ROUND 11 - RICHMOND lost to the KANGAROOS - Telstra Dome (Docklands) (Away) 6.6.04 RICHMOND 3.4 7.6 9.8 12.8 (80) KANGAROOS 5.2 7.5 14.7 24.10 (154) Goals: Richmond: Richardson 5 Krakouer 2 Ottens N.Brown Bowden Hartigan Hyde. Kangaroos: S.Rocca 8 Harding 3 Motlop 2 McKernan 2 King 2 A.Stevens M.Stevens Firrito Harvey Watson Grant L.Brown. Best: Richmond: N.Brown Newman Richardson Bowden Ottens. Kangaroos: Harris L.Brown Wells S.Rocca Makepeace Harding. Injuries: Richmond: Fiora (corked back). Reports: Richmond: W.Campbell reported by field umpire M.Head for striking B.Harvey (Kangaroos) in the third quarter, T.Fleming reported by field umpire S.Meredith for rough play against A.Watson (Kangaroos) in the first quarter. Umpires: M.Head S.Meredith M.Ellis. Attendance: 31,700. Just under 32,000 fans made their way into Telstra Dome to watch two sides who had struggled to a 4 wins 6 losses record so far this year. The Tiges of course returning to Melbourne after two floggings interstate. Before the bounce the Roos lost hardman Glen Archer (arm infection) and the bigman Hale. Considering North were going to try and stretch the Richmond backline for height after we lost AK to injury last week, it would be interesting to see to what affect this had on both sides' structures. The match-ups had Hall on Sav Rocca, Gas back in a key defensive post on Petrie, Stafford in the ruck and Richo contending with North's full-back Watt next to Otto up forward. The match began with North jumping out of the blocks. The Roos were switched on, attacking the ball hard and generating plenty of run through the midfield while the Tigers struggled to get a touch on the footy. Within seven minutes the Kangas had the first three goals of the game and North's tall forwards were having a field day especially Rocca on the back of the Roos initial domination all over the park. Richmond eventually did turn-up to play and were able to generate a couple of scoring shots themselves. However these were wasted and with most of the resulting kick-ins North were able to by-pass Richmond's zone defence and go coast-to-coast. The Tigers were making a number of skill errors (nothing new there) but the persistence and amazing work of Nathan Brown who was everywhere in the first quarter kept us within striking distance as the quarter ended - 3.4 to 5.2. Richmond had worked themselves back into the game towards the end of the first quarter and their hard work and intensity continued into the second as the Tiges were able to snatch the lead through two quick goals to Krakouer and Hartigan. The match then evened up as initially North gained some momentum with a couple of goals themselves before Richmond regained control to finish the half strongly. Two more goals to the Tigers and a behind after the siren to Brown had us in front at the main break by the bearest of margins. So far the match has ebbed and flowed as both sides had parts of the game where they would grab the momentum before the other responded with a good patch themselves. Richmond began the third quarter well continuing on where they had left off just before half time and when Richo bagged the first of the stanza the Tigers were up by 8 points. Then it happened. From the simplest and dumbest of turnovers (a misguided handball by Hall to Brown 55 metres out from Richmond's goal) North who were struggling to score were gifted the simplest of goals. From the following centre bounce North directly scored another to grab the lead then piled on another 5 to blow the Tigers away by three-quarter time. Richmond's work-rate simply vanished into thin air as the Roos were able to do as they pleased. It was as though we simply and disgracefully gave up. The rout continued in the last as what was a contest for almost two and half quarters became a training drill for the rampaging Roos. A ten goal quarter with four to the aging Sav Rocca summed up just how inept and soft the current Richmond side is. The greatest indictment of all is that these types of "performances" have become the norm for us heartbroken Tiger members and supporters in recent years. Enough is enough. The only comfort after this latest debacle is the knowledge that in three months time all the coaching staff and many of our senior sub-AFL standard players will no longer be able to embarrass and disgrace our proud yellow and black guernsey. < BACK TO 2004 FIXTURES >