Media articles & stats / Brilliant Tigers ruin Freo's perfect start

[one-eyed]

Brilliant Tigers ruin Freo's perfect start

Alex Malcolm 
afl.com.au
June 5, 2015 10:44 PM

RICHMOND has snapped Fremantle's nine-game winning streak, using a blistering first-half assault and holding on late to down the Dockers by 27 points at Domain Stadium on Friday night.

The Tigers produced a staggering eight-goal opening term to set up their fourth straight victory, running out 15.7 (97) to 10.10 (70) victors in front of 38,019 predominantly shell-shocked fans.

Richmond won its fourth straight match and improved to 6-4 for the season, while Fremantle (9-1) missed the opportunity to win 10 straight matches for the first time in its history.

The victory was Richmond's first over the Dockers at Domain Stadium since 2009, and was its ninth straight over non-Victorian sides.

The Tigers' win was built on ball movement. They got clubbed in the clearances (36-51) and contested possessions (127-145), but they controlled the football with 216 uncontested possessions and 94 marks. The Dockers are the number three uncontested team and number one marking team in the AFL, but for this night at least, were beaten soundly at their own game. 

Dustin Martin was outstanding for the Tigers gathering 34 touches and kicking a goal. Brandon Ellis had 26 possessions and kicked a goal, while Ty Vickery booted three.

The Tigers' defensive unit, led by Alex Rance, Troy Chaplin and Bachar Houli, were impenetrable as well providing great rebound.

The Dockers left it too late, and to too few. Lachie Neale (28 disposals) and Nat Fyfe (26) had 20 clearances between them courtesy of Aaron Sandilands' AFL record 23 hit-outs to advantage, but the big man's dominance didn't amount to scores. Michael Walters kicked three goals and Hayden Crozier two, but Matthew Pavlich was held goalless by Rance.

The win was set up by a quite extraordinary first term by the Tigers. Fremantle had conceded just 62 points per game in the opening nine rounds of the season, but Richmond already had eight goals at quarter-time.

It was the first time Fremantle has conceded eight goals in an opening quarter under Ross Lyon, and it was only the second time any team coached by Lyon had conceded eight goals in an opening term.

In its opening-term avalanche, the Tigers kicked at 78 per cent for the quarter compared to Fremantle's 64 per cent, and scored seven goals from their first eight inside 50s.

Adding injury to the insult of a 30-point quarter-time deficit, Michael Johnson was subbed out in the first term after injuring his right hamstring in his 200th game.   

Fremantle continued to dominate the clearances in the second term, but Richmond kept piling on the goals, scampering away to a 49-point win late in the quarter.

The Tigers maintained their incredible kicking standards, while Houli, Taylor Hunt and Nick Vlastuin provided run and carry from defensive 50. Martin was electric through the middle and up forward with 17 touches and goal. Jack Riewoldt kicked two goals for the term and set a high standard with his chasing and harassing.

The Tigers led by 43 points at half time, but the Dockers kept the visitors to a single goal in the third term as the tide turned. Fyfe had 11 touches for the term and Neale nine, and the Dockers kicked the last three goals of the term through Crozier, Walters and Michael Barlow to cut the margin to 29 points at three-quarter time, sparking hopes of an unlikely upset.

The Dockers threatened in the last but couldn't get any closer than 20 points, Vickery's third goal at the 26-minute mark sealing a famous win in the west.



FREMANTLE     3.1    5.2    8.5     10.10 (70)
RICHMOND       8.1    12.3  13.4   15.7 (97)

GOALS
Fremantle: Walters 3, Crozier 2, Taberner, Ballantyne, Sandilands, Fyfe, Barlow
Richmond: Vickery 3, Griffiths 2, Deledio 2, Riewoldt 2, Martin, Grigg, Morris, C. Ellis, B. Ellis, Edwards

BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Barlow, Sandilands, Walters, Mundy
Richmond: Martin, B. Ellis, Edwards, Cotchin, Rance, Houli, Grigg

INJURIES
Fremantle: Spurr (corked thigh) replaced in selected side, Johnson (hamstring)
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Michael Johnson replaced by Hayden Crozier in the first quarter
Richmond: Corey Ellis replaced by Connor Menadue in the final quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, Mollison

Official crowd: 38,019 at Domain Stadium

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-06-05/tigers-stun-dockers-#sthash.Vq2Yn6Gz.dpuf

[Andyy]

Third week in a row we've spoiled the party. Corne's 300th, Fletcher's 400th and now Johnson's 200th.

Really nice fisting these tossers in the anus. Especially when you can hear the boooooos from the Freo supporters haha. I love it.

[one-eyed]

Richmond defeats Fremantle by 27 points at Subiaco in Round 10

    Braden Quartermaine
    FOX SPORTS
    June 05, 2015 6:00PM


RICHMOND’S season truly roared to life as the Tigers stunned previously undefeated Fremantle on Friday night to emerge as a potential wildcard in this season’s premiership race.

Damien Hardwick’s men became the first team to find a way to crack the purple machine, holding on to win by 27 points at Subiaco Oval in one of the most significant triumphs of Hardwick’s tenure.

Now on a winning steak of four and at 6-4 for the season, Richmond’s momentum will be interrupted by a bye next weekend before the Tigers host West Coast at the MCG in Round 12.

Raging Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe had 26 possessions in another quality outing as Fremantle’s winning streak was halted at nine, equal to the previous club record set in 2006.

There was no single Tiger responsible for Fyfe, who fought desperately to impose himself against the tide and was responsible for some magical pieces of individual brilliance.

Holding a 29-point lead at the final change, the accurate Tigers prevailed despite kicking only three goals in the second half and losing the inside 50 count 45-36.

Richmond’s win came despite Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands setting his second ruck record in a week, this time for hit-outs to advantage as he dominated Ivan Maric.

Tigers legend Matthew Richardson was on the boundary for Channel 7 and couldn’t believe what he was seeing as his old team set up one of the upsets of the season with a rampant eight-goal first quarter.

“You couldn’t have written this in a fairytale,’’ Richardson said as Richmond stormed to a 42-point lead entering time-on of the opening term.

It was fast and it was furious. The early Richmond onslaught wasn’t just effective, as the visitors kicked truly with their first eight scoring shots, but also awesome to watch as they shredded the ladder leaders with neat foot skills and a devastating counter-attack game.

Despite losing the first-quarter centre clearances 8-2, the Tigers’ run and ball movement was sensational and their forwards couldn’t miss.

Ben Griffiths, Ty Vickery and Brett Deledio each kicked two goals amid the early mayhem, with Dustin Martin a pivotal figure in setting it up before finishing with 34 possessions and a goal.

Having set a series of defensive records since Ross Lyon took over in 2012, Friday night was the first time the Dockers had conceded more than five goals in a first quarter under Lyon.

Fyfe, who already has a couple of goal of the week awards this season, put his hand up for a mark of the week when he soared over Anthony Miles in the first term to take a screamer.

It was the only highlight for the Dockers in an opening-quarter performance coach Lyon described as “garbage’’.

Fremantle defender Michael Johnson, playing his 200th game, was subbed out in the first quarter with a hamstring injury.

It left the Dockers short in defence, with veteran Luke McPharlin the only recognised tall defender remaining and forwards Chris Mayne, Zac Clarke and Matt Taberner all swung back at stages to assist in quelling the threatening Richmond tall forwards.

The visitors added four goals to two in the second term, extending their lead to eight goals when Jack Riewoldt took advantage of a spilt Sandilands mark at the top of Richmond’s goal square.

Riewoldt snapped truly for his second goal of the quarter, and even a remarkable Fyfe banana goal from the boundary line just before half-time couldn’t prevent the Tigers taking a commanding and unthinkable 43-point lead to the major break.

That advantage was built despite Richmond losing the first-half clearance count 27-13 and the teams having 21 inside 50 entries apiece.

Fyfe had 12 touches in the third term as the Dockers closed the gap with three goals to one, but the home side failed to get enough scoreboard reward after wresting control on the back of Sandilands’ dominance.

Tiger Taylor Hunt became the first player penalised under the new rule introduced this week which seeks to discourage a player from ducking his head into an oncoming tackler.

Hunt ducked into a tackle from Docker Hayden Crozier near the boundary line in the Fremantle forward line late in the first quarter and was penalised for holding the ball.

The new interpretation counts leading with your head as having prior opportunity to dispose of the ball.

RICHMOND 15.7 (97)

FREMANTLE 10.10 (70)

GOALS

Richmond: T Vickery 3 B Deledio 2 B Griffiths 2 J Riewoldt 2 B Ellis C Ellis D Martin S Edwards S Grigg S Morris.

Fremantle: M Walters 3 H Crozier 2 A Sandilands H Ballantyne M Barlow M Taberner N Fyfe.

BEST

Richmond: Martin, B Ellis, Rance, Cotchin, Grimes, Riewoldt, Vickery.

Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Sandilands, Ballantyne, Walters, Barlow.

Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Brett Rosebury, Dean Margetts.

Official Crowd: 38,019 at Domain Stadium.

VOTES

3. Dustin Martin (RICH)

2. Brandon Ellis (RICH)

1. Nat Fyfe (FREM)

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/afl-richmond-defeats-fremantle-by-27-points-at-subiaco-in-round-10/story-e6frf3e3-1227384943278

[one-eyed]

Richmond Tigers roar to end Fremantle's unbeaten run

   Brad Elborough
      The Age
      June 6, 2015


RICHMOND    8.1  12.3   13.4    15.7 (97)
FREMANTLE   3.1   5.2    8.5    10.10 (70)

Goals:
Richmond: T Vickery 3, B Deledio 2, B Griffiths 2, J Riewoldt 2, B Ellis, C Ellis, D Martin, S Edwards, S Grigg, S Morris.
Fremantle: M Walters 3, H Crozier 2, A Sandilands, H Ballantyne, M Barlow, M Taberner, N Fyfe.

BEST:
Richmond: D Martin, B Ellis, A Rance, S Edwards, T Cotchin, B Houli.
Fremantle: N Fyfe, L Neale, M Barlow, A Sandilands, S Hill, M Walters.

Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Brett Rosebury, Dean Margetts.
Official Crowd: 38,019 at Domain Stadium.

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

Richmond's resurgence stretched across the country to Domain Stadium on Friday night and now includes an upset win over early premiership favourites, Fremantle.

The Tigers claimed their fourth consecutive victory with an impressive 27-point win over the Dockers.

When Brandon Ellis kicked the first goal of the third term, Richmond led by a game-high 49 points and only a 12-possession quarter by Nat Fyfe gave the home side a sniff of an unlikely upset victory. The Tigers were still 29 points up when they turned for home and momentum was with the home side, which would have made Richmond fans nervous.

But despite Michael Walters kicking three second-half goals (the Tigers managed only three in the same time) and Aaron Sandilands breaking an AFL record for the most hit-outs to advantage (23, beating Sam Jacobs 22 in round 23 last season), Richmond were able to hold on.

So, after a 2-4 start to the season, with coach Damien Hardwick's future in the spotlight, Richmond now head to their bye in the top eight with a 6-4 record, adding an away win in Perth to one in Adelaide (against Port Adelaide) and at the Gabba (against Brisbane).

The side that had been so patient in recent weeks, jumped out of the blocks and led by 43 points at half-time, having run the Dockers off their legs.

They had 61 more uncontested possessions and 12 goals on the board.

That run came from Dustin Martin, who had 17 possessions and doubled that by game's end.  Ellis also continued his recent run of form, with 26.

Let's put Richmond's performance into perspective. Fremantle was searching for a perfect 10-0 start to the season; setting a new winning streak for the club beating their nine consecutive victories of 2006. They were also celebrating the 200 game milestone of their key defender Michael Johnson.

But when Johnson was subbed out of the game midway through the first term (his one kick too much for his hamstring), the Dockers were always going to find it tough. It didn't help that Richmond already had six goals on the board and led by 30 points.

That lead was stretched to 42 points (the Tigers had kicked eight goals straight) after 20 minutes and they managed to hold a five-goal advantage at the first change.

The Dockers had lost only two first terms in nine previous games to start the season – by a total of just seven points.

Four sides – Melbourne, Essendon, North Melbourne and Adelaide – couldn't manage eight goals over four full quarter in losses to the Dockers.

Actually, the 8.1 the Tigers had on the board at the first break is the biggest first-quarter score a Ross Lyon-coached Dockers has conceded.

The Tigers half-time score of 12.3 was only two points shy of the biggest score kicked against Fremantle in the same period (Hawthorn had 12.5 in round 3, 2014).

Only a spectacular goal on the half-time siren from Fyfe bought the margin back to 43 points at the main break.

Fremantle's performance was highlighted by rare defensive errors.

Paul Duffield (poor kick in from a behind) and Sandilands (dropped mark 20m from Tigers goal) handed Richmond consecutive goals just prior to Fyfe's effort. Then, as the Dockers tried to force a behind midway through the final term, they failed to pick up Shane Edwards, who was left unattended on the goal line to toe poke the ball through for a goal and a 28-point lead.

Both sides were coming off six day breaks, however the Dockers had much less run.

The win over the Crows in Adelaide clearly took its toll and the loss of Johnson early in the game didn't help.
 
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/richmond-tigers-roar-to-end-fremantles-unbeaten-run-20150605-ghi1pt.html