You can stick your honourable losses, most Richmond fans would have been thinking as they trudged to the MCG on Sunday. No more talk of brave, plucky performances. That was the old Richmond narrative, a narrative that disappeared, article by article, as they became a force again, a narrative that has crept back in recent times. Their Tigers were winless, their opponents undefeated, their timeslot curious, their city blanketed in a smoky haze, and their champion pensioned off by Kane Cornes. They needed something to hang their hats on, a reason to keep fronting up, some sort of indication that they’re not destined for bottom four dross.
They got the win against a very good Sydney side, but they got more than that. They got so many little reminders that they’re on the right track, that it’s not all doom and gloom, that there’s genuine talent and endeavour in the next generation of Tigers coming through. Ten of them had played less than 50 games but all played significant roles. It was Maurice Rioli’s repeat efforts, Seth Campbell’s clean hands, Rhyan Mansell’s vice-like tackles and the substitute Sam Banks, in just his seventh game, halving a crucial contest with 50 seconds to go.
It was the older hands too. Shai Bolton hardly qualifies as such, but he excels in red ball games at the MCG. Ace photographer Michael Willson, who nominates hazy, late autumn afternoons at the MCG as his optimal shooting conditions, says Bolton is his favourite footballer to snap. His camera was also presumably focussed on Nick Vlastuin, whose two-fisted spoils and intercept marks repelled Sydney all afternoon. Football has perhaps never been so replete with players of his ilk – resolute, rebounding defenders so adept at reading the ball off the boot further afield.
The first half of the Gold Coast game aside, no-one would have questioned Richmond’s endeavour heading into Sunday’s game. But it was scant consolation. It’s a frustrating place to be in – as a club, as a team and as a supporter base – when the memories of those glory years are still vivid, and when many of the stars who provided those memories are still present, but it’s just not working. You’re given the run-around by teams who, just a few years ago, weren’t fit to polish your boots. You’re playing in front of your former coach, a bunch of expats, kids and lifeguards. They have all the hype. You’re just…well you don’t quite know what you are, or what your place in the competition is. Not totally rebuilding. Not contending. Just remembering, and occasionally reminding. People say “oh, brave effort”. But it’s hollow.
There was plenty of that against Carlton in round two. They were gallant but what use is gallantry when the Blues are cock-a hoop? And the injury to Josh Gibcus was just wretched. He’d worked so hard to get his body right. He was looking right at home, in front of a big crowd and against some of the best forwards in the game. He was so important to this current iteration of Richmond. As a fan, he was a player you could pin your hopes on. He was a future leader. And crunch, his knee went. He knew straight away. He slammed his head into the turf, and most Richmond supporters did the same to the nearest wall.
Even last week against Port, they loomed at times, but some interesting umpiring, the weight of numbers and sheer talent of the visitors got them in the end. The next few years loomed as the occasional greatest hits show, some off-Broadway abominations, the gradual and respectful pensioning off of the premiership stars and hopefully the beginning of a distinct and viable style of play.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer but there were signs on Sunday for long-term optimism. Adem Yze spent the first few months in the job saying how he wants them to be a very different team to the Hardwick-era Tigers. In recent years, he says, they’ve been slaughtered at the contest and leaky down back. He doesn’t want them to be stuck in the past. But you don’t get a lot of time with your players over summer these days. You get bugger all time to implement a new style, and to get the kids up to speed. Adam Kingsley found that at GWS. They had to develop on the run, in season. What really fast-tracks development are wins like Sunday’s. Brave losses quickly wear thin. Wins against the odds, against genuine premiership contenders, are worth their weight in gold.
