After the loss I have scrapped that blog and gone back to the drawing board with the predictor to calculate our chances. I have looked at the up and coming games and analysed our chances.
After the bye we play Sydney in round 12, a game which will challenge our young Tigers. We have lost 8 out of the last 9 games against Sydney, the most recent was in round 14 in the 2010 season where we won by 4 points. (Paragraph edited)
Richmond are ranked 1st in least handballs and least marks for the opposition, and after round 9 we were number 1 in disposal efficiency. Sydney is ranked 1st in tackles and 5th in least points for opponents per game. Tigers are 15th in team to opponent tackles per game.
Sydney will go into the game as favourites, but if the Tigers can tackle harder and tighten the defence, it will improve the chances. Round 13 and 14 is against Brisbane and Melbourne respectively, both games are winnable and I had those pencilled in as wins (hopefully with a better result than last time I had projected a win).
I certainly don’t want to get too far ahead of myself so I won’t look through the whole season. However, if we’re competitive against Sydney and can force the win and play equally well against Brisbane and Melbourne, Richmond could be 7th on the ladder.
A loss against Sydney and wins against Brisbane and Melbourne will leave Richmond in 9th position, which highlights the importance of taking our chances and winning the 50-50 games.
I was pleased to see the comments from Dimma and the attitude he has taken toward the loss, as it shows the resolve of the team to not accept sub-standard performances. Comments to that effect stating that the boys will be hitting the track hard this week suggest they won’t be getting off lightly.
Going in to this season had you asked me where I would like or expect the team to finish I would have said 9 or 10. But as the Tigers get better so do the expectations of the team, coaching staff and fans.
If we get to the end of the season in 9th position overall I will be happy because of the major improvement in the team and no matter which way you look at it the boys are on the right track.
My faith in the team hasn’t dwindled at all, in some ways there was an expectation that along the way we would lose a game or two that we should win, being such a young team I know they will be disappointed and set themselves to play a harder game against Sydney. If Richmond win against Sydney and take our chances in the other games we are still a chance to play finals.
