Big redemption week ahead for the Tigers.
Once again the club has been front and centre to media criticism this week, being labelled ‘flat track bullies’ for the lack of wins against the better sides in the competition.
Unfortunately, at this stage of the year at least, the media are probably right. Besides the Round 1 win against Carlton, we just haven’t been good enough to get the points against the better sides in the competition.
One thing that I think the media has overlooked however is that Geelong, Fremantle, Essendon and Collingwood could all be considered as top four clubs in one way or another. Even the most optimistic Richmond supporter would have a difficult time saying that we are a top four side, so to lose to these high-calibre sides isn’t the end of the world like some people think.
It’s not until we play teams like Adelaide and North Melbourne that we’ll get a true reflection of whether or not we have the sort of side that can challenge for the finals.
So that brings us to this week’s game against the Eagles.
Now, while they are still no doubt a very good side, I don’t know if they are as dangerous as they have been in previous seasons. While we will rightfully go in as underdogs, I just have the slightest feeling that we are a chance to cause on upset come Monday.
When the backs are against the wall, getting away on the road as a group (like I said before the Port Adelaide game) can help galvanise the group and that’s what we are in desperate need of at the moment.
An upset won’t come easy though, and for any chance of it happening our midfield group is going to have to lift immensely over their performance last week. As our most damaging midfielder, Brett Deledio has copped a lot of attention from opposition taggers in recent weeks so it’s no surprise that when he’s down, we struggle as a whole.
A more cohesive forward line will also need to be in tow against the Eagles. The entries inside 50 last week were quite poor with not a lot of direction or purpose and good teams will make you pay on the rebound because of it.
We need more marking options inside 50 and that’s why I think it’s time that Aaron Edwards was given a crack. We obviously traded him in for a reason, so it only makes sense that we should give him a try given he offers marking attributes that we are sorely lacking at the moment.
He and young tall Liam McBean (who I’d also like to see get a game soon) have been two of our most consistent performers at VFL level, so it’s only right that Edwards and hopefully in time McBean, get a shot at the AFL level to show their wares.
All in all, a sub-par performance on Monday will have the critics again snapping at our heels, especially given that a bye the following week will mean we have to wait a fortnight to redeem ourselves.
Hopefully there will be no need for redemption in a fortnight’s time though, as an upset win this round would be a great jolt to get our season back on track before the bye.
Go Tiges!
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