Why a Richmond flag would place them among the AFL’s greatest

Richmond is aiming to become just the third side in three decades to win a premiership on the back of an eight-game or more winning streak.

A 12th consecutive win in Saturday’s Grand Final against GWS would see the Tigers join an exclusive club that includes Carlton (1995) and Brisbane (2001).

Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace thinks a second flag in three years would place Damien Hardwick’s side among the AFL’s greatest teams.

“We’ve only had two teams in 29 years who have won the flag with a winning streak of eight games or more,” Wallace told SEN Afternoons.

“On these two occasions they were both 16; Carlton in 1995 – that side was a sensational side … and 2001 the start of the three-peat by Brisbane.

“Richmond are going in, and if they get their victory, it’s 12 in a row. I’m sensing that we might sit there at the end of the game and go: ‘They were just much too good for anyone in this competition as were Carlton of 1995 and Brisbane of 2001’.

“With 12 victories in a row … history says they have to be in that conversation … they would have won two of three as the great Geelong team did. I think they would be in that category.”

However, Wallace warned that teams on lengthy winning runs have come unstuck on the biggest stage in the past.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything because there have been sides that have been on that streak of wins that have got beaten – Geelong in 2008 was one of those,” he added.

Richmond is aiming to win its 12th premiership while the Giants are gunning for their first.

Listen to Terry Wallace’s chat on SEN Afternoons in the player below