Media articles & stats: Tigers send finals warning by feasting on wayward Lions

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Tigers send finals warning by feasting on wayward Lions

AFL.com.au
Lee Gaskin
Sep 7, 2019 10:05PM

BRISBANE     4.6     4.10     6.14     8.17 (65)           
RICHMOND    3.0     7.3     14.4     18.4 (112)

GOALS
Brisbane: Neale 2, Christensen 2, Cameron, McStay, Rayner, McCluggage
Richmond: Martin 6, Riewoldt 3, Rioli 2, Lynch 2, Caddy 2, Edwards, Bolton, Castagna

BEST
Brisbane: Hodge, Zorko, Neale, Robinson, Gardiner
Richmond: Martin, Edwards, Grimes, Prestia, Cotchin, Rioli

INJURIES
Brisbane: Robinson (hamstring)
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Nicholls, Fleer

Official crowd: 37,478 at the Gabba

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RICHMOND has sent an ominous warning to its premiership rivals with an imposing 47-point victory against Brisbane to advance to a third straight preliminary final.

Superstar Dustin Martin was outstanding in Saturday night's qualifying final, booting six goals in the 18.4 (112) to 8.17 (65) win in front of a record AFL crowd of 37,478 at a sold-out Gabba.

The Tigers will face the winner of next week's semi-final between Geelong and West Coast for the right to play in the Grand Final.

The Lions – this season's fairytale story - must re-group to ensure their first finals campaign in a decade doesn't end in a straight-sets exit at the hands of Greater Western Sydney next weekend.

The winner will face Collingwood in the other preliminary final at the MCG.

The battle-hardened Tigers, featuring 17 survivors from the 2017 premiership-winning side, were challenged early before finding another gear, kicking nine straight goals in the second and third quarters to put the inexperienced Lions to the sword.

Martin was simply brilliant playing as a key forward.

It didn't matter who his opponent was, whether it was Daniel Rich, Marcus Adams or veteran Luke Hodge, Martin had the strength, smarts and skill to do damage on the scoreboard.

Defender Dylan Grimes set the tone for the Tigers' 14th straight win over the Lions with a dominant performance on his All Australian teammate Charlie Cameron.

For the second game in a row, Grimes got the upper hand on Cameron, restricting the mercurial forward to one goal while also dropping into space with crucial intercept marks.

Midfielder Shane Edwards was enormous for the Tigers, especially after quarter-time when the Tigers made their decisive push.

Fellow onballer Dion Prestia also got through a mountain of work at the coalface.

Hodge showed all of his vast finals experience, the four-time premiership winner playing with poise and precision as one of the leading lights in a beaten side.

Brownlow Medal contender Lachie Neale was his usual busy self, finding lots of the ball while also chipping in with two goals.

But the Lions were ultimately outclassed by a more polished side that is going to be extremely tough to beat.

A rotten night for the Lions was completed when winger Mitch Robinson sustained a hamstring injury in the last quarter.

The Lions had all the momentum in the first quarter, but only had a 12-point lead to show despite having 23 inside 50s to six.

The Tigers made them pay for their inaccuracy in the second term as they rattled off four straight goals to lead by 11 points at half-time, 7.3 (45) to 4.10 (34).

It was a procession from there as they kicked the first five majors of the third quarter to stretch the lead to a match-winning 42 points.

Hugh McCluggage's goal at the 21st minute of the third term was their first since the 28th minute of the opening quarter, but by then, the floodgates were well and truly opened.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-09-07/match-report-brisbane-v-richmond

[one-eyed]

Tigers, Dusty a class above Lions

Lauren Wood,
Herald Sun
8 September 2019

The Great Train Robbery might have a challenger.

The Tiger Train pulled off one of the great heists on the road, wrenching back premiership favouritism and leaving the Lions smarting after a true smash and grab at the Gabba.

The 1963 Buckinghamshire robbery of millions from a Royal Mail train saw the 15-strong crew — including the famous Ronnie Biggs — lay in wait, much like the Tigers on Saturday night.

Brisbane looked to rattle them early — not entirely off their tracks but enough for a ripple of nerves at the Gabba with four Tigers without a stat at quarter-time.

After a touch of recalibration, they pounced — the coal was heaped onto the engine and the Lions totally derailed methodically and with precision.

Nine unanswered goals left Brisbane in Richmond’s wake as they again steamed deep into September, the Lions — handed its first finals loss on their home deck after an inability to convert — forced to regroup for a semi-final against the Giants at the Gabba next week.

The Tigers return home for good with an MCG preliminary final set for the third year running.

Biggs proved unstoppable to authorities for decades and the Tiger wearing No.4 looked just that, with Dustin Martin going on the run as he pleased to boot six goals.

There was nothing dirty about that half-dozen.

Daniel Rioli lived up to the reputation of his bloodlines in September, unfazed and unflappable on the biggest stage.

Shai Bolton’s first final brought a hanger worthy of finals flashiness and a goal, while Shane Edwards’ third quarter — where he gathered 12 touches — was so good it was almost criminal.

It was a reality check on just who is the king of the jungle.


DUSTY, DUSTY, DUSTY

What more can you possibly say about this bloke?

He’s timed his run to September to perfection and Saturday night was close to that.

He has gathered more Brownlow votes against Brisbane than any other team and if they were up for grabs here, you’d have to think the men in green would have had him in mind.

He had five goals to three-quarter time — and a tally of 15 majors in 11 quarters — and was as clean as ever in a haunting preview of what a preliminary final on home turf might look like for the Brownlow medallist.

His cheeky “roll” to Jack Riewoldt once the game was sewn up raised eyebrows, but won a smile from the superstar who only seems to get better.

Simply scary, and a masterclass from Hardwick in how his team waxes off him.

SCOREBOARD

BRISBANE 4.6 4.10 6.14 8.17 (65)

RICHMOND 3.0 7.3 14.4 18.4 (112)

GOALS

Brisbane: Neale 2, Christensen 2, Cameron, McStay, Rayner, McCluggage

Richmond: Martin 6, Riewoldt 3, Rioli 2, Lynch 2, Caddy 2, Edwards, Bolton, Castagna

BEST

Brisbane: Hodge, Neale, Robinson, Lyons, Zorko, Rayner

Richmond: Martin, Edwards, Prestia, Cotchin, Grimes, Graham

INJURIES

Brisbane: Robinson (hamstring)

Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Nicholls, Fleer

Official crowd: 37,478 at the Gabba

LAUREN WOOD’S VOTES

3 — DUSTIN MARTIN (RICHMOND)

Back to Brownlow form and has the ultimate game style for September football. He’s bold, brash and simply brilliant.

2 — SHANE EDWARDS (RICHMOND)

To call him a workhorse would sell him short, but has serious game smarts and put them to use when it truly mattered.

1 — LUKE HODGE (BRISBANE)

Is it too late to change your mind, Hodgey? You might have a future in this business if that performance was anything to go by. So composed and anything but slowing down.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-a-class-above-brisbane-in-big-qualifying-final-win/news-story/04a436772c99c3e755e912732563a0c0

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Richmond's class shines through as game goes to script

Michael Gleeson
The Age
8 September 2019

This was the difference between a side that has come from nowhere and nervously wondered how to take the next step and a self-assured group who knew what they had to do and set about retracing their steps to get there.

Brisbane leave the game with questions and an unsettling second final against GWS. Richmond leave knowing they have answers.

Brisbane led by two goals at quarter time but it was better read that Richmond trailed by 10 shots at goal to three and the Tigers first goal of the night to Jack Riewoldt was from a free kick that would make an Ashes umpire blush.

History offered Richmond little comfort at the first break, for in 25 of the last 29 finals the team leading at quarter time had won the game. Furthermore, the Lions had never lost a final at the ground in 11 previous matches.

History however also said, Richmond do not fold, that stars rise, and that that wasting chances in front of goal will hurt you.

History also said Luke Hodge is not history. In a team a novices to finals the veteran was outstanding.

But meantime Dustin Martin was making history.

Brisbane was the better team early. They played a territory game, kicking long to contests rather than keeping the ball in possession. Richmond had been too prepared early to cede them ground and not run at the game in counter-attack, which is when the Tigers look most dangerous.

Dylan Grimes was holding them together behind the ball and Dion Prestia and Shane Edwards on the ball yet ahead of the ball they were not running in waves of numbers as they do.

Richmond then began to win contested footy and to win clearances. They started to do things that can be measured in numbers but the truth is the difference was in class. Richmond had more talent in more positions and looked authoritative for three quarters.

They had Daniel Rioli whisper past a pack in the goal square and carry the ball as if on a breeze and goal. They had him sweep into an open 50 metres and win a foot race to goal.

They had Dustin Martin.

We raised the idea that Martin could, would, be the player of the finals series. He did nothing to debunk ths theory. He kicked six.

Damien Hardwick sent Martin to the goal square for the second half. At the first clearance he was one out with Marcus Adams and he moved the bigger man aside to mark. Later at a boundary throw in he realised he was still on the bigger, slower man, and surged to the front of the rucks to rove the ball and goal.

Brisbane moved Hodge onto him. A clash of royalty. Only once did Martin look uncomfortable. It was when a long ball went to him and Hodge: he slipped, fumbled and was tackled. Maybe even Dusty can get star struck.

Soon after another long ball came in and went through Hodge's reaching arms. Martin recovered it and goaled.  Maybe Hodge can get star struck.

Richmond barely needed Jack Riewoldt or Tom Lynch, but they both had their moments. They had Shai Bolton calmly sitting on Lachie Neale's head. They had Dion Prestia and Shane Edwards.

For the Lions' doubters this was the sort of result that will feel unsurprising. Their upswing on the ladder was aided by an enviable injury run and a bottom-six draw so there was a sense they were still a step away from the very best.

Brisbane now plays GWS. The timing of their qualifying final might have been a mercy for they didn't watch that game before hand. It won't have made them feel any better.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-s-class-shines-through-as-game-goes-to-script-20190907-p52p0q.html