Doubters warn Tigers to beware of history

FORM says they just win, the betting confirms it and many neutral observers believe it’s a September formality, but history says Richmond is far from over the line for back-to-back flags.

And that’s despite their current quote of just $2.25 (Collingwood is next at $7) being the shortest since Collingwood dominated the 2011 season only to lose their most important game.

The side they lost to — Geelong — has been there too, three years earlier when a $1.65 favourite before losing the unlosable grand final to Hawthorn in 2008.

The Geelong players from that game, 11 of whom played in three premiership sides in that era, still say the pain of defeat looms far larger in the memory than the joy of victory.

Cameron Mooney, who played in Geelong’s 2007 and 2009 premiership sides and the losing 2008 team, watched Richmond play last Friday night. “I was at North Melbourne in 1998 and they were the best team all year but not the best team on grand final day — sometimes you can just go into a final winning but covering up some cracks,” Mooney said.

“The problem for Richmond’s opposition is they’ve had some really close games, unlike us in 2008 when we were steamrolling teams and maybe missing little things that can creep into your game.

“Richmond is getting so much learning out of their close games, meaning it will take someone extremely special on the day to beat them.”