2-0.

It’s a very rare sight as a Richmond supporter to see those figures, but low and behold the club has started its season und efeated after two rounds for the first time since 1997.

That in itself is an incredible stat. If you had of said to any Richmond supporter back in 1997 that the club wouldn’t be 2-0 after two rounds for the next 16 years, they would have said you were mad.

If nothing else, it is an important reminder not only of how poor we have been over the journey, but also how things may be changing for the better as of right now.

While it is only two wins there’s no doubt that the entire club, from the players and coaches to the staff, would all be brimming with confidence from the side’s good start to the year.

Perhaps what is even more of a positive is the fact that the side hasn’t been particularly amazing over the first two rounds. There is certainly a lot of improvement to be had which bodes well when we take on some of the more credentialed sides of the competition in the coming weeks.

Winning games while not playing your best footy is a characteristic that all the great sides have had, so while we are not there yet, it certainly shows that at the very least the club is on the right path to sustained success.

Last week I mentioned in my blog that Jack Riewoldt was due for a big haul of goals.

He didn’t let me down.

It was great to see him playing with the same confidence that he’s had in the past, flying for his marks and forgetting about his man. As long as Jack keeps allowing himself room to run at the footy, he is going to remain as one of the most dominant forwards in the AFL.

Another player who continued his impressive play was Steve Morris. While the superstars in Riewoldt, Cotchin and Deledio all had big parts in the win, if it wasn’t for Morris’ efforts on the slippery Stephen Milne, we probably wouldn’t have won.

It’s fair to say Milne is more loathed than loved in the wider football community, however there is no doubt that he is one of the most genuine match winners our game has. Time and again he has torn our backline apart with his incredible goal sense, so for Morris to completely shut him down was massive in the context of the game.

This week we obviously face the rebuilding Western Bulldogs, a match which the bookies will install us as heavy favourites.

However, it would be most unwise for anyone at the club, or even its supporters, to think that a Richmond victory is inevitable. While we did crush the Doggies late last year, before that they were a side, like St. Kilda, who always gave us trouble.

They have shown already over the first two rounds that they are a far better side than last year, belting NAB Cup champions Brisbane, and then holding their own against a dangerous Fremantle outfit last week.

A big part of that is the continuing development of its youngsters such as Luke Dahlhaus, Clay Smith, Tom Liberatore and many others, so the Tiger players will certainly have to work hard to get the job done.

The importance of this game is incredible.

If we win this, not only do we go 3-0, but it gives us a ‘free-hit’ against 3 of the better sides in the competition in Collingwood, Fremantle and Geelong in the three weeks following. It would really set up a “nothing to lose” situation which is where upsets can often happen.

Lose this week though and we could realistically be looking at being 2-4 after six rounds, costing us a lot of momentum going into the middle of the year.

I am keeping the faith though. With leaders such as Cotchin, Deledio, Maric, Chaplin and Rance, I’m certain they will keep the rest of the boys pumped up and ready for the Bulldogs, leaving no chance for a lackadaisical mind frame for any of their teammates.

Richmond by 32 points, and 3-0 for the first time since 1995. And we all what happened that year.

Go Tiges!

Follow me on Twitter @Stuart_Wilson23 or email me at stuartw88@hotmail.com.