Week off works in favour of Tigers

RICHMOND will tackle the extra week off with the same simple mantra that helped them consign their AFL finals drought to history – work hard, be happy.

Friday night’s 51-point qualifying final triumph against Geelong leaves the Tigers one win away from their first grand final since 1982 and two wins away from their first premiership in 37 years.

It is their first finals win since four days after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The long-suffering Tiger army roared its approval at the final siren on Friday night and coach Damien Hardwick wants his team to relish what is happening.

Opponents of the pre-finals bye point to Richmond now playing only one game in three weeks, saying it diminishes the advantage of finishing in the top four. But Hardwick oozed confidence after Friday night’s win, saying the Tigers will make the most of it.

“As soon as we’re in work, we’re in work mode,” he said.

“Our players have grown in maturity from that and leaders lead from the front. We’re really confident we can do both.”

More AFL news and results from last night’s Elimination Finals >> P51