Media & Stats: Ferocious, clinical Tigers end Eagles' winning streak

[WilliamPowell]

Ferocious, clinical Tigers end Eagles' winning streak
By Callum Twomey - Just now


IF YOU needed any convincing Richmond is primed for back-to-back premierships, this was it.

The Tigers entered Thursday night's clash with the red-hot West Coast with a point to prove and it was emphatic: a 27-point win in a high-scoring show of strength.

In doing so the Tigers ended the Eagles' eight-game winning streak and picked up an edge ahead of a potential finals match-up later this season.

The 14.3 (87) to 9.7 (61) win was built in the third term when the Tigers piled on six goals to extend their lead from six points at half-time to 14 at the final change.

The Eagles continued to challenge, but without injured star Josh Kennedy (concussion) from early in the game, West Coast was unable to ever take control. In a heavyweight battle, the Eagles hung on but never landed any punches of their own.

Richmond's depth was again on show as the Tigers continue to revitalise their group on the run ahead of another finals series.

Without premiership stars Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards and David Astbury, and then losing Dylan Grimes to a hamstring strain, the Tigers were lifted by the likes of Jack Graham (16 disposals and a goal), Jason Castagna (16) and first-gamer Thomson Dow (12) also impressed.

Trent Cotchin (26 disposals) was excellent in the midfield battle, while Ivan Soldo and Toby Nankervis won the ruck battle against Nic Naitanui.

West Coast, perhaps due a down game after a brilliant run of form, will be hoping it can quickly recapture its mojo having now lost four of its six games in Queensland this year.

Kennedy's nasty blow
Josh Kennedy was on the receiving end of Noah Balta's youthful exuberance and athleticism when Balta's knee cannoned into Kennedy's head in the first quarter in a wild marking attempt. Kennedy took his free kick and played on, but shortly after left the field groggily with the help of trainers with concussion symptoms. The champion goalkicker was ruled out of the rest of the game. The Eagles remained in touching distance without their star forward, with Jack Darling booting three goals, including the 400th of his career, and Liam Ryan also kicking three. First-gamer Bailey Williams competed well and showed his exciting traits at stages. 

Martin's moment of magic
There aren't many better kicks for goal from the boundary line than Dustin Martin and he proved that again on Thursday night. After a messy kick inside 50 in the third term that was spoiled by the Eagles, the Tigers kept on pressing and pushed forward until West Coast defender Jarrod Brander kicked out on the full. Pinned up against the fence, Martin never looked fussed, calmly and comfortably slotting a clever checkside goal without any sense of fuss or trouble. Martin was busy again against the Eagles as he fires up for another tilt at a big finals series.

The Lynch mob
West Coast fans have obviously been paying close attention to Tom Lynch's recent run-ins with the AFL rules. After his two striking fines in round 12, Lynch this week was sent to the AFL Tribunal for a strike against Michael Hurley, but was cleared to face the Eagles. Their fans at Metricon Stadium made it clear they weren't pleased with that decision. Lynch had the first set shot at goal in the opening minutes and was greeted by loud boos around the ground. His long kick sailed through in an impressive start, and he kicked another in the second term. Lynch finished with three goals in an efficient outing spearheading Richmond's attack.

RICHMOND       1.1    5.2   11.2   14.4 (88)
WEST COAST    1.0    4.2     8.6     9.7 (61)

GOALS
Richmond: Lynch 3, Martin 2, Aarts, Balta, Bolton, Castagna, Graham, Nankervis, Riewoldt, Rioli, Soldo
West Coast: Darling 3, Ryan 3, Cripps, Kelly, Naitanui

BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Houli, Balta, Martin, Castagna, Bolton
West Coast: Kelly, Gaff, Ryan, Darling, Shuey, Sheed

INJURIES
Richmond: Grimes (hamstring)
West Coast: Kennedy (concussion)

https://www.afl.com.au/news/491125/ferocious-clinical-tigers-end-eagles-winning-streak

[WilliamPowell]

Tiger pressure snaps Eagles' streak

By Anthony Colangelo
August 27, 2020 — 10.01pm

Richmond recorded one of their finest wins of the season to beat fellow premiership contenders West Coast Thursday night and leap ahead of the Eagles into third spot.

The Tigers and the Eagles were locked in an unrelenting arm wrestle through the first half but a nine-goal-to-five second half in favour of Richmond gave them the momentum to win the match, despite West Coast's stubbornness.

Richmond have now won five of their past six games to put together a run of victories toward the end of this season that could realistically roll seamlessly into a flag, similar to the back end of the 2017 and 2019 premiership years.

Damien Hardwick's men remain undefeated in Queensland this year while the Eagles' return to their Sunshine State hub wasn't a happy one, following their difficult early-season stint on Australia's eastern seaboard.

Richmond, who unlike West Coast haven't had the ability to return home because of the coronavirus pandemic, look as if they could win anywhere at the moment.

It was Richmond's pressure that broke the Eagles at Metricon Stadium, ominously for the rest of the competition.

They looked endlessly energetic, harassing West Coast at every turn they made. The pressure forced the Eagles to try to play perfect football with no room for error, because it was as if every single one they made led to pain.

On top of that it was the Tigers' big guns and long-lauded names – Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch – that led the way.

Everything that has become so predictably and consistently damaging and entertaining about these teams over the past half a decade was on show.

West Coast tried to rule the skies with their kick and mark game, while Richmond favoured their sometimes scrappy, sometimes fluent forward surge.

The method of both teams was good in the first quarter but there was a lack of killer instinct inside 50, with only a goal apiece scored through two set shots.

But the second quarter brought an end to that when Nic Naitanui grabbed the ball from congestion,

baulked an opponent and snapped through following a boundary throw-in he contested.
That bit of attacking craftiness was met by Tiger Jake Aarts, whose clean crumb and snap provided a quick response to Naitanui.

The second term continued in that manner, producing seven goals, and Richmond headed into the main break with a six-point lead.

Crucially the Tigers were able to enter forward 50 without handing a series of intercept marks to Eagles defenders such as Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern.

They also competed well defensively when the Eagles kicked long down the line, Noah Balta taking a couple of big intercept marks in the first half to make West Coast think twice about heading in his direction.

Balta also kicked a ripping goal on the run from the centre square in the final term.

Both sides had to play the majority of the game without two of their most important key-position players.


COSTLY INJURIES
Dylan Grimes and Josh Kennedy both played no part in the game from quarter-time onwards, the Tiger nursing a hamstring complaint and the Eagle concussion.

Kennedy was collected in the head by Balta's knee in a marking contest in the first quarter.
Grimes had a lot of trouble with his hamstrings early in his career and if he is out for an extended stint it would be a big blow.

However, the way Balta played this game will give the Tigers hope for their back six without Grimes.

RICHMOND 1.1 5.2 11.2 14.4 (88)
WEST COAST 1.0 4.2 8.6 9.7 (61)

GOALS
Richmond: Lynch 3, Martin 2, Balta, Graham, Aarts, Riewoldt, Rioli, Soldo, Bolton, Castagna, Nankervis.
West Coast: Darling 3, Ryan 3, Kelly, Cripps, Naitanui.

BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Balta, Martin, Lynch, Houli,Vlastuin, Soldo.
West Coast: Gaff, Sheed, Ryan, Darling, Shuey, Kelly, Naitanui.

INJURIES
Richmond: Grimes (hamstring).
West Coast: Kennedy (concussion).

CROWD
3628 at Metricon Stadium.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tiger-pressure-snaps-eagles-streak-20200827-p55q2i.html

[WilliamPowell]

New flag favourites? Tigers claim clash of the titans as Eagles’ wings clipped on the road

Max Laughton
August 27, 2020 9:33pm

Richmond has stamped its claim to flag favouritism with an impressive 27-point win over fellow contenders West Coast.
In a crucial game for their top four hopes, they used deadly efficiency in the second half to build a match-winning lead, with Tom Lynch kicking three goals and 10 other Tigers (9-4-1) bagging majors.

The Eagles (9-4) had won eight games in a row heading into Thursday night, but six of those were consecutive in Perth. They’re now 2-4 in games played in Queensland this season while Richmond is 6-0.

A clever kick from Trent Cotchin handed Tom Lynch a set shot from 50 metres out to open the scoring, and he kicked truly, silencing the boos.

The Tigers controlled the clearances, winning 10 of the first 13, but the Eagles hit back through a Tim Kelly goal late in the term.

Josh Kennedy left the field after a knee to the head in a marking contest left him groggy, and Richmond led 1.1 (7) to 1.0 (6) at quarter-time.

Liam Ryan put West Coast in front with a goal out of the first centre clearance of the second quarter.

The teams then traded the lead. Lynch’s second major put the Tigers back in front not long later, Nic Naitanui roved rather than rucked for a forward stoppage goal, and impressive young gun Jake Aarts snapped one home.

Crucially for the Tigers, when the ball went inside 50 their forwards did a good job and weren’t allowing the Eagles to take intercept marks. However in bad news Dylan Grimes was forced out of the game with a suspected hamstring injury.

Richmond led 5.2 (32) to 4.2 (26) at halftime.

The Tigers worked repeat inside 50s to begin the third quarter and Daniel Rioli rewarded their efforts with a goal to go up by 12 points, but Liam Ryan - playing full forward with Kennedy done for the night - gave the Eagles the response.

A butchered kick inside 50 by West Coast’s defence handed Dusty a shot on goal from deep in the pocket, but he cleverly bent it around the corner to restore Richmond’s lead.

The Tigers then started to take control of the game thanks to remarkable efficiency inside 50. With Jeremy McGovern struggling, big men Ivan Soldo and Toby Nankervis put the premiers up 29 points.

It took a free kick in the goal square, gifting Jack Darling a major, for the Eagles to finally respond. He kicked two more in the rest of the term as his side trailed 8.6 (54) to 11.2 (68) at the final change.

Tom Lynch’s third goal steadied the Tigers ship early in the final term, and then a huge bomb from Noah Balta put them 26 points up with 12:27 to play, which was more than enough.

Richmond won 14.4 (88) to 9.7 (61).

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-2020-richmond-vs-west-coast-eagles-round-14-live-scores-updates-stats-video-live-stream-live-blog/news-story/5e415a52d0483e745f7b5a6bf75afffd