Little things prove costly for Tigers Courtney Walsh
The Australian
May 17, 2010 IF this season is all about Richmond being on a learning curve, yesterday's lesson at the MCG is perhaps the cruellest it will receive.
For when reviewing the agonising three-point loss to Hawthorn, 13.11 (89) to 13.8 (86), it will become clear that a failure too often to take care of the littlest things ultimately cost Richmond its first victory for the year and, possibly, its only chance, although coach Damien Hardwick is adamant it will become a turning point for his Tigers.
On all accounts -- even that of opposing coach Alastair Clarkson -- Richmond was unlucky to lose.
Indeed, had Shane Tuck not been run down by desperate Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell as he was streaming into Richmond's forward line with 40 seconds remaining, it could well have been Richmond's match, although any who have witnessed the Tiger's kicking will know he is no certainty even from five metres.
Richmond smashed its more accomplished rivals in the middle of the ground, trebling their clearances from the centre square.
The Tigers entered their forward line 16 more times than the Hawks -- and doubled their attacking forays in the last term -- yet the greater class in attack of Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli, who booted three crucial goals in the final quarter, proved the difference.
"The thing is that what Hawthorn has got is some polish at the top end. I mean, Cyril Rioli rose to the top again with four goals," Hardwick said.
"We looked at our numbers as well, and thought we nearly should have won the game. We thought we were the better side on the day and are really disappointed we didn't, but there is no doubt this is a step forward for our footy club."
The accuracy of that statement will be proven over the remaining 14 rounds, but Hardwick was understandably pleased with the endeavour shown by his side.
Daniel Jackson, who was crunched by Campbell Brown in a critical moment that should have earned him a free-kick with the game in the balance -- and is an incident certain to have caught the attention of the match review panel -- was outstanding.
Trent Cotchin was solid through the midfield while Jack Riewoldt, who kicked four goals including the last of the match, and to a lesser extent, Angus Graham, showed the bones of a workable forward line.
There are several moments, the little things, that Richmond will lament, though.
The lack of attention to detail, for example, that allowed the Hawks a goal when Jordan Lewis's set shot in the second quarter barely made the distance and would certainly have been touched had there been a Richmond player on the goal-line.
Or the lapse that allowed Rioli a second chance to win the ball, after he had overrun it, and pivot on to his favoured left foot to give the Hawks a steadying goal against the run of play at the 20-minute mark in the same quarter.
Shane Edwards must ponder the merit of failing to heed an umpire's warning to move back a metre on the mark when on the wing in the third term.
The subsequent 50m penalty brought Franklin to within range, again giving the Tigers breathing space. That failure to take a small step backwards proved extremely costly, given the final margin.
That is not to say the class of Hawks like Luke Hodge or the desperation of those like Brown was not critical. While Mitchell's effort to run down Tuck in the final minute was vital, so too was Brown's ability somehow to swamp Graham Polak just as he was set to open the scoring in the final term with what looked a straightforward goal.
Effectively, Brown's effort caused a 12-point swing, for the Hawks swept the ball forward to Roughead to put the margin out to 17 points and earned the praise of Clarkson post-match.
"I just saw the ball go out the back and I didn't think I was going to get there but eventually got there and laid the tackle and it fell into my arms, so I was a little bit fortunate," he said.
"It didn't matter if we won by 100 points or three points, we just needed to get a win and hopefully things can go from there. The game could have gone either way . . . and we were probably just lucky that we were in front when the siren went."
Lucky, certainly, but it is a win that sparked some relief in the Hawthorn rooms, for had this game been lost, heaven knows how combustible president Jeff Kennett would have reacted, given his savage mood to date at his side's performance this season.
Clarkson, for one, is aware the Hawks had dodged a potential bullet and was looking to the skies in thanks.
"They were pretty stiff that they didn't win, but thank God they didn't," he said.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/little-things-prove-costly-for-tigers/story-e6frg7mf-1225867469608
