The number of times we’ve all heard “teams just haven’t been able to cope with the Tigers”, and “the Tigers are head and shoulders above the rest of the competition”, and “the Tigers back their system and it stands up” has been in the hundreds in the last four seasons, maybe thousands.
That all ended on Saturday afternoon. But for how long?
Personally I’ve continually challenged the media sensationalism about Richmond, holding the view that they’ve never been miles ahead of the competition but rather just a whisker.
They’ve won three flags in four years but not, as the experts would have us think, at a canter. Rather, they’ve done it by the tiniest of margins.
I’m not questioning their quality as a top side or their status as multiple premiers; I’m merely stating that they’ve never been anywhere near as far in front as a lot of the experts have time and again put them.
In 2017 Adelaide won the minor premiership from Geelong, with the Tigers third. Most people expected Adelaide to win the Grand Final but they were well beaten by Richmond. The point is that nobody had the Tigers miles ahead.
In 2018 Richmond won the minor premiership by a couple of games but Collingwood hammered them in the finals. Collingwood went on to have a bit of wood on them for a while afterwards, too (when the Pies were fully fit).
In 2019 Geelong and Brisbane both headed the Tigers in the home-and-away season and Geelong well and truly blew their prelim final, being comfortably in control up to half time and then not turning up for the third quarter.
Richmond won, and huge credit to them for doing so, but they weren’t miles ahead (and they got hammered by Geelong in the home and away match by over 10 goals).
In 2020, Port Adelaide were the best team all year, won the minor premiership, and outplayed Richmond for most of the prelim but failed to get the one extra goal they needed. Brisbane beat the Tigers in the first final but didn’t make it to the Granny to have the chance of doing it again.
In that Granny, Geelong’s older side faded after half time and the Tigers ran over the top of them.
None of that reflects a team that is miles ahead of the competition. In actuality, the Tigers have come through some incredibly close contests by the skin of their teeth.
The fact that they’ve won their Grand Finals by a big margin come the final siren has fooled a lot of people into thinking they’re far better than the competition. They never have been. They’re solid in finals and have the best finals player ever, and they’re winners, but overall they’ve come out on top by small margins.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
On Saturday they and their system were well and truly taken apart by Sydney. It was a total annihilation from the first siren to the last. No wonder Dimma and the coaches all looked like Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool suffered similar treatment by Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Liverpool haven’t been the same since. Will Richmond? A consummate thrashing like that has to send shockwaves through to their core. And give the rest of the competition a rousing wake-up call.
In previous seasons the Tigers would have been able to point to excuses for their early season losses, injuries to key players being the main one. On Saturday there was no excuse. They’d come into the season fit and firing. Sure, they have a couple of players out but nothing affecting the team’s performances too much.
On their fortress home ground, they were destroyed by a young Sydney team without Buddy. Many of the Richmond players looked to have given up well before the end of the third quarter, such was the Swans’ superiority.
Most people will likely put this down to an aberration. It wasn’t an aberration. An aberration is an abnormality. There was nothing abnormal about the Tigers going in.
They were on their game. They and their game plan were just totally inferior to what Sydney came at them with.
The Tigers may well get back to winning ways quickly but it will be fascinating to see how they move forwards from here.
Commish
Roar Rookie
I did write them off and I was absolutely right to do so. They were done then, just like they have been ever since and they won't win another flag under Dimma.
Commish
Roar Rookie
Thanks Chip. Just saw your comment while looking back to see how many people slated me for calling it a watershed moment and ‘writing off’ the Tigers!
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
You correctly identify that Richmond have overcome a lot of adversity to get where they are. The challenge will be whether they can once again respond.
Chip
Roar Guru
Great article
Gerry
Roar Rookie
You are one of the good Richmond fans. All respect to you. I give Richmond the respect they deserve after 3 and nearly 4 prems on the trot. However I am speaking of the arrogant Richmond fans who write off the competition and give them no respect.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Look up the difference between confidence and arrogance and you will have the answer to your comments.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Not impossible but highly unlikely
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Not saying it's a conspiracy theory. Let me just say it was Trent Cotchin's expertise of standing the mark that broke Stevie's back (and patience). I have a lot of respect for Benny Dixon and his insights on football. He'd have a far better idea than any of us here. It's also very dangerous, and just plain wrong, to leave any rule changes in the hands of one person, whoever that may be. All teams were pushing the man on the mark rules, Richmond did it best. Ultimately the new rule was introduced. Quite simple really. Many people wax lyrical about the resulting footy being played. I don't. Many here have complained about blowouts. They aint seen nothin' yet.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Sorry that was 11 goal loss to the Saints in round 16 2017. Also lost by 11 to the Crows earlier that year. Lost by 11 goals to the Cats at the G in 2019. You can look at stats and justify they didn’t deserve to win any Premierships. The competition is closer than ever. One bad half can cost you a season/premiership.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Agreed DTM. I have also been a critique of the dour, defensive John "Quagmire". Seems I was wrong or he has reinvented himself.
Chief Keeffe
Roar Rookie
Have to disagree with the premise that having H&A losses (no team has ever been undefeated in a season) or a close win in Finals somehow means the team wasn't 'miles ahead' of the competition. By that logic, you could never have said Geelong in 07 was miles ahead (they absolutely were), or Hawthorn in any year, or really, any team ever. The Tigers were way ahead of the competition in 2019 and the fact that they didn't belt every team in every game doesn't change that - it's impossible to do so.
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
The AFL wants Richmond to be successful. This is a club that has struggled for decades before four years of success. The AFL gave Richmond a dream run of 7 home games on the MCG leading to the finals in 2019. Richmond also get to play every "away" game against Geelong on the MCG. Take a deep breath and reconsider this conspiracy theory. It puts you in a poor light.
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
Peter's right Chucka. Richmond won round 3 in 2017 on their way to a 5 - 0 start. Followed by a thrashing from Adelaide in round 6.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
The point I’m making is the Richmond fans who are boasting they will win it this year like it’s a guarantee. It isn’t and they won’t. Sure they have as good a chance as any. I am not going to predict any team wins it from Round 3. Nothing to do with gonads it’s called intelligence.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Like a few others over the last couple of years, I have been critical of John Longmire's coaching. I think we need to now give him credit - not for this win but for the creation of this young team and the way they are playing. They might not win the flag in 2021 but 2022 and beyond looks promising. Sydney is a strong, well managed and well coached football club - I'd probably say only Richmond, WCE, Port and Hawthorn could be described similarly.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
That’s right, Saints destroyed them. I think the Tigs had 2 goals to half time and the Saints 15. They played an exciting brand of footy, moving the footy with precision and speed much like the Swans but more clinical that night. They ended losing games after that and not making finals. Crows also destroyed Tigers by 11 goals that year. In 2019 Cats keep the Tigers to 5 goals at the G and belted them. Doggies, GWS, Eagles, Pies All had big wins over them in their Premiership years. In the past they have learnt from defeat, adapted, stayed in the race and turned it on at the finish. The competition has never been closer and when is the last time they had a top 10 pick? The Author gives them no credit.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
More flavour? Tasty comment. How ridiculous.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Teams spiralling down the ladder is about them, not the previous year's flag winner.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
I must admit, 15 years ago the games were truly ugly with the Swans and Eagles arm wrestles. Credit to Horse and the crew, today they are exciting.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Agree - as someone once said ‘damm lies and statistics’. The Tiger teams were brilliant. The author provocatively dispels their efforts especially the 2019 Prelim. Lynch and Tigers were simply too good. Like last years GF as the game wore on, they ground them into the dirt. Despite the negative comments about Richmond, any team who has beaten them, played brilliant football. In terms of losses in recent years, Tigers were gone when the Saints demolished them by 12 goals mid season 2019. I was sure it was a Saints premiership. They didn’t make the finals! It’s a symptom of our society where success is easily dispelled and people look for excuses to justify their contempt.