Media article & stats: Tigers survive late Hawks fightback in MCG thriller

[one-eyed]

On the hunt: Tigers survive late Hawks fightback in MCG thriller

Richmond has knocked off a spirited Hawthorn outfit at the MCG

By Josh Gabelich
afl.com.au
14 May 2022

HAWTHORN         4.4       8.5       9.8       14.10 (94)
RICHMOND        3.3      9.5       12.9     17.15 (117)

GOALS 
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Lewis 3, Koschitzke 2, Wingard 2, Gunston, O'Meara, Lynch, Worpel
Richmond:  Lynch 4, Martin 3, Riewoldt 3, Bolton 2, Soldo 2, Graham, Nankervis, Castagna

BEST   
Hawthorn: Sicily, Newcombe, O'Meara, Breust, Impey
Richmond: Prestia, Lynch, Martin, Nankervis, Bolton, Baker

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Gunston (ankle), Scrimshaw (shoulder)
Richmond: Balta (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES 
Hawthorn: Connor MacDonald (replaced Jack Gunston in the second quarter)
Richmond: Shane Edwards (replaced Noah Balta at three-quarter time)

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THE TIGERS are back to full strength and starting to purr again.

With triple-premiership stars Dion Prestia and Nick Vlastuin returning from illness on Saturday, a week after Dustin Martin returned from personal leave, Richmond is lurking at the foot of the eight and look like a threat in 2022.

Damien Hardwick's men are now 5-4 after defeating Hawthorn by 23 points at the MCG on Saturday, banking a third consecutive win, 17.15 (117) to 14.10 (94).

The Tigers were the best team for most of the game, but left the door ajar for a Hawthorn upset late before Jason Castagna and Shai Bolton put the game to bed with two minutes to play.

Seven days after being embarrassed by a depleted Essendon outfit in a fourth-quarter onslaught that saw the Bombers kick eight goals to one to record a famous come-from-behind victory, Hawthorn produced a gutsy response.

The Hawks led by a kick at quarter-time and then kicked the first three goals of the second quarter to open up a 25-point lead, looking unstoppable when Jacob Koschitzke kicked two goals in two-and-a-half minutes.

But just when Hawthorn had all the momentum, Richmond kicked two extraordinary goals out of nowhere. Jack Graham hit a bobbling ball from off the ground as if he was at the Kop End of Anfield, rather than the Punt Road end of the MCG.

Then Toby Nankervis plucked a ball out of the ruck and snapped from the pocket, while Max Lynch hung off him. Ten minutes later, Martin burst inside 50, cut inside with the ball under his arm and snapped a goal to put the Tigers back in front.

From there, Richmond was rarely troubled. Martin built into the game, just like he did last week, looking better the more minutes he banked. Shai Bolton was as influential in turning the game around as anyone on the ground. And Prestia produced another performance that underlined his value to Richmond's engine room, finishing with 28 disposals, eight clearances and 510 metres gained.

While the class of the Tigers eventually overwhelmed Hawthorn, there was a game within the game that was as enthralling as any match-up we've witnessed thus far in 2022.

James Sicily went to Tom Lynch at the opening bounce and rarely left his side for the next 120 minutes. Seven days after Lynch punished Collingwood star Darcy Moore for giving him too much space, Sicily was aggressive with his positioning from the outset.

It was the clash of two heavyweights. Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield. Both were among the best players on the ground, despite the influence of the other. Lynch feasted again to finish with four goals from 16 disposals and six marks, but it would have been much worse if it wasn’t for Sicily.

Lynch is now six ahead of Carlton star Charlie Curnow in the Coleman Medal with 31 majors on the board after nine rounds, after kicking 17 goals in the last three rounds. After kicking 32 goals in 2020 and 35 last year, Lynch has roared back to his All-Australian best in 2022.

Hawthorn started the new era under Sam Mitchell with two straight wins, but the Hawks have now lost four on the trot and six of the last seven games.

https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3882#match-report

[one-eyed]

Martin weaves his magic to help Tigers silence Hawthorn

Courtney Walsh
The Age
May 14, 2022

With Dustin Martin producing moments of magic for Richmond in an entertaining clash against Hawthorn, the Tigers’ recent surge continued with a 23-point win at the MCG on Saturday.

Placed under significant pressure when trailing the Hawks by 25-points early in the second term, the Tigers responded magnificently to record a third consecutive win.

It is the first time in 2022 the Tigers have been in front on the win-loss ledger and while their recent wins have come against sides unlikely to feature in September, their improvement after a slow start to the season has been impressive.

They are playing in a manner reminiscent of the furious style that saw them claim three flags in four seasons between 2017 and 2020, which is not surprising given they fielded 21 premiership players.

Richmond’s forward pressure was tremendous early, which set the tone for a trend that continued throughout the match as they out-tackled their rivals.

Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo were dominant in the ruck against young Hawk Max Lynch, which enabled the Tigers to win first use of the footy.

Coleman Medal leader Tom Lynch, veteran forward Jack Riewoldt and Martin revelled in attack when sharing 10 goals between them in a potent display.

But they were ably assisted by the outstanding work ethic shown by teammates including Shai Bolton, who was as creative as he was exceptional in the pressure he applied, and Liam Baker.

After conceding the opening two goals, the Hawks responded extremely well and had the better of the next quarter to set up a commanding lead early in the second term.

But they were unable to contain a surge from Richmond that coincided with the second-quarter substitution from the match of veteran forward Jack Gunston, who injured an ankle after a lively start. Tigers defender Noah Balta injured a hamstring in the third term.

MARTIN THE MAGICIAN

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick issued a strong defence of Martin in an interview prior to the match and the Tigers champion responded with a stirring performance.

The Brownlow medallist and Richmond were criticised for declining interview requests after Martin’s return to footy last week following a sabbatical as he mourned the death of his father, Shane.

But Hardwick said the star did not need to “provide a running commentary on what it looks like and feels like to be Dustin Martin”.

“That’s not him. It is not arrogance, it is just a sense that he likes being his own man. He’s very insulated. He does not let a lot of people in,” Hardwick told ABC Radio.

Martin scarcely looks like he has missed a beat since returning to Punt Rd and produced some superb cameos as the Tigers wrested control of the match in the second term.

The best came when the 30-year-old kept his feet amid a pack to squeeze through a remarkable goal from the most acute of angles in the third term to extend Richmond’s lead to 18-points.

Had a banana he attempted after weaving through traffic earlier in the quarter snuck through, it would have topped that effort for the goal of the day.

In the last term Martin, who kicked three goals from 20 disposals, managed to set up Riewoldt for his third goal which gave the Tigers a handy buffer.

BAPTISMS OF FIRE

Debutants Bigoa Nyuon and Sam Butler had little time to overcome their nerves in a testing welcome to the AFL.

Butler received an old-fashioned coat-hanger from Jayden Short when running out of defence early in the first term, which prompted a fierce rebuke for the Tiger from Jaeger O’Meara.

Nyuon, meanwhile, was issued a significant challenge by Hardwick when tasked with manning the quality Hawk Gunston.

The 219-game veteran set about testing the 20-year-old and was lively in the first term when kicking a goal and setting up Luke Breust for another as the Hawks seized control early.

But the 30-year-old, who has kicked 15 goals for the season, rolled an ankle late in the opening term in what proved a clear blow for the Hawks.

Nyuon showed promise throughout the match and saved a goal through desperation in the third term with the match still in the balance.

BEST

Richmond: Nankervis, Bolton, Prestia, Martin, Baker, Lynch.
Hawthorn: O’Meara, Sicily, Breust, Impey, Newcombe.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/martin-weaves-his-magic-to-help-tigers-silence-hawthorn-20220514-p5alcc.html