Tigers ready for another pressure cooker

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says the Tigers are ready for a 10th consecutive sudden-death AFL clash.

Trent Cotchin of Richmond

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says they are ready for a 10th consecutive sudden-death AFL clash. (AAP)

Having won nine virtual elimination finals, Richmond are uniquely well placed for the pressure awaiting at the Portress.

The Tigers on Saturday wrapped up the finals berth they had every right to give up on at 3-10, downing minor premiers Sydney by three points at ANZ Stadium.

In a final round full of meaningless AFL games, this was anything but.

It ensured another chapter of the Tigerland tall tale will be written at Adelaide Oval next Sunday, when they face Port Adelaide and cap week one of the finals.

It was also another confidence-boosting win on the road.

With the exception of an opening-round flop against Gold Coast, the Tigers are undefeated outside Victoria this season.

It's one of many causes for confidence at Punt Rd Oval, as Richmond seek to belt out the club song in September for the first time since 2001.

"We've performed pretty well interstate. We had the win at Adelaide Oval a couple of weeks ago, granted it was against Adelaide," captain Trent Cotchin said at his side's recovery session on Sunday.

"We feel as though we're a really strong travelling team."

In Cotchin's first year as skipper, the Tigers finished fifth but slumped to a loss against Carlton in week one of the finals.

Asked about the lessons learned from 2013, Cotchin noted he wanted to keep things as normal as possible despite the Tiger Army growing louder and louder.

"We'll be really strong on that as a leadership group and a coaching group," he said.

"We're more mature (compared to this time last year), we understand what's required at different stages of the game.

"We'll take a lot of confidence out of our experience last year, and a lot of confidence out of our last three months of footy.

"We've shown in the last few weeks that the game we're playing is able to take it up to the best at challenging times."

Despite many AFL fans becoming enamoured with the club's nine-game winning streak, Cotchin suggested the admiration should be kept in perspective.

"It's still not a fairytale. We made finals. To be recognised as a great team you want to win a grand final," he said.

Leading premiership contenders Hawthorn, Geelong and Fremantle banked wins over Collingwood, Brisbane and Port respectively in round 23.

The Hawks and Cats renew their rivalry at the MCG on Friday night, while the Dockers take on Sydney at ANZ Stadium in the other qualifying final.

North Melbourne and Essendon will face off on Saturday night, the winner advancing to a clash with the side that loses on Friday night.

TIGERS ROARING ON THE ROAD IN 2014:

* 18-point loss to Gold Coast, R1

* 43-point win over Brisbane, R5

* 113-point win over GWS, R10

* 17-point win over West Coast, R18

* 10-point win over Adelaide, R21

* 3-point win over Sydney, R23.


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Tigers ready for another pressure cooker | SBS News