Media articles & stats / Tigers' season ends with a loss to the Kangaroos

[one-eyed]

Kangaroos bounce out Tigers in MCG thriller

AFL.com.au
September 13, 2015


RICHMOND               2.3   9.3   12.3      14.4 (98)
NORTH MELBOURNE  1.6   6.8   11.13   15.15 (105)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Newman 2, Vickery 2, Deledio, Miles, Edwards, McIntosh, Conca, Lambert
North Melbourne: Waite 4, Petrie 2, Harvey 2, Garner, Brown, Nahas, Brown, Macmillan, Higgins, Thomas

BEST
Richmond: Riewoldt, Miles, Martin, Rance, McIntosh, Newman
North Melbourne: Harvey, Waite, Ziebell, Goldstein, Jacobs, Swallow, Hansen, Higgins

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
North Melbourne: Jamie Macmillan (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Reece Conca replaced Ben Griffiths in the third quarter
North Melbourne: Lindsay Thomas replaced Taylor Garner in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Jeffery, McInerney

Official crowd: 90,186 at the MCG

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NORTH Melbourne has won a classic elimination final against Richmond at the MCG by 17 points, sending the Tigers crashing out of September at the first hurdle for the third straight season.

In a high stakes final that neither club could afford to lose, it was the Kangaroos who held on under fierce pressure in a nail-biting final term to progress to a semi-final against the Sydney Swans next Saturday night.

The final score was 15.15 (105) to 14.4 (88), with the Tigers yet to taste finals success since 2001 and coach Damien Hardwick now carrying a 0-3 record in September. 

Richmond was brave, and led by two points early in the final term, but ultimately ran out of legs against a team that strategically rested 10 players in round 23.     

North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas was both hero and villain in front of the crowd of 90,186, snapping the goal that gave North Melbourne breathing space in the final term.

His place in the team to face the Swans is not guaranteed, however, after he kicked Tigers defender Dylan Grimes in the chest minutes after being substituted into the game late in the third quarter.

Recruit Jarrad Waite, who was brought in from Carlton in the off-season to put the finishing touches on a list aiming to strike now, repaid the Kangaroos' faith, kicking four goals, including the sealer.

Reborn tagger Ben Jacobs was also instrumental, keeping Richmond captain Trent Cotchin to just nine possessions – his equal lowest-ever tally – in an emphatic shutdown job that gave his team a decisive clearance advantage (42-35).

Veteran Brent Harvey was the star, finishing with 31 possessions and two goals, with his pace in stark contrast to the Tigers, who were flat-footed in comparison.

It was billed as a match between two teams that couldn't afford to bow out at the first hurdle, with Richmond placing it firmly on the agenda early in the year that the club needed to win a final.

Richmond took the risky move of bringing tall forward Ben Griffiths into the team one month ahead of schedule following surgery on a finger tendon, but he was substituted in the third quarter.

The pressure of the occasion – and the reality that there was no tomorrow for the losers – got to both teams in the first quarter.

Richmond was the more settled side early and had back-to-back goals inside the first five minutes to calm the nerves, but a turning point came when Grimes collided with Shaun Higgins in spectacular fashion.

In a ferocious contest on the half-forward flank, neither Grimes nor Higgins blinked as they attacked a loose ball, but Higgins came off second best and left the ground.

From that moment the Kangaroos lifted, with Jack Ziebell landing a square-up blow on Grimes that then forced the Tigers defender from the ground.

The margin was only three points at quarter-time but there was significant scope for the Kangaroos to lift, with Harvey, Nick Dal Santo and Ben Cunnington all well held.

It was the key forwards, however, who took over the second quarter, with Jack Riewoldt kicking three goals and Waite booting two.

North Melbourne was also winning an important midfield battle, with Cotchin held to just five possessions in the first half by Jacobs.

The Tigers' fatigue became obvious from the third quarter on, with bad decisions mounting, most obviously when defender Troy Chaplin tried to play on around Robin Nahas and was caught holding the ball deep in defence.

By the end of the third quarter North Melbourne had gone inside 50 20 times to four and it was going to take something incredible for the Tigers to turn the tide.

Riewoldt did his best, and Kane Lambert kicked a clutch long-range goal, but the Tigers let themselves down at crutial times, with Ty Vickery missing a wide open shot on the run from 30m that sucked the life out of the crowd.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-13/match-report-richmond-v-north-melbourne

[one-eyed]

Six things we learned: Richmond v North Melbourne

AFL.com.au
September 13. 2015

1. North Melbourne's time has come
In the most high-pressure contest with so much on the line, the Kangaroos were simply more mature and poised under pressure – and there's every reason to believe that Brad Scott's men can at least match last year's preliminary final appearance. The knives would have been out for the Roos coach if his side fell short after last week's bulk resting of players, but now that extra freshness could be telling. This group has the tools to challenge any side – a tall forwardline, dominant ruckman, mature defence and hard-working midfield – and their time is now. North should be confident of reversing last year's finals horror show at ANZ Stadium against the decimated Swans this time around.

2. The weight of history took hold of the Tigers
The post-mortem will be ugly. Richmond's mental frailty in finals was exposed for the third-straight season as the success-starved club slumped to another elimination final defeat. Unlike last year against a rampant Port Adelaide, Richmond had all the momentum early but North hung on, and as the Roos kept coming the deep-seated anxieties of the Tiger Army bubbled to the surface. At the end of his sixth season at the helm, coach Damien Hardwick has to be feeling the pressure of history, with Richmond's finals drought still stretching back to 2001. The devastation and heartbreak was all over the faces of Tiger fans – those who were left – and players at the final siren. It will be a summer of discontent at Punt Road.


3. Higgins' courage matches his class 

We all know the Roos recruit is one of the most polished performers by hand and foot running around in the competition, but Shaun Higgins' effort to bounce back from a huge hit from Dylan Grimes could become the stuff of finals folklore. Making the ball their object, both players collided at top speed, with Grimes spinning off from the wreckage in a cartwheel before bouncing to his feet. But Higgins writhed in pain on the deck and had to be helped from the field. It could have rendered him a bit-player for the rest of the match, however he returned only minutes later and produced a strong four-quarter display that will enhance his reputation.

4. To rest or not to rest? That's still the question

The Roos brought back 10 important players – nine who were rested from the round 23 clash with the Tigers. So did it work? It's not as simple as offering a definitive answer. For the likes of Jarrad Waite, the move paid dividends, but for fellow veteran Nick Dal Santo it seemingly backfired. Waite justified the decision to recruit him in his outstanding first half, booting three goals, while Dal Santo had just four touches and gave away a crucial free kick to Anthony Miles, who slotted Richmond's fifth goal. Others who seemed to benefit from the rest included four-quarter performers Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Michael Firrito and Shaun Higgins. However, Scott Thompson, Sam Wright and Ben Cunnington had little impact. The Roos ran the game out stronger, so Brad Scott will feel vindicated.

5. Hardwick got it wrong at the selection table

The Tigers took a significant risk bringing back underdone duo Reece Conca (hamstring) and Ben Griffiths (finger tendon) for an intense sudden-death final and got mixed results. Struck down by repeated hamstring issues, Conca had just two AFL games under his belt this season and started as the sub. He came on midway through the third term for Griffiths – who was held to just four touches, three marks and 0.2 in perfect conditions – and made an immediate impact, running into an open goal to halt the Roos' momentum. Conca's pace was always going to be crucial in the final term as the Kangas came hard. He finished with eight touches but didn't have a big impact.

6. Waite provides more proof Carlton doesn't deserve a priority pick
The Blues have been lambasted for their bid for a priority selection at the upcoming draft. Rightly so, given some of the A-grade talent running around on the first weekend of finals that Carlton let go. Bad management saw Eddie Betts and Jarrad Waite walk out the door of Ikon Park, while Josh Kennedy was traded, and that trio booted 12 goals between them on the weekend. That's not to mention star Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs, Brisbane Lions equal best-and-fairest Mitch Robinson, plus Melbourne small forward Jeff Garlett (40 goals this year) and Tiger mid Shaun Grigg. The Blues' case for a priority pick smacks of a club angling for better compensation in case Matthew Kreuzer also leaves.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-13/six-things-we-learned-richmond-v-north-melbourne

[one-eyed]

North Melbourne defeats Richmond by 17 points in elimination final at MCG

Herald-Sun
 September 13, 2015 7:00PM

HISTORY suggests power forwards win finals and, ultimately, premierships.

They are the cornerstones of a team’s spine, the go-to men who must stand up on the big occasions.

Big men, often with big egos, who more than earn their money when it all clicks for them.

Men such as Jarrad Waite who made the North Melbourne recruiters look like geniuses on Sunday with an outstanding performance in the 17-point elimination final victory over Richmond at the MCG.

Waite did not buckle under pressure, he kicked four goals — the first three to keep the Kangaroos in touch after the Tigers threatened to run away with the contest in the first half.

And he had some willing allies, notably Drew Petrie whose two goals in as many minutes edged North ahead deep in the third quarter.

Waite, Petrie and Ben Brown contributed more than half of North’s goals.

If the Tigers had buried their finals jinx, Jack Riewoldt would have been their hero.

Riewoldt, too, enhanced his reputation with four goals. Alas, unlike Waite, he didn’t enjoy similar support from his tall forwards.

While Ty Vickery kicked two goals and always looked dangerous, the gamble of including an underdone Ben Griffiths failed — he was substituted in the third quarter after only four touches.

What made Riewoldt’s effort all the more remarkable was the poor supply of ball he received from Richmond’s midfield.

Only Dustin Martin was able to exert an influence on the contest with his rugged, running and rebounding.

Captain Trent Cotchin had a nightmare game with just nine possessions in front of 90,186 spectators.

North tagger Ben Jacobs studied videotape of Cotchin during the week with assistant coaches Darren Crocker and Leigh Tudor and development officer Jarred Moore to devise a strategy to curb the Richmond skipper’s impact.

“It’s what I’ve done all year. Get the No.1 onballer and try to nullify his influence. Everyone played their role and it showed on the scoreboard. It took four quarters to crack them, but we eventually did,’’ Jacobs said. “It’s a team role. Some times I have to come off him and help another bloke out and someone else has to take my man.

“He’s a quality player who’s obviously used to a tag every week. He hunts the ball so well and he’s good around the contest and they look to give him the ball. So, he’s a dangerous player.’’

Debate will rage in the wash-up about North’s decision to rest nine players for the final round. So, you can imagine how eager Lindsay Thomas, forced to sit for nearly three quarters in the sub’s green vest, was to impress.

Thomas was in the thick of the action as he pounced on a loose ball to snap the sealing goal. Alas, he might not make the trip north to tackle Sydney in Saturday’s semi-final.

He will come under match review panel scrutiny after he lashed out with his boot and caught Dylan Grimes in the chest as the pair grappled late in the third quarter.

With the contest in the balance late in the final term, Tiger forward Shane Edwards laid a tackle on Ben Cunnington only 20m out from goal.

The controlling umpire called play on and North worked the ball around the Members’ wing for Thomas to snap that sealer.

But, in the end, the value of those imposing tall forwards, particularly in September, was emphasised and highlighted inside the danger zone at both ends of the ground.

NORTH MELBOURNE 15.15 (105)

def

RICHMOND 14.4 (88)

GOALS

NORTH MELBOURNE: Waite 4, Harvey Petrie Brown 2, Macmillan Higgins Garner Nahas Thomas 1

RICHMOND: Riewoldt 4, Newman Vickery 2, Miles Deledio McIntosh Lambert Edwards Conca 1

BEST

NORTH MELBOURNE: Harvey, Jacobs, Hansen, Swallow, Goldstein, Macmillan, Ziebell

RICHMOND: Martin, Riewoldt, Rance, Miles, Houli, Deledio

VOTES

3. Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)

The oldest man on the field ran the Tigers off their legs and he was still going strong on the final siren

2. Ben Jacobs (North Melbourne)

A disciplined and crucial stopper role that held Richmond captain Trent Cotchin to just nine touches

1. Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Fought valiantly to keep the Tigers in the contest with his bustling, fend-off style and telling rebound runs

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-finals-2015-north-melbourne-defeats-richmond-by-17-points-in-elimination-final-at-mcg/story-fnelctok-1227525285429

[one-eyed]

North Melbourne surge hands Richmond yet another finals loss

  Michael Gleeson
    The Age
    September 13, 2015 - 8:34PM


NORTH MELBOURNE 1.6 6.8 11.13 15.15 (105)
RICHMOND              2.3 9.3 12.3 14.4 (88)

Goals:
North Melbourne: J Waite 4, B Brown 2, B Harvey 2, D Petrie 2, J MacMillan, L Thomas, R Nahas, S Higgins, T Garner.
Richmond: J Riewoldt 4, C Newman 2, T Vickery 2, A Miles, B Deledio, K Lambert, K McIntosh, R Conca, S Edwards.

BEST:
North Melbourne: Waite, Harvey, Jacobs, Goldstein, Swallow, Ziebell, Dal Santo.
Richmond: Riewoldt, Miles, Martin, Rance, Grigg, McIntosh, Newman.

Umpires: Scott Jeffery, Brett Rosebury, Shane McInerney.
Official Crowd: 90,186 at MCG.

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

For years Richmond finished ninth and felt the ache of being close. Elimination finals are becoming their new ninth – they are closer yet the pain just as acute.

Richmond held a one-to-two goal lead for most of this game. Then they didn't.

When North came they came in a hurry and Richmond proved powerless to hold them up. Right to the end they had their chance, right to the end North had their answer. Maybe it was the rest of a week off that gave them the fresh legs, or perhaps just the idea that they had fresh legs.

Maybe it was because North had bought wisely and their purchases delivered. This was the game Jarrad Waite was bought for. This was the game Shaun Higgins was hired to play.

Brad Scott wondered if it was not the best or most important game Waite had played. He might be right. Scott didn't see all of Waite's work at Carlton but might recall a previous final he did well in as a Blue ... it was against Richmond.

Waite was the man Richmond had no one for. They asked Jake Batchelor to play on him and he was too small and not mobile enough, nor good enough in the air. They had no one else. They tried Dylan Grimes briefly but he was no better equipped than Batchelor.

Richmond had hoped the selection of Ben Griffiths would stretch North's defence in the manner that Jarrad Waite, Ben Brown and Drew Petrie stretched theirs. Griffiths had no impact and was subbed out. Waite was the dominant forward.

"Obviously I got onto a couple, the way we moved our ball we came here with a way to play against the Tigers and it worked for us during the year and it worked out OK today," Waite said "I feel like I have made my spot in the team. It's a good day to be out there today, 23 at the MCG on a Sunday in September. If that doesn't get you going I am not sure what will."

Waite booted the first North goal when Richmond had thundered away to the guttural urgings of an expectant yellow and black crowd. The Tigers had the early break and were surging. Then Waite delivered the sobering goal against the flow.

Richmond resettled and through Anthony Miles in the middle – six straight centre clearances for Richmond at one point in the second term – they busied about keeping North at bay.

The third term was a dazzle. The lead changed three times. Doubtless North had the energy of half the team having rested last week. The Roos owned the ball and kept it pressed forward – 21 inside 50s to six for the quarter.

Wherever Richmond went North went with them. Wherever Trent Cotchin went Ben Jacobs shadowed him. Jack Zeibell was strong at Todd Goldstein's feet and Andrew Swallow creative. The settling slow-play short Richmond kick was always taken with an element of risk. North stopped allowing Richmond to find space and composure. They had the energy to be up and into the Tigers.

"We had good self-belief we were going to have more run than the other team so [the rested players] definitely helped," Waite said. "I know I am feeling a lot better than I did two weeks ago.

"[Rested players] wasn't something we spoke about, it is just a self confidence in the team."

Richmond wanted to be hold the ball up and slow the game but North didn't let them. It was the quarter the game was won. Nick Dal Santo was horrible in the first half – four touches – and critical in the second. Brent Harvey reminded that he can win his own ball in the packs. He can also win it at stoppages and goal when Richmond leave the corridor clear at a defensive ball up and allow Goldstein to palm it into Harvey's path to goal Not for a decade or more has Brent Harvey had a game like this — 14 contested possessions, seven clearances. This was the reprise of a rover.

Richmond cussed Richmond, so good for so long then those moments of regret that undo a game and a year. Moments like Troy Chaplin trying to run around Robin Nahas. Tackled. Goal.

Or Reece Conca's last-quarter kick to Bachar Houli that splattered wide. Turnover. Goal.

Or Ty Vickery running through 50 and ignoring his man deep and bravely taking the shot. No goal. Or the perplexing free not paid to Shane Edwards for the tackle on Ben Cunnington near Richmond's goal. A minute later Lindsay Thomas goaled at the other end.

Richmond will dwell bitterly on such moments. North won't. They will dwell on the way they absorbed their early waste and had the confidence to win. They rested last week and play finals next week.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/afl-finals-2015-north-melbourne-surge-hands-richmond-yet-another-final-loss-20150913-gjlly6.html

[one-eyed]

Roos prolong Tigers' agony

   Greg Baum
    The Age
    September 13, 2015 - 8:15PM

The big old ape on Richmond's back refuses to be budged.

For the third year in a row, the Tigers bowed out in the first week of the AFL finals, this time at the hands of North Melbourne, themselves chronic under-achievers.

Every force seemed to be with Richmond this time, regular-season form, widespread goodwill and what seemed like three-quarters of a crowd of more than 90,000 – but it amounted to nought. The Tigers' love of their team is undying – they were the most patronised club in the competition this season – but it remains unrequited. In 20 years, Richmond have won one final.

Do not begrudge the Kangaroos. After being jumped in the first quarter, they gave a masterful performance in the good old footy art of hanging in there in a match of great physical intensity, but little flow or rhythm. In the last quarter, they gave another clinic, in running away with it. Ageless Brent Harvey had more touches than any other player on the ground, and Carlton refugee Jarrad Waite kicked four game-breaking goals. Fortified, they now play Sydney in a semi-final next Saturday.

Inexorably, a couple of moments will chafe away in Richmond minds all summer.

They were still within a goal when Shane Edwards applied a tackle on Ben Cunnington in their forward pocket that could and perhaps should have been rewarded with a free kick, but was not, prompting howls on both sides of the fence. North whisked the ball to the other end, where Lindsay Thomas goaled. Next, with time still in hand, Ty Vickery dashed into an open goal and missed. It was the Tigers' first behind since quarter-time, and their last score of the match and season.

Richmond fans had come in their tens of thousands, but nervously. For such a crowd, they were quiet to begin, as if not daring to breathe, let alone hope. This transmitted itself onto the field, where the pressure – real and implied – made for a game of free kicks, miskicks and missed opportunities. A head-on collision between Dylan Grimes and Shaun Higgins typified the uncompromising spirit.

The Tigers led by 21 points in the second quarter, but from half-time onwards, the game slowly ebbed North's way.

Trent Cotchin nor Brett Deledio have been dynamic for the Tigers this year, and neither could work his way into this game. It left too much to too few others. With five minutes to go, Richmond fans began to make for the exits, treading a too familiar path. At the final siren, the players to a man sunk to their haunches, a picture of desolation. North's pose was relief.

More than ever in a final, this was a match neither team could afford to lose. As ever, Richmond did.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-roos-prolong-tigers-agony-20150913-gjlmez.html