How do you measure a club's culture, when so many other things go to make up success, like the quality of the list, the quality of the facilities, the training and conditioning staff, the club's financial strength, etc?
One measure of the club's culture is the way it responded to the smashing defeat by Geelong, after Gaspar's resignation. The players came back and played well (though defeated) in the two Adelaide games.
At the end of a year at the bottom of the ladder they beat Collingwood (think about that...the only team to push Geelong in the finals) and Essendon, and give St Kilda a hard time. They kept their spirit and aggression up. It was a pleasure watching them in round 22. It was so very, very different from the last 14 weeks under Frawley, when defeat led to defeatism.
To me, that is one element of the culture of a club. It tells me things are on the improve.
There is such a long way to go. Watching Geelong today shows that. But I'm feeling pretty good about next year. A young and aggressive core of good players, a strong coach, all the experience from this year, a few new leaders emerging...
That is certainly true, Richmond beat the Pies, easily with a brand of footy that had them gasping for oxygen. Collingwood's subsequent performance in the finals suggests that if Richmond play to that plan, and show that passion, a resurgence may not be too far away. That was an admirable achievement after being 1-17-1 at that point, that loss also cvost the Pies dearly, it deprived them of what they may have though was a certain double chance. It may have cost themselves a flag even!!
