One thing I have observed over my 45 years as a Tiger Supporter is the rare quality of the eager Tiger Supporter/Fan to count their chickens before they hatch.
Afterall we had a fast finishing ninth in 2008 - won 8 out of our last 11 games, recruited well for talls, got Ben Cousins, Delidio is ready to show his best, Coghlan is having a full preseason - Cotchin is getting a full preseason and is a star already - the backline is getting taller and stronger - our forward line is taking shape without Richo - our midfield is developing a V8 grunt motor with a touch of class........
The Tiger eggs have only just been laid and it's happening again for 2009...........scant regard is given to opposition team development, which teams the coming season's fixture favours, where and when interstate trips occur for all Victorian Teams, possible injury lists, possible drop in form, possible 2nd year downers by previous 1st year stars, selection blunders, match day coaching blunders, etc....
The season will unfold and there are a couple of elements that will occur -
1. There will be up to 3 teams drop out of the final eight from 2008 to the final eight for 2009 - meaning up to 3 teams who did not play finals in 2008 will in 2009
2. There will be a surprise packet team that will perform better than everybody expected them too - like The Kangaroos in 2008 who were widely selected to be wooden spooners
3. There will be controversy over reports and consequentional suspensions
4. There will be controversy over umpiring decisions
5. There will be player/coaching/president/board member sacking rumours
6. There will be a team or two that will fall into the finals and be very lucky to be there
7. There will be a team or two that are an unlucky ninth or tenth
8. And most of all there will be excuses, spin and media beat ups
And somewhere through all that will be Richmond - walking the tight rope towards the finals, ocassionally slipping, losing balance, regaining balance and hopefully making it.
My Prayer
Please God smile on the Tigers during the 2009 season
keep the players fit and virtually free of injury
make the ball bounce in our favour more than against us
let the umpires be kind to us
guide the coaching staff to make the right decisions
help the supporters to maintain their roar during a game and their faith after each game
for we all really know that the results of the coming football season sit firmly in your lap........Amen
PS God it is a must we beat Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon........Thank you.......RT
Afterall we had a fast finishing ninth in 2008 - won 8 out of our last 11 games, recruited well for talls, got Ben Cousins, Delidio is ready to show his best, Coghlan is having a full preseason - Cotchin is getting a full preseason and is a star already - the backline is getting taller and stronger - our forward line is taking shape without Richo - our midfield is developing a V8 grunt motor with a touch of class........
The Tiger eggs have only just been laid and it's happening again for 2009...........scant regard is given to opposition team development, which teams the coming season's fixture favours, where and when interstate trips occur for all Victorian Teams, possible injury lists, possible drop in form, possible 2nd year downers by previous 1st year stars, selection blunders, match day coaching blunders, etc....
The season will unfold and there are a couple of elements that will occur -
1. There will be up to 3 teams drop out of the final eight from 2008 to the final eight for 2009 - meaning up to 3 teams who did not play finals in 2008 will in 2009
2. There will be a surprise packet team that will perform better than everybody expected them too - like The Kangaroos in 2008 who were widely selected to be wooden spooners
3. There will be controversy over reports and consequentional suspensions
4. There will be controversy over umpiring decisions
5. There will be player/coaching/president/board member sacking rumours
6. There will be a team or two that will fall into the finals and be very lucky to be there
7. There will be a team or two that are an unlucky ninth or tenth
8. And most of all there will be excuses, spin and media beat ups
And somewhere through all that will be Richmond - walking the tight rope towards the finals, ocassionally slipping, losing balance, regaining balance and hopefully making it.
My Prayer
Please God smile on the Tigers during the 2009 season
keep the players fit and virtually free of injury
make the ball bounce in our favour more than against us
let the umpires be kind to us
guide the coaching staff to make the right decisions
help the supporters to maintain their roar during a game and their faith after each game
for we all really know that the results of the coming football season sit firmly in your lap........Amen
PS God it is a must we beat Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon........Thank you.......RT
no less! thats got to effect his vertical leap, let alone his kicking for goal with swollen ankles. And immaculately conceived? wheres the positives in this for the big #12?
