Media articles and stats: Agony as Tigers fall short of Eagles

[one-eyed]

Agony for Tigers
By Callum Twomey
Sun 29 Apr, 2012

Richmond           4.2       9.4       12.9        14.13 (97)
West Coast         5.3      11.6      12.11      16.11 (107)

GOALS
Richmond: Miller 3, Jackson 2, Martin 2, Riewoldt 2, Vickery 2, Cotchin, Ellis, Maric
West Coast: Darling 4, Hill 3, Hams 2, Lynch 2, Masten 2, Cox, Kennedy, S. Selwood

BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Maric, Martin, Deledio, Foley, Rance, Grimes
West Coast: Kerr, Gaff, Priddis, S. Selwood, Glass, Darling, Lynch

INJURIES
Richmond: Deledio (knee)
West Coast: Brown (poke in the eye), Kennedy (ankle), Mackenzie (ear infection) replaced in selected side by Brown
 
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Matt White replaced Brandon Ellis in the third quarter.
West Coast: Adam Selwood replaced Mitch Brown (concussion) in the first quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McBurney, Armstrong, Bannister

Official crowd: 28,448 at Etihad Stadium

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RICHMOND has fallen just short of upsetting undefeated West Coast, suffering a 10-point loss to the Eagles at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
 
The Eagles looked set to be overrun by the fast-finishing Tigers, but held on to win 16.11 (107) to 14.13 (97) to join the Sydney Swans as the only clubs to have enjoyed flawless starts to 2012.

It was the first time the Eagles have beaten the Tigers at the Docklands venue, having lost their previous three meetings at the ground.
 
In a thrilling last quarter, Eagles' midfielder Scott Selwood snapped a goal from close range to put the Eagles six points ahead with less than eight minutes remaining.
 
But, as had been the case throughout the game, the goal did not signal the end of the contest - rather, another wave of Richmond momentum.
 
Richmond stars Jack Riewoldt and Brett Deledio both missed shots at goal in the dying minutes that would have seen the Tigers reclaim the lead, before West Coast's Jack Darling snapped a goal over his shoulder with six seconds left to seal the win.
 
The victory came despite standout performances from star Richmond midfielders Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin, who combined for 55 disposals and three goals. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said it was a hard loss to take.
 
"I don't think I've ever been as disappointed as I was today," Hardwick said.
 
"Probably just for the work rate the players put in, the courage they showed ... to come away shy of the four points is really disappointing and a bitter pill to swallow."
 
Although the Eagles' crop of key forwards seemed likely to break the game apart for the visitors, it was actually West Coast's range of smaller players whose contributions were most important.
 
Darling booted four goals, but Josh Hill (three goals), Ashton Hams (two), and Chris Masten (two) were also vital to the victory. Through the midfield, Andrew Gaff was ever present with 30 disposals and nine marks, while Daniel Kerr's 24-possession effort was important.
 
After such an impressive opening month of the season, West Coast looked sluggish at times. The visitors held a 26-point lead midway through the second term and seemed set to break away with the game, but the Tigers responded to trail by only 13 points at the main change.
 
The swaying momentum continued in the third term, but Richmond closed the gap to trail by only two points by the final change. 
 
The Tigers took the lead early in the last term when Riewoldt converted a set shot, but the Eagles rose to the challenge and held on for the win.
 
If it is a mark of the best teams to win games when they have not played well then the Eagles only enhanced their premiership credentials. Despite the Tigers' clear improvement, the Eagles still led at every change and deserved the win.
 
They also did it with injury concerns. Already without late withdrawal Eric Mackenzie, the Eagles lost his replacement Mitchell Brown to an eye injury in the first quarter.
 
Brown was subbed out of the game at quarter-time but West Coast's woes continued, with star forward Josh Kennedy hobbling from the field with an ankle complaint.
 
Richmond's Deledio also left the field with the aid of trainers after he twisted his knee when teammate Shane Tuck slid into him. Deledio, with strapping, returned to the field late in the second term while Kennedy played out the second half.
 
Eagles coach John Worsfold said the injuries did impact the club's plans heading into the game.
 
"We lost that rotation in the first quarter with Brown off, and Kennedy just really held up for as long as he could for us, so it took a bit more effort than normal," Worsfold said.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/134367/default.aspx

[Dubstep Dookie]

INJURIES
West Coast: Brown (poke in the eye), Kennedy (ankle), Mackenzie (ear infection) replaced in selected side by Brown

Are these guys for real? I don't see Dea being ko'd and face being split open being reported by the club. Get the eff back to Perth soft serves

[Go Richo 12]

INJURIES
West Coast: Brown (poke in the eye), Kennedy (ankle), Mackenzie (ear infection) replaced in selected side by Brown

Are these guys for real? I don't see Dea being ko'd and face being split open being reported by the club. Get the eff back to Perth soft serves

Maybe Jackstar does the injury reports.

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals       348 - 321
Efficiency%      73 - 74
Kicks             198 - 173
Handballs      150 - 148
Con. Possies  134 - 138
Uncon. Poss.  216 - 182
Marks            104 - 73
Con. Marks      20 - 17
Tackles           58 - 61
Clearances      38 - 34
Clangers         45 - 35
Hitouts            30 - 42 .... ( I.Maric 26, Vickery 2, Deledio 1, Jackson 1 // Naitanui 26, Cox 16 )
Frees              17 - 21
Inside 50s       47 - 52
Marks In50      13 - 10
Rebound 50s   32 - 22
Assists              9 - 10
1%ers             53 - 42
Supercoach  1656 - 1645
Dreamteam  1517 - 1390


Individual Stats
       
                        D     K      H     CP    Eff      M   CM   T  CL  FF  FA In50 R50  G   B   GA   SC 
T.Cotchin          29    17    12    14    62%    6    1    2    4    5    1    6    4    1    1    1    123
N.Foley             27    12    15    16    63%    7    1    7    7    0    2    4    1    0    0    1    125
B.Deledio          26    15    11    10    81%    8    1    2    4    0    0    8    3    0    1    1    129
S.Grigg             26    12    14      6    88%    8    1    1    3    0    1    4    1    0    0    1      87
D.Martin           26    17      9      9    69%    3    1    3    4    0    0    3    3    2    3    0    112
C.Newman        23    13    10      8    78%    7    1    0    1    1    0    2    1    0    0    0      88
B.Houli             18    14      4      3    78%    5    2    4    0    0    0    3    6    0    0    0    101
S.Tuck              17      9      8      6    82%    2    0    6    5    1    3    3    1    0    0    1      70
J.Batchelor        16      9      7      5    94%    8    3    2    0    0    0    0    3    0    0    0      74
J.Riewoldt         15    12      3    10    60%    5    2    3    2    4    0    3    1    2    3    0      94
R.Conca            14      8      6      2    79%    1    0    3    0    0    1    1    1    0    0    0      41
D.Jackson         14      8      6      6    71%    6    0    1    2    1    1    2    0    2    0    1      63
A.Rance            14      9      5      4    71%    6    2    2    0    0    1    1    4    0    0    0      91
D.Grimes          13      6      7      5    77%    7    1    1    0    0    1    0    1    0    0    0      45
B.Ellis               12      5      7      5    92%    2    0    1    2    2    0    0    0    1    0    0      42
I.Maric              12      6      6      5    83%    6    2    4    2    0    0    2    0    1    0    1    103
R.Nahas            12      3      9      5    58%    2    0    6    0    0    3    0    0    0    0    0      45
T.Vickery           12      7      5      4    58%    6    0    2    1    0    1    0    0    2    2    0      60
S.Morris              9      6      3      5    78%    2    1    5    0    1    1    1    2    0    0    1      57
B.Miller               8      7      1      5    75%    5    1    2    1    2    3    1    0    3    1    1      75
M.White              3      3      0      0    67%    2    0    0    0    0    0    3    0    0    0    0      21
M.Dea                 2      0      2      1    50%    0    0    1    0    0    2    0    0    0    0    0      10

http://live-footy.heraldsun.com.au/StatsCentre/Index/20120520120140508
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/16931/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7703&tab=Stats

[one-eyed]

Richmond falls just short in a thriller against West Coast

    Mark Hayes
    From: Herald Sun
    April 30, 2012

IF AFL matches were won by desire alone, Richmond would be the proud owner of four shiny new premiership points.

But, for the second week in a row, the plucky Tigers came up 10 agonising points short - left with only a stronger appreciation of how mentally tough the league's powerhouse teams can be when it comes to the vital moments.

Yesterday's game at Etihad Stadium see-sawed between West Coast's class and Richmond's desperation.

Only in the dying seconds did the scales tip the Eagles' way.

Jack Darling booted his fourth goal for the day to put the game beyond doubt, but it was champion midfielders Daniel Kerr and Matthew Priddis who were critical in a frenetic final quarter and made the victory possible.

Kerr was at the foot of every pack - 17 of his 28 possessions were contested - and willed himself to contests around the ground, despite being hammered repeatedly.

And the nerveless Priddis set up goals by Chris Masten and Scott Selwood with sublime hand skills in heavy traffic midway through the final term, when it appeared Richmond had the momentum.

It was a bitter blow for the Tigers, with captain Chris Newman hurling his mouthguard into the turf at the final siren after losing back-to-back games by the same margin.

Last week they pushed Geelong and looked the winner midway through the final term.

Trent Cotchin was stellar when given space to operate, his acceleration from packs and poise again enhancing his reputation.

And Dustin Martin, criticised earlier in the season for not having a big impact, was back to his rugged best.

While some of his disposal under the pump was not perfect, there were times when he left the Richmond faithful breathless.

Martin booted two goals when given time up forward, his strength and ability to cause match-up problems for defenders a marvel for a 20-year-old.

Brett Deledio, who hobbled off earlier in the match with a leg injury, came back to shine but missed a set shot from outside 50 with three minutes to play that would have given his team the lead.

Recruit Ivan Maric put in a tireless blue-collar effort in the ruck against great odds and bulk, with the Eagles' multi-pronged big-man contingent inspiring him to arguably his best AFL match.

Giant Eagle Nic Naitanui was brilliant sporadically against Maric, and the young gun's skilful palming work at centre bounces set up several goals when the Eagles needed them most.

After a match that ebbed and flowed, with both teams dominant at various stages, Richmond drew level seven times with the classy Eagles, but managed to hit the front only once after leading at the 20-minute mark of the first term.

And with the out-of-form but desperate Jack Riewoldt throwing his body at contests throughout the fiercely fought closing quarter, there was always a sense that the 2010 Coleman Medal winner would put an heroic exclamation point on the terrific Richmond effort.

But Riewoldt couldn't clunk one in the final minutes and, when Eagle Beau Waters staked his claim for mark of the year with a towering speccy as the ball rebounded, West Coast stood firm to maintain its unbeaten start to the season.

The big casualty of the game was returning Eagle defender Mitch Brown, who went off with an eye injury accidentally sustained during the play leading up to Martin's first goal.

In his second game for the year, Brown lasted less than four minutes before being taken to hospital.

He was substituted at quarter-time, replaced in the backline by Adam Selwood.

Tigers Daniel Jackson, Matt Dea and Riewoldt all took spells on the bench after heavy knocks.

Big Eagle forward Josh Kennedy appeared to be hobbling badly on an injured ankle after missing much of the second quarter.

The Tigers, after opening well but conceding four goals either side of quarter-time, kicked three of their own to pull back level midway though the second term.

FOUR POINTS with Eliza Sewell

1. Tigers fans would have been thinking it was going to be their day after the first quarter. The signs were ominous as Ivan Maric kicked the opening goal, Dan Jackson booted a major and Ty Vickery even took a mark up forward.

2. West Coast is effective in attack. It had 11 inside 50s in the opening term, for a 5.3 return. Big Dean Cox is a massive weapon, while a smaller man would be envious of Jack Darling's roving.

3. Players were dropping in the second term. Jack Riewoldt was vomiting as he left the ground after a knock, Brett Deledio hurt his right knee and limped from the ground while Eagles forward Josh Kennedy also struggled as he nursed a left ankle injury.

4. Jack Riewoldt isn't having the best year, but his hanger and goal late in the second term could be the spark he needs. Riewoldt flew over Eagle Beau Waters and then kicked a beauty from the boundary line. But Waters got his back, taking a match-saving hanger on the back flank with less than a minute remaining. It resulted in an Eagles goal, which sealed the victory.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/richmond-falls-just-short-in-a-thriller-against-west-coast/story-e6frf9jf-1226342056986

[one-eyed]

Tigers fight to the finish but fall short
Greg Baum
April 30, 2012

WEST COAST 5.3 11.6 12.11 16.11 (107)
RICHMOND   4.2    9.4 12.9   14.13 (97)

GOALS
West Coast: Darling 4, Hill 3, Hams 2, Masten 2, Lynch 2, Cox, Kennedy, S Selwood.
Richmond: Miller 3, Jackson 2, Martin 2, Riewoldt 2, Vickery 2, Ellis, I Maric, Cotchin.

BEST
West Coast: Kerr, Priddis, Gaff, Naitanui, Darling, S Selwood.
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Martin, Rance, Foley, Maric, Grigg.

INJURIES West Coast: Kennedy (ankle), Brown (concussion, poke in eye), Mackenzie (ear infection) replaced in selected side by Brown. Richmond: Dea (head knock).
UMPIRES McBurney, Armstrong, Bannister.
CROWD 28,448 at Etihad Stadium.

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THE Richmond cheer squad was blunt as cheer squads never are. ''Close enough will do no more,'' read its run-through. ''A Tiger win we want to score.'' Discretion being the better part of fealty, it was on the side that faced away from the team as it ran onto the ground.

Alas and alack, the Tigers had to settle again for close enough. Uni-win Richmond matched unbeaten West Coast this day for commitment, courage, system and enterprise, also in the vital ball-winning statistics, but not quite for class and not, when it mattered, poise.

The last four minutes spoke for all 120. Jack Riewoldt and Brett Deledio both had set shots to win it for Richmond, but for Riewoldt the angle was too acute and for Deledio, the distance was too great. The Eagles whisked the ball via a Beau Waters skyscraper to the other end, where from inside a vipers' nest of slithering arms and legs, Jack Darling snapped his fourth goal. It landed in the Richmond cheer squad. Six seconds remained.

When the siren sounded, Richmond captain Chris Newman hurled his mouthguard away in a paroxysm of disgust. The nearly team had done it again.

Everyone at Richmond knows the Tiger score. The fixture lined them up against four of last year's top five in the first five weeks of the season. It was a horror draw, but it was also an opportunity. To validate their claim to be ever improving, they would have to win at least one. Now, by ever decreasing margins, they had lost them all, to Carlton (44 points), Collingwood (21), Geelong (10) and West Coast (10). Apart from anything else, it puts the Tigers on a handicap in what is likely to be a cluttered race for a place in the final eight.

It also leaves them in the classic pretenders' mindset: until they beat a better class of opponent, some part of them will not quite dare to believe that they ever can. Richmond yesterday was personified by Tyrone Vickery. At 50 games, his real business in AFL football began this day. Ditto for the Tigers.

On paper, Richmond was the equal of West Coast in midfield, but like most teams against the Eagles, overmatched at each end.

But Eric Mackenzie was a pre-match Eagles withdrawal, and his replacement, Mitch Brown, had to be replaced at quarter-time because of injury, and Josh Kennedy also was injured and lacked his usual impact, and this was enough fractionally to destabilise West Coast.

The match was played in spurts and bursts, corresponding with who had momentary ascendancy in the midfield. At times, when Nic Naitanui conducted the match as if it was an orchestra. Daniel Kerr and Matt Priddis, in particular, gladly played his tune. Elsetimes, Deledio and Trent Cotchin and especially Dustin Martin ghosted through the Eagles as if they were holograms, and Richmond held sway.

Richmond made the running, and the mistakes, and the Eagles were well-stocked to capitalise. In the first half, Richmond lacked West Coast's crispness when moving the ball down the ground. In the second, they were not as efficient. Bravery never was an issue. Early in the last quarter, Matt Dea and Darling collided head-on in mid-air, dazing Darling and bloodying Dea, who had to be helped from the ground, but after 10 minutes of panel-beating returned.

In the second quarter, the Eagles slipped to a three-goal lead and were pegged back, then to a four-goal lead and again the Tigers squared the ledger.

In the last quarter, Richmond seized the lead when Priddis was penalised for a sling tackle on Riewoldt. But the Eagles kicked four of the last five goals. Instructively, three were snapshots in half-openings. The Eagles have many ways of kicking goals, and this day needed them all.

For the Tigers, the difference might be as little and as much as the composure of Riewoldt. Playing up the ground looks to have robbed him of his previous certitude in front of goal. Yesterday, he toiled hard, and reprised old times with one hanger, but kicked 2.3. Now that the goals are further away, they seem to have become narrower.

Richmond was shocked, but not surprised. This, seemingly, is the club's eternal lot. As the Tigers left the field, the fans rallied to give them a round of applause. The players' faces were blank as stone, yet conveyed one thought, truly a reflection. ''Close enough will do no more,'' they seemed to say to the supporters. ''A Tiger win we want to score.''

MYSTERY HITS

There was something in the air under the roof at Etihad as first Scott Selwood went down behind play and rose gingerly to his feet then Jack Riewoldt was left on his haunches on the ground after another mystery incident behind play. Riewoldt rose and vomited as he left the ground evidently hit low.

DEA AND NIGHT

The lights went out for Matt Dea in the last quarter. Running with the flight of the ball, Dea didn't flinch as Jack Darling came leading out from the goal square. The pair met and Darling's hip and elbow cannoned into Dea's head. The young Tiger came off bleeding.

NICE GOAL, YOU ARE OFF

Poor Brandon Ellis, he had just booted a goal to bring the Tigers back to within a point of West Coast, when he was called to the bench. The red vest was brought out and Ellis was out of the game substituted for Matt White. A night earlier St Kilda had done the same thing and subbed Beau Wilkes out immediately after goaling. - MICHAEL GLEESON

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-fight-to-the-finish-but-fall-short-20120429-1xt0t.html#ixzz1tRuorvNl