Just my opinion.
Friday night was a watershed moment for our team. Richmond has a reputation for being a flaky team. Most teams know that Richmond will bob its head up from time to time. When they do, they always have a few unexpected wins, they catch a good team or two on a bad day, get taken lightly by another and give their fans another tease.
Then someone comes out hard, belts them around, bullies them, throws a few sledges in. Mentally fragile at the best of times, the Tigers crash back to earth and order is restored. They are shattered for the next few games and another year ends in tears.
It was all going according to the script on Friday night. It was a niggly, nasty, bad-tempered game and the battle-hardened Swans were going about their business, putting the insecure upstarts back in their box. Only it didn't happen. In the last few moments, Rance rag-dolled Franklin and Deledio pushed Richards aside contemptuously. Miles was physically targeted all night but gave back as good as he got. Vickery stood up. Vlastuin and Grimes imposed themselves. It was the Swans who caved.
The penny has dropped.
We will beat both Geelong and North Melbourne the next time we play them.
