A second premiership in three years will assure Richmond’s legacy as one of the great modern-day sides but assistant coach Justin Leppitsch says there will be pride at Punt Road regardless of Saturday’s AFL grand final result.
The Tigers will head into the premiership decider against GWS as favourites and knowing that a loss will be widely viewed as a major wasted opportunity.
Last season, the Tigers won nine of their last 10 home-and-away games to finish as minor premiers but were thumped by Collingwood in their preliminary final.
While the 2017 triumph was transformative for the club, one flag from three dominant seasons would be a disappointing yield.
Leppitsch, who played in Brisbane’s 2001-03 premiership trifecta, echoed Geelong coach Chris Scott in speaking of how tough it was to even make the final four.
“We probably under sell the difficulty in just getting here,” Leppitsch said.
“It’s a shame that you just get judged on this particular day when both these teams, even the teams last week, have done such a great job to even get to this part of the year.
“I think we’re all proud of this group, irrespective of if we win or lose.
“But obviously it’s the prize that each player wants to win.”
Both Leppitsch and Tigers development coach Craig McRae were part of a legendary early-2000s Brisbane outfit that played a ferocious brand of football.
“This group’s completely different to the one I played with,” Leppitsch said.
“I think the Richmond group of now is far more of a, I don’t know how to put this the right way, far more classy and family-type team than the one I played with.
“We were probably a bit more in your face.”
Leppitsch rejected suggestions the Tigers would look to test the recovery of GWS stars Phil Davis (calf and back) and Lachie Whitfield (appendix).
“I don’t know how to target an appendix, not in my experience,” Leppitsch joked.
“We haven’t spent any time on that and won’t.
“Both clubs are obviously going in with the mindset that if they can’t finish the game, they won’t play.
“So there’s no point targeting people.
“You’d rather use that energy on what you can do to help the team.”