There’s a certain melancholy that comes with watching Richmond this year.
Predicting my AFL ladder before the season opened, I had the Tigers finishing fourth. I thought they were a good, unlucky side in 2022 that plugged their most gaping hole by adding Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto into the midfield.
I thought that Richmond was just Collingwood inverted, and that their fortunes would basically switch this season. That went well.
I started off the season disappointed at how disjointed we looked against Carlton and Collingwood, but happy with the match-winning burst against the Crows in Adelaide in between. I thought we were right in it against the Western Bulldogs, but were just on the wrong end of a generational player in Marcus Bontempelli doing some incredible stuff.
It was against Sydney that the melancholy started. Before that game, I thought back to the game against Port Adelaide in Adelaide in 2019. The Tigers were massively outgunned in that game, missing Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Alex Rance and Bachar Houli. Despite the odds being stacked against the Tigers on that night, they won a famous game on the back of six goals in the wet from Tom Lynch, 25 touches from Jack Ross on debut and a cavalcade of relatively unheralded players playing well.
I would be lying if I didn’t think that maybe, just maybe, we could do it again at the same venue for Gather Round, with guys like Noah Cumberland, Judson Clarke and Maurice Rioli stepping into the void left by all the Tigers outs on that day, which included Lynch and Toby Nankervis.
But it didn’t happen.
It was relatively close the whole game, but the Tigers missed two shots to start the fourth term and once they were missed the air came out of the balloon as Tom Papley ripped the game away. The bigger issue, though, was that without Lynch it felt like a miracle every time we generated a shot at goal.
Miracles are not a recipe for consistent winning footy.
Losses to Melbourne and Gold Coast have followed a similar path, with Richmond relatively close but unable to win the game. The Sun loss especially had me feeling down. Not because they lost, but how they lost. Despite having 40 more disposals, the Suns laid 18 more tackles and took 40 more marks.
Gold Coast took 128 uncontested marks. Richmond took 96 total marks for the game. The game felt bruise-free as well.
Richmond showed no interest in tackling or pressuring the ball carrier, and the once ferocious time in forward half and forward half turnover numbers are no longer formidable – Gold Coast waltzed the ball out of their back 50 with ease.
I can’t tell if this is a personnel issue or an effort issue, but I do note that Richmond had numerous immobile players on the field that provide nothing in terms of pressure. Richmond’s talls on Sunday – Samson Ryan, Ben Miller, Noah Balta, Jack Riewoldt, Ivan Soldo and Tylar Young with Dylan Grimes, Noah Cumberland and Nathan Broad playing essentially hybrid tall/small roles – aren’t exactly a murderer’s row.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
In 2017 the Tigers zigged while the rest of the competition was zagging, and created a blueprint for how to play footy. In 2017 Richmond’s second ruckman was Shaun Grigg, the only tall forward was a prime Jack Riewoldt.
That team had four genuine talls in Riewoldt, Nankervis, Rance and David Astbury. The 2023 Tigers are intent on playing six, most of whom have not shown themselves to be winning players yet.
Why?
This time, it seems that Damien Hardwick is trying to be a step ahead of the competition again, this time going taller as game goes smaller and faster. It might be a good idea, especially when you see how Geelong is playing with their pillars forward of centre and their heft all over the field.
But the Cats have better players. It’s that simple. When tall players are not good, they add nothing. At least a smaller, more rapid player can pressure and harass, even if he is not clean with ball in hand.
This is not a good Richmond side, and it’s exemplified by the performance of their guns. There was a moment in the Gold Coast game when Shai Bolton elevated, early in the fourth quarter, and took a good mark about 45 out on a slight angle. He had to kick it for the Tigers to be any chance whatsoever.
You knew he was going to miss as he started walking back. He was laconic and slow when Richmond needed him to be deliberate and fast. He pulled it.
Air out of the balloon. Tigers lose.
What’s making me sadder still is the fall from grace of the legends. They have a moment here, a big play there. They move in the same way, have the same face. But it’s just not the same guy.
Trent Cotchin looks done and was consistently beaten to the ball against the Suns – though in a lost season I would certainly get him to 300 games. He deserves that honour.
Jack Riewoldt kicked eight goals in two weeks prior to hardly getting near it against the Suns; he continues to hold his game together with spit and duct tape, but he can’t do it on a weekly basis anymore. He’s always kicked goals, but his intellect and selflessness consistently brought others into the game and elevated the play of those around them.
Jack is no longer that player.
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The list goes on. Dylan Grimes is getting beaten more often than ever before, and is not the rapid athlete that he once was. Even Dustin Martin, the man responsible for more of my personal happiness than almost anyone else in my life, just can’t inject himself into games like he used to. He doesn’t look disinterested, but rather unable. His hands are still clean below his knees and he’s still extremely strong, but his kicking has come and gone this season and his goalkicking has just gone. He’s simply not the same player he was.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
All of the legends that I mentioned above are players whom I adore, and should be playing weekly just for competitiveness’ sake. Beyond that, Richmond’s middle class of Bolton, Hopper, Taranto, Nick Vlastuin and others also simply are not the players that the legends were in their pomp.
Liam Baker is almost the only player who combines the toughness inside and cleanliness outside that made the Richmond premiership midfields so formidable, and I hope that he is the next captain.
More than anything, it’s sad to see those greats like this. Still battling, still trying to will the Tigers on to victory. Mentally they are still there, but they have nobody with them.
I truly am grateful for the premierships and the joy that the Tigers have claimed in their incredible dynasty. I’m grateful to have watched Cotchin run like his shoelaces are tied together, grateful to have borne witness to Grimes’ desperation time and again, grateful for Riewoldt morphing himself into the most selfless player in the game.
And I am grateful for, well, everything that Dusty has given me. I’m grateful for all of it.
But I am sad that all that is officially in the past.
nics
Roar Rookie
Of course you did. You lost the argument after all, and unlike the real Don, you haven’t been able to disprove anything I’ve said with a google search. Name-calling: who was being juvenile again?
Realist
Roar Rookie
I've moved on Don.....suggest you do too. :thumbup:
nics
Roar Rookie
As expected, you’ve missed the point – I’m not sure why you brought Richmond up given this was apparently a discussion about West Coast (another Don-like tendency). Lest you forget (since you were earlier much more keen on staying on topic), this was about your assertion that (1) West Coast will lose members (maybe in the short term) and (2) disappear into irrelevance (highly unlikely based on past history given our membership numbers rebound pretty quickly – unlike Don and you, I’ve actually brought facts into the debate). If we lose members, there is a pretty substantial waitlist hoping to get a membership in any event (something you have failed, unsurprisingly, to acknowledge). Whether West Coast have more/less competition for members than Richmond is irrelevant to this discussion – you were the one who brought our membership numbers up, and our numbers are, and have been, healthy in comparison with most clubs. We’ll leave aside your laughable assertion that Richmond would have 400k members in a 2-team town – you have no way of proving this. If you wanted to broaden the discussion, I could very easily note that we have a pretty similar Premiership strike rate even though we have to travel to win our Premierships, and have competed in a competition with more teams than Richmond historically. I could even note that your memberships had a massive spike when you were competitive in the late 2010s (surprise surprise). However, it really doesn’t bother me what Richmond do, which is why I find your fascination with West Coast surprising. Finally, let me give you a hint since you’re struggling. If you want to argue for a proposition, it’s not a bad idea to bring some form of evidence that supports what you’re arguing and is somewhat relevant to the point. You have singularly failed to do any of this beyond repeating your proposition. I think we’re done here – I’ve got better things to do than waste my time on this or repeat myself to you. I’m sure you’ll want to have the last word so be my guest – you might even enlighten me – stranger things have happened. Have a nice day.
Realist
Roar Rookie
Population difference is no defence for you, Don Nics. Melbourne’s population is 2.5 times Perth but have 5 times as many Teams. Hope you’re able to do Math here but the Eagles membership and finance figures are not remarkable at all. It does make the Tigers and Magpies Membership and finance look absolutely amazing. The figures already show that Eagles fans are jumping off and more will go over the next decade as they disappear into irrelevance.
nics
Roar Rookie
Ahh the classic change of topic which conveniently ignores population differences between Victoria and WA or the sheer absolute number of members we have historically had and have. Absolute numbers, and the finances that follow with it, are in our favour. Regardless, I'm still not convinced of the basis for your claim that Eagles fans will not stick with the club after a couple of dry years. The historical membership data doesn't show that, and you haven't brought any evidence to the table, just assertions. Changing the topic to how we'll apparently struggle for a decade or why our memberships are higher than most Victorian clubs doesn't help you at all - it's not relevant to the discussion and just shows you don't have any support for your argument. Next time don't come to a gunfight with a pair of chopsticks. Of course, I'm sure I'll hear back from you after Richmond's next win. Like the Don, you have an insatiable need for the last word. Have a good one.
Realist
Roar Rookie
Hate to burst your bubble Nics but those numbers are pretty crap for one of only 2 Teams in a Major Footballing Capital City. In case you hadn’t noticed, there are 10 Teams in Victoria with 9 of those in Metropolitan Melbourne. If the Tigers or Collingwood were one of only 2 Teams, like the Eagle’s, they’d have at least 400,000 Members. In any case, the Eagles are irrelevant now, and will be for at least a decade. Let’s chat again in 9 or 10 years when you’re possibly contending for the 8 again.
nics
Roar Rookie
Not really unless you take a very short-term view (which is surprising for a Richmond fan). After our nadir in 2009 (43.9k), we ended up with a waitlist of 10k for members in 2011 (54k). Notably, we still had more members during our bad years than many other Victorian clubs. In comparison with many other clubs, more of us are there most of the time, in good times and in bad.
Realist
Roar Rookie
Thanks for finally proving my point, which was only to show that WCE's comment was complete baloney!
nics
Roar Rookie
My points stand. As I've said above (repeatedly), even if we struggle in the next few years and lose some members, we'll be back, based on recent history. We've gone through this before. We've still managed to win premierships regardless at a decent clip. Even if there's a long gap between drinks, we'll be around in decent numbers Maybe you should think before tilting at windmills.
Realist
Roar Rookie
Still can’t see it Don Nics? Do I really need to spell it out?? Maybe go back and read through the whole thread this time. I clearly explained it 7.53pm but as always, you just chose to ignore and obfuscate just that Freo guy does. Time waster!!
nics
Roar Rookie
You and Don are alike in that it takes a 3 second google search to disprove your assertions. What exactly in the post below has not been addressed by my posts above? One more thing: it’s an internet forum. People chiming in are par for the course. “Yeah, right! What a load of baloney! Then why won’t the Eagles publicise their current Membership numbers like the Tigers do? The Eagles were down 4,000 members from 2021 to 2022 and are obviously going to report another drop. Crowd numbers at Optus are down so far this year also. Eagles Supporters are jumping off and going into hiding because they can see that their Team is shaping to be a long-term basketcase”
Realist
Roar Rookie
No, still missed Don Nics. Maybe in future when you decide to intrude on someone's conversation you make sure you pick up the correct thread. As I said earlier, you're just a time waster.
nics
Roar Rookie
I have addressed your point. It's not my fault you don't understand it. From what I gather, you think my club is due for a period of failure and that memberships will fall. I say that this has happened before but the club has rebounded, with reference to memberships data from our previous fall from grace post-2006. If you're struggling with understanding this quite basic concept, I really can't help you much further.
Realist
Roar Rookie
Once again you have totally ignored the point of my post and delivered childish obfuscation! Are you Don Freo? Or is this what happens to you when your Team becomes as irrelevant as Fremantle? :stoked:
nics
Roar Rookie
To be perfectly honest, what the Tigers get up to does not concern me at all. I'm really only interested in my own team. I am of course glad for your well-reasoned insights and have missed them over the last few weeks. Better check your ISP - all that Looney Tunes watching must have chewed up your data.
nics
Roar Rookie
Well I’m glad you took the time to shed such deep insights. One hopes you dont have another internet breakdown if Geelong win this weekend. Here’s something for you to ponder: our 2006 membership was 45.9k and it dropped to a low of 43.9k (~4%) post Cousins-saga and a wooden spoon before rebounding to around 100k now. For context, Richmond only hit 40k members in 2010. In response to the garbled point you are trying to make, recent history tells me my club will probably be fine even if we lose 4k members, but we thank you for your sincere concerns.
Realist
Roar Rookie
You're a time waster Nics. I clearly indicated what my point was in my previous post, you just chose ignore it and responded like a juvenile. Enjoy the next decade! :laughing:
nics
Roar Rookie
As I said earlier, why would the Eagles care what the Tigers do re publishing memberships? We have a pretty decent waitlist. To sum up the point I think you're trying to make: a club which is not performing well will record a drop in memberships? How novel. My 6yo could tell me that. I think you're just jealous we had more members than Richmond last year even in a 2-win season. Touche.
Realist
Roar Rookie
Yes, the Tigers update their tally regularly. The Eagles keep theirs a secret. I wonder why? The point I made is in response to WCE BS comment. Eagles membership dropped last year, is most likely dropping this year, plus crowd numbers have dropped at Optus also. In Summary Eagles Supporters are jumping off and will continue to do so over the next decade of misery.
Realist
Roar Rookie
Don't worry about the Tigers Nics, we'll be just fine. You should be more concerned about the decade of irrelevance and obscurity that the Eagles are facing. Have a good look at the Eagles list.....made up of tired over the hill, injury prone former stars, talentless youth and a bunch of middle of the roaders that wouldn't even get a game in the Tigers 2nds. The only 2 Players of any worth are Allen and Kelly. I pity the former but not the latter....he's part of the reason for the hole the Eagles are in.