Those are two emotions that players, coaches and supporters regularly alternate between during games. This game had both in equal amounts for both teams.

Richmond had made this an important game for two reasons: it was club champion Wayne Campbell's final game in front of a home ground as the last game of the season for Richmond is an away fixture against Geelong at their stronghold of Skilled Stadium, it was also Mark Graham's last career game. Fittingly for Graham it was against his old side of Hawthorn, the side that cast him aside at the end of last season and looked to have ended his career prematurely until Terry Wallace decided to give him a chance late in the draft.

There was a fair element of win it for Cambo and Heebee (as the players call Mark Graham), there was also some ridiculous media talk about the Tigers still being able to make the finals if they won this and their last game, but my own opinion is that once a side has rely on other results, as Richmond does, to make the finals then they have forfeited any realistic chance of making it.

The Tigers started like they were trying to make a point and intended to pound the Hawks into the ground to make it. There were 2 goals on the board before the Hawks had even made a foray forward, after that it all fell apart for Richmond and they put on an embarassing display of how not to play football for the rest of the half. Only 3 players could hold their heads high, in fact only 3 of them looked they had ever even seen a football before: Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio and the reliable Joel Bowden. The rest of the side played as if someone had gone into the crowd before the match and given members of the audience jumpers with player numbers and sent them onto the field in place of the real players. Despite that the Tigers were still within reach, although it looked like a faint hope, at half time.

Whatever Terry Wallace said to his players at half time it worked. The Tigers bolted out of the blocks and with quick, direct play soon cut the margin to a very gettable 3 goals. The Hawks fought back and got their lead back to something harder to peg back. The two sides traded blows for most of the last quarter until sensing the young Hawks were tiring the Tigers pounced and extended the inexperienced Hawthorn defence. Bit by bit the lead was eroded until in the last minute Kayne Pettifer slotted through his 3rd goal to give the Tigers a 4 point lead and they hung on through the tense final seconds to record a memorable and morale boosting win.

Elation for the Tigers. Despair for the Hawks.

Player review:

1. Rory Hilton, alternated between defence and attack. Got a couple of very useful goals. A handy player although it's not something others couldn't do.

2. Darren Gaspar, mismatched early, but was the one who shut down the dangerous Ben Dixon.

3. Brett Deledio, quiet in the first half, although his few possessions were useful. Put on the afterburners in the 2nd half and every time he gets ball Tiger supporters are content that he will do the right thing with it.

5. Troy Simmonds, played well in the ruck and provided a big target and decoy in the forward line, kicked one very important goal in time on.

9. Wayne Campbell, it is a shame he has retired, because he is so good and so valuable and really gives direction to the younger players.

10. Greg Stafford, very useful marking and goaling option in the forward line. Gave Peter Everitt problems when the big Hawk tried to fill in the hole in defence.

11. Joel Bowden, another great game. A lot of the fightback was due to the drive he gives from the half back line.

12. Matthew Richardson, another 4 goals. He looked set to blow the game apart early, but spoiled his game with some wayward kicking for goal.

15. Kayne Pettifer, one of the best games I've seen him play. Aside from his 3 goals, including the one that sealed the game, was involved in a number of assists which isn't something he often does.

17. Kane Johnson, strong and hard at it, helped lead the fightback and his running goal in the last quarter was a joy to watch.

20. Ray Hall, moved away from his customary defensive role to play forward and in the ruck. His long kicking and height enabled him to snag 3 goals and play a large part in the win.

21. Shane Tuck, another great game. Kept the Tigers in it early and did not give up all day.

23. Daniel Jackson, was okay for the few minutes he played, but his disposal really needs attention.

24. Mark Coughlan, didn't gather as much of the ball as usual, but laid on bone crunching tackles that were instrumental in turning the ball over on more than one occasion.

25. Jay Schulz, he didn't play a key role after Ben Dixon's foot collected his chest in the first quarter and he was carried off, but the character he showed to return to the field even though he was injured and play a courageous hand in the forward line made me reassess my opinion of him.

30. Richard Tambling, all at sea early, but when it got tight in that last quarter he stepped up and the supporters saw some of that speed that he is renowned for. Two very nice goals gave us a glimpse of his future.

31. Chris Hyde, tried hard and never gave in. Had chances to kick vital goals early, but missed.

33. Brent Hartigan, became a go to guy in the middle, his hard running and decisive kicking drove the Tigers into attack repeatedly.

34. Mark Graham, he played an important and hard nosed defensive role in his final game and deserved go out on a winning note.

35. Chris Newman, beaten early by Ben Dixon, but was better when released to his half back position where with Bowden he could deliver the ball out of defence.

40. Kelvin Moore, the forward experiment does not seem to have worked. Defence is more his go and he looks far more comfortable there. May be an idea to swap him with Ray Hall.

41. Nathan Foley, on the bottom of every pack. Looks like he'll make it.