Media articles & stats: Tigers fall flat against Demons on Anzac Eve

[one-eyed]

Demons snap unwanted five-year streak to inflict further pain for Tigers

Ben Guthrie 
AFL.com.au
April 24, 2016 11:20 PM

MELBOURNE   5.1   11.3   14.7   20.9 (129)
RICHMOND      2.3    7.5    11.9   14.12 (96)

GOALS
Melbourne: Garlett 4, Vince 3, Watts 3, Tyson 2, Gawn 2, Brayshaw, Bugg, Salem, Harmes, Frost, Kent
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Lloyd 3, Vickery 3, Edwards, Chaplin, Martin, Ellis, Miles

BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Viney, Tyson, Salem, Kent, Jones, Garlett
Richmond: Cotchin, Miles, Riewoldt, Edwards

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Richmond: Brett Deledio (quad) replaced in the side by Jacob Townsend, Jack Riewoldt (ankle)

Reports:
Alex Rance (Richmond) for striking Jack Watts (Melbourne) in the fourth quarter

Umpires: Stevic, Stephens, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 59,968 at the MCG

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

MELBOURNE has won consecutive matches for the first time since 2011, inflicting another severe dent into Richmond's already spluttering season, as it powered to a 33-point win at the MCG on Sunday night.

A herculean performance from Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn set the scene for the Demons' victory on Anzac Day eve as the ruckman continued his supreme run of form in front of 59,968 fans.

At half-time, the Melbourne big man had already kicked two goals, he had taken five marks, he had racked up 26 hit-outs and he had chalked up 102 AFL Fantasy points.

By the end of the night, the bearded behemoth was the match-winner for Melbourne, steering it to a 20.9 (129) to 14.12 (96) victory.

Dom Tyson, who missed six games in 2015 due to separate knee and hamstring injuries, played his best game in a long while on his way to 31 disposals, five clearances and two goals.

Jack Viney had 23 contested possessions, a Melbourne record, and 37 touches all-up, while Jeff Garlett, returning from an ankle injury that had kept him out for the past two matches, was his lively self with four goals.

The Demons dominated proceedings for almost the entire night, but their control of the match did not transfer absolutely onto the scoreboard.

Melbourne's work-rate and preparedness to run and create was on full display, leading the disposal count (412-333), uncontested marks (69-40) and uncontested possessions (86-53).

Melbourne coach Paul Roos praised his players for bringing the right mindset to the contest.

"We're probably still not quite getting the balance right, we're up and down a bit but that's the nature of when you're trying to bring an offensive game style in, you lose a bit of defence," Roos said.

"It's really pleasing that when we made mistakes and they kicked a couple of goals we steadied."

Despite its struggles and the fact it trailed at every change, Richmond managed to hang in the game and was able to capitalise on Melbourne errors at the right times.

Thanks largely to the efforts of Tigers spearhead Jack Riewoldt, who had 10 disposals and kicked two majors in the third quarter, Richmond trailed by just 16 points the final change.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said the Tigers needed to find answers to their problems, and quickly.

"I thought they looked a class above us tonight," Hardwick said.

"We've got some work to do, we just couldn't bridge the gap. We probably had enough inside 50s but our ball use across the arcs was not quite to the level of the opposition."

An ankle injury to the Tigers forward in the final term slowed the Tigers' momentum, although skipper Trent Cotchin could also hold his head high, as he constantly burrowed into packs for his 31 touches.

The same could not be said for Tigers defender Alex Rance, whose cheap shot on Demons forward Jack Watts will potentially earn him a holiday after the Match Review Panel cast their eye over the incident.

The strike to the back of the head, while Watts was lying on the ground, sparked the second melee of the night following on from the all in brawl at quarter-time.

The aforementioned full-scale fracas – reminiscent of the scuffle between Port Adelaide and Geelong on Saturday night – spilled into the Tigers' huddle after the siren sounded to signal quarter-time, sending coaching and conditioning staff scampering.

However, it was Melbourne who had the last laugh as it demonstrated a newfound mental edge to rid itself of the long-standing monkey on its back.

MEDICAL ROOM

Melbourne: Melbourne suffered a scare when Jack Watts appeared to tweak his back in the warm-up, but the forward played out the game and did not appear to be hampered by the injury. Christian Salem was spotted with an ice pack on his upper leg after the game after coming off the ground in the final term.

Richmond: Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt injured his left ankle in the final term and had his foot in an ice bucket in the Tigers' rooms after the game. Brett Deledio, a late withdrawal for Sunday night's match, was "touch and go" to play according to Damien Hardwick. The star Tiger has not played a game this season due to an ongoing quad complaint.

NEXT UP
With back-to-back wins under their belt, the Demons will fancy their chances against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. However, Melbourne has won just one game at the venue (round 23 last year against Greater Western Sydney) since round 19, 2007. Slumping to 1-4, the Tigers do battle with fellow embattled side Port Adelaide at the MCG next Saturday night.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-24/match-report-melbourne-v-richmond

[one-eyed]

Dees stun Tigers, rebirth confirmed

Herald-Sun
25 April 2016

SIMON Goodwin might wake up today feeling like a feverishly excited teenager counting down the sleeps to his 18th birthday.

Waiting for Melbourne’s 2016 coach are the keys to a shiny beast packed with a full suite of accessories and an odometer wound back to naught.

Finally, the latest episode of the Demons’ Pimp My Ride looks to be a success.

A rusted and unreliable old bomb which has sputtered for so long, these hot new wheels last night powered the Demons to consecutive wins for the first time since 2011.

A 33-point victory in a heated Anzac Eve clash against Richmond the prettiest highlight coach Paul Roos has enjoyed.

And you get the feeling if recruit Tom Bugg could go for a joy ride, he would.

Bugg is a pest — the sort his fans will love and others will love to hate.

The former Giant crawled so deep under the Tigers’ skin he sparked the tensions which repeatedly bubbled into scuffles.

The worst act? Alex Rance’s elbow into the back of Jack Watts’ head deep in junk time, which will be examined today.

The 1-4 Tigers could suddenly lose their All-Australian defender after losing for the 15th time from 18 matches without Brett Deledio.

Midfield jewel Deledio was a late withdrawal and the Tigers’ strike rate without him now sits at 17 per cent since his debut in 2005.

Yikes.

Controlling the gears in the Demon mobile was yet again Max Gawn and Jack Viney.

Who wouldn’t want to go cruising with the ultra-cool bearded Gawn?

He produced one of the more dominant first halves, clonking two balls forward and goaling as he delivered Ivan Maric a rude return to football.
Max Gawn comprehensively outplayed Ivan Maric. Picture: Michael Klein

Viney was at the heart of a comprehensive onball victory which had Tigers midfield coach Brendan Lade lamenting that his side was outhunted early.

But the most exciting aspect of Melbourne was the manner it played. The ball movement has evolved from lethargic to lethal with mega scores suddenly in vogue.

The Tigers rallied and rallied to claw within 14 points in the final term, but were eventually overrun.

And you have to feel for captain Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt, who yet again busted their guts.

Cotchin sparked the first mini fightback after halftime and when he danced through the centre to spot Jack in attack, they should have had the first three goals of the half.

But as Cotchin ran to the pine, Riewoldt missed and the Dees went coast-to-coast before Jeff Garlett bounced through his third goal from the next centre clearance.

It was a defining moment but Riewoldt would rise again to keep his side in the hunt.

Garlett held Christian Petracca out of the team last night and with good cause. He had a hand in seven goals, four of them coming from his boot.

But it should be takeoff time for Petracca on Saturday, the Dees’ newest jet in the frame for a debut against St Kilda.

Dom Tyson’s stoppage snap restored a healthy buffer at the last change and the Dees kicked the final goal of every quarter, certain to frustrate Damien Hardwick.

The alarm was raised for the Tigers with a glance at the quarter-time stats sheet. After 18 minutes there were nine Tigers yet to feel the leather and with the Dees dominating possession, clearance and tackles and the tide was too tough to turn.

Jack Watt’s renaissance continued with a pair of long set-shot goals oozing with his new-found confidence.

Tasked with a 26-point deficit in the final term, they rallied through David Astbury and Anthony Miles but like a quizmaster, these new Demons had all the answers.

Raging bull Viney, thriving at the feet of Gawn in one of the league’s more deadly tandem acts, cracked in with a career-high 38 disposals and Tom McDonald again provided the wall at halfback.

Rance was again reliable in defence with his charging intercept getting the Tigers on the board through Shane Edwards.

But as the temperature rose the Tigers wilted and it is set to be yet another intense week at Punt Rd.

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

MELBOURNE 5.1 11.3 14.7 20.9 (129)

RICHMOND 2.3 7.5 11.9 14.12 (96)

GOALS

Melbourne: Garlett 4, Vince 3, Watts 3, Tyson 2, Gawn 2, Brayshaw, Bugg, Salem, Harmes, Frost, Kent

Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Lloyd 3, Vickery 3, Edwards, Chaplin, Martin, Ellis, Miles

BEST

Melbourne; Viney, Gawn, Tyson, Garlett, Jones, Vince, McDonald

Richmond: Riewoldt, Cotchin, Rance, Edwards, Miles, Grigg

VOTES

3. Jack Viney

2. Max Gawn

1. Jack Riewoldt

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-demons-defeat-richmond-tigers-by-33-points-at-the-mcg-in-round-5/news-story/4ca8add7c327cbcd81d9a5c6bdb4a21f#load-story-comments

[one-eyed]

Mature Melbourne withstand Richmond pressure to waltz home winners

Michael Gleeson
The Age
25 April 2016

MELBOURNE 5.1 11.3 14.7 20.9 (129)
RICHMOND 2.3 7.5 11.9 14.12 (96)

Goals:
Melbourne: J Garlett 4, B Vince 3, J Watts 3, D Tyson 2, M Gawn 2, A Brayshaw, C Salem, D Kent, J Harmes, S Frost, T Bugg.
Richmond: J Riewoldt 3, S Lloyd 3, T Vickery 3, A Miles, B Ellis, D Martin, S Edwards, T Chaplin.

BEST:
Melbourne: Viney, Gawn, Tyson, McDonald, Jones, Garlett, Watts, Vince.
Richmond: Riewoldt, Edwards, Cotchin, B Ellis, Houli, Lloyd.

Umpires: Matt Stevic, Ray Chamberlain, Andrew Stephens.
Official Crowd: 59,968 at MCG.

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

Melbourne is breaking new ground. Richmond still in worrying old ground.

The Demons' new territory was not the fact they beat Richmond – they did that last year. Not even the fact they won two games in a row – they hadn't done that in five years – but this was new ground because Melbourne played with maturity and like they expected to win.

Twice Richmond came back at them. Twice Melbourne withstood the surge. And then they partied into the last quarter.

And Richmond? Oh dear. One win and four losses now. They were better than last week, but then that is not a big statement. They played well in periods against Melbourne but could not sustain it. Again their tail was — and is — too long.

Jack Riewoldt kept them in the contest in the second and third quarters and was their best player on the night. Trent Cotchin and Shane Edwards were good, Dustin Martin muscled the ball about, Brandon Ellis played well and Bachar Houli gave run from half-back and Sam Lloyd gave them some bite near goal. Alex Rance was beaten by Jesse Hogan last year but not this time. Hogan was okay, but Rance had more impact, even if he might have issues with the match review panel this week for a knock to the back of Jack Watts' head in the last quarter that saw him reported.

But the Richmond load was again carried by too few. Again.

Richmond were never completely out of the game until midway through the last quarter but also never looked as though they were going to overrun Melbourne, which was as much a comment on Melbourne's new maturity as on Richmond.

The game began after a minute's silence and a moving tribute to the Anzacs. We mention this not to remind you it is Anzac Day on Monday, but because if you were watching at home Channel Seven chose to go to an ad break during the minute's silence. Odd decision.

When the game began the Demons had the better of a scrappy first term, Angus Brayshaw stood up in a tackle for the first goal and Vince crumbed for the next. The Tigers got in front for the only time of the night when Troy Chaplin goaled after Shane Edwards. But goals to Watts, Garlett and Gawn set up the break that Richmond battled to bridge all night.

The quarter-time siren didn't so much as end the quarter as start the fight. A melee rolled on for minutes, clocking dollar signs over at the AFL.

In the past, Melbourne might have spent themselves with the hairy-chested bravura of push and shove but then been pushed around when the football resumed. This time they were the ones to respond better, even after Richmond came at them with three quick goals early in the second term.

Tom Bugg ran towards goal, pointing where the ball was about to be sent, then put his fingers to his lips to taunt the silenced Richmond crowd. He does not lack confidence. Christian Salem goaled again, two minutes later, after a superb Max Gawn tap and Melbourne had reasserted themselves.

Richmond again came at them in the third term and again Melbourne was able to absorb the parry without being flustered. They have calm heads around the ball in the clean Dom Tyson and the man-child Jack Viney. Bernie Vince's return reintroduced more class in ball movement while Tom McDonald is playing as well as any defender at the moment.

Gawn again controlled the match from the middle; he booted two goals to the half and had seen off the clearly labouring and un-match ready Ivan Maric by quarter-time. Maric could not cover the ground and Gawn is an opponent who would have challenged a fit Maric. In the first term, Maric could not make the small amount of ground to spoil Hogan from marking a high ball.

Brett Deledio was a not totally surprising, yet still very damaging, late withdrawal. They need him back sharply. They have done for five weeks.

The Demons ran through the last term celebrating in rare air. Dom Tyson goaled and Sam Frost got the goal he deserved after celebrating early and heartily for one that teased him by hitting the post.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/afl-season-2016-mature-melbourne-withstand-richmond-pressure-to-waltz-home-winners-20160424-gody3y.html