Given the nature of both club’s respective runs home a 5th vs 8th or 6th vs 7th match up in week 1 of the finals between Richmond and Essendon is very much on the cards.
And every Richmond or Essendon fan that I’ve spoken to about the possibility of this matchup in week 1 is terrified at the prospect of it!
Understandably that comes as a result of the recent sour memories for supporters of both side’s performances on the September Stage since 2004.
The Tigers and Bombers are a combined 0-6 but the nature of those six losses have left a bad taste in supporter’s mouths with both suffering losses to supposed lesser sides as leads have been blown from comfortable positions or by copping early blowouts that have left the result in no doubt well before half time.
Either way neither side wants to be the one to lose an “unlosable” finals game against an opponent that can’t supposedly win a finals game.
The two sides met in their annual Dreamtime game in Round 10 and that will be the only look we will get at them together during the home and away season in 2017.
In a compelling game Essendon were quick out of the blocks but the Tigers readjusted from the second onwards by building a yellow and black wall across the centre of the ground and basically conducting a siege outside the Bomber’s defensive 50. The inside 50 count finished 71-42 Richmond’s way and the Tiges got the win.
Say what you like about Richmond’s list management or development of talent but you can’t deny that Hardwick is coaching extremely well this year and has achieved game plan buy in from the playing group as well as the commitment to the contest from his players.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Both sides come with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
The Tigers apply fantastic pressure all around the ground and have the best organised defence in the league. Alex Rance, David Astbury and Dylan Grimes are excellent at reading the play and leaving opponents to intercept or give teammates a chop out and provide attacking rebound from defence in conjunction with Bachar Houli and Brandon Ellis.
However, on the flip Richmond lack scoring prowess up forward with Jack Riewoldt the only permanent key tall and a host of small forwards that happen to be very young and in their first to third year of senior football. This makes scoring difficult and so Richmond people should be thanking the Heavens for their A+ defence.
The Bombers on the other hand can score. Heavily and quickly as some opponents have found out this season, thanks to their multiple options up forward.
Their midfield can win the ball but lack pace. The pace is concentrated up forward and down back in Joe Daniher, Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Andrew McGrath and Conor McKenna.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Michael Hurley is having a strong season down back and is comfortably the most prolific rebounder from defence in the comp this season, which he does skillfully and from both sides of the body. Richmond need to make him accountable for every possession and contest by whoever plays on him. From the Tiger’s point of view, Hurley absolutely cannot be allowed to do as he pleases in the back half of the ground.
Both sides are capable of the classic shocker too as seen this year away to Adelaide (by both sides) and in Melbourne against St Kilda and Brisbane.
In recent history both Essendon and Richmond have been guilty of melting under the pressure of finals footy.
Finals footy is a different beast to the home and away game. The pace and intensity is turned right up from the get go and the time and space to make decisions and execute is greatly reduced, especially early in games.
Get caught out here and it’s a rocky, narrow, treacherous and near hopeless path back. These two sides are probably the best September opponent each other could wish to play to finally win a final.
With two large home town supporter bases desperate to be there to see their side win a game in September, this potential match up promises to be the best-attended game of the season bar the Grand Final. Hopefully both sides have all their key players fit and available at that time of the year.
Given the two team’s history it could be exciting, it could be comical, it could even be farcical but it definitely will be epic.
My tip should this dream finals matchup eventuate?
An arm wrestle which results in scores being level at the final siren. Extra time eventuates and the Bombers prevail due to having more mature bodies in their side and taller scoring options up forward.
tibor nagy (big four sticks)
Guest
Once again it is Matty B who expresses logic. He is the only non Richmond fan who has believed that we are going places. Matty B will always be welcome at Punt Road.
Danny
Guest
and wrong outcome :)
Mattyb
Guest
I think Dimmas done a great job with Richmond since he's been there,the next challenge is to win some finals. Last year the Tigers were poor but these things happen and so far this year they've made up for that. Richmond were a long way back when Dimma took over and people seem to forget that. Richmonds in this year up to its eyeballs,that's all supporters need.
truetigerfan
Guest
Well Peter the Squib . . . Buckley has taken the pies down, down,down, down, down and , oh yeah, down every year! Hardwick has seen the Tiges rise, apart from one year, from irrelevant to a genuine top four contender. No comparison!
Cat
Roar Guru
How is it relevant to Richmond what Collingwood does? How is it relevant to what Essendon does? It isn't relevant at all to this discussion.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
No worries Cat, it is relevant though, the Pies are sitting 13th now and the hysteria around getting rid of Bucks is reminiscent of Hardwick this time last year yet the Tigers sit top 4. But you condemn Buckley who may just need, according to you, two players to have breakout career years in 2018 and Buckey's Pies should be sitting 4th round 19, 2018.
Mark
Guest
Maybe I don't watch enough Bombers games (and a watch a few due to the significant other) but speed is not something I generally associate with Daniher or McGrath.
Mark
Guest
Peter brings up the Pies. Who would have thunk it?
Cat
Roar Guru
This thread is about Richmond and Essendon. Buckley and Collingwood have nothing to do with either of those. Not everything has to be about your clubs failings.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
So Cat on that same methodology the Pies should just keep Bucks and all we need is two players to have "career" years and we should also rise from 13th to 4th next year?
Cat
Roar Guru
Exactly. Hardwick hasn't improved, just his two most important players have (for this year).
Peter the Scribe
Guest
reread your comment above cat. "Not convinced Hardwick is any better this year than any other year. Difference is career years from two of the Tigers most important players." Ladder positions Round 19 2017 Richmond 4th Round 19 2016 Richmond 13th. So, according to your comment Hardwick is as good as he was when they were 13th, the difference is two players having career years....nothing to do with coaching, according to the wise Cat.
Cat
Roar Guru
I have no idea WTF you are even trying to say but once again you bring a team into a conversation that doesn't belong. Can you please quote me where I said, 'coaching not being that important' because I am absolutely positive I did not.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
Cat, you are two sided depending on what point you are trying to make. I can translate your Hardwick comments to the negative bucks criticism you deliver. Career years for say Treloar and Pendlebury? You are alluding to the coaching not being that important with Hardwick and yet the Tigers are top 4.... yet you don't apply those same thoughts to Buckley or give him the same grace. What you are stating, tranlsated to the Pies is if at this time next year the pies are top 4 becasue of career years for Treloar and Pendlebury, then it was them not Bucks coaching that made the difference? Why have any coaches then with that misguided thinking. Hardwick also started two years earlier than Bucks so clearly your opinions differ depending on what you are trying to argue.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Now that's really rubbing it in. By why stop there, there's more... GCS kicking three deep into time on... and giving them their first win in just on a year - their previous win the year before also against Richmond at Cairns... and finally the fact that we'd sold the home game for the privilege of that wonderful experience, just turns the knife that extra rotation... You wonder why we have these defence mechanisms?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Hard to plumb lower depths than an ex-NRL powder sniffer kicking a goal after the siren to beat you, surely
tibor nagy (big four sticks)
Guest
We can only hope Essendoom make it to the preliminary final.
Cat
Roar Guru
Oh look, another of the Hydra heads shows itself.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Yep,spot on Paul D. Its a defence mechanism, finely tuned and constructed from years of being let down especially when its seemingly impossible to be so. This game against the GCS has all the classic symptoms.
I ate CAts
Guest
As long as Guthrie still gets a game Geelong are going nowhere in the finals again