A passionate supporter like the rest of us, I tend to think I know it all when it comes to the Yellow & Black. I thought I'd get this stuff off my chest... The 5 commonly reported 'facts' about Richmond that really pooh me off.
1. Richmond Supporters are Fickle.
I hate this myth. 'Fickle' means that you have no interest in the team when they are not winning. How can anyone accuse Tiger supporters of this? Even Diggler's bile betrays his love of the club (although I have a theory that he is an opposition supporter taking us for a ride). We produce big crowds in lean years - that shows we care.
Now the Swans, on the other hand, are fickle. Living in Sydney, I've experienced not being able to get a ticket when they are winning, and seen tickets handed out free at McDonalds when they are losing. They are classic freeloaders.
There's nothing wrong with dumping passionately on your team - it shows how much it hurts you to see them getting flogged. We've been through Hell ferals, and we want a slice of that success feeling!
2. Campbell is not a Leader
Rubbish! I think he's one of the best leaders around. In fact, there's no-one I'd prefer in the job. For mine, he's just a sensational professional - always super-fit (as many possessions in the 4th qtr as in the 1st), undoubtedly the best speaker in the playing group, has been through the hard times with us, was a Richmond supporter as a kid, excellent training example to the young'uns, has got the maximum out of his ability... (And don't site that resignation argument at me, because non other than Jack Dyer did exactly the same thing!)
3. Andrew Kellaway's Disposal
Recently I was really bored and re-watched the Australia v Ireland Rules decider. Now, the goalkeeper has to be able to do 2 things: stop that ball, and kick out well. AK did both brilliantly, and confirmed his status as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the Australian team.
I reckon he kicks perfectly well. He gets compared unfairly with his bro, Duncan (who has disposal matched only by Clinton King for ineptitude). Furthermore, the last time we had Gaspar at full-back and Ben H at CHB, AK was the premier 3rd defender in the AFL. If we can get that combo back together, I think AK will be a bonus we hadn't expected in 2003.
4. The Forwardline is Richmond's Strength
Once again, rubbish! The only two times we've made the finals in the last 20 years, it's been on the back of a solid, working-class defense, and in spite of an inconsistent attack.
In 2001, our success was built around Gaspar, Holland, Cameron, A Kellaway, Torney and Chaffey. They didn't give up much, and kept the opposition down even when the big names up front didn't get us 100 pts a game. Our midfield and general ball play was the same- we relied on the Szillers and Kellaways to smother opposition ball-getters. Sziller, in my opinion, deserves huge kudos for his finals performance, in the same way Knights is remembered for that 95 final - he destroyed Camporeale and got the pill himself. That won us the game.
Richo has never got as many goals as we hoped - lets face it. He'll be no.1 on the marks list, but no.5 on the goalkickers. 5 goals and he's raved about, whereas Lloyd would consider that standard. Ottens has stalled, but plays in the ruck anyway. Our crumbers have been disappointing - Krakouer is great, but tragically can't get the ball; Houlihan is brilliant too, but... well I've got no idea what his problem is!, and then there's Marty McGrath... could have the Greg Beck critics eating humble pie!
5. Knights was Treated Badly.
Not at all. I know a lot of people were upset with Mattys's departure, but in my opinion Danny Frawley was very impressive in this instance. How many of us really thought no. 33 had a future this year? I'd say, about 5% of subscribers. The fact is, his time was up. When Knights had that chat with Spud, he was told the truth - we can't have ya next year, we've got to move on. Knights then decided to retire after the Essendon game (the crowd for which was rather pathetic I thought, undermining my point 1), at his own behest. Frawley didn't shirk the issue at the expense of the team. Frawley did the right thing- told him the truth, when he could have avoided the issue to save his own skin. Knights was the only A-class midfielder we've had in the last 10 to 15 years, but he didn't have it anymore. Frawley wore the brickbats with an eye on the future of the Richmond Football Club.
********************************************
OK, now it's all off my chest. You might not agree, but hey, we all go for the same team!
Go Tiges! I'm drooling for September action!!
Tigerblood.
1. Richmond Supporters are Fickle.
I hate this myth. 'Fickle' means that you have no interest in the team when they are not winning. How can anyone accuse Tiger supporters of this? Even Diggler's bile betrays his love of the club (although I have a theory that he is an opposition supporter taking us for a ride). We produce big crowds in lean years - that shows we care.
Now the Swans, on the other hand, are fickle. Living in Sydney, I've experienced not being able to get a ticket when they are winning, and seen tickets handed out free at McDonalds when they are losing. They are classic freeloaders.
There's nothing wrong with dumping passionately on your team - it shows how much it hurts you to see them getting flogged. We've been through Hell ferals, and we want a slice of that success feeling!
2. Campbell is not a Leader
Rubbish! I think he's one of the best leaders around. In fact, there's no-one I'd prefer in the job. For mine, he's just a sensational professional - always super-fit (as many possessions in the 4th qtr as in the 1st), undoubtedly the best speaker in the playing group, has been through the hard times with us, was a Richmond supporter as a kid, excellent training example to the young'uns, has got the maximum out of his ability... (And don't site that resignation argument at me, because non other than Jack Dyer did exactly the same thing!)
3. Andrew Kellaway's Disposal
Recently I was really bored and re-watched the Australia v Ireland Rules decider. Now, the goalkeeper has to be able to do 2 things: stop that ball, and kick out well. AK did both brilliantly, and confirmed his status as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the Australian team.
I reckon he kicks perfectly well. He gets compared unfairly with his bro, Duncan (who has disposal matched only by Clinton King for ineptitude). Furthermore, the last time we had Gaspar at full-back and Ben H at CHB, AK was the premier 3rd defender in the AFL. If we can get that combo back together, I think AK will be a bonus we hadn't expected in 2003.
4. The Forwardline is Richmond's Strength
Once again, rubbish! The only two times we've made the finals in the last 20 years, it's been on the back of a solid, working-class defense, and in spite of an inconsistent attack.
In 2001, our success was built around Gaspar, Holland, Cameron, A Kellaway, Torney and Chaffey. They didn't give up much, and kept the opposition down even when the big names up front didn't get us 100 pts a game. Our midfield and general ball play was the same- we relied on the Szillers and Kellaways to smother opposition ball-getters. Sziller, in my opinion, deserves huge kudos for his finals performance, in the same way Knights is remembered for that 95 final - he destroyed Camporeale and got the pill himself. That won us the game.
Richo has never got as many goals as we hoped - lets face it. He'll be no.1 on the marks list, but no.5 on the goalkickers. 5 goals and he's raved about, whereas Lloyd would consider that standard. Ottens has stalled, but plays in the ruck anyway. Our crumbers have been disappointing - Krakouer is great, but tragically can't get the ball; Houlihan is brilliant too, but... well I've got no idea what his problem is!, and then there's Marty McGrath... could have the Greg Beck critics eating humble pie!
5. Knights was Treated Badly.
Not at all. I know a lot of people were upset with Mattys's departure, but in my opinion Danny Frawley was very impressive in this instance. How many of us really thought no. 33 had a future this year? I'd say, about 5% of subscribers. The fact is, his time was up. When Knights had that chat with Spud, he was told the truth - we can't have ya next year, we've got to move on. Knights then decided to retire after the Essendon game (the crowd for which was rather pathetic I thought, undermining my point 1), at his own behest. Frawley didn't shirk the issue at the expense of the team. Frawley did the right thing- told him the truth, when he could have avoided the issue to save his own skin. Knights was the only A-class midfielder we've had in the last 10 to 15 years, but he didn't have it anymore. Frawley wore the brickbats with an eye on the future of the Richmond Football Club.
********************************************
OK, now it's all off my chest. You might not agree, but hey, we all go for the same team!
Go Tiges! I'm drooling for September action!!
Tigerblood.