Media articles & stats: Narrow loss to North completes Tiger pre-season

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Narrow loss completes Tiger pre-season
richmondfc.com.au 
March 21, 2015 3:59 PM

Richmond has completed its 2015 pre-season campaign with a 14-point loss to North Melbourne, in front of 9327 fans at Etihad Stadium.

The Tigers charged late, kicking the final three goals of the game, but their run was left too late.

Dustin Martin completed an impressive pre-season with a game-high 28 disposals, four tackles and two goals.

In all, Richmond had six players with 20 or more touches, including Brett Deledio (23), Brandon Ellis (23), Shaun Grigg (23) and Bachar Houli (21).

The other, captain Trent Cotchin, played three quarters and finished with an impressive tally of 20 disposals (14 contested), eight clearances and two assists.

Jack Riewoldt kicked three goals, to go with 16 disposals, seven marks and three assists.

Lindsay Thomas booted three goals for the Kangaroos, with Daniel Wells and Brent Harvey the leading disposal winners.

North Melbourne shot out of the blocks with a seven-goal first quarter, with three supergoals helping their cause.

Richmond's first goal came at the 14-minute mark, with Riewoldt converting from a set shot after a pinpoint pass from Kamdyn McIntosh.

A Deledio set-shot supergoal was the highlight of the term for the Tigers, with the Kangaroos taking a 31-point lead into the first break.

Richmond made a bright start to the second term, with a Dustin Martin 70-metre bouncing bomb followed by an impressive running goal from McIntosh.

A 16-point buffer blew out to 38 after four straight North goals, before Cotchin teed up Riewoldt for his second goal.


RICHMOND:                                 1.2.2   2.6.8   2.9.12   2.12.16 (106)

NORTH MELBOURNE:                        3.4.3   3.8.4   3.12.6   3.13.15 (120)

SUPERGOALS

Richmond: Deledio, Martin   

North Melbourne: Swallow, Higgins, Ziebell, 

GOALS

Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Martin, Ellis, Edwards, McIntosh, Griffiths, Lambert, Morris, Lloyd   

North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Harvey 2, Higgins 2, Brown 2, Wood 2, Cunnington, Petrie

BEST

Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Deledio, Houli, Riewoldt, McIntosh

North Melbourne: Wells, Goldstein, Higgins, Harvey, Swallow, Cunnington

INJURIES

Richmond: Nil

North Melbourne: Ziebell (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES

Richmond: Jake Batchelor replaced Dylan Grimes at half-time; Sam Lloyd replaced Trent Cotchin at three-quarter time

North Melbourne: Sam Gibson replaced Jack Ziebell in the second quarter; Robbie Tarrant replaced Jamie MacMillan in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Armstrong, Chamberlain, Dalgleish, O'Gorman

Official crowd: 9,327 at Etihad Stadium

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2015-03-21/narrow-loss-completes-tiger-preseason

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NAB Challenge: North Melbourne defeats Richmond by 14 points at Etihad Stadium

Glenn McFarlane
Herald-Sun
March 21, 2015 4:18PM

NORTH Melbourne vice-captain Jack Ziebell has been stretchered off with concussion in his side’s AFL pre-season win over Richmond at Etihad Stadium.

Play was held up for several minutes late in the second term at after Ziebell hit his head in an accidental collision with Tigers defender Alex Rance.

Ziebell was moving his arms as he left the ground and ended the game sitting on the interchange bench as the Kangaroos won by 14 points.

North led by 38 points midway through the second quarter and held off a late Richmond charge, winning 3.13.15 (120) to 2.12.16 (100).

Ziebell is one of North’s frontline midfielders, but he is coming off a season where he was hampered by shoulder and knee injuries.

Fellow on-baller Daniel Wells and ruckman Todd Goldstein starred for the ‘Roos, while Western Bulldogs recruit Shaun Higgins and Lindsay Thomas kicked three goals apiece.

Richmond did not apply enough defensive pressure early in the match and North were cruising when they led by nearly five goals early in the last term.

But the Tigers finished with plenty of run and reduced the margin to 11 points before North steadied.

One big positive for Richmond was captain Trent Cotchin, who returned from a hamstring problem to play his first game of the pre-season.

The midfield ace was high among their best players with 20 disposals before he was subbed off at three-quarter time.

Teammate Dustin Martin kicked a nine-point supergoal in the second term from inside the centre square, with the ball travelling at least 70m.

The Richmond-North game was the first game of an Etihad Stadium double header, with the Western Bulldogs playing Collingwood in the evening.


FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT

1. WELLS IS CRUCIAL TO THE KANGAS

Daniel Wells had a frustrating 2014, playing only 10 games due to a foot injury. But he looks ready and raring to go for a big assault on the 2015 season judging on yesterday’s performance against the Tigers. And that’s great news for North fans.

2. ZIEBELL KNOWS NO OTHER WAY

Jack Ziebell attacks the ball as it is supposed to be attacked, and has always said that will never change. He showed that again yesterday when he launched at Alex Rance in a tackle and was concussed with an accidental elbow and hitting the turf on his way down.

3. COTCHIN WILL PLAY IN ROUND 1

Importantly for the Tigers, the skipper got through yesterday with no sign of the hamstring tightness that has held him back a bit this pre-season. He performed well and will be ready to take on the Blues. And Dustin Martin’s solid form continued.

4. NORTH HAS PLENTY OF OPTIONS IN ATTACK

Loving the look of the Kangaroos’ attack for the season ahead. Jarrad Waite and Aaron Black were missing yesterday, but the Roos had plenty of goalscoring options, including Drew Petrie, Ben Brown, Mason Wood, Lindsay Thomas, Brent Harvey and Shaun Higgins.

5. WHO NEEDS DEFENCE WHEN YOU HAVE ATTACK?

Yes, this game lacked a bit in terms of defensive accountability, but don’t forget this was just a NAB Challenge game. And in a pre-season series that has lacked a fair amount of flair, it was great from a spectators’ point of view to an attacking bent, and to see plenty of goals and supergoals come into play.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/nab-challenge-north-melbourne-defeats-richmond-by-14-points-at-etihad-stadium/story-fndv8rij-1227272698558

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WHAT WE LEARNED

Richmond: Ben Griffiths is the Tigers' best option as a second tall forward in round one. The 200cm Tiger had 10 possessions in the first half and was constantly involved, but he faded to finish with 1.3. Still, he looks in outstanding condition after a strong pre-season and overshadowed teammate Ty Vickery, who had just two possessions in the first half and finished with four touches and 0.1. 

North Melbourne: Defender Joel Tippett is ready to give North Melbourne the tall reinforcements it needs to take the next step in 2015. After piling on 6kg in the off-season, Tippett looks a new player and he spent long periods on Ty Vickery, holding him goalless.

NEW FACES

Richmond: Mature-age rookie Kane Lambert probably didn't do enough to lock down a round one berth, failing to win a possession in the opening term. The midfielder, who has played every pre-season game, was often rushed when he won the ball, finishing with 10 touches and a goal. Former Cat Taylor Hunt (11 possessions)also finished an impressive pre-season in quiet fashion, but still looks likely to line up in the seniors for the season opener against Carlton.

North Melbourne: Free agency recruit Shaun Higgins was the only new face, returning to the team and kicking three goals in a half-forward role. The former Bulldog looks fit and won plenty of hard ball to complement his outside game, racking up eight contested possessions.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-03-21/jack-down-as-kangas-win