Dwayne Russell says both Richmond and Geelong can still win the 2023 flag, refusing to buy into the negativity surrounding the two sides.
Both teams have suffered slow starts to the 2023 season and currently sit outside this year’s top eight. Momentum surrounding the Cats was at a big low after their Round 3 loss to Gold Coast, while Richmond finds itself in a similar position after a loss to Sydney on the weekend just gone.
But Russell still sees the potential for both clubs to play finals. And if they make the eight, Russell wouldn’t put a line through them for the flag.
He also mounted a similar case with Brisbane, who have rebounded over the past fortnight after a difficult Round 3 loss to the Western Bulldogs.
“Two weeks ago there were people saying Brisbane can’t win the flag with (Joe) Daniher and (Eric) Hipwood. Well guess what, they can win the flag and they can win it because Hipwood and Daniher can play, and that’s what I said at the time,” he explained on SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“Too many people were running around a few weeks ago telling us the sky was falling in on Geelong, I wasn’t buying that either.
“They can make the finals, and to me, if you can make the finals you can win the flag, especially when you’ve got an experienced lineup like Geelong’s got. I think Geelong is the kind of team that could, is they scraped into 7th or 8th, win it from there.
“The latest one seems to be Richmond, this week it’s write Richmond off week.
“Is that assessment not reality or is it correct? I think the reality is Richmond can get their game going. Yeah, they’re a bit undisciplined at the moment, yeah they’re not playing their best footy at the moment, yeah they’ve got a few guys who are off at the moment, yeah they’ve got some injuries at the moment, but to me, I don’t think it’s over for Richmond.”
Instead, Russell could write off just four clubs from playing finals this year.
“Only four teams, in my opinion, can’t play finals after five rounds,” he stated.
“Only Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Gold Coast and West Coast.
“In my opinion, there are still 14 teams alive for the finals.”
The Suns, Eagles and Hawks currently occupy the last three spots on the ladder with a trio of combined wins, while North Melbourne is slightly higher in 13th with two.