Media articles & stats: Tie of the Tiger; Richmond and Carlton draw

[one-eyed]

Tie of the Tiger: Blues draw with Richmond in surreal season opener

By Sarah Black
afl.com.au
17 March 2023

RICHMOND     1.4     2.4     7.8     8.10     (58)
CARLTON        3.1     4.6     6.9     810     (58)

GOALS
Richmond: Lynch 3, Rioli jnr 2, Martin, Riewoldt, Bolton
Carlton: C. Curnow 3, Fisher, Silvagni, McKay, Owies, Docherty

BEST
Richmond: Rioli, Taranto, Bolton, Lynch, Graham
Carlton: Hewett, Young, McKay, Saad, Cripps

INJURIES
Richmond: Graham (shin/calf), Rioli jnr (cut head)
Carlton: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Jack Ross (replaced Marlion Pickett in the third quarter)
Carlton: Lochie O'Brien (replaced Lachie Cowan at three-quarter time)

Crowd: 88,084 at the MCG

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FOOTBALL is life, and sometimes, life is a draw.

Carlton – forever causing heart palpitations in its fans – looked set for a mature and composed six-point win over arch rival Richmond in the opening match of 2023, until Tom Lynch soared high to take a contested mark with 17 seconds remaining on the clock.

A minute prior, Lynch had waved his arms at the umpire in vain, outmarked two-to-one as he begged for a free. But after surely spending all of summer with his last-minute elimination final miss replaying over and over in his head, he steadied, and converted.

The final scores were 8.10 (58) apiece, and both sides would be left feeling like they lost the match after battling it out on a hot night at the MCG.

Goals were traded within less than two minutes to open the game – Dustin Martin and Zac Fisher the snappers – and the two ends of the MCG took their turns to let out a six-month, pent-up, roar.

Footy was back.

Richmond's forward half defensive pressure was immense in the first quarter, but players failed to take full advantage of their opportunities, a somewhat rusty Jack Graham (after an injured toe affected his pre-season) spraying two wide and Tom Lynch missing a straightforward set shot.

By contrast, Carlton relished in its limited chances in attack (13-21 inside 50s), kicking 3.1 to take a nine-point lead into the first break.

The Blues speed troubled Richmond on the wings, with Jesse Motlop, Adam Saad and Zac Fisher showing clean sets of heels and often catching the Tigers on the hop on turnover.

After such a blistering start, the 30-16 scoreline at half-time reflected the fumbly and panicked nature of parts of the game, as both sides struggled to make strong and effective entries inside 50.

The key defenders rose in prominence as the game progressed; Dylan Grimes holding up one end, while Lewis Young worked nicely into the game down the other.

Daniel Rioli was simply superb off half-back, with the Blues having no answer to his pace and dare, while George Hewett played an underrated and crucial role in the midfield for Carlton.

Whether it was settled nerves, first-game concentration lapses or just shaking off the rust, the sluggish first half was blown out of the water after half-time, the Tigers springing to life with some clever ball use to kick three straight goals.

In all, seven goals were kicked in that third term, after just six collectively in the first half, with Tom Lynch and Charlie Curnow asserting their dominance in their respective forward lines.

Carlton debutant Ollie Hollands was lively and tenacious throughout, and looks set for a promising first season.

Old(ish) faces, new colours

Thursday night marked the first official Richmond match for star recruits Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, who have changed the face of the Tigers' midfield. Both provided some much needed steadiness and defensive pressure at the contest – Taranto with 32 and Hopper with 18 – while the former had two flying (missed) shots at goal. Carlton also unveiled new winger Blake Acres, who had 16 disposals in a steady performance.

The crucial call

Charlie Curnow gave the Blues some much-needed breathing space with an instinctive, diving soccer close to goal. It took the margin to seven points with nine minutes remaining, but it wasn't without a moment of panic. Hearts were in mouths as the score review examined the goal, but it ultimately determining the soccer-trained Noah Balta had been unsuccessful in his attempt to deflect the kick.

Subs – who blinked first?

In the first match with tactical subs (following the change from purely medical subs), Jack Ross became the first player to take to the field in the dying minutes of the third term. He replaced Marlion Pickett, who had missed both practice hitouts due to an adductor injury. Carlton made its call just minutes later, bringing in Lochie O'Brien for debutant Lachie Cowan at the three-quarter time break.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/882737/tie-of-the-tiger-blues-draw-with-richmond-in-surreal-season-opener

[one-eyed]

Richmond and Carlton drawing power on show in AFL season-opener

Marc McGowan
The Age
March 17, 2023

Richmond   1.4   2.4   7.8    8.10 (58)
Carlton       3.1   4.6   6.9    8.10 (58)

Best:
Carlton: Young, Cripps, Hewett, Docherty, Kennedy, McGovern.
Richmond: D. Rioli, Lynch, Taranto, Martin, Bolton, Prestia.

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Carlton’s defence hung on grimly and magnificently for much of Thursday night’s season opener, but could not when it mattered most.

With the Blues clinging to a six-point lead and the clock ticking below a minute to go, Richmond’s forward colossus Tom Lynch snatched his sixth mark and nervelessly kicked his third goal to seal a thrilling draw in front of 88,084 fans.

The clubs went tit-for-tat all night, with Carlton’s 14-point half-time edge the biggest margin between them despite the Tigers dominating territory early then surging in front with a third-quarter goal binge.

But the Blues looked winners after Sam Docherty thumped through a 55-metre-plus set shot early in the final quarter before Charlie Curnow toe-poked through his third major in what could have been the match-winner until Lynch’s heroics.

There were only 17 seconds left when the ball returned to the centre, and Carlton went forward but simply ran out of time.

The Blues’ enormous fan base was once the only reason they had the privilege of retaining this fixture each year, but there is plenty of substance about them these days.

They will carry immense expectations throughout the season and have the players to meet them, in particular captain Patrick Cripps, whose 10 disposals in the final term helped bring Carlton back into the contest.

George Hewett (28, eight clearances) was the Blues’ best and most consistent midfielder, but recycled defender Lewis Young (14 intercept possessions) saved his side repeatedly and comfortably took the honours against Jack Riewoldt.

Mitch McGovern book-ended the match with glaring defensive errors but was otherwise stout, while Jacob Weitering also had good moments but was ultimately responsible for Lynch.

The Tigers will also be one of the storylines to watch this year as they try to fend off father time and regenerate on the run.

Almost a third of Richmond’s round one side was on the wrong side of 30, but supercharged by a pair of ex-Giants recruits in Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, they are hoping to contend again.

Taranto (match-high 32 disposals), in particular, made a great fist of his first game in yellow and black, while Dan Rioli continued his career resurgence with another stellar performance.

Dustin Martin also showed he has plenty more to give with a crowd-pleasing opening goal when McGovern dropped a mark and a series of laser-like passes.

Good start for ex-Giants

Plenty of column inches were devoted this past summer to Richmond’s decision to trade for former Giants midfielders Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto on seven-year deals.

Similarities were drawn with Hawthorn’s recruitment of Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara, especially because both clubs were not long separated from premiership success but with a number of ageing stars.

Only time will tell whether it will be a better move for the Tigers than what it ended up being for the Hawks, but Taranto made a strong first impression, even if he was a bit untidy occasionally.

He can expect much more on-ball time at Richmond than he received at Greater Western Sydney, and made the most of it with a team-high 19 disposals and four clearances to half-time and finished with 32 touches.

Hopper had a more modest night but still did his bit with 18 disposals and six inside 50s.

Twin towers sometimes muted, always ominous

Carlton’s two Coleman medallists – Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay – might not have had their best night on Thursday but still showcased how dangerous they can be.

After a quiet opening half, Curnow bobbed up to kick two goals in as many minutes to arrest a Richmond rally and briefly snatch the lead back in the third quarter.

It was a different story for McKay, whose aerial work was excellent from go-to-whoa, but his kicking was unable to match it, whether in front of goal or driving the Sherrin inside 50.

Curnow then bobbed up again late to toe poke through a third goal that loomed as the match-winner until the final minute.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-and-carlton-drawing-power-on-show-in-afl-season-opener-20230316-p5csv1.html

[one-eyed]

Lynch and Curnow the winners in a game with and without one

Jake Niall
The Age
March 17, 2023

If Richmond entered this match as the more seasoned side, the Blues carried the greater burden: That of the not-so-quiet desperation of a proud club that has spent too long in the cellar and not in the premiership conversation.

Richmond were the club with more to lose if you consider the demographics of the teams. The Tigers fielded a side with seven players aged 30 or more and three of those - Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin - are totemic figures in the club’s storied history. A fourth, Dylan Grimes, is not far behind the trinity in terms of stature for the faithful and is more crucial to the team structure than nearly anyone.

Further, the Tigers have doubled down on the here and now by spending draft capital - and seven year contracts - on ex-Giants Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper; of that pair, Taranto was the more productive, especially in a fierce but scrappy first half.

But the Tigers have three flags in the trophy cabinet since 2017 and, if they’ve punted on staying in the race, they’re also playing with house money; if their gamble on Hopper and Taranto - and the continuation of Riewoldt and Cotchin’s careers - doesn’t pay off, they’ll still have those flags.

Carlton, thus, were - and are - the club with more riding on this season.

At the end, neither club lost anything and the 88,000 were left with that strange feeling that always accompanies the draw; if there are those who dislike the lack of a winner, a draw - in a home and away game - is still a result.

Certainly, with 50 seconds left - before Tom Lynch’s colossal pack mark - the Tigers would have settled for two premiership points, even if they won the territory battle decisively (66 forward entries to 45) and couldn’t convert, a failing that Damien Hardwick rued.

Conversely, it felt more like a defeat for the Blues, in the sense that - after Charlie Curnow’s toe-poke goal - they had a lead of seven points and seemed a fair chance to hang on.

Carlton’s major gamble wasn’t in the post-season recruiting, like the Tigers, but in selection for this first game. The Blues selected a pair of first gamers, Luke Cowan and Ollie Hollands. It is difficult to win a finely balanced game such as this one - which went right down to the wire - with a pair of debutants, albeit the Blues did sub Cowan out, replacing him with a six-year “veteran” in Lochie O’Brien.

The tale of the match swung on the boots of each team’s respective key forwards.

Harry McKay had threatened to tear the game apart - he had Noah Balta’s measure in the one-on-ones and played in front. But McKay’s usually trustworthy boot failed him in telling moments, such as in the third quarter, when he missed a pair of shots that a Coleman medallist (2021) should nail.

Tom Lynch, too, had loomed as a potential match-winner in that third quarter and, unlike his counterpart McKay, Lynch found the sticks and enabled the Tigers to snatch the lead, just when the Blues had appeared well-positioned.

Riewoldt, meanwhile, had been utterly eclipsed by the unsung former Bulldog Lewis Young, who had a startling eight intercepts in the first half, repelled numerous attacks and beat Jack pointless in one-one-outs. Riewoldt booted one telling goal; otherwise, he was subdued.

But the game swung most violently on the boot of its most mercurial forward, Carlton’s astonishingly gifted Charlie Curnow, who has a ceiling higher than the other three key forwards, simply because of his athletic talents.

Curnow, like Riewoldt, had been completely smothered and missing the first half, Grimes having covered him superbly. Curnow then booted an electric pair of goals after half-time to give the Blues a buffer and, in the final term, his third goal shaped as the decider.

The Blues, though, lost some composure. A dropped mark here, a fumble or two, a decision that could have been more conservative with the ball when they had the lead (to find an open player).

The older heads - Lynch at the end - found a way to square the scores, when Carlton had been ready to announce another small step forward.

There would be no winner, other than code and competition. A contest that had been scrappy and uneventful, became a memorable event and one that will be remembered for the fact that, like Anzac Day 1995 between Collingwood and Essendon, the game itself was the winner.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/lynch-and-curnow-the-winners-in-a-game-with-and-without-one-20230316-p5csmg.html

[one-eyed]

Mark Robinson: Richmond will be kicking themselves for letting season-opener slip

So much for the golden oldies at Tigerland. It was Richmond who should have taken out the season opener. And Mark Robinson wonders if the Tigers have lost their killer instinct.

Mark Robinson
HeraldSun
March 16, 2023 - 11:37PM

Mistakes always hound both teams when it’s a draw.

The brilliant moments are lost to the what-ifs and maybes in what was a scrapping, tough and momentum-laced opening round of the season – and there were thousands of what-ifs and maybes at the MCG on Thursday night.

The Blues were gritty, real gritty and, at times, mature.

Twice they had to wrestle massive momentum from Richmond and still they were tantalisingly close to being rewarded with a win.

Coach Michael Voss will hammer home that positive, and if anything, they harboured enough fabric to believe they will be up for the fight in every game this season.

Some of the mistakes will be another topic, however.

But as he said in recent weeks, his team is a work in progress to get better.

The Tigers had a familiar feel about them. They dominated the first and third quarters and, again, what-ifs and maybes will be a sizeable topic in the review.

Should the Blues have won? Probably not.

The Tigers? Probably yes.

The inside-50 count was Richmond 66 to Carlton’s 45.

The numbers say the Tigers have to work on their entries and efficiency.

The positive was they basically squared clearances (they were +4) and scores from clearances 20-9 in Richmond’s favour. Coach Damien Hardwick would be pleased with that.

In the third quarter, Richmond kicked 5.4 to 2.1, after kicking just two goals in the first quarter. In the final quarter, it was 1.2 to Carlton’s 2.1.

The final quarter was a slog – two teams punching and counterpunching on punch-drunk legs. The tactical sub was on show for the first time.

In the final quarter, Blues wingman Lachie O’Brien replaced Lachie Cowan and in a foot race on the Warne Stand wing, Daniel Rioli – close to best afield – was unable to chase down O’Brien.

Afterwards, the Tiger slumped on the ground with leg cramps.

Mind you, Rioli is one of the best two-way defenders, curtailing Matthew Owies and an improved Jesse Motlop, and bursting with the ball from halfback.

It’s a good discussion – who would you take if they both were against the wall: Rioli or Adam Saad? The Blue was terrific last night, having 18 disposals at 100 per cent by foot.

Jack Silvagni was the only other player to go at 100 per cent, but only had two kicks.

It was a tale of the fittest for both teams and, in the end, they couldn’t separate.

So much for the golden oldies at Tigerland.

They had seven players 30 and older and they will be kicking themselves for letting this game slip.

Maybe they’ve lost the killer attitude. Maybe they were unlucky, or maybe the Blues are serious contenders. We’ll know more in a month.

What an opening night. There were 88,000 fans, it was balmy in the air and hotter on the deck.

Last-quarter fighters included Patty Cripps (10 disposals and four clearances), Jack Graham (three disposals and five tackles while carrying a calf concern), Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin were huge at the back, while Mitch McGovern had his moments but took two intercept marks,

He looms as a critical player for Voss.

So, too, Sam Docherty. He kicked a booming goal from 60m to give the Blues lead in the final quarter.

When Charlie Curnow kicked his third goal in the final quarter, the momentum was with Blues.

It was an amazing effort. He was falling and got his foot to the hanging footy and was able to slightly checkside it so it departed his boot slightly at right angles. He’s a special talent.

The Blues led by eight points at quarter-time, yet the inside-50 count was Carton 13 and Richmond 21. The Tigers had 16 front-half intercepts, which got the ball back off the opposition – when the average last year for teams was 23.

But the most important numbers are on the scoreboard.

Richmond’s pressure and set-up game, and well-drilled defence hemmed the Blues in for much for the first quarter, and the Blues did much the same in the second quarter.

Two goals were kicked in the first 90 seconds of the game, and four goals were kicked in the next 60 minutes.

So much for pandemonium footy.

Both teams will rue missed opportunities. Tom Lynch kicked 3.3. Tim Taranto had four shots for two behinds and Graham missed two goals in the first quarter.

Shai Bolton kicking around the corner from 30m in front was mystifying. Clubs say they practice it, but clearly they have to practice it more often.

The two Blues debutants, Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan, who played on Shai Bolton, separately won two huge contests, which although the game was more furious than they had ever played in before, tell us they weren’t overawed.

One played wing (Hollands), the other at halfback (Cowans) and Blues fans would be rapt with their first outing.

Tigers fans overall, not so much.

https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-round-1-mark-robinson-reviews-season-opener-between-richmond-and-carlton/news-story/87148a09deed7ef0adb046aa0aa6a3fe

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SCOREBOARD

TIGERS 1.4, 2.4, 7.8, 8.10 (58)

BLUES 3.1, 4.6, 6.9, 8.10 (58)

ED BOURKE’S BEST
Tigers: D Rioli, Taranto, Martin, Graham, Nankervis, Prestia.
Blues: Young, Hewett, Docherty, McKay, C Curnow, Saad.

GOALS
Tigers: Lynch 3, M Rioli 2, Martin, Riewoldt, Bolton.
Blues: C Curnow 3, Fisher, Silvagni, McKay, Owies, Docherty.

UMPIRES Gavine, Gianfagna, Meredith, Whetton.

INJURIES
Tigers: None.
Blues: None.

CROWD 88,084 at the MCG

ED BOURKE’S VOTES

3 D. Rioli (Rich)

2 T. Taranto (Rich)

1 L. Young (Carl)

https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-richmnd-v-carlton-live-score-round-1-teams-tips-odds/news-story/1cb286d46a4d74272aa81f2528b33010

[camboon]

Is Robertson the worst  Jurno going round or is there someone more crazed, it must be all the late drunken nights or other sniffing stuff , anyway hopefully he has installed a shower at his premise these days so he can have one before going to work .
This bloke can’t even spell the footballers names correctly.

[Broadsword]

Watching AFL 360 is like watching Einstein chaperone a monkey.

[Stripes]

Really is a bitter drunkard is our Robbo. Is desperate for his beloved druggies to have any sort of success and is resentful of a team that has. I came away from last night actually feeling like we had won. Carlton had the lead and we were struggling to connect with our forwards. To pinch the last goal with less than a minute to play was exciting. The Blues fans around me deflated light overblown balloons when that goal sailed through the sticks. Was glorious.

Sure, we should have, would have, could have, but to say that 'Blues fans would be rapt with their first outing. Tigers fans overall, not so much' is utter rubbish. What an utterly irrelevant, talent-less wanker he is.