Richmond supporters will never get over these 11 losses

OPINION: REMEMBER when Richmond played what Paul Roos described as “the worst 50 seconds of football” ever against Gold Coast? MATT CUNNINGHAM wishes he didn’t.

Richmod v Essendon. Matthew Richardson is anguished by the Tiger's loss. p/. 1 May 1999. /football

TO be a Richmond supporter is to believe that the worst possible outcome is always possible, no matter how good the situation may seem.

It’s to believe a game can be lost when you’re sixteen points up with a little over a minute to play.

Rather than push us away, this pain seems to make Richmond supporters more fanatical.

It’s like we suffer from a weird masochistic personality disorder, deriving some strange pleasure from the suffering it brings.

AT LAST TIGERS FANS HAVE A REASON TO ROAR

We’ve become the subject of mirth among our friends who tend to smirk and shake their heads, disbelieving anyone could endure the torment our club has caused us, but still remain loyal.

Here’s 11 matches Tigers fans will never, ever get over.

THINK OF A WORSE LOSS THAN THESE? ADD YOUR COMMENT BELOW.

2013 Elimination Final against Carlton

Carlton weren’t even supposed to be in the finals, having been gifted a spot after Essendon’s ban over the supplements scandal. Richmond should have led by 10 goals at half time, but instead squandered a 26-point lead as a half-fit Chris Judd inspired the Blues to a come-from-behind win.

Put away the tissues, Tigers brethren. This image can only make us stronger.

2012 vs. Gold Coast in Cairns

Karmichael Hunt plays at least two codes of football better than he can play AFL, but he still managed to kick the winner after the siren to win this one for the Suns. Hunt’s kick came at the end of what Paul Roos later described as “the worst 50 seconds of football” played by any team in the history of the game.

2012 vs. Carlton

Brock McLean had never kicked a goal from outside 50 in his life. He wasn’t even having a shot when his long ball into the forward line in the dying seconds of this game fell untouched over the back of the pack and dribbled through for a goal. It handed the Tigers their third loss in a row by less than a goal.

1996 Round 4 versus Sydney

It should have been a goal to Richmond in the dying seconds, but instead the umpire paid a free kick against Matthew Richardson to Andrew Dunkley. The Swans won by a point and went on to play in the Grand Final. The Tigers finished ninth again, missing the finals by half a game.

Richo was robbed, more than once.

1993 Round 1 versus Adelaide

Back when teams actually tried in the pre-season competition, the Tigers had fans buzzing after making the final of the National Cup. But reality came in the form of a 94-point Round 1 hiding at the hands of Tony Modra and the Crows.

2007. Round 9 versus Essendon

Desperate for a win after losing the first eight games of the season, the Tigers looked to have finally broken the drought when, with just minutes to play, Matthew Richardson outmarked Mal Michael, played on and kicked a goal from outside 50.

But the umpire paid a free kick against Richo for hands in the back — a rule only introduced at the beginning of the season — plus a 50 metre penalty, and the Bombers held on for the win.

If there’s any small consolation, the loss saw Richmond get pick 2 in the 2008 draft, allowing them to pick up Trent Cotchin.

2009. Round 1 versus Carlton.

It was supposed to be the year of the Tiger. Richo, playing as a wingman, was in career-best form, Nathan Brown looked to have finally recovered from his broken leg, and Ben Cousins had been added to a midfield that already included Cotchin and Deledio.

Surely the Tigers would improve on their ninth-placed finish from 2008. But it all came crashing down in Round 1 with the Blues winning by 83 points and Cousins tearing his hamstring. Coach Terry Wallace was sacked before the year was out with the Tigers winning just five games, finishing 15th.

1991. Round 2 versus Essendon.

Having battled extinction all summer, the Tigers looked on track for an unlikely win against last year’s grand finalists Essendon. But a late Bomber comeback capped by a Mark Thompson goal with six seconds left saw Essendon win by four points.

KB copped some of our worst losses as coach.

1990. Round 2 versus North Melbourne

There would be few people alive who have witnessed more Richmond games than Kevin Bartlett.

Bartlett, who was coaching the hapless Tigers at the time, described this 141-point loss to North Melbourne “the worst performance I’ve ever seen by a Richmond Football Club team”.

1992 Round 5 versus West Coast

There are few players in the history of the game more despised by opposition clubs than Karl Langdon.

His two final-quarter goals help the Eagles turn a 20-point three-quarter time deficit into a one-point win at the MCG. Richmond would go on to lose its next game to Hawthorn by 79 points as Jason Dunstall kicked 17 goals. West Coast would go on to win the flag.

1987 Round 1 versus West Coast

West Coast’s first game in the VFL saw it trail by more than five goals at three-quarter time before piling on nine last quarter goals to win by 14 points.

In the 27 years since the Eagles joined the competition West Coast has made the finals 19 times since, winning three premierships. Richmond has made the finals just three times, it’s best finishes two losing preliminary finals in 1995 and 2001.

Read Matt’s full homage to his cruel Richmond mistress:

AT LAST TIGER FANS HAVE A REASON TO ROAR

Originally published as Richmond supporters will never get over these 11 losses