Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers are playing a brand of football ideally suited to ending two long hoodoos in Friday night's AFL qualifying final against Geelong.
The Tigers have lost 13 straight matches against the Cats dating back to 2006 and have gone 16 years without a finals win, including three successive elimination-final heartbreaks between 2013 and 2015.
But that was then. And this is now.
Rather than playing down the enormity of the MCG clash against Geelong, Hardwick has invited everyone associated with the club to embrace it.
"We accept that we haven't had a great record," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"This is our fourth attempt in five years.
"What I am pleased about it is that we consistently give ourselves an opportunity.
"This is a different side.
"As I've said previously, it's by far the best side I've coached.
"The way they play the game I think stands up to a finals brand."
The Tigers have got great returns this year from their big four -- Brownlow Medal favourite Dustin Martin, skipper Trent Cotchin, spearhead Jack Riewoldt and four-time All-Australian defender Alex Rance.
An unorthodox attack which includes a host of fleet-footed smaller types playing alongside Riewoldt has also paid big dividends.
But for Hardwick -- who made his name as a player at Essendon and Port Adelaide as a hard-nosed defender -- all the good stuff starts at the back.
"Defensively we are an incredible side," he said.
"You look at our pressure numbers and our pressure rating and we haven't performed like this before.
"Offensively we've allowed some things to happen and for the players to play to their strengths which is great.
"But our one-wood is our defence and we know that."
The Tigers will enjoy the bulk of the support from a heaving MCG crowd which is expected to top 95,000.
"We've put ourselves in a fantastic position and we want our supporters to a be a part of it," said Hardwick.
"They've ridden the bumps along the way and they're part of the passion that makes us the Richmond footy club and we're very proud of that.
"We've lost some finals along the way, we've also won 10 flags along the way, which is exciting.
"We're a pretty good footy club."
Share
