One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on August 18, 2025, 08:24:17 PM
-
The AFL has today confirmed the fixture for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Wildcard Finals.
Saturday, August 23
Second Wildcard Final: Richmond (8th) vs GWS Giants (9th)
ETU Stadium, 12:10pm AEST
Broadcaster: 7mate and 7plus
Sunday, August 24
First Wildcard Final: Collingwood (7th) vs Williamstown (10th)
Victoria Park, 2:05pm AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1396053/2025-smithys-vfl-wildcard-finals
-
Four AFL-listed additions to VFL Wildcard team
Richmond has named its team for Saturday's VFL Wildcard Final.
By Richmond Media
Aug 22, 2025, 5:00 pm
Four AFL-listed players have been brought in for Saturday's VFL Wildcard Final, as Richmond prepares to battle GWS.
Campbell Gray returns for his first game since early June after recovering from a knee injury, while Samson Ryan is also fully fit and back for his first appearance since late May.
Steely Green returns after playing in last week's AFL game and Jacob Blight has been included after missing last week's game with an ankle injury.
They replace Josh Gibcus, who is back in the seniors, and Sam Phillips, Joshua Pollocks and Tom Ferguson, who have all been omitted.
Saturday's game marks the Tigers’ third straight appearance in the Wildcard Final, and after losses to Williamstown and Collingwood, respectively, in their past two Wildcard games, Jake Batchelor’s side will be looking for a change in fortunes.
First introduced in 2023, the VFL Wildcard Finals feature two matches between the teams who finished seventh to tenth on the ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season. Collingwood and Williamstown will face off in the other Wildcard game this Sunday.
The highest-placed Wildcard Final winner will continue in the VFL Finals Series as the seventh-placed team and will take on the Brisbane Lions in the second elimination final next week.
The lowest-placed Wildcard Final winner will progress to the first elimination final as the eighth-placed team and will play against the Casey Demons.
The first bounce at ETU Stadium is set for 12:10pm this Saturday.
All matches in the 2025 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App. The game will also be broadcast on 7mate and 7plus.
To follow match updates, stay tuned to Richmond VFL on X, and Instagram.
Wildcard Final, Richmond VFL v GWS, Saturday, August 23, 12:10pm AEST, ETU Stadium.
Backs: Campbell Gray 50, Mutaz El Nour 57, Jacob Blight 46
Half-Backs: Kaleb Smith 49, Nick Collier 63, Lachlan Street 55
Centre: Liam George 67, Harry Scott 74, Austin Johnson 51
Half-Forwards: Steely Green 48, Mohammed Yassine 52, Jasper Alger 29
Forwards: Jacob Koschitzke 20, Liam Fawcett 37, Massimo Raso 77
Followers: Oliver Hayes-Brown 47, Lachlan Wilson 56, Joel Garner 53
Interchange: Sam Toner 68, Nick Guiney 62, Nicholas Girolami 59, Samson Ryan 32, Tom McKenzie 60
EMG: Sam Phillips 81, Sean Lai 76, Tom Ferguson 73, Joshua Pollocks 79
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1870209/vfl-wildcard-team
-
About to start.
Live on 7mate
or
Live stream here: https://www.afl.com.au/afl-tv/stream?player=arILJvH9PY&streamId=State%20League%20CH57
-
George and Wilson with two good chances on the run but both missed badly.
2 - 0
-
Fumble in the pocket by the GWS defender. Raso swoops in and snaps the first goal :gotigers
Rich 1.2-8
GWS 0.0-0
-
Throw-in on the wing. We push it forward. Raso nice hands to Green who nails the goal on the run :gotigers
Rich 2.2-14
GWS 0.0-0
12 min Q1
-
Great transition from defence. Toner gets on the end of it and kicks a goal on the run :gotigers
Rich 3.2-20
GWS 0.0-0
15 min Q1
-
Coast to coast goal. Yassine bounces from defensive side the wing all the way to 50 and nails another goal on the run :gotigers
Rich 4.2-26
GWS 0.1-1
17 min Q1
-
Two quick goals to the Giants.
26 - 13
-
Garner to the hot spot and Kosi gets the free 30 out. Misses.
27 - 13
-
Girolami marks 55 out. Goes long but misses.
28 - 13
-
Good tackle by Raso causes the turnover. Out to Alger who hits up Fawcett 50 out. Falls short in the goalsquare and the Giants get the free. No score.
Siren.
Frees: 3 - 9 ::)
-
Quarter time
Richmond 4.4-28
GWS 2.1-13
Goals: Green, Raso, Toner, Yassine.
Commentators saying the breeze is negligible but there appeared to an advantage to the end we were kicking to. We'll see in the second quarter how much it affects us kicking into it.
Had the better of the first 15 mins via our defence and rebound on transition. Lead to the first 4 goals. Giants clearance game got on top later in the quarter.
-
Stats to QT:
Smith 8
Blight 6
Green 5
Alger 3
OHB 3
Ryan 2
Fawcett 1
Kosi 1
Gray 0
Disposals 96 - 87
Marks 23 - 21
Tackles 8 - 12
Clearances 6 - 11
Inside 50s 15 - 14
Hitouts 7 - 11
Frees 3 - 9
https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/matches/7981#team-stats
-
Street went off with a dislocated ankle in that first quarter. Was able to put it back in himself but is done for the day and season even if we win today.
-
Kosi marks 20 out and goals :gotigers.
Rich 5.4-34
GWS 2.1-13
3 min Q2
-
The Giants get it back via two frees (at HB and then inside 50)
34 - 19
Frees 3 - 14 ::)
-
Collier inside 50 and Fawcett takes a good mark 45 out. Misses left.
35 - 27
-
Girolami had his arm chopped in the marking contest. Set shot 35 out. Hits the top of the goalpost.
37 - 27
-
Goal to GWS.
37 - 34
Getting smashed in the clearances. Our "tackling technique" on display too.
-
Pathetic qtr thus far. We have some really dumb players especially at VFL.
Some of them need to play to their obvious limitations
Anyways
Some of thr injured boys here watching. Some of the senior coaches and the CEO
Leppa also here watching players the pies are interested in
-
Half time
Richmond 4.4 5.7-37
GWS 2.1 5.5-35
Goals: Green, Koschitzke, Raso, Toner, Yassine.
Well the breeze is definitely favouring to the right of the TV screen. Mind you the Giants dominated the clearances. Lucky to still be in front. Our defence is holding up so far.
-
Garner went to umpires after the siren to complain about the free kick count. Especially HTB. While our "tackling technique" is the worst of all clubs at every level, there's been two different HTB interpretations. The umps are hot on us while the Giants can lie on the ball or drop the footy and it's either a ball-up or play on.
Frees: 5 - 16
-
I also have the umpire's advisor dude sitting about 3 metres to my left
Couldn’t help myself after a free was paid for HTB after the bloke took possession and took one step and was pinged
Said hope you're watching any paying attention, another bad call
After that his head went down and he started bashing away on his laptop :lol
-
Stats to HT:
Blight 14 disposals
Smith 14
Green 9
Alger 6
OHB 6
Ryan 5
Fawcett 3
Kosi 3
Gray 1
Disposals 165 - 178
Marks 53 - 37
Tackles 17 - 26 .... if tackling isn't a major focus then you are unlikely to win finals.
Clearances 10 - 23 .... ( 4 - 12 in that 2nd qtr )
Inside 50s 22 - 33 .... ( 7 - 19 in that 2nd qtr )
Hitouts 10 - 22 .... OHB & especially Samson getting owned.
Frees 5 - 16
https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/matches/7981#team-stats
-
I also have the umpire's advisor dude sitting about 3 metres to my left
Couldn’t help myself after a free was paid for HTB after the bloke took possession and took one step and was pinged
Said hope you're watching any paying attention, another bad call
After that his head went down and he started bashing away on his laptop :lol
Good stuff WP :clapping :rollin
But it just shows they ignore how bad it is and won't do anything about it. The standard of umpiring is crisis, and the current AFL administration is to blame.
-
And to prove im not biased
In the 2nd Ryan almost took a blokes head off in a marking contest on the wing and flap flap play on
Shouted and they heard... that's a shocker ..tap tap on the laptop
-
OHB grabs the ball from the centre and boots it long. Raso gathers by the boundary and draws the defenders. Handballs to Fawcett who bananas the goal :gotigers
Rich 6.7-43
GWS 5.5-35
1 min Q3
-
This is clearly the scoring end. Need to build a strong lead going into the 4th.
-
Nice side step by Scott at HF and he finds Fawcett 15m out. Pushed over, 50m and he gets the shot from the goal-line. Goal! :gotigers
Rich 7.7-49
GWS 5.6-36
3 min Q3
-
Gray bursts through at HB. Long mongrel torp and Fawcett takes the contested mark 50 out. set shot falls short and rushed.
50 - 36
-
Got love how you can tackle someone to the ground while the ball is on the ground ::).
Giants goal.
51 - 42
-
Raso's kick from the centre drops short and Kosi leads into the space to mark 35 out. Goal! :gotigers
Rich 8.9-57
GWS 6.6-42
9 min Q3
-
Umpires are stuffen corrupt - the end
-
Every time they go forward they score
-
OMG we actually got a HTB free.
Scott 30 out on and acute angle. Misses right.
58 - 48
-
Every time they go forward they score
We can't defend at ground level in our D50 this quarter :facepalm.
58 - 54
-
Samson lace out pass :o from the middle to Kosi on the lead 40 out. Goal! :gotigers
Rich 9.10-64
GWS 8.6-54
17 min Q3
-
Bounce goes outside the circle and the ump doesn't call it back :facepalm.
-
Kosi crumbs his own marking contest and goals. Kicks his 4th :gotigers.
Rich 10.10-70
GWS 8.6-54
21 min Q3
-
Up yours ump :lol
Giants defender O'Keefe who was given a dodgy free stuffed up the short kick in our F50 and Yassine goals :gotigers
Rich 11.10-76
GWS 8.6-54
23 min Q3
-
Gray down after a head clash. Bloodied/broken nose. Aided off by a trainer. Possible concussion too.
-
Can't touch them. Why don't you kick it for them ump? ::)
Frees 9 - 22
-
Josh Fahey up to 30 odd touches.
Maybe worth looking at ?
-
Kosi inside 50 and Fawcett again outbodies hit opponent and takes the mark 35 out by the boundary. Misses right.
Free off the ball after the kick to Green. Goal! :gotigers
Not sure what happened but we'll take it. Apparently, Samson taken down off the ball.
Rich 12.11-83
GWS 8.8-56
34 min Q3
-
Josh Fahey up to 30 odd touches.
Maybe worth looking at ?
We were interested in him from memory in his draft year.
-
3/4 time
Richmond 4.4 5.7 12.12-84
GWS 2.1 5.5 8.8-56
Goals: Koschitzke 4, Fawcett 2, Green 2, Yassine 2, Raso, Toner.
Makes a big difference when you win the clearances and the ball is mostly in your forward half. Credit to OHB in the ruck for that turnaround. Kosi and Fawcett got on top of their direct opponents up forward. Fawcett's best game so far.
Job not done. The Giants will have the breeze/scoring end in the last quarter.
-
Stats to 3QT:
Smith 17 disposals
Blight 15
OHB 13
Green 12
Alger 9
Fawcett 8
Kosi 7
Ryan 6
Gray 5
Disposals 238 - 252
Marks 64 - 49
Tackles 28 - 34
Clearances 22 - 30 .... ( 12 - 7 in that 3rd qtr )
Inside 50s 39 - 44 .... ( 17 - 11 in that 3rd qtr )
Hitouts 13 - 32
Frees 11 - 23 ::)
https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/matches/7981#team-stats
-
Guiney off with a shoulder.
So that's three down along with (Street (ankle) & Gray (nose/concussion) and only two fit on the bench in the last quarter.
-
Schoolboy stuff! Had multiple chances to kill the ball/spoil the ball over the boundary line. Allow it stay alive and the Giants goal :banghead
-
Smith long inside 50 and Girolami takes the contested mark 35 out. Goal! :gotigers
Rich 13.12-90
GWS 9.9-63
4 min Q4
-
Throw-in F50. OHB out the ruck snap misses.
91 - 63
-
Collier dumped after disposal. Free down field to Girolami. Add 50 as well. Goal! :gotigers
Rich 14.13-97
GWS 9.9-63
6 min Q4
-
LOL. Another BS HTB against us ::).
-
Garner long inside 50. Alger gets the quick towards goal and Yassine gathers and goals :gotigers
Rich 15.13-103
GWS 9.9-63
10 min Q4
-
Scott long from the centre and Garner takes a great mark between two defenders 20 out. Goal! :gotigers
Rich 16.13-109
GWS 9.9-63
12 min Q4
-
Two goals to the Giants.
109 - 76
16 min Q4
-
Ump #23 there again to gift another free to GWS ::). Thankfully they miss.
109 - 79
22 min Q4
-
Goal to GWS.
109 - 86
24 min Q4
Really dumb last 10 mins. Not controlling the ball.
-
Not sure how we didn't kick a goal initially. Yassine's snap looking to be heading through but Wilson goes the boot and a Giants defender lunges in. So it's a point.
We get it back from the kick-in anyway. Wilson to Fawcett in the goalsquare who slams it home :gotigers
Rich 17.14-116
GWS 12.14-86
28 min Q4
-
Forearm to the head in the tackle = no free ::).
-
Giants with the last two goals.
116 - 98
32 min Q4
-
So the VFL team is Finals bound, who can play next week? Armstrong, Hotton, Balta, Rioli, Trezise- Smilie :gotigers
-
Siren!
Tiges win by 18 pts :gotigers
:clapping
-
So the VFL team is Finals bound, who can play next week? Armstrong, Hotton, Balta, Rioli, Trezise- Smilie :gotigers
Send in the cavalry. Anyone that qualifies should play next week.
-
Final Score
Richmond 4.4 5.7 12.12 17.14-116
GWS 2.1 5.5 8.8 14.14-98
Goals: Koschitzke 4, Fawcett 3, Yassine 3, Green 2, Girolami 2, Garner, Raso, Toner.
Gutsy win in the end given we were down to only two on the bench.
The best of our AFL-listers:
Blight - arguably our best across the whole four quarters. Really held up down back in that second quarter when GWS were dominating. 8 intercepts all up.
Fawcett - I thought it was his best game at this level. Continually presented and took a number of one-on-one contested marks inside F50. Finished with 3 goals.
OHB - well beaten in the first half but turned it around in the second. He was able to nullify Giants' ruckman Madden's influence after half-time. Especially in the 3rd quarter when the clearance numbers flipped and we hit the scoreboard.
Kosi - Is having a strong finish to the season at VFL level. Another 4 goals and then went back in defence in the last with both Street and Gray off injured.
Smith - top disposal getter (24 possies) off HB. Solid with no glaring poor decision moments.
-
So the VFL team is Finals bound, who can play next week? Armstrong, Hotton, Balta, Rioli, Trezise- Smilie :gotigers
Not sure Armstrong qualifies. You used that have played 6 games unless your AFL side is the finals
-
Individual stats:
Smith 24 disp (18k, 6h, 4c, 18u, 91.7%), 8m, 1t, 1cl, - , 2in50, 2int.
Blight 18 disp (12k, 6h, 4c, 12u, 66.7%), 7m, - , - , - , - , 8int, 2si.
Hayes-Brown 18 disp ( 6k, 12h, 16c, 3u, 55.6%), 1m, 1t, 6cl, 11ho, 5in50, 4int, 2si, - , 1b.
Green 13 disp ( 7k, 6h, 3c, 10u, 61.5%), 1m, 1t, - , - , 3in50, 2int, 3si, 2g, 1b.
Alger 12 disp ( 9k, 3h, 1c, 11u, 83.3%), 3m, 1t, - , - , 3in50, - , 1si.
Fawcett 10 disp ( 9k, 1h, 1c, 9u, 40.0%), 8m, 2t, - , - , 2in50, - , 5si, 3g, 2b.
Koschitzke 10 disp ( 8k, 2h, 4c, 5u, 70.0%), 5m, 1t, - , - , 1in50, 2int, 6si, 4g, 2b.
Ryan 7 disp ( 5k, 2h, 3c, 4u, 71.4%), 5m, - , - , 5ho, 2in50, 3int, 1si.
Gray 5 disp ( 4k, 1h, 2c, 4u, 40.0%), 1m, 1t, - , - , 1in50, 2int.
VFL-listers:
Scott 26 disposals
Raso 19
Wilson 18
Garner 15
Johnson 15
McKenzie 15
Toner 15
El Nour 14
George 13
Girolami 13
Collier 8
Guiney 8 .... off late 3rd qtr with a shoulder.
Yassine 8
Street 4 .... off late 1st qtr with a dislocated ankle.
Team Stats:
Disposals 314 - 341
Kicks 194 - 192
Handballs 120 - 149
Marks 84 - 68
Tackles 36 - 40
Clearances 30 - 39
Inside 50s 51 - 65
Hitouts 16 - 42
Frees 16 - 30 ::) :thumbsdown
https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/matches/7981#player-stats
-
So the VFL team is Finals bound, who can play next week? Armstrong, Hotton, Balta, Rioli, Trezise- Smilie :gotigers
Not sure Armstrong qualifies. You used that have played 6 games unless your AFL side is the finals
I think you can apply for special allowance now?
Armstrong should qualify on account of the injury
-
So the VFL team is Finals bound, who can play next week? Armstrong, Hotton, Balta, Rioli, Trezise- Smilie :gotigers
Not sure Armstrong qualifies. You used that have played 6 games unless your AFL side is the finals
I think you can apply for special allowance now?
Armstrong should qualify on account of the injury
That's correct.
Let's see what the Club decides
-
Minimum Game Requirement:
A player must have played in at least one VFL or AFL senior-grade home-and-away match during the season to be eligible for VFL Senior Grade finals.
Post–July 1 AFL Game Restriction: If an AFL-listed player has played an AFL game after July 1, they must have also played a minimum of six VFL Senior Grade matches during the season to qualify for VFL finals.
-
So the VFL team is Finals bound, who can play next week? Armstrong, Hotton, Balta, Rioli, Trezise- Smilie :gotigers
Surely Gibcus?
-
Richmond advance to VFL Elimination Final
RFC website
Aug 23, 2025
Richmond has defied injury and the GWS Giants to win by 18 points in the Wildcard Final on Saturday afternoon at ETU Stadium.
With the win, the Tigers have punched their ticket to next weekend's Elimination Final.
The game was an arm wrestle in the first half before a seven-goal third term gave Richmond enough breathing room to hold on and advance.
It was a frantic start to the game with both teams keeping the ball in motion and playing attacking footy.
But it was the Tigers who made more of their opportunities with electric goals to Massimo Raso, Steely Green and Sam Toner, giving the Richmond faithful something to cheer about early on.
Towards the backend of the first quarter, the lead was already out to 25 points, before the Giants kicked a much-needed goal through Hugo Birks.
Taine Moraschi followed that with another goal to GWS, cutting the lead back to 15 points at the first change.
Richmond started the second quarter well with a classy snap from the pocket by key forward Jacob Koschitzke, but that is where the momentum stopped for the Tigers.
Two quick goals from crafty small forward Phoenix Gothard brought the lead back to just nine points, sparking a period of clearance domination for the Giants.
For a large part of the quarter, Richmond was made to defend and held up reasonably well under pressure, but some turnovers in the back half proved costly.
At half time, the Tigers' lead had been cut down to only two points, with the main break coming at a good time for Richmond, desperately needing to hit the reset button.
Young key forward Liam Fawcett got the Tigers off to a brilliant start after the main break, kicking back-to-back goals to again give Richmond the advantage.
But the Giants would refuse to lay down, with goals to James Lugsdin and Perry Lewis-Smith keeping scores very close.
The Tigers withstood that challenge and replied straight away, with Koschitzke kicking two goals in rapid time, helping to push the margin out to three goals.
The latter of those goals was brought about by relentless pressure from small forward Mohammed Yassine, who was then rewarded as he ran into an open goal moments later.
Then an off-the-ball free kick resulted in Green kicking his second goal deep into time on, as the Tigers turned the tide to lead by 28 points at three-quarter time.
They would need every part of that buffer, with Richmond’s VFL captain Lachlan Street (ankle), Nick Guiney (shoulder) and Campbell Gray all ruled out of the game with injury.
The Giants put some doubt into the Tigers' minds with an early goal in the last quarter, cutting the lead to under four goals.
But despite injuries and plenty of moving parts, Richmond held strong as Nicholas Girolami kicked back-to-back goals, Yassine kicked his third, and Joel Garner got on the board to blow the lead beyond 40 points.
GWS kicked a few late goals to give the side some hope against a tiring Tigers outfit, but Richmond ultimately did enough early in the quarter to hang on and win by 18 points.
Koschitzke continued his purple patch of form (four goals), looking a real presence in the forward half before moving down back later in the game.
After struggling to win clearances in the first half, young gun Harry Scott (26 disposals and five clearances) and the midfield group lifted to give their forwards the first opportunity to score.
Phoenix Gothard was brilliant for GWS, finishing the game with four goals to go along with 19 disposals, as was Josh Fahey (34 disposals), as he gave his side plenty of drive off half back.
Richmond 4.4 5.7 12.12 17.14 (116)
GWS 2.1 5.5 8.8 14.14 (98)
Goals: Koschitzke 4, Yassine 3, Fawcett 3, Green 2, Girolami 2, Toner, Raso, Garner
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1872218/richmond-advance-to-vfl-elimination-final
-
(https://resources.richmondfc.com.au/photo-resources/2025/08/23/7231de0c-387c-498a-a02c-2eabca2b731e/L4WwaPFk.jpg?width=344&height=215) (https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1872185/vfl-wildcard-match-highlights)
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1872185/vfl-wildcard-match-highlights
(https://resources.richmondfc.com.au/photo-resources/2025/08/23/00991b8e-bd5f-4b0a-83c6-d4f6d3785f4e/fDDcJQCO.jpg?width=344&height=215) (https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1872256/vfl-wildcard-post-match)
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1872256/vfl-wildcard-post-match