Media articles & stats: Improved Tigers edged out by Dogs

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Improved Tigers edged out by Dogs

Nick Bowen
AFL Media
10 July 2016

A much-improved Richmond outfit has conceded the last three goals of the game to be edged out by the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Leading by 14 points late in the third term, Richmond couldn't hold off the home side as they kicked six goals to three in the final quarter to snatch victory by 10 points.

The lead changed five times in the pulsating last quarter, with Bulldog Jake Stringer kicking the last two goals of the match - and a total of four in the second half - to seal the result.

The Tigers had led by seven points midway through the last quarter after Shane Edwards set up a Jack Riewoldt goal with a clever pass and roved the next centre clearance to snap a major of his own.

Jack Redpath then redeemed two earlier botched final-quarter scoring attempts to level the scores before Stringer put the Dogs in front for good with his third goal at the 23-minute mark.

An injection of youth with the inclusions of Jason Castagna, and Oleg Markov on debut, resulted in a reinvigorated Tigers line-up attacking the contest and matching it with the Bulldogs on their much vaunted home deck.

In game-three Castagna bobbed up for his first AFL goal from a well-taken snap in the first quarter, before adding a second in the third quarter to go with his 19 touches.

Markov finished with 18 touches and four tackles in his first outing at the highest level, taking the game on from defence and linking up well with his team mates.

Dustin Martin was outstanding for the Tigers all over the ground with his trademark mix of grunt and class. The Richmond star finished with a game-high 38 possessions, eight clearances and six inside 50s.

Shaun Hampson made a strong return from injury, dominating the ruck for the Tigers, while Trent Cotchin (28 possessions) continued his strong form through the middle and Alex Rance marshalled Richmond's defence.

Just one point separated the teams at the major break after a hard-fought first half.

The Bulldogs look sharper in the opening minutes and took advantage of some poor turnovers by Richmond to kick two of the first three goals.

The Dogs led by nine points after a rushed behind at the 24-minute mark of the first term, but a clever snapped goal from Jason Castagna helped Richmond close the gap to two points at the first break.

Castagna's goal was the first of four straight for the Tigers, who led by 12 points midway through the second term after majors from Edwards, Jack Riewoldt and Sam Lloyd.

With Nick Vlastuin keeping Stringer on a short rein, the Bulldogs were struggling to find a target inside their forward 50.

However, Bontempelli stepped up to take a strong mark at the 19-minute mark and converted from 45m.

And when Tory Dickson made Richmond pay the full price of a turnover from a Dylan Grimes kick-in down the centre, the Bulldogs led by one point heading into half-time.


WESTERN BULLDOGS   3.3  5.9  6.11  12.13  (85)
RICHMOND                   3.1  6.2    8.6    11.9  (75)

GOALS

Western Bulldogs: Stringer 4, Bontempelli 2, Redpath 2, Suckling, Smith, Dickson, Johannisen
Richmond: Castagna 2, Riewoldt 2, Edwards 2, Griffiths, Cotchin, Lloyd, Ellis, McBean

BEST

Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Hunter, Bontempelli, Stringer, Wood, Suckling
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Rance, Edwards, Vlastuin, Hampson, Markov

INJURIES

Western Bulldogs: Liberatore (ribs)
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Farmer, Bannister, Chamberlain

Official crowd: 39,679

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2016-07-09/round-16-match-report

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Stringer special steers Dogs to win over Tigers

Glenn McFarlane
Herald Sun
10 July 2016

JAKE Stringer’s ears would have been burning early in the third term as he sat on the bench with his headphones connected to the coaches’ box.

He had just been taken from the field moments after what looked like a half-hearted tackle on Anthony Miles at half-forward led to a passage of play resulting in a Tigers’ goal.

In a game full of mistakes, more than a few brain fades and goals scored at a premium, the only way Stringer could make amends was by hitting the scoreboard.

By game’s end, he did that and even more. He turned out to be the match winner. A goal in third term, created out of desperate lunge on the dominant Dustin Martin, was followed by extraordinary three goals in the final term.

Some Stringer moments of magic, and a massive final term from Marcus Bontempelli, helped to save the Bulldogs, as their top four hopes are enhanced by other results this round.

In all fairness, the Dogs dodged a bullet, winning by 10 points, after five lead-changes in the final term alone.

They weren’t safe until Stringer’s fourth goal — the game’s last — 27 minutes into the final term.

Luke Beveridge’s team did what it had to do — secure the four points — when that looked in danger for much of the game, and they had to do it without Tom Liberatore, who was taken to hospital after halftime after copping a knock to the ribs.

But Beveridge would be breathing a sigh of relief after a moderate performance against a desperate Richmond. Again, the Bulldogs failed to kick over 100 points, and that could see Tom Boyd considered for selection again.

Lin Jong had the perfect chance to say sorry to his club for his controversial recent visit to the Collingwood, but his first shot at goal missed to the left side with three minutes into the game.

Richmond’s horrendous turnovers in the first term gave plenty of chances, but the Bulldogs couldn’t convert that into scoreboard pressure.

Matt Suckling nailed the first goal directly from a turnover, and another similarly poor disposal from David Astbury resulted in a second Dogs’ goal to Jack Redpath. But each time they scrapped for their goals, the Tigers were able to hit back and their forward line — at times — appeared to be just as potent.

Trent Cotchin produced a huge 50m team-lifting goal midway through the first term and when third-gamer Jason Castagna screwed the ball around his shoulders for his first AFL goal, the difference was back to two points.

Cotchin was important, and Martin was even better.

The Tigers started better in the second term, and opened up a 12-point lead midway through the second term after three consecutive goals to Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt and Sam Lloyd.

But Bontempelli lifted his team when it needed something extra, and booted an important goal. And when Tory Dickson got his boot to the ball in the goal square the Dogs had wrested back the lead before half time.

Richmond dominated the start of the third term. Brandon Ellis nailed the first within five minutes of the resumption off the back of Miles slipped past Stringer at the other end of the ground.

Costagna then kicked the Tigers’ second of the term, and his second of the game, the difference was out to 13 points.

Then Stringer produced his tackle on Martin to nail the Dogs’ only goal of the third term to claw the difference back to seven points at the last change.

And with Bontempelli heading into the midfield in the final term, and Stringer going deeper, that double act was enough to secure the Bulldogs’ 11th win of the season.

And it might yet prove their most important victory of the season, given the results of this round so far.

BEST

Western Bulldogs: Stringer, Bontempelli, Daniel, Morris, Wood, Hunter, Macrae, Boyd

Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Hampson, Costagna, Markov, Miles, Edwards,

VOTES

3: Dustin Martin (Richmond)

2: Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs)

1: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

1. THERE was no escaping reality for Richmond fans once the Dogs erected their banner last night. Written by comedian Danny McGinlay, it read “Tiger fans remember, you can holiday this September”. Another zinger. Ouch.

2. DAMIEN Hardwick promised to use the final eight rounds as a springboard for 2017, and made good by swinging five changes. Yet the Dogs trotted out a less experienced side, 1748 games to 1820. Both clubs fielded seven kids with fewer than 50 games. Just shows how damn advanced Bevo’s pups are.

3. WE read all week Richmond doesn’t get its hands dirty. It only wins the ‘soft stats’. Well, last night only one Tiger hadn’t laid a tackle by halftime and they won contested ball against the No. 1 side in the competition. Intent from Brandon Ellis said it all. Good response.

4. AN unwritten AFL rule is Dustin ‘Don’t Argue’ Martin simply doesn’t get caught with the pill. But when Jake Stringer got the explosive Tiger last night and goaled, the Dogs were revived. The lead was cut to eight points when it should have been beyond four goals and from there Stringer, and Marcus Bontempelli in the last, ran amok. Superstars.

5. THE Bulldogs were last night crossing their fingers for heart-and-soul player Tom Liberatore. The 2014 best-and-fairest winner was carted to hospital with rib injuries in a ball of pain. Perhaps Libba should skip next year’s Richmond fixtures. It was the Tigers who he did his knee against last pre-season.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/stringer-steers-dogs-to-victory-over-determined-newlook-tigers/news-story/6896cf2e69e6fbf8554f7479c215f01a

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Dogs charge home in thriller

Daniel Cherny
The Age
10 July 2016


Richmond coach Damien Hardwick had effectively drawn a line through his side's top eight prospects after last weekend's loss to Port Adelaide. But midfielder Anthony Miles said on Friday that his team hoped to shape the logjammed top eight in the final two months of the season.

They very nearly did that at the first attempt, with only four second-half goals from Western Bulldogs livewire Jake Stringer – including the last two of the game – preventing another round 16 upset.

For much of the night, the Dogs looked directionless going forward, beaten 13-5 in contested marks, badly missing Tom Boyd, and being challenged by a Tigers side spurred by the promising performances of teenagers Jason Castagna and Oleg Markov. But with his team behind by a point at the 23-minute mark of the last quarter, Stringer converted a set shot, adding another four minutes later to secure the four points.

The Dogs had six more inside 50s in the first term but used it poorly both on entry and in front of goal. For the second night in a row, the game's first score came from a player who had made headlines during the week. But where Kieren Jack had converted, Lin Jong sprayed his kick to the right, displaying one of the reasons why he had been in and out of the Luke Beveridge's side.

Marcus Bontempelli hit the post, before Matt Suckling kicked the game's first major, spearing the ball home from 45 metres. But the Dogs' goals were being scrounged rather than created. Their second came about after David Astbury picked out Clay Smith, who duly guided the ball to Jack Redpath in the pocket. Their third was fortuitous too, as Easton Wood's kick to the goal square ricocheted off the fingertip of Dustin Martin, and into the lap of an eager Smith.

The Tigers were classier going forward. Ben Griffiths got their opener with a neat set shot from 50 metres. It was soon bettered by the effort of skipper Trent Cotchin, who silkily goaled on the run from the arc. Castagna then capitalised on a spilled Jason Johannisen mark, and the margin was just two points at quarter time.

Richmond didn't have to wait long though to hit the lead. Shane Edwards belied his height to take a contested mark in the pocket, before coolly converting. Hitherto quiet, Jack Riewoldt had two shots within minutes, the latter of which was a goal. Sam Lloyd added another, and Richmond found themselves in front by 12 points.

 The Dogs needed a spark, and they found it from Bontempelli, clearly their best player in the first half. Providing rare danger in the Dogs' forward line, he goaled. Soon after Tory Dickson soccered home from close range, and the Dogs went to half-time with the most slender of advantages.

But they were dealt a blow moments before the siren when Tom Liberatore – who had been lively in the second term – copped a knee to his rib cage. He fell to the ground in agony before eventually making his way to the bench, but his night was over, wheeled away into an ambulance.

Richmond started strongly when the sides returned. Brandon Ellis sprung into action with seven third-quarter disposals, including the term's first goal. Then Castagna grabbed his second  and again the Tigers led by two goals. With Redpath battling, the Dogs were forced to play Bontempelli forward, robbing them of another key onballer. Martin continued his excellent night, finding the ball 11 times in the term.

But perhaps searching for one fend-off too many, he was caught deep in defence by Stringer. The much-hyped forward had been extremely underwhelming, but  took his chance, and added the Dogs' sixth. Richmond wasted opportunities as the quarter wore on, and while Smith missed a gilt-edged chance off the ground, the door was open at the final change – the gap just seven points.

The last quarter was chaotic. The Dogs looked on track to prevail when Jason Johannisen and Stringer put through the first two goals. But Riewoldt spotted Liam McBean deep – the young forward finding a fine time to kick the first goal of his fledgling career.

 Redpath at long last marked inside 50 but bizarrely played on and failed to score. The Tigers made him pay, with Riewoldt slotting another, before Edwards snapped brilliantly from the pocket. But Redpath made amends, levelling the scores. Stringer's final acts – after being earlier dragged for a missed tackle – were still to come.


BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Stringer, Macrae, Boyd, Suckling, Wood.
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Castagna, Markov, Hampson, Vlastuin


http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/western-bulldogs-v-richmond-jake-stringer-second-half-heroics-save-dogs-20160709-gq28nh.html