PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum

Although I live just behind Byron Bay, I am the most cynical anti-new age philosopher around. However, a pretty down to earth Footscray supporter said to me in all seriousness on a construction site on Friday morning "I reckon the tiger supporters manifest their own failure!". It sort of got me thinking, we DO have an inexplicable record of failure in must-win games over the past 25 years. The coaches, players, administration has ALL changed in this time, yet the culture stays the same and leaves even the old, wise, hardened tiger fan (like my dad) scratching their head and asking, in the most confused tone they can muster "What IS it about Richmond?" Well I was thinking, with a little help from my philosophical Footscray mate, what hasnt changed in the last 25 years????? The answer I reckon is the supporters. Apart from some new supporters created by those of us lucky enough to reproduce, its the same bunch, getting more and more bitter, pessimistic, anxious for success but always anticipating failure, at least at a subconscious level. Is it a powerful negative collective consciousness of US, the supporters, that manifests these inexplicable failures in front of goal, out of the backline, in big games, at the draft table, in trade week, of young developing players of unlimited potential?????? Is it US tigerfans????? Lets try something out. In a spiritual sense, we are 8 goals down at three quarter time, so let's try something new and, in a spiritual sense, kick long down the guts. I am NOT advocating us all reading 'The Secret' or even sticking 'magic happens' on our cars before we play Geelong, but how about a simple little mantra like 'I reckon we can win this week'. I say it every week and I BELIEVE it, but how about if we all tried it, just this once. It cant hurt.