Media article & stats: Tigers still in the hunt after win over the Lions

[one-eyed]

Still in the hunt: Riewoldt fires in 300th to keep Tigers' season alive

By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
17 July 2021

RICHMOND      4.2       7.4       12.6     16.10 (106) 
BRISBANE       3.1       8.4       10.7      13.8 (86) 
 
GOALS 
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Chol 4, Graham 2, Lynch 2, Bolton, Martin
Brisbane: Daniher 3, Bailey 2, Cameron 2, McCarthy 2, McStay 2, McCluggage, Robertson
 
BEST 
Richmond: McCluggage, Lyons, Bailey, Neale, Robinson
Brisbane: Riewoldt, Chol, Short, Bolton, Cotchin, Baker

INJURIES 
Richmond: Astbury (ankle), Martin (rib), McIntosh (hamstring) 
Brisbane: McCarthy (chest) 

SUBSTITUTES 
Richmond: Ross (replaced McIntosh in the second quarter) 
Brisbane: T.Berry (unused)

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RICHMOND wanted to play for Jack Riewoldt on Friday night in the champion forward's 300th game. But with his side staring down a fifth straight defeat – a result that would have gone a long way to ending the Tigers' finals hopes – it was Riewoldt who lifted again for the Tigers.

Riewoldt's six-goal celebration helped Richmond break its four-game losing streak with a significant 20-point win over Brisbane at Metricon Stadium after the Tigers overcame a string of curveballs to claim the crucial victory.

The match, which was sent from the MCG to the Gold Coast on Thursday due to Victoria's worsening COVID-19 outbreak, was also pushed back 15 minutes as both teams encountered heavy traffic on their trip down from Brisbane on Friday afternoon.

Richmond also trailed by a goal at half-time after a second quarter from the Lions that suggested the Tigers had fired their best shot early.

But the weight of challenges didn't work against the Tigers, with Riewoldt spearheading them to an important 16.10 (106) to 13.8 (86) triumph with the 32-year-old's best game of 2021.

But the win didn't come without troubles for the Tigers, who finished the game without superstar Dustin Martin, who left the field in the third term with a rib injury, and wingman Kamdyn McIntosh (hamstring).

Their flag hopes written off this week, the reigning back-to-back premiers threw another punch to jump back into the top eight. As well as Riewoldt, returning ruckman Toby Nankervis was massive with 22 disposals and 25 hitouts while Kane Lambert also came back from injury with 23 disposals.

It was an underwhelming performance from the Lions after their poor effort last week against St Kilda and is a bad blow in their bid for a top-four berth.

The signs the Tigers of old were back came early. The first term saw Richmond's pressure return, with the Tigers laying 22 first-term tackles and six inside their forward 50.

It helped them to a seven-point lead at the first change, with Tom Lynch, Martin and Riewoldt all on the board by the opening change. Lambert's run and poise was also important with 13 disposals in a busy start.

Joe Daniher's two goals in the second term steered the Lions to a five-goal-to-three quarter that saw them take a six-point lead into half-time.

Brisbane's centre-square dominance made for quick, easy entries in what was a return to the higher scores seen in the first half of the season. With Martin quiet, Brisbane's strength at stoppages flipped the contest to its advantage.

When Zac Bailey streamed in to goal early in the third quarter it looked like Brisbane was about to break Richmond's resistance, but with their season on the line the Tigers struck with back-to-back goals to cut their deficit back to three points. 

But there was more to come, with Riewoldt booting three goals for the quarter to help his side to an important 11-point break at the final change. Brisbane made the Tigers nervous late in the final term before Riewoldt slotted his final major in the dying seconds, becoming the third player to boot six goals in his 300th match.

Dusty's damage
Martin was just getting going after half-time, with eight of his 15 disposals for the night coming in the third quarter. But late in the third his night ended prematurely with Martin coming off second best in a crunching collision with Brisbane hard-nut Mitch Robinson. In a fair bump as both players ran at the ball, Martin was floored by contact to his rib area. It is rare to see the superstar Tiger show pain on the field but he was on his hands and knees before struggling to the bench and heading down to the changerooms. He was ruled out of the game early in the last quarter.

No Joe show
Brisbane has been happy with Daniher's first season at the club, which has seen him kick a goal in every game so far in 2021. But with fellow key forward Eric Hipwood out of the side due to his season-ending knee injury, more responsibility fell the way of Daniher. The former Bomber's two-goal second term got the Lions moving, and he kicked a third in the final three minutes, but it was a largely quiet night for Daniher. Hipwood's replacement, Tom Fullarton, had nine disposals while Dan McStay, the Lions' other marking option in attack, booted two goals.

Chol suitors to line up
Chol's performance as a key forward was important in Richmond's victory and will keep clubs queuing up for the unrestricted free agent. Chol is out of contract and has a number of clubs tracking him closely after several seasons in and out of Richmond's first-choice line-up. But his talents as a key forward/ruckman were on show on Friday night with a career-best four goals, including a clever and athletic soccer off the ground in the first half.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/648526/still-in-the-hunt-riewoldt-fires-in-300th-to-keep-tigers-season-alive

[one-eyed]

Jack High: Tigers back into the eight after victory in Riewoldt’s 300th

Damien Ractliffe
The Age
July 17, 2021

Richmond have breathed life into their season, jumping temporarily back into the top eight with a gritty victory over the Brisbane Lions on the Gold Coast.

Breaking a run of four straight losses including defeats to Gold Coast and Collingwood in the past fortnight, the Tigers celebrated Jack Riewoldt’s 300th match with a brilliant second half that saw them run away with a 20-point win at Metricon Stadium.

But the Tigers’ injuries woes continued with Kamdyn McIntosh subbed out at quarter-time due to a hamstring strain and champion Dustin Martin sidelined late in the third term following a collision with Mitch Robinson. David Astbury then left the field with an ankle concern with just minutes left on the clock.

Riewoldt starred in his milestone match with six goals including three in an important third term which helped his side take momentum into the final change.

Just five days earlier, Collingwood blasted seven goals to one in a devastating final quarter which left Richmond’s season hanging by a thread. But with the game on the line on Friday night, the Tigers did enough to prevent Brisbane from climbing over the top of them, overwhelming the Lions in the territory game by dominating the centre clearances.

Hugh McCluggage and Zac Bailey kicked consecutive goals with just under six minutes left on the clock to cut the margin back to 13 points, but Toby Nankervis - in his first game back since round 11 - won the next centre clearance, starting a chain that ended in a big set shot from Jack Graham (two goals) that sealed the win.

The loss now leaves Brisbane vulnerable of missing the top four. It was the Lions’ second straight defeat after last weekend’s loss to St Kilda, and Port Adelaide have an opportunity to replace Brisbane in fourth spot when they meet the Saints on Saturday.

The Lions dominated the second term after trailing by seven points at the first change. It started around the stoppages, with the Lions winning 18 of 23 clearances in the quarter to kick five goals to Richmond’s three.

Joe Daniher got busy kicking two goals in as many minutes, before Lincoln McCarthy gave his side the lead for the first time mid-way through the second term.

Mabior Chol, who kicked a career-high four goals on the night, soccered through a much-needed goal against the momentum to bring the deficit back to one-point, but Devon Robertson extended the Lions’ buffer with an accurate set-shot.

For all their dominance, however - 20 inside-50s to nine in that second quarter - the Lions led by just six points at the long break.

Damien Hardwick, speaking on the Seven coverage, said he was most concerned about the Lions’ stranglehold in the clearances and the ease at which they took marks inside 50.

And that’s where the Tigers turned the match in the third term, led by Martin.

The Brownlow medallist, who had just seven touches to the main break, had eight disposals in the second term and set up Riewoldt for his third major to get the game back within a kick.

Riewoldt then kicked his fourth, marking back with the flight, to give his side the lead and when he landed his fifth major from a push-in-the-back free kick, the home side led by a then game-high 16 points.

Martin, however, found himself on the sidelines after clashing heavily with Mitch Robinson. Attempting to take away a centre clearance, Martin smashed into Robinson who was coming in off the wing and was left grabbing his side and gasping for air.

He sat out the last quarter on the bench in a tracksuit, and walked gingerly onto the field to celebrate with his teammates after the final siren.

Chol arguably cemented his spot in the Richmond side for the foreseeable future with the four majors, while also taking four marks, four clearances and 12 hitouts. Before Friday night, Chol had kicked just two goals in six prior games this season. He and Nankervis overworked Oscar McInerney in the second half, particularly at the centre bounces.

Tom Lynch was quiet but kicked two goals including a fourth-quarter set shot from a free kick that saw his side open up a buffer that eventually proved insurmountable.

Daniher finished with three, while Jayden Short amassed 27 disposals off half back.

The match was delayed by 15 minutes after the Tigers’ bus was held up in traffic on the way to the ground.

BEST:
Tigers: J Riewoldt, M Chol, J Short, K Lambert, S Bolton.
Lions: H McCluggage, J Lyons, L Neale, M Robinson, D Zorko

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/jack-high-tigers-back-into-the-eight-after-victory-in-riewoldt-s-300th-20210716-p58ahj.html