Tigers must win respect: Frawley
By MICHELANGELO RUCCI
07mar03
IN 1995, on a sunny Melbourne day in September, the siren announcing Richmond had beaten Essendon in a semi-final never echoed because the MCG quickly reverberated to the repeated singing of the Tigers' club song.
The great pilgrimage through football's wilderness – a decade of no finals action – seemed over. It was another false prophecy.
Every year since, the Tigers have lived off that promise but delivered very little. Just one finals series in the seven seasons since, three coaches and just as much change off the field. But little credibility.
It is a club which subjects itself to ridicule. And this has stuck under the skin of fourth-year coach Danny Frawley, who cannot expect patience in his tenure to hold if the Tigers stumble again.
"The respect was there at the end of 2001," says Frawley, overstating the conclusions drawn after Richmond reached the preliminary finals that season. Reality was no-one could afford Richmond any respect until it established itself as a consistent finalist.
Season 2002 brought the crash from third to 14th.
"Everyone was still waiting and seeing," admits Frawley. "And that was the disappointing part – not to back it up and play in successive finals series.
"Without talking about where we might finish, you only gain respect by winning more than you lose. Our expectations are of gaining some respect back in the competition."
Once again there is much anticipation and brash confidence at Punt Rd.
The Tigers believe they have strengthened their midfield by signing two gun players who have tasted premiership success – Justin Blumfield from Essendon and Kane Johnson from Adelaide.
And Richmond expects its home-grown midfielders, David Rodan and Mark Coughland, to vastly improve this season. Frawley also believes it is time to move the exciting Andrew Krakouer out of his apprenticeship role in a forward pocket to work his quick hands in the midfield.
But the doubts over Richmond's midfield are not only related to personnel but how this crucial section is managed from the coach's box when put under intense pressure.
On either side of the midfield there are vital questions to be answered. They range from the ability of key players to match expectations with performance – forward Matthew Richardson, ruckman Brad Ottens, full back Darren Gaspar and young gun Aaron Fiora.
Richmond cannot afford to be built around Wayne Campbell and Joel Bowden and cameos.
Until there is solid proof of a true revival at Punt Rd, don't expect much.
By MICHELANGELO RUCCI
07mar03
IN 1995, on a sunny Melbourne day in September, the siren announcing Richmond had beaten Essendon in a semi-final never echoed because the MCG quickly reverberated to the repeated singing of the Tigers' club song.
The great pilgrimage through football's wilderness – a decade of no finals action – seemed over. It was another false prophecy.
Every year since, the Tigers have lived off that promise but delivered very little. Just one finals series in the seven seasons since, three coaches and just as much change off the field. But little credibility.
It is a club which subjects itself to ridicule. And this has stuck under the skin of fourth-year coach Danny Frawley, who cannot expect patience in his tenure to hold if the Tigers stumble again.
"The respect was there at the end of 2001," says Frawley, overstating the conclusions drawn after Richmond reached the preliminary finals that season. Reality was no-one could afford Richmond any respect until it established itself as a consistent finalist.
Season 2002 brought the crash from third to 14th.
"Everyone was still waiting and seeing," admits Frawley. "And that was the disappointing part – not to back it up and play in successive finals series.
"Without talking about where we might finish, you only gain respect by winning more than you lose. Our expectations are of gaining some respect back in the competition."
Once again there is much anticipation and brash confidence at Punt Rd.
The Tigers believe they have strengthened their midfield by signing two gun players who have tasted premiership success – Justin Blumfield from Essendon and Kane Johnson from Adelaide.
And Richmond expects its home-grown midfielders, David Rodan and Mark Coughland, to vastly improve this season. Frawley also believes it is time to move the exciting Andrew Krakouer out of his apprenticeship role in a forward pocket to work his quick hands in the midfield.
But the doubts over Richmond's midfield are not only related to personnel but how this crucial section is managed from the coach's box when put under intense pressure.
On either side of the midfield there are vital questions to be answered. They range from the ability of key players to match expectations with performance – forward Matthew Richardson, ruckman Brad Ottens, full back Darren Gaspar and young gun Aaron Fiora.
Richmond cannot afford to be built around Wayne Campbell and Joel Bowden and cameos.
Until there is solid proof of a true revival at Punt Rd, don't expect much.
