One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on October 25, 2020, 06:15:15 AM
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Yellow and black to back: Tigers stun Cats in epic Grand Final comeback
Richmond defends its premiership in a history-making Grand Final at the Gabba
By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
25 October 2020
RICHMOND 2.1 3.2 7.4 12.9 (81)
GEELONG 2.2 5.5 6.8 7.8 (50)
GOALS
Richmond: Martin 4, Prestia 2, Riewoldt 2, Castagna, Lambert, Lynch, McIntosh
Geelong: Menegola 2, Dangerfield, Duncan, Guthrie, Hawkins, Miers
BEST
Richmond: Martin, Short, Edwards, Prestia, Cotchin, Bolton
Geelong: Duncan, Stewart, Selwood, Menegola, Dahlhaus
INJURIES
Richmond: Vlastuin (concussion), Houli (calf)
Geelong: Ablett (shoulder), Simpson (concussion)
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TWO OUT of three ain't bad, but three out of four is a whole other level.
Richmond has claimed back-to-back premierships, and made it three of the last four flags, after coming from behind to beat Geelong by 31 points in the historic first ever Toyota AFL Grand Final at the Gabba. It etched the Tiger dynasty into football history as one of the most dominant sides of this century.
Dustin Martin, Richmond's inimitable, incredible midfielder, also made history by becoming the first player to win three Norm Smith Medals as the best on ground in the 12.9 (81) to 7.8 (50) win by booting four goals from 21 disposals.
The under lights Gabba clash had it all: injury carnage, a remarkable recovery, a comeback, two stretchers, pitch invaders, pyrotechnics and an entertainment package that will make the debate for day Grand Finals a harder sell in 2021.
But mainly it again illustrated the brilliance of Martin and the Tigers, who came from 15 points down at half-time to secure their 13th flag and first consecutive flag since their 1973-4 triumphs. It was their third premiership under coach Damien Hardwick and skipper Trent Cotchin.
After more than 110 days on the road living in Queensland after COVID-19's second wave forced the competition to relocate out of Victoria, the Tigers will return with the premiership cup later this week after storming home in the second half.
Gary Ablett's farewell did not go as hoped, with the champion Cat injuring his shoulder in the opening minutes immediately after Tigers defender Nick Vlastuin was concussed in a wild piece of play.
Ablett returned later in the quarter after receiving medical attention in the rooms, but continued to nurse the injury throughout the game, struggling to use his arm for the rest of the night and enduring serious pain throughout. His hope of ending his glittering 357-game career with a third flag was dashed as the Tigers booted nine goals to two in the second half.
In a game full by superstars on both sides, it was Richmond's who rose to the occasion. Martin was again exceptional, following his 2017 and 2019 deciders with another standout game. The game's best player proved it with a high-impact game across half-forward, while Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong's own match-winner, was subdued. Geelong Coleman medallist Tom Hawkins kicked one goal from 10 disposals, with Mitch Duncan (25 disposals, one goal) the Cats' best.
There was drama everywhere in the first term. Six minutes into the game it changed: Vlastuin was knocked out by a stray Dangerfield elbow (which will certainly come under Match Review Officer scrutiny) and in the following contest Ablett's shoulder dislocated as he was tackled by Cotchin.
As Vlastuin was taken by stretcher from the field, Ablett left cradling his arm. The shock left the players and crowd stunned, and after a six-minute break in the game, it resumed to more action, including two fans who ran onto the field that almost got involved in the play.
Although the Tigers kicked the first two goals, the Cats settled to take a one-point lead into the first change. Ablett, too, returned to the field – a sight that looked unimaginable minutes earlier after what appeared set to be an anticlimactic end to his phenomenal career.
Geelong took that momentum into the second term, dominating Richmond in the pressure stakes and using their strength at the contest to push aside the Tigers. The Tigers, so renowned for their tenacious attack, were being beaten at their own game.
The Cats kicked three goals to one in the quarter but should have been further ahead after some straightforward misses. They are sprayed kicks which will linger in the minds of the Cats well beyond the final siren.
Richmond's single goal came via Martin – an astonishing snap while fending off some Cats opponents – with the Tigers struggling in attack.
Key forward pair Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt combined for one kick in the first half as Geelong's defence, led by the insurmountable Tom Stewart and veteran Harry Taylor, controlled proceedings.
But Richmond wasn't done. Riewoldt kicked the opening goal of the third term after a free kick, before a Jason Castagna outswinger curled through. Martin's brilliance again rose to the top, with the key Tiger's on-the-run checkside trickling through to give Richmond a two-point edge by three-quarter time.
The Tigers powered home in the final quarter, kicking five goals to one to end up comfortable premiers. The final goal came, of course, via Martin in the last two minutes, who shrugged off a tackle from Dangerfield pinned up against the boundary line and snapped an amazing goal. In doing so, the Tigers’ tattooed champion confirmed his status as perhaps the best big-game player in football history.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/521172/yellow-and-black-to-back-tigers-stun-cats-in-epic-grand-final-comeback
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Tigers do it the hard way to win third flag in four years
Daniel Cherny
The Age
October 24, 2020 — 10.31pm
It's difficult to mount an argument that Richmond's 13th premiership - their third in four years - wasn't their hardest-fought to date. After months on the road, myriad off-field dramas and a first-up finals defeat to the Brisbane Lions, the Tigers overcame the early loss of a star player and a 22-point second-quarter deficit to claw their way back against Geelong in the grand final at the Gabba on Saturday night, securing back-to-back premierships for the first time in 46 years.
Yet again it was Dustin Martin who came to the fore when Richmond needed him. The superstar's 21 disposals and four majors were the difference and enhanced his legend. The greatest Tiger of all-time? It increasingly appears the case.
But Martin couldn't have done it alone. Richmond's fightback came on the back of a brilliant second half from Shai Bolton, whose speed and touch torched the Cats. Jayden Short overshadowed better known fellow defenders to rebound brilliantly all night, while Toby Nankervis was outstanding in the ruck.
The Cats looked to have Richmond on the ropes midway through the second term but would be left to rue chances wasted when the game was on their terms.
A fairytale ending for Gary Ablett was denied. Hurt early, he bravely played on but his impact was minimal. For Patrick Dangerfield, his glittering resume still misses a crowning jewel. He was instrumental in the first half, but when the game went on the line, he was shaded by Martin.
The match’s complexion changed dramatically after just six minutes. Richmond’s defensive fulcrum Nick Vlastuin ran smack bang into Dangerfield’s forearm. He was out like a light. In the space of seconds, Ablett’s left shoulder was trapped by a Trent Cotchin tackle. The champion writhed in agony and headed for the rooms. It appeared his last dance might end after only a couple of beats. But the Cats medicos tended to the veteran, and with strapping applied he was back on the ground before the quarter was out. Vlastuin would not be so lucky. Carted off the Gabba, the backman was back on his feet before long but in no state to return.
Then to top off a madcap opening term, play was briefly halted after a couple of ground invaders were brought down and swiftly taken from the field. Where else but Queensland?
After a lengthy delay to clear Vlastuin from the field, it was the Cats who started the better. In greasy conditions they still managed to play their mark-heavy game. However the Cats couldn’t convert early in the piece. Tom Hawkins missed a long set shot, as did Dangerfield who had won a free kick after bringing down Jack Graham. The Tigers needed no further invitations. Dion Prestia snapped the grand final’s first goal after some quick hands inside Richmond’s forward 50. They got the second too when a tidy pass from Martin opened up play for Liam Baker, setting up Kamdyn McIntosh for a long, running major. Richmond’s pace looked like it was troubling the Cats. But Geelong had answers. Cameron Guthrie and Mitch Duncan had both started brightly, and both did what their higher-profile teammates had failed to do earlier in the quarter by drilling set shots.
The Cats had a victory during the quarter-time interval when Jordan Clark won the grand final sprint, and the wins kept coming for Chris Scott’s side after the break. With Tom Stewart controlling play in defence, Geelong dominated much of the second quarter, monstering Richmond territorially and impressing with ferocious attack on the ball. Richmond, sans Vlastuin, looked overawed. Trent Cotchin held Dangerfield in a marking contest, with Dangerfield converting from the ensuing free kick. Noah Balta turned the ball over to Joel Selwood, Sam Menegola in turn kicking his first goal. Then Ablett, the son of “God” resurrected, provided a deft flick to Selwood, who in turn set up a Hawkins set shot from which the Coleman medallist made no mistake.
The margin got out to 22 points, and it could have been even more dire for Richmond, with Gryan Miers spraying a gilt-edged chance and Zach Tuohy missing another. Richmond needed something quickly. Tom Lynch dropped a sitter in the pocket but Martin - in typical style - fended off Jake Kolodjashnij to snap truly.
After an extended half-time interval, Richmond picked up where they left off. Now it was the Tigers who were getting repeat forward 50 entries. Jack Riewoldt put through his first and errors started creeping into Geelong’s game. Jason Castagna floated through his first, one Rhys Stanley should have perhaps touched on the line. A nice passage of play from the Cats ended with Miers steadying on the run, but Kane Lambert added another for Richmond. Then Martin slid one through masterfully, putting the Tigers in front for the first time since the opening term. Geelong regained their composure but Ablett was labouring and Richmond were surging. The Tigers headed to the last change two points ahead and made the perfect start to the final term too as Prestia threaded the needle from the pocket.
Then Bolton spotted up Lynch, who finally made his mark after a quiet night. Martin sent one through another one along the ground, and Geelong's back looked to have been broken. Sam Simpson was poleaxed in a collision with teammate Menegola, leading to another long delay as the youngster was carted off. Menegola kicked his second but it was too little, too late, with Riewoldt's second the icing on Richmond's cake and Martin's fourth adding an extra layer.
BEST:
Richmond: Martin, Short, Bolton, Nankervis, Graham, Baker, Edwards.
Geelong: Duncan, Menegola, Stewart, Selwood, Taylor
Votes
D. Martin (Richmond) 8
J. Short (Richmond) 7
M. Duncan (Geelong) 7
S. Bolton (Richmond) 7
S. Menegola (Geelong) 7
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-do-it-the-hard-way-to-win-third-flag-in-four-years-20201024-p56882.html
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How Tigers overcame all the obstacles
Jake Niall
The Age
October 25, 2020
In winning the club's 13th VFL/AFL premiership and third in four outstanding seasons, the Richmond Football Club overcame these myriad obstacles: the loss of a key player early in the grand final and a 22-point deficit, hub trouble, suspensions, a loss to the Lions in their first final and, on the day of reckoning, a formidable Geelong.
The Tigers reprised their 2019 preliminary final victory over Geelong, which blew both opportunities in the first half and that sizeable lead - as the Cats had in that final of 2019 when they were not as well-placed as in this eventful and compelling grand final that gave the AFL enormous traction in Queensland.
Again, Dustin Martin was instrumental in Richmond's victory, booting four inspired and improvised goals, one that arrested Geelong's momentum late in the second quarter, a second that regained a lead that seemed unreachable only 20 minutes earlier, and then the third that probably sealed their third premiership in four seasons.
The fourth, just as good, simply was for the celebrations. "Let's go,'' said taciturn Dusty, as he stepped off the stage with his third Norm Smith Medal.
Martin and his skipper Trent Cotchin earned special places in AFL and club history: Martin as the winner of a third Norm Smith, Cotchin as the Tigers' first skipper of three premierships.
Martin confirmed his unique stature in the game and at his club, where he must have claims as best Tiger of all, arguably surpassing Kevin Bartlett and Royce Hart and even Jack Dyer from a pre-television era.
Martin's performance was in marked contrast to that of his Geelong superstar counterpart Patrick Dangerfield, who was subdued.
In a game marked, but not really marred, by constant sub-tropical rain during the day, the Tigers also rained on Gary Ablett's parade in the champion's final game, as the 2017 and 2019 premiers repeated their successes with a remarkable comeback win that seemed a longshot late in the second quarter.
The Tigers, comprehensively outplayed by Geelong in the first half and particularly in the second quarter, managed a turnaround that began just before half-time and was confirmed by a Jack Riewoldt free and goal to begin the second half.
The Tigers were staggering and seemingly on the edge of not just defeat but a comprehensive one when Tom Hawkins booted a long goal that capped off a deft Ablett handball. To this point, defender Tom Stewart and midfielder Mitch Duncan were the most influential afield.
But then Martin intervened, booting his first and probably most crucial goal that triggered a yellow-and-black swarm and the rapid eradication of Geelong's lead, cut to three points early in the third term, as the game's tempo turned hectic and on to Tiger terms.
The match contained a sensational and extraordinary sequence of play six minutes into the opening minutes when Dangerfield collected Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin with a forearm in the head after punching the ball forward, seeing the tough defender stretchered off and out of the game.
The incident, doubtless, will be the subject of immense discussion and continued a tough 24 hours for Vlastuin, whose house in Torquay had been torched by fire the night before the game.
Almost simultaneously, Ablett hurt his shoulder when tackled by Cotchin - an injury that had troubled him in his latter years at the Gold Coast - raising the possibility that Ablett would struggle to make the impact that so many willed.
He returned to the field some moments after the collision, to rapturous cheering.
If Martin's influence was bound to be celebrated, he was joined by the unheralded defender Jayden Short, also a major factor in the transformation.
Shane Edwards, who had missed several games because his wife was giving birth, also underscored his imposing finals record with another clean and efficient grand final performance and nine clearances.
By three-quarter-time, the Tigers held what seemed a parlous two-point advantage, but the question remained of whether the loss of Vlastuin - so important to their defensive system - would undo them at the end.
But goals to Dion Prestia and Tom Lynch, the latter following brilliance by Shai Bolton, turned that lead of under a kick to 15 points - the question that had been asked of Richmond was thus put to the Cats, who did not have the same capacity to lift themselves from the floor.
When Martin added his third, the 29,707 crowd knew that deja vu was afoot: Richmond would be premiers for the third time and Martin would have a third Norm Smith hanging around his tattooed neck.
For Geelong and coach Chris Scott, this defeat will be more of a stab than any of the five preliminary finals that the Cats have lost, for they had chances to put the Tigers to the sword in the second term, but did not convert their territorial dominance and edge in play into a sufficient lead.
The first grand final played at night and in shortened quarters was also the only one to be played outside of Victoria, which ironically had far better weather on the day than the Queensland capital, whose government and stadia had saved the code from the pandemic this year - a reality acknowledged by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan in his pre-game speech to dignitaries.
Richmond's victory confirmed Damien Hardwick's stature as a coaching great and - remarkably - was the third flag that the Tigers won after finishing third in a home-and-away season.
The Tigers' third premiership followed a loss to the Brisbane Lions in the qualifying final at the Gabba. - a recovery that was redolent of Hawthorn's turnaround in 2015, when the Hawks lost in Perth to West Coast but reversed the result on grand final.
The Tigers then accounted for St Kilda and scraped home over Port Adelaide.
The result meant that the highly ambitious targets set by Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale and his board, of zero debt, three premierships and 75,000 members by 2020 has been achieved - fulfilling an ambition that was viewed as foolhardy when made in 2010.
Over the season, the Tigers overcame periods of indifferent form and behavioural blemishes. On field, their nadir was after losses to Hawthorn and St Kilda in Melbourne.
Off-field, the low point was the suspension of Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones after the pair found trouble at 3.30am outside a strip club in Gold Coast's equivalent to Kings Cross.
But the Tigers, as defender Dylan Grimes suggested during the finals, had been galvanised by their setback, which appeared to sharpen this champion team, which remained champions - a team for all seasons, stadia and states - in 2020.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/champion-tigers-fight-to-the-end-20201024-p5689h.html
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Where were we again? The nearly epic grand final
Greg Baum
The Age
October 25, 2020
The grand final was its own saving grace. After such a tumultuous and disorienting season - the novelty season of the novel coronavirus - and for all the angst, heartache and chagrin about the necessary relocation of the finale two state borders away, the grand final is first and last a game of footy. This was nearly an epic.
Geelong legend Gary Ablett in his last game was emblematic of the match and year, badly hurting his shoulder in the first few minutes, but playing out the game in obvious and wincing pain, and in the end for no material gain. Hasn't that been all of us this year?
But that is not to undersell the immensity of the performance of the Tigers, who were a man down from early in the first quarter and under siege in the second, yet somehow willed themselves to another premiership. All things considered, this from 22 points down and nearly out, was the most meritorious of the three. Geelong are evergreens, but the Tigers are ever grand.
By the time these two heavyweights were done, it was not too sacrilegious to say it: for a moment it didn't matter where the game was. It had been moved, we were transported. At night's end, Richmond supporters might not have known where they were and Geelong's might have been glad that they were not there.
The beginning of the match was a parable of the year. It wasn't anyone's fault in particular, but it kept coming out wrong. Early injuries, accidental but severe, to Nick Vlastuin (concussion) and Ablett were akin to an exchange of key pieces in chess. Knights, perhaps?
But not quite. Ablett came back, Vlastuin didn't, or rather, was not allowed. Though by far the lesser sung of the pair, he was structurally more important to Richmond. Without him, the Tiger defence could not relieve the sieges as they were set.
In the first half, the Cats transformed themselves into Tigers. Let's say it's a feline. Geelong brought its usual array of sophisticated skills, and added to them a convincing replica of Richmond's patent all-court swarm. For long stretches in the first half, Richmond could not have gained a clean possession even if wearing full PPE.
At half-time, it was tempting to declare it all over, except for Dustin Martin's goal just before the break, kicked while being tackled, like Houdini breaking out of a straitjacket and chains.
Somehow, it re-awakened Richmond to its vocation. Martin grew, the Cats faltered. Impersonating Richmond took an obvious physical toll. For the balance of the game, it was nine goals to two. The Tigers made good on their mantra of the last four years, that their system would prevail as long as they kept faith with it.
One of the tenets of that faith is the singular Martin. With four goals this night, and a third Norm Smith medal, he has tattooed his name onto the history of the game. In all ways, he is irresistable.
This was billed as a grand final like no other. May there never be another like it. That's not to say it never can or will be staged outside Melbourne again. It is not to say that we ought to resign ourselves to night deciders. But it is to pray that it won't be under these grim circumstances again.
Inescapably, this felt as if the big one was being wrenched from the hands of us, tearing away with it a piece of the city's soul at what is anyway a vulnerable time. It was a finale lost in space.
Good on the Gabba. Thank you Queensland for your goodwill. Hail and hallelujah for the superhuman effort made by so many to make the season possible at all, and this day. But we need time and space to mourn. Certainly Geelong do. And Richmond might feel a little cheated, too, to have won a premiership in a vacuum.
Melbourne survived this grand final non-day the way it has borne up to all the travail of 2020: stoically. Its absence was so acutely felt that it became a presence, a yawning, gaping, aching chasm of a presence. It was the tree falling in the forest, but with a twist: we all saw and heard it, and yet it didn't make a sound. In our lounge rooms, it was grand final day. Outside, it was Good Friday, apocalypse for now.
It's hard to explain, but easy to intuit. Typically, only one in every 30 of the grand final's audience get to watch it at the MCG anyway. The rest watch as did this night, on a screen somewhere. They're a virtual crowd, spread across the country, but in Melbourne the proximity of and link to the MCG makes them a palpable force. The remove was real.
Others will scoff, but Melbourne takes its sporting capital vocation seriously. Without all the other rites and rituals, it didn't even seem to matter that it was a night game, except that it made another long and featureless day. We've grown used to those.
At the Gabba, everyone tried so desperately hard. Beaming in Mike Brady from the MCG to sing Up There Cazaly was a good idea, but the empty stands behind him served only to emphasise what was missing, and a little syncopation added to the sense that he might as well have been in outer space.
As heard on TV, gee-ups to the crowd came across as tinny. At the 'G, they would not have been needed.
For the Cats, there was a saving grace. If they'd lost in Melbourne, it would have been hard to escape the triumphal Richmond atmosphere. In losing a remote, night finale, refuge was one push of a button away.
Congrats Richmond. Commiserations Cats. Thank you Brisbane. If Melbourne ever took grand final day for granted, it won't again.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/where-were-we-again-the-nearly-epic-grand-final-20201024-p5688n.html
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10 things we learned:
By Mitch Cleary
afl.com.au
25 October 2020
Tigers leader etches his name into club history
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin became the club's first triple premiership captain to write his name into Punt Road folklore. After his efforts in 2017 and 2019, Cotchin sat alongside Royce Hart, Dan Minogue and Percey Bentley as the club's only dual Tigers premiership captains. But that all changed on Saturday night. Cotchin joined 13 teammates as triple premiership players with seven tasting their second flag and Noah Balta – who celebrated his 21st birthday during the week – winning his first.
Richmond defence delivers its finest hour
The Tigers' backline looked all at sea when gun stopper Nick Vlastuin was ruled out for the game after just five minutes. On the receiving end of a high Patrick Dangerfield forearm, Vlastuin was knocked out and forced to watch on from the bench. No player had been taken out of a decider earlier this century and it appeared to rattle the Tigers for the rest of the first half. Coach Damien Hardwick told Channel Seven he changed things up at the main break, sending Noah Balta further up the field for key minutes and David Astbury deeper into defence while Dylan Grimes shut out Gary Rohan. With Bachar Houli on one leg carrying a torn calf, Liam Baker and Jayden Short won a stack of footy as the Cats kicked just two goals after half-time.
Tigers flip the script on quick starts
After seven years, the run of first goalscorers going on to lose Grand Finals finally came to an end. And Richmond can thank Dion Prestia. The midfielder's opening goal came at the 20-minute mark of the first term after a long delay following injuries to Nick Vlastuin and Gary Ablett. His opener was quickly followed by a Kamdyn McIntosh major before the Cats piled on five in a row. It was the first time the opener goalkicker of a decider had gone onto win the flag since Hawthorn's Jack Gunston in 2013.
Old Cats upstaged by hungrier Tigers
At an average age of 28 years and 117 days, Geelong entered as the oldest Grand Final side in history and fifth-oldest line-up to take the field in any AFL/VFL match. But just like their effort in the qualifying final loss to Port Adelaide (a game in which the Cats fielded the oldest side in AFL/VFL history), they once again fell down in the third quarter. And the Cats will only get older next season with incoming free agent Jeremy Cameron to turn 28 in April and trade target Shaun Higgins to start next year at 33. Of the Tigers' three flags in four years, they fielded their oldest line-up at an average of 27 years and 43 days.
Richmond champion continues impressive finals goalscoring record
While they may not have known it at the time, Tigers fans should've been resting comfortably when triple Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin kicked his first of four goals late in the second quarter. From his last 10 finals, the Tigers have won all eight games when Martin has kicked at least one goal. They've lost the other two.
Remember this Geelong fans?
Who said lightning doesn't strike twice? Richmond delivered a carbon copy of its third term in last year's preliminary final to run over the Cats in the second half. Twelve months ago, the Cats led by 21 points at the main break before Richmond wrestled back momentum with two goals inside the five minutes of the third quarter. On Saturday night, the Tigers did exactly the same courtesy of Jack Riewoldt and Jason Castagna before romping home. Until that point the Cats had been the best-performing third-quarter team of 2020.
Geelong got its Dangerfield midfield-forward mix wrong
The Cats superstar looked set to explode in the second term with five disposals and a crucial major playing mostly in attack. But he went missing during the third quarter, collecting just one disposal while anchored to the goalsquare for big minutes as the Tigers got their run on. In hindsight, the Cats should've thrown their best player into the centre bounces to try and stem the tide.
Tigers midfield coaches deserves a raise
During the home and away season the Tigers were ranked 17th in the competition for clearance differential compared to their opponents, while conceding more than five extra per game. However, that completely changed during the finals series as their stoppage work became one of their greatest strengths. On Saturday night the Tigers won the clearances by four and centre clearances by six. Kudos should go to Andrew McQualter and Adam Kingsley for their efforts with the midfield, plus the work of returning duo Shane Edwards and Dion Prestia.
Gary Rohan's Grand Final record only worsened
The Cats forward was one of his side's best with three goals in last week's preliminary final win. But just like he did in losing sides for Sydney in 2014 and 2016, Rohan performed well below his best on the biggest stage of all. He finished with just five disposals (including two clangers) to be the Cats' lowest ball-winner on the ground.
Timeslot and downpour no concern
The Gabba copped more than 30mm of rain throughout the afternoon as vision circulated of a flooded surface. And coupled with worries from experts over the impact of dewy conditions of Brisbane at night, you could've been forgiven for thinking it was going to be a dour affair. It was anything but as the Tigers delivered their highest score since round 14.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/521176/10-things-we-learned-tigers-skipper-writes-his-name-into-club-folklore