Media articles & stats / Tigers continue roll, top Blues

[one-eyed]

Tigers continue roll, top Blues

Peter Ryan
afl.com.au
July 10, 2015 10:13 PM


RICHMOND    2.2   4.5   8.7   10.11 (71)
CARLTON      1.4   2.7   4.9   5.11 (41)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Cotchin 2, Deledio, Edwards, Grigg, Vickery, Martin
Carlton: Casboult 2, Everitt, Henderson, Kreuzer

BEST
Richmond: Rance, Riewoldt, Deledio, Grigg, Cotchin
Carlton: Carrazzo, Gibbs, Tuohy, Murphy, Cripps

INJURIES
Richmond: Edwards (leg)
Carlton: Jamison (concussion), Armfield (arm)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Shane Edwards replaced by Kane Lambert in the third quarter
Carlton: Michael Jamison replaced by Jason Tutt in the first quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Farmer, Bannister, Pannell

Official crowd: 52,564 at the MCG

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RICHMOND has scrapped its way to an important 30-point victory over a determined Carlton at the MCG on Friday night.

In a dour, error-riddled game that saw 55 free kicks paid, the Tigers managed to make the most of their opportunities to run out 10.11 (71) to 5.11 (41) winners, Jack Riewoldt booting three goals.

After the Tigers built a 35-point lead midway through the third quarter, the Blues hit back to almost be within striking distance at three quarter-time.

However, an umpiring decision late in the quarter that saw Matthew Kreuzer denied a shot for goal after not being paid what appeared a clear mark stopped their momentum.

It was a pivotal moment, because the Tigers were then able to steady and close out the game in the last quarter without being seriously challenged on the scoreboard.

The Tigers improved to 9-5 with their third straight victory over Carlton, and have their sights set on a top-four berth, leapfrogging Collingwood on the ladder into fifth place.

Carlton remains in 16th place and dropped to 3-11 with the loss, and fell to 2-4 under interim coach John Barker.

Key defender Alex Rance was outstanding for the Tigers in the first half, intercepting Carlton's attacking moves and setting up inside 50s for the Blues.

Rance restricted Blues' forward Lachie Henderson to just three disposals and no goals in the first half when matched up on him.

Henderson was unable to break Rance's shackles, and pushed back into defence more often in the second half where he looked more comfortable.

The Blues were forced to patch up their defence after losing key defender Michael Jamison in the opening minutes of the game, after he had an accidental head clash with Ty Vickery when the Richmond forward bumped him in an attempt to block.

Unfortunately for Vickery, the incident is sure to be examined as Jamison was subbed off the ground.

Simon White battled hard to contain Riewoldt, but Jamison's experience was sorely missed.

While tackling was high on the Blues' agenda, they could not use the ball effectively, with both sides struggling to string together possessions.

Trent Cotchin's class was important even though Andrew Carrazzo tagged the Tigers' skipper.

Cotchin kicked a goal late in the first half when Blues speedster Chris Yarran gave away a 50-metre penalty to put the midfielder in range, and then snapped a nice goal in the third quarter.

His sidekick Brett Deledio provided good support, kicking a goal while being instrumental in setting up scoring opportunities.

In the second half, midfielder Shaun Grigg went to work, and along with Anthony Miles created some ascendancy for Richmond at the stoppages.

The Tigers created an inside 50 from more than half their stoppages in the second half, which also gave Damien Hardwick the luxury of pushing Dustin Martin forward in the final quarter.

Blues' midfielders Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy battled hard, and Kreuzer was a positive influence. Young midfielder Patrick Cripps continued to show his class in tight, and Zach Tuohy did his best.

The game was tight with plenty of stoppages, and the 55 free kicks was in stark contrast to the Port Adelaide v Collingwood clash 24 hours earlier, when a total of 15 frees were paid.

Richmond 's quest to push into the top four continues when it meets St Kilda next week.

Carlton continued its run of competitive performances under Barker, but faces a tough away trip to play Fremantle next round.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-10/tigers-continue-roll-top-blues

[one-eyed]

Tigers win ugly over Blues in dour affair

Jay Clark
Herald-Sun
July 11, 2015

CONCENTRATION has not always been the Tigers’ strong point.

Under coach Damien Hardwick, they have often proved capable against the top sides, only to fall frustratingly against a club it was expected to beat.

And at times in the second quarter last night, Hardwick would have shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the Tigers seemingly found ways to turn over the ball against a plucky Carlton, only days after labelling July a make-or-break month.

While it wasn’t pretty, the Tigers did what they have sometimes struggled to achieve in recent years, mustering enough of a third-term charge to keep valuable momentum throughout the toughest part of the season.

And encouragingly for back-up big man Shaun Hampson, the Tigers went to plan B in the ruck and rediscovered some confidence in the forgotten tall after he was called upon to step up for suspended first-choice tall Ivan Maric.

But, as has often been the case this season, it was the Tigers guns that delivered after the main change as Alex Rance starred in defence and Trent Cotchin, Brandon Ellis, Shaun Grigg, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin all fired in the 30-point win over the Blues at the MCG.

Although the first half bordered on putrid at times, the Tigers have now won seven of their last eight games to join fourth-placed Hawthorn on 36 points, leapfrogging Collingwood.

They play St Kilda next week, before more testing contests against Fremantle, Hawthorn and Adelaide away, that could determine whether they can snaffle a double chance this finals series.

But an ankle injury threatens to sidelined in-form midfielder Shane Edwards for a month or more after he finished the night on crutches.

Big man Tyrone Vickery will also likely attract match review panel scrutiny after a head clash with Michael Jamison as Vickery steamrolled the Blues’ defender with a heavy hip and shoulder.

The Blues were persistent and brave for much of the night but lacked the class and execution in the forward half. They finished the night with only five goals, and more reason to go and get a blue-chip young key forward, with Rance totally dominating his match-up on Lachie Henderson.

Tiger wingman Grigg was influential in Richmond’s third-term blitz, first landing a 50m set shot before making a desperate save on the boundary line in the forward pocket to help set up a cool Cotchin snap.

Jack Riewoldt then followed suit, reeling in a brilliant high mark on Carlton defender Simon White to goal from point blank range, before nailing his third of the match from 40m.

After some nervous times, finally the Tigers had some breathing space.

At the same time, Deledio and Martin began to sharpen their ball use and take control through the midfield, but encouragingly for the Blues, they would not surrender despite the forward line frustrations.

The first half would have had the two coaches tearing their hair out as both sides repeatedly coughed the ball up and found ways to blow straight forward chances at goal.

Carlton controlled large slabs of the play in the second term through Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Carrazzo but their work often went unrewarded inside-50m.

The Blues ran freely through the middle of the ground and again showed more zest and energy under interim coach John Barker than they did under Michael Malthouse early on.

Big Blue Levi Casboult again posed a constant threat in the air and kicked one of Carlton’s two first half goals with a 65m bomb that sailed over the bulk of the players on the ground.

But Tigers’ backman Rance was the dominant figure on the ground with 18-first half possessions, torching Carlton swingman Henderson.

Rance looked unbeatable in the one-on-one contests and had to be dragged back to the goalsquare by Henderson in an attempt to curb the star Tiger defender’s impact in the third term.

The Tigers led by 10 points at half time after captain Cotchin out-marked Chris Yarran deep forward and snuck through a 30m set shot after skewing an earlier attempt 10m closer.

Likewise, ex-Dog Jason Tutt missed one for Carlton from 20m straight out in front only moments earlier, again wasting the momentum Carlton had built throughout the early stages.

“It is dysfunctional at either end of the ground.” Garry Lyon said on Triple M.

“This is a clinic in stuffing up going forward”.

Carlton’s defensive structure suffered a massive blow in the opening minutes when Jamison was substituted out of the game after a head clash with Vickery.

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RICHMOND 10.11 (71)

CARLTON 5.11 (41)

GOALS

Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Cotchin 2, Deledio, Edwards, Grigg, Vickery, Martin

Carlton: Casboult 2, Everitt, Henderson, Kreuzer

BEST

Richmond: Rance, Grigg, Deledio, Cotchin, Riewoldt, Ellis, Martin

Carlton: Carrazzo, Gibbs, Kreuzer, Cripps, Tuohy

VOTES

3. Alex Rance (Rich)

2. Shaun Grigg (Rich)

1. Brett Deledio (Rich)

Official crowd: 52,564 at the MCG

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2015-richmond-defeats-carlton-by-30-points-in-round-15-at-mcg/story-fnelctok-1227437051424

[one-eyed]

Richmond win ugly over Carlton, move into fifth spot

  Michael Gleeson
     The Age
    July 11, 2015



RICHMOND 2.2 4.5 8.7 10.11 (71)
CARLTON 1.4 2.7 4.9 5.11 (41)

Goals:
Richmond: J Riewoldt 3, T Cotchin 2, B Deledio, D Martin, S Edwards, S Grigg, T Vickery.
Carlton: L Casboult 2, A Everitt, L Henderson, M Kreuzer.

BEST:
Richmond: Rance, Grigg, Deledio, Ellis, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Martin, Morris.
Carlton: Carrazzo, Kreuzer, Cripps, Gibbs, Bell, Buckley.

Injuries: Richmond: S Edwards (lower leg). Carlton: B Gibbs (shoulder), D Armfield (arm), M Jamison (concussion).
Umpires: Troy Pannell, Luke Farmer, Jordan Bannister.
Official Crowd: 52,564 at MCG.

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Richmond and Carlton have played great games of football. This was not one of them.

In the players' defence it was windy. But professional footballers should be able to kick the ball to each other better than that. Hawthorn do.

The first half was a mess, a low-scoring mess, the second half was better in that Richmond opened up the game and exploited their superior talent. But it was still not a game you'd rush to re-watch.

The irregularity with which kicks hit the mark – there were 109 clangers between the teams – meant the tackling pressure lifted and players felt the threat of a tackle whenever they presented for the ball.

Simplistically, the better side, Richmond, played to the lesser side's game. But it was an ugly game and an odd game; there was aggression and a bit of niggling and spite.

There were perplexing free kicks, but none more so than the one howling error when Matthew Kreuzer was denied a mark due to the "man in front" being awarded it seemingly for doing nothing other than sit underneath Kreuzer and not touch the ball. (Incidentally, and inexplicably, on Thursday night 15 free kicks were paid; on Friday night there were 55.)

There was the frustrating fact Carlton could kick only two goals for a half, then kicked two in three minutes, then only another one for the game.

There was the fact the Blues' first goal was from Levi Casboult inside the centre square and some 65 metres from goal. Sav Rocca might be the coach of the year for his impact on Casboult. Since Sav's arrival as kicking coach, the game's flukiest kick has booted 18.8.

There was the fact Trent Cotchin got only one handball for the first term, but then 11 possessions in the second and finished as one of the Tigers' best. Andrew Carrazzo could only hold him for so long.

There was the fact that the best player on the ground for his effort in the first half in particular, was a full back. Maybe he will even get Brownlow votes.

There was the fact Ty Vickery removed Michael Jamison from the game within five minutes with an off-the-ball bump that was without menace but had significant consequence. An accidental head knock left Jamison doubled over. He then shuffled off the ground holding his jaw, soon after wishing to be sitting in the foetal position rocking quietly and humming to himself.

Vickery will likely be reported and miss time given his history of suspension last year for hitting Dean Cox.

Jamison didn't return to the field, and soon after Vickery suffered a rogue elbow to the mouth in a ruck contest and lost a front tooth.

Ultimately there was the truth that the better side was calming and that no matter how sloppy the game became, Richmond were always the cleaner. Which is not a significant statement given the way Carlton used the ball, but Richmond was more composed and threatening when they went forward.

At the critical moments, Richmond had Jack Riewoldt able to take a mark and kick the goal.

They had Dustin Martin able to burst from the centre to find the right choice, they had Trent Cotchin able to ignore his first quarter and reshape the game. They had Brandon Ellis looking reliably composed, and Vickery unperturbed presenting a strong presence in the air forward and on the ball. They had clever run from Shane Edwards until he was injured and left the game.

Carlton, in contrast, had Lachie Henderson looking lost forward and best able to get his hands on the ball when he went to defence.

They had Chris Yarran being Chris Yarran.

Which meant being selective when he wanted to get involved and then doing silly things like the 50-metre penalty he handed to Cotchin which gifted a goal and a 10-point lead for Richmond to take to half-time. The Blues had been threatening in front of goal but unable to convert when they offered this up for Richmond.

One of Carlton's most talented young players, Troy Menzel, could not find the ball and Murphy and Gibbs got the ball but had minimal impact. Kreuzer, pleasingly, is growing with his return to the game.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/richmond-win-ugly-over-carlton-move-into-fifth-spot-20150710-gi9wpi.html