Round 2: Managing Expectation

Posted on April 7, 2006 | Category: Uncategorized

Last night’s game was a classic Richmond loss. We played well early, probably had the better of the first quarter but were too inefficient up forward and so went in a quarter-time trailing. We then slipped further behind in the second quarter, although not quite enough to be out of the game. After half-time we rallied to be only a goal away at 3 quarter time. Just to give all the supporters hope, we battled on to gain a 1 point lead early in the last, only to get run over and lose by 10 points. We played well, but just not well enough.

Now normally, a loss like that would have been devastating. Just when you believed we might have the game in our grasp it slips away again. Normally I’d have gone home angry. But for one thing. Expectation.

I only went to the game last night because dad had free tickets. I probably would have watched most of the game at home, but not neccesarily. We went last night expecting to get thrashed. You could see it in the eye of almost every Richmond supporter in Telstra Dome as they walked into the stadium. We looked like the lawyer who is putting in their last-ditch appeal before their client is executed. It felt inevitable. We weren’t going because we wanted to see Richmond win. We were going because we wanted the players to know that the club has supporters worth playing for.

And then gradually, as the game wore on, it began to dawn on us. The boys were really playing. Patrick Bowden, who had been a rare light in the darkness of last week, was on fire early. Daniel Jackson, a young kid who had shown some spark last year and was back in the team this week, popped up in the forward line and kicked a couple. There was some good signs. Joel Bowden got a lot of the ball, even if his decision making left a lot to be desired. Will Thursfield, who was only playing his third or so game, took Nick Riewoldt out of the game, before he got injured and was stretchered off the ground.

It was the first time in a long time that I can remember being beaten and still going home happy.

St Kilda 13.10 (88)

def

Richmond 11.11 (77)

Best: St. Kilda - Hayes, Hamill, Montagna, Hudghton. Richmond - P.Bowden, Deledio, Jackson, Thursfield

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