Analysis: Oh how the mighty have fallen By
Richmond’s last win came in mid-July, Essendon’s in late May. There is every chance both clubs will still be winless when they meet next month for Dreamtime.
The Tigers slumped to their ninth loss in a row on Saturday when they were easily beaten by Port Adelaide in a ho-hum game befitting the off-Broadway timeslot of Saturday twilight and broadcast behind a paywall.
There are green shoots for the Tigers, but plenty of growing pains ahead yet. AFL Photos The fans were headed up the aisles early into the final quarter when Port’s lead ballooned out to 43 points, having seen enough of a performance that shows how long the road will be from the bottom reaches of the ladder.
The building blocks are in place for the Tigers after their bumper draft haul in 2024 but turning promise into results is a process that takes years – and Adem Yze’s young men have only just left ground zero.
Port were last week overrun by West Coast, yet they had panels on these Tiger cubs, though it can be argued Richmond are better-placed long term for the path they have chosen.
The Tigers’ 0-4 start is their worst beginning to a season since 2010, Damien Hardwick’s first season at the helm, and they have won just two of their past 18 games.
North Melbourne in a fortnight and West Coast away in round eight shape as their two most winnable games before their Dreamtime clash with Essendon in round 11. Excluding next week’s Gather Round against Melbourne, the Bombers will start rank outsiders in every match until that marquee fixture.
At a stage where they need full availability to be competitive, Richmond cannot absorb the absences of Toby Nankervis, Tom Lynch and Noah Balta. Their kids are not ready.
While there was no faulting the Tigers’ effort and spirit, they did not have the skill or knowhow to challenge
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