To frame the grand final as a clash between the best team and the best story perhaps does an injustice to Richmond’s team and Adelaide’s story.
The Crows have been perennially overlooked and undervalued, a team that everyone figured should have been more broken by the departures of Kurt Tippett and then Patrick Dangerfield. They lost their coach in tragic circumstances and have been forced to deal with more of life and football’s obstacles than seems reasonable. But here they are.
The Tigers’ story is sufficiently recognised, but their sheer excellence and dominance as a football team perhaps aren’t.
Richmond have won 12 of their past 15 games, triumphing in the finals by 51 and 36 points in games that were supposed to be close. They finished the season third, two premiership points or a bit more sweat on David Mundy’s brow away from top spot.
By differentials, they rank in the top four for inside 50s, tackles inside 50s, marks inside 50, intercepts and centre clearances.
The Tigers aren’t last year’s Bulldogs. This is no fairytale – this is just an outstanding team reaching its logical destination.
But despite the weaknesses in the best team versus best story framework, its reality remains. The lack of superstar names in the midfield beyond Rory Sloane has long obscured the following fact: the Crows are a genuine force.
With or without Mitch McGovern, they have the game’s most potent attack, and even without Brodie Smith they have close to its best defence, a punishing crew of hardness and counter-attacking efficiency.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Aesthetically, they play the competition’s finest brand, a devastating, sumptuous game of free-flowing movement, tireless spreading from the contest and immaculate, precision passing. The abrupt two-game losing streak to end the regular season muddied the waters a bit, but the Crows have clearly been the best team all season, and the gap between the top side and the rest arguably hasn’t been this large since Collingwood won the flag in 2010.
Collingwood, though, almost blew that flag, and Richmond can help Adelaide go one step further on Saturday. On paper, one might expect the grand final to unfold much like the first half of Richmond’s preliminary final did, but with Adelaide capitalising on all the chances that GWS missed.
The Crows are the more talented and accomplished line-up, they are rested, and they have no MRP worries (if Sloane is suspended, parliament must intervene). But the Tigers have their story, and last year the Bulldogs proved that a story is not just something cute and warm, but something that can be weaponized and made unstoppable.
Last Saturday morning, at 11am, I drove to work along Hoddle Street with traffic at a painful crawl. A journey that should have taken ten minutes took 30. As Hoddle turned into Punt, I saw the cause. I saw the yellow and black. Richmond fans were causing a traffic jam six hours before the first bounce.
I turned up Swan and down Cremorne, and they were everywhere. The energy, the excitement, and, oddly for such a tortured club, the rapturous confidence, was infectious and unavoidable. I knew then that the Giants would have to play a perfect game, and the Tigers don’t let teams play perfect games.
Richmond versus Adelaide is not David versus Goliath, although the gap is perhaps a touch bigger than the current odds suggest. Richmond belongs here, and in a pure football sense, they can overcome the Crows.
They can close down space, force the Crows wide, exploit the absence of Smith, and make the game a series of contests. But it’s not the tactics that will win Richmond the game – it’s the traffic jam.
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Mark
Guest
No one ever suggested that. I understand you're still salty about 2012. Suck it up diddums.
Mark
Guest
And Hawks were favourites in 2012
Sean
Guest
Tiges have consistently drawn above average crowds, memberships and TV numbers for years - despite being trash for most of them...
Milo
Roar Rookie
Each side gets 17000 tickets for their members. No more. I agree there may be an advantage with MCC members favouring Richmond but there will also be hardcore neutrals like Carlton, Collingwood Geelong Essendon fans who will barrack for the Crows because they hate Richmond more. An enemy of my enemy is my friend. Crows haven't lost at the G this year and are used to big games and big noise. That said, it wont be anything like the bias of the PF when the Giants played the Tigers. The best and biggest game in Australia in AFL should be played at the best venue in Australia, with the greatest possible crowd watching. Move on. There is no doubt in my mind that the best team will win on the day.
truetigerfan
Guest
Take a look at how tickets are allocated anon. You just refuse to get it!
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
I didn't say home ground advantage doesn't exist. I'm just asking someone to put a figure on it. If your team is beaten by 50 points, I really don't think you can use it as an excuse.
anon
Roar Pro
The MCG will be predominantly Tigers fans on Saturday. That I guarantee. Only a certain number of Adelaide fans can actually get to the MCG. Tigers fans just wake up in their own bed -- much like the team they support. Adelaide have the burden of travel, sleep in hotels, play on a ground which they have a lot less familiarity with. Richmond is advantaged by the game being played at the MCG. If Adelaide hosted the GF at the Adelaide Oval are you telling me that Adelaide would have no home ground advantage? Don't make me laugh.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Richmond have used up any good will that non-Victorian fans might have had for them, first with the guernsey tantrum, then the Cotchin
cowardicelet-off. A pack of cheats and meatheads. I hope the Crows wreck them.Mattyb
Guest
Mango,the argument will end when the game goes truly national which its ready to do.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Can someone please quantify home ground advantage so we can end this argument? I doubt the mcg is a massive advantage on gf day, with a completely different atmosphere and more neutral crowd than h and a game.
anon
Roar Pro
There’s no home ground advantage anymore for the Tigers either The GF is at the MCG. The MCG is Richmond's home ground. Adelaide have to travel interstate and play on a ground they play on a couple times a year. How can you say the Tigers don't have an advantage due to the venue? They have a massive home ground advantage. Adelaide is at a disadvantage playing at the MCG. Adelaide would win this match by 10 goals if it were played at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
fractalpixie
Guest
I totally agree. No way in hell will I be going for Richmond. All I can say at least it is not Hawthorn. I do think that the Tigers will wun it though.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Good comment. There's no home ground advantage anymore for the Tigers either, and its doubtful they will have the crowd on their side like the prelim and qualifying finals given all the neutrals there. If anything they may go for the Crows especially a lot of hard core Victorians (eg Coll, Carl, Ess, Geel fans) who would rather an interstate team win than an age-old rival. Unlike last year when the Bulldogs were more the Cinderella story with only one flag 60+years ago, a lot of fans remember the Tiger years of the 60s, 70s and early 80s and don't want the club returning as a power anytime soon. The Crows record at the G this year shows they have no problems with it, so please no squealing about home ground or umpires being influenced by crowds etc. If the Tigers are to triumph and they certainly wont start favourites they will have thoroughly deserved it.
XI
Roar Guru
Hmmm, maybe not Zac Dawson. ;) But he is definitely one of the most overrated in the League.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
You'd take anyone over Rance I reckon ;)
Lamby
Roar Rookie
Yep. But for the Crows it is not about the players, but the role. Have a look at the 2 teams and see where a Tigers player would be better than a Crows player for the same position (so it would be Sloane v Dusty playing centre - rather than picking Dusty vs the 3rd best midfielder for the Crows - Douglas). And there are not many positions where you would pick the Tiger player: Rance over Talia Dusty over Sloane Vlastuin over Hartigan McIntosh over McKay? Any others?
XI
Roar Guru
Seventh hosted first last year. One non-Victorian Premier in the last decade...
XI
Roar Guru
Talia>Rance.
anon
Roar Pro
Adelaide are the better story. Richmond's lack of success has been 100% self-inflicted. I feel like the Crows have been unfashionable for a long time with big name players bailing on them. South Australia is possibly the most passionate footy state in Australia with the Crows the most important team in that state. Victoria had a better feel-good story last year with the Bulldogs winning. This won't be quite the same. Also, throw in the fact that Adelaide's coach died in horrific circumstances a mere two years ago.
Brayden Rise
Roar Pro
It is difficult to remain impartial as a Crows fan who has waited so long for us to have another crack. The Tigers are a full force Victorian momentum and so far unstoppable force - they have been waiting way longer than we have too. Really though, the longest wait means nothing, our national anthem stare down will mean nothing, all the talk and predictions this week will mean nothing. Dusty winning the Brownlow as expected tonight will mean nothing. KB's theatrical over confidence will mean nothing. Nothing will matter come the bounce of the ball except belief, run, momentum. The team who feels they are "on" and about to storm away with it will get better and better, the team who feels it slipping away will most likely not come back, they will start to doubt themselves, to play safe, to fear mistakes rather than believe they are invincible. Look at the Geelong finals, classic examples of what belief can do for and against. Big barnstorming comeback wins from 50 points happen in the home and away season but not in modern grand finals. Whoever kicks away first with a 3-4 goal lead will feel the momentum, the belief....they will start to run that tiny bit faster, take a few tiny extra risks and suddenly the 3-4 goals lead becomes 7-8. If either side hits that magic mark of maybe 40 points + it will need nothing short of a miracle for the other team to come back. Who has the game breaking goal kickers to kick start belief? Cameron and Betts, Dusty and Rioli? Jack? Tex might be overdue?