Richmond fans quickly turn on ‘terrible’ Tigers after Port belting

A week is a long time in footy, with Richmond fans turning on the fledgling team following an “insipid” belting against Port Adelaide.

To borrow an old saying in the sports world – what a difference a week makes.

Richmond was the talk of the AFL world in round one for its stirring comeback victory over a Carlton side expected to challenge for finals football ahead of the new campaign.

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Fast forward nine days and Tigers fans were dealt a harsh reality check in a 21.14 (140) to 9.14 (68) mauling against the Power at Adelaide Oval.

And many of them weren’t taking it very well.

Smarting from its own 91-point loss to Collingwood last week, Port Adelaide began in some style, kicking six goals to one for a 33-point lead at the first change.

A brief spot fire broke out when Port’s Jason Horne-Francis shoved Jayden Short right before quarter-time, but that was one of the few times Adem Yze’s side took the fight up to the Power.

Watch the melee in the video player above

Toby Nankervis and the Tigers were belted by Port Adelaide. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The Power slammed through seven goals in the second term and another six in the third to break open an 81-point lead with a quarter to play.

Fears of a 100-point thrashing were allayed after Richmond kicked three goals to two in the final term and Fox Footy’s Dwayne Russell was trying to lift up the young side.

“It’s been a lot better for Richmond than it reads,” he said late in the game.

“It reads as a 73-point loss as it stands now, but they’ve kicked 9.13, they’ve found some players, they’ve looked good at times and they’ve got a winnable game next week.”

That game is against fellow strugglers St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, but Richmond fans weren’t sharing the same sentiments as Russell on social media.

Tim Taranto (left) copped some heat from the Tiger faithful. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Port had the top 11 players on the ground in terms of AFL fantasy points and 11 of the top 13 possessions winners.

While the Tigers are blooding a number of youngsters, including No. 1 pick Sam Lalor, fans were aiming their vitriol towards the senior players.

One fan asked on X: “Kids having a dip but seriously are Taranto and Hopper out there?”

Another wrote: “This is appalling to be honest. All of our senior players are terrible. Taranto may as well not be there.”

A third stated: “The kids are giving it a genuine crack and the senior players look like they don’t want to be there. Throw the kids in the guts let them have a crack!”

It was all a far cry from last week’s stirring win over Carlton. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

A fourth declared: “(Liam) Fawcett’s goal was great. (Jacob) Bauer fighting hard. (Rhyan) Mansell showing some guts. But where are our leaders? Where’s the fight we saw last week? I know we expected some results like this heading into the year, but after last week I expected to see the boys up and about!”

Another said: “All yahoo last week. Crashing back to earth this week. Insipid display.”

After his Rising Star nomination last week, amid comparisons to Tigers great Dustin Martin, Lalor finished with 10 disposals, four tackles and a goal on Saturday.

Hopper was Richmond’s leading ball winner, finishing with 24 touches and six clearances, while Taranto had 17 disposals, eight tackles and four clearances.

Port had no less than 12 goalkickers, led by Mitch Georgiades’ four, while skipper Connor Rozee starred with 39 possessions, seven clearances and two goals.