Not like Tigers of old

RICHMOND midfielder Shaun Grigg says previous records count for little as his side vies for its first finals victory in 16 years.

The Tigers will tackle Geelong in a blockbuster qualifying final at the MCG on Friday night after securing just their third top-four finish in 35 years.

Richmond has suffered losses in each of its past three finals – in 2013, 2014 and 2015 – and has not beaten Geelong since 2006, having lost the past 13 matches between the sides.

But Grigg said such records had little relevance to Richmond.

“We’re a totally different team to what we rolled out four years ago or so,” he said yesterday.

“We’re playing a totally different brand of footy I think, a lot more consistent, and we’ve got a lot of new players.

“It [finishing top four] just gives us the extra chance. We’ve shown throughout the year that our best footy has been good enough so it just gives us a chance to roll out there on Friday night and give it a crack.”

In his seventh season at Punt Rd after crossing from Carlton, Grigg said the prospect of helping break a 37-year premiership drought for the Tigers this season was hard to ignore.

“Every player probably thinks about it every day during the season,” he said.

Forward Josh Caddy (hamstring) will have to prove his fitness at the club’s main training session on Thursday to be considered for selection but was moving well on the track yesterday.