Butler, Daniel Rioli, and now Shai Bolton have helped make the difference.
Rioli is really emerging as one of the most talented small forwards in the competition. Butler has speed that can match Eddie Betts, and Bolton has shown that he is up to football at the highest level, three weeks in.
We no longer just rely on Big Jack to kick the goals. We have the perfect balance of hard nuts and speedsters with plenty of dash.
It was the right decision to start playing the kids last year, as these kids have flourished. Last year we saw glimpses of brilliance in players like Castagna. Even Richmond haters saw danger signs when their teams fronted up against the Tigers.
We started building for the 2017 premiership last year, yet no one took us seriously.
We now work as a team. All 22 players work their tails off for the yellow and black jumper. This has allowed us to change the way we play.
No longer do players go into their shells when they make a mistake. They are up to the challenge, and that is evident in the way they are not afraid to kick the ball to a contest.
More often than not, our boys win the contest, which results in goals. It is good to watch a Richmond side that do not drop their heads when challenged.
It is also pleasing to watch a Richmond side that do not chip the ball around, because their confidence and hope has been dashed, as a turn over has occurred.
Our players no longer fear making mistakes, as they have been imbued with self belief and confidence. It is no longer just Dusty, Trent, Rance, and Big Jack who have been imbued with the Jack Dyer spirit, it is now the whole team.
On the subject of Trent Cotchin, he is far feistier this season. On Saturday against North he stood up like a steam train, especially in the third term.
This year Cotchin has shown the football world that he is a true warrior. People no longer view Cotchin as soft.
When people talk about the greatness of Richmond, they no longer just talk about the fab four (Martin, Cotchin, Rance, and Riewoldt) – they talk about the entire team. One name that is quickly becoming a household one, is David Astbury. He would have to be in contention for All-Australian this year.
We have a great defensive combination in Rance and Astbury. This defensive combination is helping our entire back six gain more confidence.
We have only conceded 100 points once this year, against Adelaide. Even in that game we were able to match Adelaide for around 30 minutes. So, in reality, we have only played 3 quarters of bad football this season.
We had a really good trade period as we picked up Toby Nankervis, Josh Caddy, and Dion Prestia. Nankervis has definitely been the stand out of the three. He is fiercely competitive, which is what any supporter wants in their ruckman.
It is not surprising that Tiger fans were buoyant about Nankervis coming to the club. This year has proved that Sydney let the wrong man go. He has become a beacon for Richmond. He has a touch of SHane Mumford about him. In the second half against North last night, Nankervis ran over the top of Todd Goldstein, and Ben Brown.
While Prestia hasn’t stood out, he is a blue collar player, who in time, will fit right in at Tigerland. Prestia has great potential, as was shown in glimpses at Gold Coast. A player like that could really thrive in a team like Richmond, playing along side such luminaries as Martin and Rance.
When thinking about Richmond 2017, one must remember that we are only 13 points away from being 10 and 1.
If things went our way in those close losses, we would be a game clear on top of the ladder.
We have shown the football world that we are a serious finals contender and that we can match it with the best sides in the competition.
There is no reason why the 2017 premiership flag shouldn’t be flying high at Punt Road come the end of the season.
Dale Peters
Guest
Good call Tibor!
Philby
Guest
Hey, but given what Bulldogs did last year, I'm also thinking, why not?
bobburra
Guest
Only 13 points away from being 10 and1, the fact is you are not. Hope you are going to be available when it comes to pass that the Tigers WILL NOT BE PLAYING, much less win on Grand Final day.I will give 9/10 for backing your team, however I just think you are not good enough to win the big one, at least this year.
Philby
Guest
I'd be happy just to win a final (or 2) this year. If we can get in a good centre half forward during the trade period, and maybe another quality on-baller with our two first round picks, that would set us up very nicely for 2018.
Milo
Roar Rookie
I love your passion and your sentiments Tibor but maybe stick to canoeing for now. Until Cotchin holds up the cup on Grand Final day, I won't believe we can. On the quarters of footy, I think you're way off there. We got hammered against Freo for most of the game, lost the last quarters comprehensively against both the Dogs and the Giants and if you closely examine most of the games you'll find that we rarely play four quarters of good footy. That said, not many teams have done that either. If anything Id say we've hung in, in most quarters this year. Id like to see another tall available for the forward half and don't know what we'll do if Nank goes down. Second half of the season looks tougher than first too: Swans at the G , always close and unpredictable Blues - should win but who knows? Port away - unlikely Saints - we will start favorites Lions at home - should win Giants at home - tough Suns at Metricon - who knows Hawks at home - should win the Vickery Cup Cats down the Hwy - wont win Dockers Subi - tough Saints at G - should win but who knows. Historically we need to win around 15 for top four given the season, although fourth last year won 16. So if we take the latter we can afford only two losses from now on. Looking at the run home that looks very challenging so we'd be relying on the evenness of the competition to keep us in play for top four. Outside top four we'd be facing probably Adelaide, Port, and Giants away to progress, so really need to finish there. Still, premierships aren't meant to be easy. Go Tiges.
Greg
Guest
Who remembers the tigers last two attempts at finals, 2015 and the disgusting 2014 game. But forget recent history they're getting a flag this year. Noooooope
philobywan
Guest
Ahhh Pete! What has that got to do with 2017? Comment for the sake of it?
Bill Larkin
Guest
Richmond has yet to experience their customary run of losing games it should win, followed by a last gasp effort to claw their way back into the 8. Even if they make it, out in straight sets. If they make the 8, I hope Melbourne plays them. Certain win for the Ds.
Pete
Guest
Richmond hasn't won a final since 2001 and it's unlikely to change again this year.
hal
Guest
This guy doesn't joke. He is dead serious. He is one eyed Richmond. They breed them like this down at Tiger Land. Listen to footy talk back and you will hear many fans like this. Carlton and Collingwood have them too.
mattyb
Guest
Great summary tibor. You got in very early with these predictions and have been proven correct so far. Good sporting commentary. Richmonds best players are as good as anybody's and their depth is starting to look much better. Certainly a huge chance for the top four and from there a premiership is a big chance. Would actually be good to see,great loyal and passionate supporters down there at tigerland.
Bob GOOCH
Guest
Give me a break - joking surely, apologees to HENDO ! What who wrote this BS
Liam
Guest
All good reasons why the Tigers are playing good footy; however, while they've solved - to some extent - the tackling issue I felt they possessed which stopped them from contending, I think it's rather a bit soon to start buying grand final tickets. One, Adelaide is taking a mid season nap, and the Bulldogs have been asleep all year. If either of these two wake up, even slightly, Richmond will find them impossible to surmount. Second, depending on where the Tigers end up, they'd still best be hoping to come top four, and even then, if they have to travel to Sydney to play GWS or to Perth on the off chance that WC comes good, let alone a trip to Adelaide. I don't see them making top 2, so that necessitates travelling just to make the grand final, and I just can't see them getting up away. What the dogs accomplished last year was the standalone of all standalone results, and while Richmond are showing maturity, they're not good enough in the right ways to mitigate the advantages WC has at home, nor will they be good enough to beat the best 22 GWS have to offer. I've not even mentioned Geelong, who are in a similar boat to Richmond but have both their best in the middle and able to influence the contest, and the trouble gets harder, with Port also having a claim to a position in the top 4. And, finally, it was only a few weeks back that Richmond had lost three consecutive matches by under a goal, all due in some small part to poor structures. Those matches, over the last few years, have been how the Hawks and the Bulldogs have won; they found ways to win, to snatch victory from their opposition, not simply with resilience but smarts. The tigers don't have that; they have a truly spectacular top five-six players, then a host of role players who are capable when things are going their way. This will not hold up for long in a final against a good side, but I suppose we're in the year of the flawed contender, so who knows?
Raimond
Roar Guru
I thought that Richmond were a sneaky premiership chance last season, but this year they seem like another good-but-inconsistent side. Then again, nobody picked the Bulldogs last year either.
Slane
Guest
The saddest thing of all is that I'd be over the moon if your prediction came true.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I like the Tigers and would love to see them go all the way. But I just can't genuinely seeing it happen this season. The biggest issue they have is their depth.
Kaniel Outis
Guest
Once again in the yellow (Icarus) corner is big four sticks, Mario, and Trout, managed by K.B and promoted by Mick Molloy, and in the black (Larry David) corner are the maudlin fans (including my friend who puts $100 on Richmond to lose), who think nine losses in a row are coming. This article is more likely to inflame Richmond fans than Richmond haters. It is funny how big four clubs have fans like these. We don't have them at Arden Street. I saw Richmond carve us up on Saturday night and they did look good. They are definitely finals bound, but premiership bound; I think not. I rate Richmond higher than I rate Port, West Coast, and Melbourne. I think Richmond will win a final and end up a kick away from a preliminary final the following week. That is my prediction.
true blue
Guest
Slane: I get your frustration, because every time Snapper comes on Finey's final siren, I cringe. We all have our subjective over the top fans. Your club has Mario, Trout, and Big Four Sticks, while we have Snapper and Millhouse. Big Four Sticks was right about Prestia coming to Richmond, but I am convinced that Millhouse is wrong about Fyfe coming to Carlton. Supporters like this are always looking for a messiah to deliver the holy grail, and they always cry sack the coach, when things go wrong. As supporters of these big four clubs we always have fellow supporters who live in the glory days, and have not accepted that the game has moved on, and that our clubs are no longer number one. This guy is your version of Snapper from Port Phillip Bay.
tibor nagy (big four sticks)
Guest
We never get ahead of ourselves at Tigerland.
Slane
Guest
My first comment got deleted so I figure I better tone it down and have another shot: We still haven't beaten a genuine contender yet. I'm relatively happy with the footy we are playing but we still have a bunch of players with less than 20 games running around. Get another year and another pre-season into our small forwards + the Nank and we might actually be a good team.