One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on July 19, 2015, 08:16:27 PM
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Tigers hold off fast-finishing Saints to win 'Maddie's Match'
Jennifer Phelan
afl.com.au
July 19, 2015 7:09 PM
ST KILDA 2.5 3.8 4.10 10.13 (73)
RICHMOND 2.3 8.6 13.8 13.11 (89)
GOALS
St Kilda: Weller 3, Savage, Riewoldt, Montagna, McCartin, Dunstan, Bruce, Armitage
Richmond: Lennon 3, Deledio 3, Riewoldt 2, Vlastuin, Newman, Maric, Lambert, Grigg
BEST
St Kilda: Weller, Steven, Armitage, Roberton, Dempster, Savage
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Lennon, Rance, Grigg, Riewoldt
INJURIES
St Kilda: Longer (nose)
Richmond: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jack Sinclair replaced Jack Lonie at three-quarter time
Richmond: Nathan Gordon replaced Matt McDonough in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: O'Gorman, Findlay, Mollison
Crowd: 45,772 at Etihad Stadium
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RICHMOND has strengthened its credentials as a top-four team with a 16-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, but not before receiving an almighty scare from the competition's comeback kings.
The game looked all but done at three-quarter time with the Tigers holding a tidy 52-point lead with the Saints' forwards struggling to find the ball.
But the plucky Saints, who have made a habit of reeling in big margins after their 55-point round six comeback against the Western Bulldogs, booted the only six goals of the last quarter to get within 15 points.
However, they left their run a little too late and went down 13.11 (89) to 10.13 (73) in the Sunday twilight match.
It is the Tigers' fourth win in a row, and eighth since round seven.
While a 10-goal percentage boost would have been handy, the four points leaves them in outright fifth position and just one game behind Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans.
It was an emotional afternoon for both teams, with the game dubbed "Maddie's Match" in honour of St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt's late sister Madeleine.
Nick and cousin, Richmond forward Jack, embraced as they officiated the coin toss at the start of the game, which was designed as the first big fundraiser for Maddie Riewoldt's Vision – an organisation that raises awareness for Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.
Maddie passed away in February this year from aplastic anemia.
Dustin Martin (29 disposals), Brett Deledio (28) and Alex Rance were among the Tigers' best, while Ben Lennon seized the opportunity to stand up in the absence of Shane Edwards as a creative forward option.
Lennon booted three goals, along with Deledio, which gave the Saints a headache in the first three quarters with their usual goal-kickers battling to make an impact.
Rance blanketed in-form Saints forward Josh Bruce, who took just one mark and didn't kick a major until the 15-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
The Saints had just three goal scorers before the final change, while the Tigers had eight.
Jack Riewoldt (2.4) appeared more prolific than his cousin, who came into the game battling a right calf injury, for the first three quarters.
But Nick's presence in the final term as the Saints made their big move was telling, as he again defied his body to be an integral part of their forward structure with the opening goal and a hand in another.
Mav Weller was terrific for the Saints with his role on Nick Vlastuin and at times Bachar Houli, which helped stem the Tigers' attack off half-back.
He also led the Saints for goals with three, including the game's last – an incredible effort on the run - 19 minutes into the fourth term.
Their usual midfield brigade of Jack Steven and David Armitage got things moving after half-time, while Shane Savage helped inject some spark early in the fourth term as the Saints just fell short of another improbable comeback.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-19/tigers-hold-off-fastfinishing-saints-to-win-maddies-match
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Five talking points: St Kilda v Richmond
Nathan Schmook
afl.com.au
July 19, 2015 7:35 PM
1. More than a game
'Maddie's Match' was always going to be more than just a game, and the Saints made sure it would be remembered with a gutsy fourth-quarter fightback. Pre-game there was queues all around the ground for shoelaces, t-shirts and pins to support Maddie Riewoldt's Vision. All sold out. Jack and Nick attended the coin toss and shared an emotional hug pre-game before Nick's opponent Troy Chaplin extended the same courtesy. For every goal kicked, $1500 was donated to the charity in Maddie Riewoldt's name, and $35,400 was donated after the final siren. Most importantly, a crowd of 45,772 – the highest at Etihad Stadium this season – made the day a grand success. "Her legacy will be one that saves lives," Nick said of his sister at the end of a memorable day.
2. Richmond lacks a ruthless streak
With St Kilda's form for late comebacks this season, Richmond needed to be ruthless after the final change on Sunday. It was demanded by coach Damien Hardwick, but his players responded by all but putting the cue in the rack. St Kilda kicked six unanswered goals to cut the final margin to 16 points after it had been as much as 53. The best of Richmond was on show for three quarters, followed by the worst. The final quarter leaves doubts lingering on the Tigers ability to go to the next level this season and break into the top four.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-19/five-talking-points-st-kilda-v-richmond
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Tigers survive brave Saints fightback
Herald-Sun
July 20, 2015
FITTINGLY, it was a fight until the very end.
A game honouring a far more important cause than the four points, Sunday night did all it could to live up to the occasion.
At the end of it, Richmond had held off St Kilda to win the inaugural “Maddie’s Match” after the charging Saints threatened to snatch another unfathomable comeback triumph.
At three quarter-time the Tigers were up by 52 points and sailing towards their eighth win in nine games.
Twenty minutes later, St Kilda had kicked six unanswered goals to get within 15 points and a repeat of that miraculous Round 6 win over the Western Bulldogs looked on the cards.
St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt had implored his men to “fight like Maddie” and they didn’t let him down.
Say what you want about the Saints’ efficiency and lack of polish, their heart was unquestionable.
Riewoldt himself, struggled to get out of a jog in the last term - his strained calf screaming for him to stop. Of course, he didn’t, and neither did his side.
Richmond saluted 13.11 (89) to 10.13 (73), but a massive crowd of 45,322 watched them sweat in the face of an enormous St Kilda charge.
“I’m overwhelmed, obviously,” said Riewoldt, comforted by brother Jack after the final siren.
“It’s a game of footy today, but for us and a lot of people here it transcended footy. It was about Maddie’s legacy and it’s about all those poeple out there suffering bone marrow failure.
“What’s happened today will change lives and we’re really grateful to make a difference.
“We all have (been put through the ringer). I wish like that anything Maddie was here with us today, but she’s not. What she wanted was to make a difference.”
It was a breathtaking finale to a game that went to script for three quarters. Richmond were completely dominant, stacking on 11 goals to two across the second and third terms, but they then stopped.
When the excellent Mav Weller kicked his third goal on the run with six minutes left the Saints truly believed. Perhaps the dwindling clock beat them as much as anything.
Damien Hardwick has praised his side’s newfound ability to win ugly and here was another example.
But this week’s rival Ross Lyon calls it banking four points and the Dockers coach would appreciate Richmond’s growing savings account.
If we’re being realistic, it was a win that was expected, if not the margin.
St Kilda won the tackle count 71-47, clearances 35-30 and only had one less inside 50m and one less scoring shot.
But as is so often the case in modern footy, it was the efficiency with the ball that saw them fall short.
Their offensive transition just wasn’t in the same class as a Richmond side that had Brett Deledio (28 possessions, three goals) in the driver’s seat and Dustin Martin (29 possessions, six inside 50s) riding shotgun.
That pair are regularly wreaking havoc, particularly when stationed across half-forward where their overhead marking ability and kicking power doesn’t give the opposition a second chance.
St Kilda’s forward line of Riewoldt flanked by emerging stars Josh Bruce and Paddy McCartin whet the appetite, but they were hurt by the sides shoddy entries.
Riewoldt battled on as he always does, but Bruce couldn’t shake Alex Rance and McCartin played like most key forwards in their third game.
St Kilda went half an hour between its third and fourth goals before that gutsy last quarter barrage went so close to snatching another unthinkable win.
RICHMOND 13.11 (89)
ST KILDA 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Richmond: B Deledio 3 B Lennon 3 J Riewoldt 2 C Newman I Maric K Lambert N Vlastuin S Grigg.
St Kilda: M Weller 3 D Armitage J Bruce L Dunstan L Montagna N Riewoldt P McCartin S Savage.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Jacob Mollison, Robert O’Gorman.
Official Crowd: 45,722 at Etihad Stadium.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2015-richmond-defeats-st-kilda-by-16-points-at-etihad-stadium-in-round-16/story-fnelctok-1227447780000
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Richmond hold out fast finishing Saints in Maddie's Match
Michael Gleeson
The Age
July 20, 2015
RICHMOND 2.3 8.6 13.8 13.11 (89)
ST KILDA 2.5 3.8 4.10 10.13 (73)
Goals:
Richmond: B Deledio 3, B Lennon 3, J Riewoldt 2, C Newman, I Maric, K Lambert, N Vlastuin, S Grigg.
St Kilda: M Weller 3, D Armitage, J Bruce, L Dunstan, L Montagna, N Riewoldt, P McCartin, S Savage.
Best:
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Grigg, Maric, Lennon, Cotchin, Miles, Rance.
St Kilda: Steven, Armitage, Weller, Savage, Riewoldt, Dunstan, Montagna, Gilbert.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Jacob Mollison, Robert O'Gorman.
Official Crowd: 45,722 at Etihad Stadium.
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St Kilda kicked four goals in three quarters, then six in 19 minutes. They lost but were not defeated. Richmond kicked 13 goals in three quarters but none in the last. They won but felt relief in victory.
The Tigers will walk from the game, as St Kilda will, wondering what happened. Richmond wondering how they stopped St Kilda how they never started.
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Maybe it was the right twist in a game that was crafted in the memory of Maddie Riewoldt and allowed both teams to leave with a consoling thought.
The emblematic moment came just on half time as the ball scrapped and fumbled and bubbled around the middle of the ground. St Kilda got a free and kicked it long to Nick Riewoldt.
He was behind and not in great position. His leg was strapped up and sore and he was hobbling. He got to the contest but could not take the mark.
Richmond won the ball back and Bret Deledio ran with it through the middle of the ground determined to create something so he just kept running. He was like the driver of a car who runs out of road and hits dirt when he was caught up by Jack Lonie.
Still, he had the poise to handball to Trent Cotchin who scorched a kick across his body and across the ground to the point he thought Jack Riewoldt would be. Or rather the point he thought Jack should be. Jack got where he was told to be and out-marked two opponents. The siren went and Jack kicked the goal. Richmond was 28 points up.
The chain of play and illustrated much about this game. It was a day that was about the Riewoldts, all of them. It was about the Riewoldts who were here and those who were not. It was about those who came in purple for Maddy Riewoldt – 45,722 of them for a game that would ordinarily draw 28,000. And it was for the Riewoldts of both teams and what their teams wanted to do for Jack and Nick and then what Jack and Nick wanted for their teammates.
Nick wanted to be there and played on one leg. Jack did more in the game because he could and because for three quarters his team was far better than Nick's. But Neither team gave up.
It was also a chain of play that spoke of Richmond's superior ability – for three quarters - to run the ball and take the game away from St Kilda and find its way forward, but also of St Kilda's ability to not stop running for the full trip.
That's how it was predicted to be when teams placed as they are meet. St Kilda is young, vibrant and emerging. They played with dash but insufficient force forward when their most effective goal kicker Josh Bruce either drew Richmond's most damaging and attacking defender Alex Rance away from the ball, or was just soundly beaten by him depending on how you look at it.
For a half Rance had little of the ball, but neither did Bruce. Then in the third term Rance was able to settle across half back and with Troy Chaplin collect marks.
St Kilda's too few goals for three quarters were all kicked by midfielders and a forward whose primary job is defending (Weller) until Nick Riewoldt found the goals in the last term and unshackled the Saints' scoring. Richmond's were kicked by forwards big (Jack) and small (Ben Lennon booted three), by midfielders (Deledio, Grigg), and even defenders (Vlastuin), until they hit the last term and could not find a goal kicker.
But in the last the Saints assailed the goals. Their last quarter a stark counter-point to the rest of the match. They suddenly had more winners around the bal than just jack Steven and David Armitage. Mav Weller bobbed up again. The ball moving in quicker created more chaos balls and with it more opportunities.
Richmond until then had absorb St Kilda's parries because they had the best big man on the ground in Ivan Maric who won the hit outs, had presence around the ground and booted a goal off a step that drew appreciative nods from small forwards everywhere.
St Kilda's foot skills helped Richmond's cause for those first three terms. Shaun Grigg was particularly strong early but the Tigers' ability to accelerate away from any St Kilda threat came from the strength of Dusty Martin and Trent Cotchin around the packs and Deledio carrying the ball.
Jack Steven and David Armitage were week in week out reliable but the Saints lacked a critical mass of runners for most of the match and were beaten in the ruck.
Votes:
8 - B Deledio (Rich)
8 - D Martin (Rich)
8 - J Steven (StK)
7 - D Armitage (St K)
7 - S Grigg (Rich)
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/richmond-hold-out-fast-finishing-saints-in-maddies-match-20150719-gifu5p.html#ixzz3gMBvszA6