Adelaide in Adelaide. Everyone loves that match up. NOT! Coming after Brisbane in Brisbane it seemed like a rather unfair draw. This was commented on briefly during the week. Danny was philosophical about it saying that the side knew last October what was required. Danny came out of his self imposed media ban and spoke to a few journalists about the team's form and the pressure he was under. The media kept looking for reasons as to why the Tigers had suddenly slumped. I don't know why they won't just say it. They're a stupid side who play stupid football and Danny doesn't seem to know how to hammer the message into them. Campbell claimed that he would definitely play, but I wouldn't believe it until I saw it.

The game started off how you would imagine. Adelaide had 15 points on the board before Richmond scored. Some hard, tough, methodical football closed the gap somewhat and the Tigers were lucky to be only 11 points adrift when the siren sounded at the end of the first quarter. Richo had Nigel Smart's measure. Campbell was busy. Andy Kellaway and Chaffey were rocklike in defence and Otto was working hard. Rodan was unsighted. The second quarter was an arm wrestle. Adelaide was not all that sharp and Richmond worked hard, but wasted chances. Even so the margin was only 8 points at the half. The third quarter our play alternated between inspiring, Chaffey's tackle on Johncock and Richo taking the game by the scruff of the neck were examples of that and extremely ordinary, examples are too numerous to list, but any time Joel Bowden or Matthew Rogers touched the ball sum it up. The margin was still only 10 points and had been as low as 3. What was needed was a tough, hard, INTELLIGENT last quarter. It was too much to ask. As expected the Tigers wilted when the pressure was on and went back into panicking and doing the dumb things and were beaten by 28 points. I hate to say it, but we need a new coach, someone who knows how to win. Danny is doing his best, but unfortunately his best isn't good enough. He doesn't come from a winning culture. What is required is an experienced. SMART coach who knows what winning is all about and can convey that and make the players do the basics until they're second nature, we don't do that. This side as an AFL side is a disgrace, because half the playing list continue to make silly mistakes that would see an under 9 dragged for doing the wrong thing. Rodan darted in and out during the game but never really made an impact, he's bending under the pressure of expectations and may need a stint with Coburg to build his confidence.

We should be able to beat Geelong next week, but then again we should have beaten Carlton a few weeks back.