I'm glad I found this article, because even I, the eternal optimist was starting to have doubts about Richmond playing in the finals this year.
We're still in finals race: Frawley
By Sam Lienert
July 6, 2003
RICHMOND coach Danny Frawley declared his side on the improve and still very much in the AFL finals race despite suffering its sixth straight defeat against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last night.
The 28-point loss left the Tigers with a 6-8 record, six premiership points out of the top eight, and probably needing six wins from its remaining eight games to make the finals.
Despite the size of the task ahead, Frawley's confident a finals appearance is a realistic prospect for Richmond.
"We're still right in the hunt," Frawley said.
"All we can worry about is ... we've just got to make sure we get reward for effort because the effort's been there.
"We've just got to make sure we can focus on Geelong next week, and we'll go down and have a look at them (play Port Adelaide today) and take it from there."
Asked whether he saw next Saturday's match as a mini-final for the Tigers, Frawley said he was only interested in whether his side could keep improving.
"The last couple of weeks, even though they haven't been wins, there's been improvement, and that's all you can ask for," he said.
"We're starting to get our structure back, (Justin) Blumfield's having a run (in the VFL) today, Billy Nicholls, Rory Hilton and (Aaron) Fiora hopefully will get some form back in the VFL, so to me that's really healthy to get some pressure."
Richmond has lost all four matches it's played outside Victoria this season, and has one remaining against Fremantle in round 18.
"I suppose these two losses (against Brisbane at the Gabba last week and Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last night) are magnified by the fact of losing games that you may have thought you were a chance to win against Carlton and the Kangaroos," he said.
"These two games (against Brisbane and Adelaide) were always going to be difficult when you look at the draw."
We're still in finals race: Frawley
By Sam Lienert
July 6, 2003
RICHMOND coach Danny Frawley declared his side on the improve and still very much in the AFL finals race despite suffering its sixth straight defeat against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last night.
The 28-point loss left the Tigers with a 6-8 record, six premiership points out of the top eight, and probably needing six wins from its remaining eight games to make the finals.
Despite the size of the task ahead, Frawley's confident a finals appearance is a realistic prospect for Richmond.
"We're still right in the hunt," Frawley said.
"All we can worry about is ... we've just got to make sure we get reward for effort because the effort's been there.
"We've just got to make sure we can focus on Geelong next week, and we'll go down and have a look at them (play Port Adelaide today) and take it from there."
Asked whether he saw next Saturday's match as a mini-final for the Tigers, Frawley said he was only interested in whether his side could keep improving.
"The last couple of weeks, even though they haven't been wins, there's been improvement, and that's all you can ask for," he said.
"We're starting to get our structure back, (Justin) Blumfield's having a run (in the VFL) today, Billy Nicholls, Rory Hilton and (Aaron) Fiora hopefully will get some form back in the VFL, so to me that's really healthy to get some pressure."
Richmond has lost all four matches it's played outside Victoria this season, and has one remaining against Fremantle in round 18.
"I suppose these two losses (against Brisbane at the Gabba last week and Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last night) are magnified by the fact of losing games that you may have thought you were a chance to win against Carlton and the Kangaroos," he said.
"These two games (against Brisbane and Adelaide) were always going to be difficult when you look at the draw."
