ROUND 3 - RICHMOND lost to ST KILDA - Telstra Dome/Docklands (AWAY) 13.4.04 RICHMOND 5.0 7.2 8.6 10.9 (69) ST KILDA 4.3 10.6 12.12 16.18 (114) Goals: Richmond: Krakoeur 2 Bowden 2 Brown 2 Fiora Morrison Rodan Hall. St Kilda: Gehrig 5 Riewoldt 4 Powell 2 Thompson Ball Harvey Hamill Black. Best: Richmond: Ottens Bowden Krakoeur Brown. St Kilda: Black Gehrig Ball Powell Harvey Riewoldt. Injuries: Richmond: Richardson (hamstring) Hyde (hip). Reports: Hamill (St Kilda) reported by field umpire S Ryan for allegedly tripping Zantuck (Richmond) in the first quarter; Baker (St Kilda) reported by emergency umpire S McBurney for allegedly striking Johnson (Richmond) in the third quarter. Stafford (Richmond) was cited by video reports officer Ian Robinson for engaging in rough play against Blake (St Kilda). Umpires: B Allen S Ryan S McInerney. ATTENDANCE:43,401 The question on all Tiger supporters' lips was which Richmond side would appear this week - the direct quality team of round 1 full of enthusiasm and hunger or the lame duck one of last week and all too familiar one to anyone who has witnessed the Tiges play the past couple of years. Unfortunately from midway through the second quarter it became apparent that it would be the latter. Richmond began the match with a very tall forward line with Richo, Otto, Morrison and in a strange move Andy Kellaway taking their places inside 50. Stafford was in the ruck and Gas, Hall and Zantuck were on Riewoldt, Gehrig and Hamill respectively. This was thrown out of whack when we were dealt a major blow after only a few minutes with Richo doing a hamstring and forced from the field. The first half of the quarter was mostly the Saints as although Richmond was winning the ruck taps, St Kilda was getting numbers to the ball at ground level. The Saints kicked away to a 2-3 goal lead before a late Tiger rally with Chaffey, Bowden and Krakouer on fire which resulted in Richmond scoring five goals from only seven adventures inside their forward 50 to take a surprise lead into the quarter time break. Richmond couldn't rely on such amazing scoring efficiency for the rest of game and that's how it it turned out with the Saints finally taking advantage of their overall control in midfield on the scoreboard to take a 22 point lead into half-time. The Tiges were once again going back into their bad old ways of defensive tactics and indirect possession play. To make matters worse Gehrig with 4 goals to the major change was cutting up Ray Hall so Razor and Gas interchanged opponents. On the other hand Zantuck was doing a great job nullifying Hamill. The Tigers began the third in a positive manner but only being able to register 3 behinds from by AFL standards quite gettable shots. From then on the game bogged down as Richmond strangled the match by getting plenty of numbers behind the ball. This "brilliant" tactic stopped St Kilda from scoring easily but inturn stopped any chance of us scoring. It was at this time in the match that frustrations boiled over in what was becoming a spiteful game and in an act of lunacy Stephen Baker of St Kilda decided to charge and connect his fist with Kane Johnson's face. By three-quarter time Richmond was still within range being only 30 points down however it was going to be a major turn-up for us to win given the horrible and negative style of footy we were offering and that's how the last quarter panned out with St Kilda adjusting a bit better and running out comfortable and deserving winners by 45 points. < BACK >