Media articles and stats: Tigers end their finals and Geelong hoodoos

[one-eyed]

Match report: Tigers end their finals hoodoo

afl.com.au
9 September 2017

GEELONG        0.4       2.4       4.9       5.10 (40)
RICHMOND     2.4       3.7       6.10     13.13 (91)

GOALS
Geelong: Motlop, Dangerfield, Parsons, Hawkins, Taylor
Richmond: Townsend 2, Caddy 2, Butler, Vlastuin, Edwards, Prestia, Grigg, Lambert, Castagna, Cotchin, Riewoldt

BEST
Geelong: Duncan, Tuohy, Dangerfield, S.Selwood, Lonergan, Smith 
Richmond: Martin, Prestia, Rance, Cotchin, Vlastuin, Lambert

INJURIES
Geelong: C.Guthrie (calf), Kolodjashnij (calf)
Richmond: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, McInerney

Official crowd: 95,028 at the MCG

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

RICHMOND has rediscovered its finals roar after a 16-year silence, mauling Geelong with an unrelenting brand of pressure that carried them to a 51-point win in the second qualifying final at the MCG on Friday night.

Before Friday night's game, the Tigers hadn't won a final since 2001, nor a game in the first week of the finals since 1982, but Damien Hardwick's men looked at home on the big stage from the opening bounce, dominating the match with their frenzied attack on the ball and the man.

The only thing that kept Geelong in the game was Richmond's failure to convert its dominance of general play on to the scoreboard, and it looked like the Tigers might pay a heavy price for its 3.7 return in the first half when the Cats levelled the scores midway through the third term after a rare dominant burst.

If Richmond carried any finals scars, this is when they would have surfaced. But the Tigers class of 2017 proved it's made of the right stuff and, with superstar Dustin Martin leading the way yet again, they piled on 10 of the last 12 goals to notch what in time will become a famous 13.13 (91) to 5.10 (40) win.

If there were any doubts, Martin underlined how his mix of brute force and class is tailor-made for September. The Brownlow Medal favourite finished with 28 possessions, nine inside 50s, seven tackles and six clearances, but it was his game-high six score assists – double that of any other player – that best reflected his influence.

Martin set up goals on either side of three-quarter time – the first to Shane Edwards after he shook off Tom Stewart at half-back and the second to Shaun Grigg after he broke two tackles and hit his teammate with a pin-point 50m pass – that put Richmond 20 points up and broke any last remnants of Geelong resistance.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin (20 possessions, nine tackles, seven clearances and one goal) was also outstanding and set a ferocious standard with five clearances and five tackles in the first term.

Alex Rance avenged his poor round 21 performance on Harry Taylor with a classy performance in defence, Dion Prestia was an able sidekick for Martin and Cotchin in the midfield, while Kane Lambert and Josh Caddy were dangerous in attack and Nick Vlastuin was impassable across half-back.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said he was proud of the way his players responded when they were challenged in the third quarter.

"They started to get on top in and around the clearances and we just couldn't get our hands on the ball in that period," Hardwick said.

"But credit to Trent, Dustin, Alex and Jack, our leaders stood up and started to get the momentum back our way.

"It's a sign of the growing maturity of those players and our footy club overall. I'm really happy for the players. They've worked incredibly hard this season so it's a big pat on the back to them."

In winning just its third final since 1982, Richmond also broke a 13-game losing streak against Geelong that had begun with its 157-point loss in round six, 2007, at Etihad Stadium.

Although Richmond's 2017 playing group might not be as burdened by the club's sorry recent finals history as long-suffering Tigers fans, most of the group were part of three elimination finals losses under Hardwick from 2013-15.

After slumping to 13th last season, Richmond is through to its first preliminary final since its 2001 loss to the Brisbane Lions and its diehard fans can start to realistically dream of a Grand Final appearance and perhaps even the club's first flag since 1980.

Geelong's loss continued its poor finals record since claiming the 2011 Grand Final, the Cats having now lost seven of their past nine finals.

Constantly tackled, chased and harassed, the Cats looked ragged and flustered. Unable to find space or generate fluent passages of play, they went goalless in the first quarter for the first time in 2017.

It then looked like Geelong would be held goalless in a first half for the first time since round 12, 1977, before Steve Motlop goaled at the 26-minute mark of the second term.

Geelong coach Chris Scott said his team just didn't have enough good performers to win.

"We were on the back foot early in the game and were probably just hanging in there, the couple of goals close to half-time gave us a bit of hope. But even then we just didn't really have many players playing well, if you want to simplify it," he said.

"And their late goal in the third quarter gave them a little bit of hope, but still (we were) 13 points down at three-quarter time.

"Sometimes when you have a big percentage of your players not playing well and you're still in the game at three-quarter time, things can change really quickly. Unfortunately, it just really changed for them and then the dam wall burst.

"We tried to open it up and score and that just made it worse."

Mitch Duncan (29 possessions, 11 tackles and seven clearances) was the Cats' best player, while Zach Tuohy (27 possessions and six rebound 50s) generated rare run from half-back.

Patrick Dangerfield (31 possessions and one goal) and Scott Selwood (27 possessions, eight inside 50s and seven clearances) battled all night, but Joel Selwood (19 possessions) understandably looked underdone after returning from a month off with an ankle injury.

MEDICAL ROOM

Geelong: Cameron Guthrie went into the Cats' rooms early in the third term with a right calf injury and did not take any further part in the game. Jake Kolodjashnij also emerged from the game with a calf injury. Geelong coach Chris Scott said after the game Guthrie's injury was "significant", with the Cats optimistic Kolodjashnij's was not as severe. However, Scott conceded both players might not play again in the finals.

Richmond: Alex Rance came from the ground midway through the first term with a head cut after ducking into a tackle from Harry Taylor. The key defender returned soon after being cleaned up on the interchange bench.

NEXT UP
The Tigers are through to a preliminary final in two weeks' time at the MCG, where they will play one of Greater Western Sydney, Port Adelaide or West Coast. The Cats will host the winner of the Sydney-Essendon elimination final at the MCG on Friday night.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-08/match-report-tigers-end-their-finals-hoodoo

[one-eyed]

Every Tiger rated from the second qualifying final

afl.com.au
9 September 2017

David Astbury – 7
Kept Tom Hawkins to one goal – which came from a free kick against Astbury in the third quarter – so he did his job. Hawkins had to venture outside the 50m arc for most of his possessions.

Nathan Broad – 4
Will be remembered for his horror turnover on the tick of half-time that saw Cam Guthrie rush the ball forward for a Patrick Dangerfield goal that ignited the Cats' fightback. Was pretty solid outside of that brain fade and set up a crucial third-quarter goal for Nick Vlastuin.

Dan Butler – 5
The best of the Tigers' small forwards. Kicked a great close-range goal over his head in the second term, but missed a set-shot sitter in the final quarter. Made up for it by feeding Josh Caddy not long after for his second goal.

Josh Caddy – 7
Added dynamism to the Richmond attack and was particularly good in the opening half, although he should have made more of his goal-scoring chances. Deservedly slotted a second major in the last-quarter avalanche.

Jason Castagna – 3
Another quiet game from Castagna and he might be under some pressure to retain his spot. Flew high to clutch a nice pack grab then kicked truly in the final term, but was very fumbly on the night.

Trent Cotchin – 8
The Tiger skipper spun out of a tackle brilliantly for a highlight-reel goal in the last quarter to cap a quality performance. Had five tackles and five clearances to quarter-time to engineer Richmond's strong start and never cooled off.

Shane Edwards – 7
Warmed to the task after a so-so beginning, and was a big factor in the Tigers snatching back the momentum in the third term. Had three shots on goal in the quarter for 1.1 and had 16 of his 24 touches after half-time.

Brandon Ellis – 4
One of the few Tigers not to fire on the night. Put his body on the line in a second-term collision with Patrick Dangerfield and hurt his right shoulder in the process. Only nine possessions for a player that averaged almost 24 a game in the home and away season.

Jack Graham – 6
The third-gamer laid six tackles to the first break, including winning two free kicks from them, and ended the match with nine. Only three players had more than Graham's 23 pressure acts. Didn't win much of the ball, but was a strong contributor.

Shaun Grigg – 6
Improved the longer the game went and capped one spectacular Dustin Martin passage with a goal from the square. Saved his best for the third quarter when Richmond needed him most. Filled his usual role as an undersized ruckman at times.

Dylan Grimes – 6
Had the job on Patrick Dangerfield when the superstar went forward and also went onto Harry Taylor briefly when Alex Rance left the field under the blood rule in the opening term. The Tigers' spare-parts man was typically serviceable.

Bachar Houli – 6
Wasn't among Richmond's best players, but did some nice things across the contest. Copped a late hit to the head in a marking contest from young Cat Brandan Parfitt in the second term, but battled on manfully.

Kane Lambert – 7
One of the stories of the Tigers' fairytale campaign. Rarely puts a foot wrong and was very good again through the midfield. Kicked the sealing goal in the fourth quarter after a string of slick Richmond handballs.

Dustin Martin – 9
The numbers weren't as stunning as usual, but his impact was immense. Tore the game to shreds after Geelong threatened to overrun the Tigers in the third quarter. His second half was outrageous, with the fend-off king using his greatest weapon to scintillating effect to set up goals to Dion Prestia and Shaun Grigg.

Kamdyn McIntosh – 6
Worked hard all night in his trademark unheralded fashion. Coach Damien Hardwick can hand the versatile runner any job and he will get it done with a minimum of fuss.

Tony Nankervis – 5
Lowered his colours in the ruck, but never stopped trying. Struggled to match athletic Cat Zac Smith in the taps and had little influence around the ground.

Dion Prestia – 7
Won an equal-game-high 31 possessions and no-one hunted down more of the contested variety (18). The knock on his game was the usual one – he wasn't always clean. Went at only 48 per cent efficiency and was fumbly on occasion.

Alex Rance – 8
You don't beat Alex Rance twice in a row. The four-time All Australian destroyed Harry Taylor in the return bout despite copping an errant knee to the head in the first quarter and landing heavily on his back in the fourth term. Perhaps only Dusty was better.

Jack Riewoldt – 7
Forget the fact he kicked only one goal. This was an influential Riewoldt effort. Was active from the outset, his hands were good in the air and he finally hit the scoreboard for maximum points in the last quarter. Great battle with Tom Lonergan.

Daniel Rioli – 5
Threatened to do something magical on occasion, but never quite hit his straps. Forward pressure was good, so he did his bit in that department.

Jacob Townsend – 4
Looked like he might be the hero again when he kicked a dramatic soccer goal in the first three minutes, but didn't have his second kick until the 10-minute mark of the fourth term. That was a goal, too, so he wasn't the worst.

Nick Vlastuin – 7
This bloke doesn't know how to play a bad game. Incredibly efficient footballer who is a major part of the Richmond defence. His nerveless third-quarter finish from barely inside 50 was a dagger to Geelong hearts.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-08/every-tiger-rated-from-the-second-qualifying-final

[one-eyed]

Richmond Tigers shrug off history to beat Geelong

Michael Gleeson
The Age
9 September 2017

RICHMOND 2.4 3.7 6.10 13.13 (91)
GEELONG 0.4 2.4 4.9 5.10 (40)

GOALS -
Richmond: Caddy 2, Townsend 2, Butler, Prestia, Castagna, Riewoldt, Lambert, Vlastuin, Edwards, Grigg, Cotchin.
Geelong: Taylor, Parsons, Dangerfield, Motlop, Hawkins.

BEST -
Richmond: Martin, Rance, Cotchin, Caddy,  Vlastuin, Prestia, Grimes. Edwards.
Geelong: Tuohy, Dangerfield, Lonergan, Henderson, Duncan S. Selwood.

INJURIES -
Geelong: C Guthrie (calf)

UMPIRES Stevic, Nicholls, McInerney.
CROWD 95,028 at MCG.

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

Richmond was never going to do a final easily. The game was as tortured as Richmond's path to it.

Well for three quarters it was. In the last quarter, in a manner befitting the fretful apprehension they (or rather their fans) carried into another finals appearance, once the realisation dawned that they were home the relief was like an outpouring. It verily rained goals. They kicked six goals for three quarters and seven in the last.

The Tigers are in a preliminary final. The last time they were in a prelim final, Danny Frawley was coach.

Richmond had lost the past 13 times to Geelong. They had not beaten them at the MCG this millennium. The last time they won, in 1999, the CEO was the centre half-forward.

Yet this felt different from the outset. Never before had the MCG sounded so hostile to a "home" team as when Geelong ran out to the ground. Of the 95,028 there, it sounded as though 90,000 were Richmond.

This was a game in which it seemed the logic was with Geelong winning,  sentiment was with Richmond. The romantic was a Tiger.

The Tigers were fighting their history against Geelong, their recent history in finals. It proved to be a yoke that did not choke.

Richmond fought and scrounged and worked harder than Geelong. They hunted and gathered and bullied and bustled but for most of the match could never get clear. Geelong was left teasingly in reach on the scoreboard.

It took until the last quarter for Richmond to find the margin befitting their superiority in the contest. It was Dustin Martin who helped them fend Geelong off – he does that – and to show his side how to score. It took Trent Cotchin's attritional battle with Geelong's star pair to finally prevail. In the end it became a romp. Geelong was wounded and beaten, Cam Guthrie and Mark Blicavs were injured other reputations were wounded.

In the first 10 minutes of the last quarter, when there was still a sense despite Richmond's largely superior play that Geelong could still get into the game, Martin truly outmuscled them.

There was a moment early in that last quarter when, head-to-head, Cotchin beat Joel Selwood in a contest in the middle and ferreted the ball out. It went wide to a flank and Martin fended off pursuers. He ran wider, right to the boundary, and kicked across his body from 60 metres. He had seen Shaun Grigg heading to the goal square and sent the ball to meet him. Few players would hit that kick.

Richmond should have been six goals up at half-time but weren't. Geelong was two minutes from completing a half of football without kicking a goal. They'd hit the post twice but they weren't unlucky in front of goal.

Then, with only two minutes to go, they kicked one goal almost by surprise, then with only a minute left in the half and the ball in Richmond's forward line Cam Guthrie kicked a torpedo. It was a kick for hope and territory not artful design. Richmond gathered but in clearing the defence, they found Joel Selwood.

Selwood had spent the half posing the question of whether he was fit enough to be out there or unfit enough not to be out there. He had had few touches yet here he was marking a ball and quickly handballing to Dangerfield who had also been quiet but now kicked a goal.

Dangerfield had been head to head with Cotchin when he was on the ball and the Richmond captain was best on ground in the first term and good in the second.

In the absence of an ability to kick a goal, and with Harry Taylor on Alex Rance lacking its surprise impact this time, Selwood and Dangerfield had both been tried at full-forward.

At half-time, Richmond had an unsatisfying nine-point lead. They were partly culpable for this, for in greasy, high-pressure conditions they hacked the ball forward. When they did it went to contests where Lachie Henderson and Tom Lonergan were able to intercept and out-number Jack Riewoldt, rather than to space where small forwards could hunt it.

Later, they found space. Later, Martin found the ball and he made the space and made his team better.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/afl-richmond-tigers-shrug-off-history-to-beat-geelong-20170908-gydyyh.html

[one-eyed]

Geelong v Richmond match report: How Tigers beat Geelong, booked preliminary final spot

Sam Edmund,
Herald Sun
9 September 2017

BUCKLE up folks, the Tiger train has left the station.

Next stop, a home preliminary final.

A club ridiculed for finishing ninth, mocked for three consecutive elimination final disasters, winless at the business end since 2001 and without a flag since 1980, is finally back.

Only months after an embarrassing board challenge and with Damien Hardwick nearly sacked, Richmond is one win away from a Grand Final.

Inspired by a rampaging Dustin Martin, the Tigers jumped, withstood and then surged spectacularly clear of Geelong to win this qualifying final by 51 points in front 95,208 fans.

The Tigers slammed on five consecutive goals in 11 manic last quarter minutes to turn a tentative 13-point three-quarter time lead into a romp.

Footy fairytales are now dressed in yellow and black.

This perennially fragile outfit was hard, resilient and committed — roared on by the Tiger army that marched on the MCG like the Game of Thrones White Walkers.

Geelong was booed onto the field for it’s “home” game and then hit right between the eyes by a Richmond side relentless in its hunt of the man and ball.

Goals were like diamonds, but gee it was absorbing.

This was a gritty, grinding slog enveloped by pressure so severe it’s hard to justify in the written word.

Tigers players slammed into contests like crash test dummies. A side ranked a distant 18th for tackles only a year ago, tackled the Cats to a standstill.

Incredibly, Geelong’s first goal didn’t come until the 26 minute mark of the second quarter, but Richmond’s dominance was matched by a first half wastefulness that had them 3.7 at the main break.

That shonky finishing was a factor in a first three quarters in which little separated these sides.

Geelong’s challenge came early in the third quarter and it had levelled the scores by half way through the term.

A quarter and a half later, they had lost by nearly 10 goals.

Set shot goals to Nick Vlastiun and Shane Edwards later in the third term weren’t only of the steadying variety, they lit a fire under Richmond that Martin poured the petrol on.

The Brownlow Medal favourite had 10 last quarter touches of enormous influence. He broke tackles at will, he surged clear and he laid it on a platter for goalscoring teammates.

Without a tag, he finished with 28 possessions, 12 score involvements and nine inside 50s. He was awesome.

Alex Rance got revenge on Harry Taylor in convincing fashion, Dion Prestia (31 touches) showed why he was brought to the club and Kane Lambert and Josh Caddy revelled in the conditions.

Captain Trent Cotchin, the subject of so much cricitism during his tenure, was pure guts. Cotchin, who had been held to nine and 16 touches in his last two finals, had 20 to go with nine tackles and seven clearances.

It was a dirty night for Geelong. The forward line was as blunt as a rolling pin and, held to only five goals for the match, the decision to drop Daniel Menzel (38.14 this year) will come under scrutiny.

Cameron Guthrie strained a calf and could be out for the rest of the season, while Jake Kolodjashnij’s night also ended early.

Joel Selwood, playing an unprecedented 35 days after ankle syndesmosis surgery, couldn’t exert his usual influence.

Patrick Dangerfield (31 touches) battled bravely and tried to lift his side with an incredible mark running back with the flight in the third quarter. But he too, was slightly off, kicking the ball out on the full three times.

Richmond will play either Greater Western Sydney, Port Adelaide or West Coast in a preliminary final in two weeks’ time.

Imagine the hype. Maybe this time it really is Tiger Time.

GEELONG 0.4 2.4 4.9 5.10 (40)

RICHMOND 2.4 3.7 6.10 13.13 (91)

GOALS

Geelong: Motlop, Dangerfield, Parsons, Hawkins, Taylor

Richmond: Townsend 2, Caddy 2, Butler, Vlastuin, Edwards, Prestia, Grigg, Lambert, Castagna, Cotchin, Riewoldt

INJURIES

Geelong: C.Guthrie (calf)

Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, McInerney

Official crowd: 95,028 at the MCG

SAM EDMUND’S VOTES

3 DUSTIN MARTIN

Picked this game up and throttled it. Couldn’t have played better when his side needed him most. Untouchable.

2 DION PRESTIA

Superb. Eighteen of 31 touches contested, six tackles, five clearances and six inside 50s. Was everywhere.

1 JOSH CADDY

Vindicated return big-time. Physical and hard in conditions that demanded it. Always looked dangerous.

SAM EDMUND’S BEST:

Geelong: Duncan, Tuohy, S.Selwood, Dangerfield, Hawkins

Richmond: Martin, Prestia, Caddy, Cotchin, Rance, Lambert, Vlastuin, Edwards

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/how-richmond-beat-geelong-and-shook-off-afl-finals-demons/news-story/e1090699e2a07aaa2ea0643b80cce989