As the Western Bulldogs can attest to and are so often reminded of, one year does not make a champion, decade-defining team, no matter the magnitude of their success in that season.
This has become lost on vast expanses of the AFL media and amateur pundits alike, as the sycophantic and infatuated manner in which the Richmond Football Club are perceived and reported upon has become excessive to the point of comedy.
Look no further than the club’s coach, who himself has been elevated from an under-pressure stooge pleading for patience as he coached the most finals without a victory in AFL history, to the man who’s now universally greeted with a loving ‘Dimma’.
Hardwick has earned the all-important nickname status that coaches across the comp know is the ticket to increased job security – think Clarko and Bucks.
Hardwick so often praises the ‘Richmond way’ being implemented in wins by his foot-soldiers, who are truly ‘Richmond type’ players.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
This propaganda campaign is too easily digested by the AFL media heavies.
One premiership doesn’t make your club synonymous with success.
The merits of Damien Hardwick’s coaching can’t be questioned. He meticulously transformed a laughing stock into a premiership threat for multiple seasons with star power on almost every line to match.
However, I plead for my own rapidly decreasing sanity that this completely subjective way of viewing the Tigers be abandoned.
The coach doesn’t so much hide behind this past success – he wears it like a suit of armour, with those in the press room seemingly blinded by its metallic sheen.
Of course, this article is plagued by the chip on my shoulder of being a minimised West Australian football fan, but the admiration for Dimma and his crew of merry men doesn’t feel earned when it’s compared to the level of success he has achieved.
Richmond play twice in four days this week, up against Melbourne on Anzac Day eve after disposing of the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.
And when the Tigers inevitably steamroll the team placed 17th on the ladder, you’ll be told it was done in inspirational ‘Richmondy’ fashion.
Peter Warrington
Guest
yep right whatever.
anon
Roar Pro
What gets me is the infatuation with Rossy and Roosy. At least Dimma has won a premiership. Rossy and Roosy's styles have been a blight on the game. They have one premiership between them across a combined 25 years of coaching. People will point to the drawn Grand Final and that bounce, but Rossy scraped through in close finals to get to those Grand Finals in 2009 and 2010. Bulldogs couldn't put them to the sword in 2009 with inaccurate kicking, and 2010 less than a kick in it in the QF against Geelong (in wet conditions). Either of those results go the other way Rossy doesn't even make those Grand Finals and his career would have ended years ago.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
I do hope they don’t. I think they have a decent coach like Collingwood who I used to hate more for a personal reason although Eddy McGuire is a prize nob doesn’t help. Arrogance from any team,player or coach or person male or female is a horrible trait. So even though I am an Eagle fan I do not like arrogant Eagle supporters. I am also an England football cricket and rugby fan but again do not like arrogance from any of their sources. Richmond are a decent team don’t get me wrong but they are not a great team. I rate Hawthorn , Geelong, Sydney and Adelaide more and now of course Collingwood are showing their talent. Let’s see what happens but I hope that St Kilda and GWS and even Brisbane give them a run for their money.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Seriously Peter, He is a whinger.....just s slight bit below Buckley.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Dees were really insipid and the Tigers were soft against a bottom 4 side. They are 50/50 for the 8.
Raimond
Roar Guru
George Pell, too.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Queenslanders and New South Welshmen only think Victorians are arrogant. Western Australians, South Australians and Tasmanians know that Victorians arrogant.
Maurice
Guest
This article is a bit absurd. For the the last few years teams seem to be going along the line of their Brand. The Richmond way is their brand. Dimma has brought that brand and turned Richmond into a powerhouse without sitting on the bottom of the ladder picking up top draft picks to become successful as has Buckley with Collingwood. Say as opposed to Mick Malthouse success which did just that. Credit should be given to where credit is due.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
We’ll, since you put it like that, I now understand. They’re obviously pure evil. You poor man. No one should have to endure that kind of thing.
IAP
Guest
Is your westauschipontheshoulderitis playing up again?
Raimond
Roar Guru
It started with Houli/Turnbull; then Cotchin/Shiel; after that, Bartlett's Grand Final week ravings. Plus a few other things, like the media's fetishization of the Tigers in 2018.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Spot on. The issues at Richmond were the club diluting Hardwick's abilities. They took jobs away from him and told him to just coach leave the marketing etc to others. And, that seemed to work quite well really. Similar story at the Pies with Buckley. Coaches are there to be high level strategists and managers, they not marketers and not hosts!
Peter Warrington
Guest
yep, Melbourne with the bigger bodies but they didn't like it up them
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
HFM likes to stir the pot Richie. Take it with a grain of saltiness.
RT
Roar Rookie
I think the early payout was on a bottom placed finish though they didn't finish bottom in the end. But agencies do this for a bit of publicity and besides most punters are mugs and just lose the money again.
RT
Roar Rookie
Not really sure what your beef is with Richmond HFM. You seem more impacted by whatever it is than any others on this site and pretty sure you formed your opinion well before the Dusty Kennedy incident.
RT
Roar Rookie
Very Richmondy performance against the Dees tonight!
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
That’s fine by me, Fat Man. Being so thoroughly disliked is a sure sign that things are heading in the right direction.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
In the case of my club its 'r'
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
True, Jack is a great player