ROUND 2 - RICHMOND lost to MELBOURNE - M.C.G. (AWAY) 4.4.04 RICHMOND - 3.1 6.1 8.3 12.4 (76) MELBOURNE - 6.7 12.10 16.12 20.15 (135) GOALS - Richmond: Brown 3 Krakouer 2 Gaspar Tivendale Morrison Stafford Campbell Hyde Newman. Melbourne: Neitz 9 Green 3 Bruce 2 Davey 2 Holland Johnstone Miller Robertson. BEST - Richmond: Johnson Brown Krakouer Campbell Chaffey. Melbourne: Neitz Green Bizzell Brown Whelan Robertson Johnstone. INJURIES - Richmond: Nil. UMPIRES:S McBurney M James S Ryan. ATTENDANCE: 33,406 From chocolates to boil lollies in the space of one week. Richmond's habit of losing games that they're expected to win comfortably prior-hand and after a good win the week before reared it's ugly head again. The Tiges were flat as a tack and Melbourne stung by negative press during the week and a "unification" march prior to the start of the match took full advantage of the "generosity" of the Tigers. The match began with a similar line-up to last week - Otto in the ruck with Cogs, Cambo and Johnson in the centre square, Richo at FF on Nicholson and Gas at FB on Neitz. Unfortunately it didn't seem we realised the game had started as Melbourne shot out of the blocks with the first 3 goals. The Demons were controlling the centre of the ground allowing them to generate plenty of run and opportunities to feed their forwards while at the sametime forcing Richmond to a slow, wide and short possession game that made it difficult for Richo and Co to have any space to lead into. If it had not been for some fairly easy misses at goal by Melbourne the match could have been all over by quarter time. The Tigers needed to lift in the second but the game progressed pretty much the same as the first as the Dees banged on another 6 goal quarter to lead by 45 points at half-time. Melbourne had shown a greater sense of urgency and willingness to work harder not only at getting the pill but also at running in numbers and this was proving the difference. Neitz had been cutting up Gas who was struggling and Hall replaced him to start the third. Richmond lifted their workrate and for the first 20 minutes they at least matched that of Melbourne's and if they had taken their opportunities could have gotten closer on the scoreboard. However, we were still indirect and after a long period without a goal by either side, Melbourne pinched one and the floodgates opened in the time-on period as the Dees took a unasailable 57 point lead into the final change. Melbourne carried on where they had left off in the last and the margin blew out to 77 points with Neitz bagging his ninth for the night before junk time settled in and Richmond was able to kick a couple of late goals to reduce the loss to just under 10 goals. < BACK >