Right now we're behind them by 1.19%, but clearly the Tigers are our match for pessimistic outlooks for this season.

I thought I'd throw out a few comparison questions to see where people see the Tigers and how they see us comparing to them.

RICHMOND FIXTURE

Rnd 1 Carlton MCG

Rnd 2 Bulldogs MCG

Rnd 3 Sydney, SCG

Rnd 4 Demons MCG

Rnd 5 Fremantle, Subiaco

Rnd 6 Geelong, Skilled Stadium

Rnd 7 Adealide, AAMI

Rnd 8 Hawthorn, MCG

Rnd 9 Essendon, MCG

Rnd 10 Port Adelaide, AAMI

Rnd 11 St Kilda, Etihad

Rnd 12, West Coast, MCG

Rnd 13, Brisbane, Gabba

Rnd 14, Sydney, MCG

Rnd 15, Fremantle, Etihad

Rnd 16, North Melbourne, MCG

Rnd 17, Collingwood, MCG

Rnd 18, Adelaide, MCG

Rnd 19, Melbourne, MCG

Rnd 20, Carlton, MCG

Rnd 21, St Kilda, Etihad

Rnd 22, Port Adelaide, Etihad.

Looking at the draw for Richmond, they could be in real trouble. A lot of the games against weaker teams are away, so there is a significant home-ground advantage to consider. I think WC at the G could be the best shot they have.

Interesting poll.

If I had 12 months to live and was given the choice of the Tigers and Dees (not having ever been a fan of either)... I'd choose the Toiges marginally for this season. They have a lot of crap on their list, but they have half a dozen players who are coming into their prime that should keep them off the bottom this season. After that the cupboard is bare... and that's why for the coming years, the dees will be the more fun side to follow and watch.

But it's much of a muchness. Both lists suck this year. We really are the worst 2 sides in the comp. By a LOONG way.

Melbourne realised 3 years ago that its list was lacking in both the talent and the leadership required to be the foundations of a list that can deliver us Nm 13. Since then we have gone to 3 draft periods and stocked up on elite young talent.

Richmond only reached the same point of realisation after last season.

We will wn a flag before them.

Richmond won't play finals for 5 years if they're lucky.

We should ... should ... be challenging for the 8 in 2012.

Interesting poll.

If I had 12 months to live and was given the choice of the Tigers and Dees (not having ever been a fan of either)... I'd choose the Toiges marginally for this season. They have a lot of crap on their list, but they have half a dozen players who are coming into their prime that should keep them off the bottom this season. After that the cupboard is bare... and that's why for the coming years, the dees will be the more fun side to follow and watch.

But it's much of a muchness. Both lists suck this year. We really are the worst 2 sides in the comp. By a LOONG way.

Urgggh i could never support Richmond, i well remember how dirty they were on field & arrogant off it during the 70's. My Grandad grew up in Richmond and hassled me daily as a nipper to change teams. I am always proud i didn't. They were a great side, but Geez they were rough on the field-went to those GF's in the 70's Great VFL days they were.

My favourite football fact:

Since 1983, Richmond have made the finals less times than Fitzroy.

My favourite football fact:

Since 1983, Richmond have made the finals less times than Fitzroy.

That is an incredible fact when i think back to the first half of the 70's Richmond were on TV weekly.

Circumstances do change quickly.

Edited April 2, 201015 yr by why you little

That is an incredible fact when i think back to the first half of the 70's Richmond were on TV weekly.

Circumstances do change quickly.

I find it amazing that they have survived - how on earth did they manage to maintain their supporter base??

Boggles the mind really.

They must've done something right, in the area of membership at least.

I find it amazing that they have survived - how on earth did they manage to maintain their supporter base??

Boggles the mind really.

They must've done something right, in the area of membership at least.

Amnesia according to WYL. Apparently, at the start of each year, they forget how utterly hopeless they were the year before.

I find it amazing that they have survived - how on earth did they manage to maintain their supporter base??

Not only "maintain" ... they have grown their supporter base in the last few years.

On the one hand, the time to Melbourne's glory days was (obviously) a long time ago, and there have been huge changes in society and the pattern of football following since then. Richmond managed to have something to show during the TV years. Melbourne have never had a 'great' era on television, which really does translate into awareness and 'branding' (yurk).

On the other hand, it's a generational thing - their glory days were just recent enough to still hold the codgers in good stead, and for parents to raise their kids as Tigers.

The height of cruelty, I don't think many of the next generation would be prepared to do that to their kids. Except as a result of the 'generational vicious cycle of bad parenting'.

If they can't get something back on the field in another decade or so, they are in for trouble. There is, after all, a Richmond in Sydney!

After watching today I'd like to change my vote on our chances in Round 4 to "Likely".

Us.