The lead up to this game had two media focuses, neither were about Richmond. One was heritage week, all teams were wearing 'original' strips. The Tigers had gone for some dreadful combination of yellow and black stripes that looked more like a bad Hawthorn jersey than anything Richmond had ever worn. The other was the fact that St Kilda champion Nathan Burke had decided to make this his last game. He cited a number of reasons for the choice. The last game of the year that the Saints played at Telstra Dome and the fact that he had played his first game against Richmond, so it seemed fitting. What football Gods have Richmond offended to get every game of some emotional significance against their opponent? We had Mick Martyn's tribute game to his dying father, Steven Silvagni's 300th, the Jason McCartney tribute match and now this.

The Tigers were never going to be allowed to win this. King had been dropped to make way for the returning Greg Stafford. Richmond got the first goal courtesy of another piece of David Rodan magic and that was about all that went right for the Tigers. Richmond was nearly 5 goals down at quarter time. The Tigers fought back in the second term, which was pleasing to see, less pleasant was the incident that assisted the fight back. Nick Riewoldt had been starring for St Kilda, that was until Tim Fleming took him out with a cheap shot. Fleming's toughness is what has got him a game, there is however a fine line between toughness and dirty play. Fleming crossed it. He will be reported and suspended, if he gets anything less than 4 weeks he'll be lucky. I'd pretty much say that will be the last game Tim Fleming plays for Richmond. Brad Ottens form had been pleasing, Johnson was working hard and Tivendale and Chaffey were putting in their usual solid performances. A good third quarter could see the Tigers right back into this game. A few incomprehensible umpiring decisions that inexplicably went the way of the Saints took all the fight out of the Tigers. St Kilda kicked right away, Richmond panicked and started to go wide again. An 80 point thrashing and Richmond hardly gave a yelp. Pathetic! I hardly saw Rodan after his first goal, he picked up a few easy possessions in the backline and I think he was on the ball. Having said that he was far from the worst. Ottens, Johnson, Chaffey and Tivendale were the best with an honourable mention to Chris Newman who tried hard.

It's hard to believe that this is essentially the same side that won 6 of their first 8. Okay they're missing the captain and the vice captain, but why has the spirit and the game plan gone out the window? The players have to wear some of it and I know there will be a number of blokes who won't be wearing yellow and black next season, but I want the coaching staff to take some of the blame. There's no point in putting blind faith in them for the sake of stability if all the side is going to do is stand still.

Maybe it'll get better, but it won't be this season and with games against Essendon, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn to come I have the feeling it's going to get worse….a lot worse.