Media articles & stats: Tigers do enough to down Eagles, keep finals alive

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Tigers do enough to down Eagles, keep finals alive

It wasn't convincing but Richmond makes it five wins from last six games to keep momentum going.

By Nathan Schmook
afl.com.au
16 July 2023

WEST COAST     1.1    2.5     6.8       8.12 (60)
RICHMOND       2.6    5.9    10.13    14.14 (98)

GOALS
West Coast: Allen 3, B.Williams, Darling, Maric, Long, Duggan
Richmond: Pickett 2, Bolton 2, Martin 2, Taranto, Soldo, Ross, Riewoldt, Prestia, Miller, Baker, McIntosh

BEST
West Coast: Kelly, Sheed, Gaff, Barrass, Allen, Witherden
Richmond: Rioli, Balta, Taranto, Soldo, Bolton, Martin 

INJURIES
West Coast: Ginbey (hamstring) 
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Andrew Gaff (replaced Reuben Ginbey in the first quarter)
Richmond: Hugo Ralphsmith (replaced Maurice Rioli Jnr in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 40,501 at Optus Stadium

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FOR ALL the talk of percentage-boosting wins and the advantage of playing a struggling West Coast twice this season, Richmond was made to work until the end for its 38-point win at Optus Stadium on Sunday.   

In a scrap that failed to reach any great heights as a spectacle, the Tigers did what they needed to and continued their push for finals, winning 14.14 (98) to 8.12 (60) and climbing to 11th on the ladder.

Collectively, it wasn't a performance that fired a warning shot to their competitors in the race for the eight, but it included some brilliant individual perfromances that could prove significant in the Tigers' run home.

Speedster Daniel Rioli was a game-breaker off half-back, using a licence to attack to repeatedly set up forward thrusts and finishing with a game-high 31 disposals and a massive 17 handball receives.

Key defender Noah Balta, meanwhile, handled star Eagle Oscar Allen and kept him without a possession in the first half before the key forward fought back to kick three goals in the most entertaining battle within the game.

Ultimately, the Tigers' class players and collective experience split the game open either side of half-time, kicking a run of six unanswered goals to open a 47-point lead halfway through the third term.

The Eagles kept grinding away and reduced that back to 25 late in the final quarter before Richmond stars Shai Bolton and Dustin Martin added the final flourishes for their team with late goals. 

Both midfield stars look to be in ominous form now for the Tigers, with each racking up 23 disposals and two goals, with inaccuracy costing both a bigger haul.

Tim Taranto continued his fantastic season with 27 touches and a game-high eight clearances, while Jacob Hopper made it a strong outing for the pair of former Greater Western Sydney onballers, racking up 25 and seven clearances.

While percentage may not seem necessary for the Tigers (99. after their draw earlier this season, they could find themselves in a battle for a top-eight spot with Carlton (111.4) and Sydney (110.3), who have also drawn this season.

The return of some experience for the Eagles and their ability to scrap admirably and fight for everything on Sunday, probably cost Richmond a chance at a significant boost.

The Eagles were best served by midfielders Tim Kelly (27 and 12 inside 50s) and Dom Sheed (28 and five clearances), while Andrew Gaff impressed after an early injection as the substitute.   

Short wait for sub Gaff
Moved into the substitute role this week as a circuit breaker for his disappointing form, Gaff was thrust into the game late in the first quarter after Ginbey's hamstring injury. The wingman, who has been under pressure after his six-possession game last week against Brisbane, received a cheer from the crowd as he ran on and quickly laid three tackles to show his intent was high, finishing with 24 disposals and five tackles. The best way to highlight Gaff's consistency over his career is through his eight top-10 best and fairest finishes. One of the AFL's best wingman in his prime, he earned two All-Australian selections and a further three nominations between 2015-2020. A strong block of football to close out the season would be one of the little wins West Coast have spoken about in a disappointing season.

Darling gets his 500th
In a season like this, the Eagles need to celebrate what they can and the players took the chance to recognise Jack Darling's achievement when he kicked the 500th goal of his career. The premiership Eagle became just the third player in club history to reach the milestone, joining former teammate Josh Kennedy (712 goals) and dual premiership full-forward Peter Sumich (514). Darling, who entered Sunday with 499 career goals, had looked to snare his 500th early in the second quarter but hit the post. He got there late in the third term when Tim Kelly found him inside 50, converting his set shot from the angle and turning to the crowd to celebrate.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/980797/tigers-do-enough-to-down-eagles-keep-finals-alive

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MATCH REPORT: TIGERS KEEP FINALS HOPES ALIVE

Brad Elborough
HeraldSun
17 July 2023

Richmond is back within striking distance of the top eight.

The Tigers 38-point win over West Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday was not as dominant as others have been against the undermanned Eagles this season.

But it was enough for them to grab 11th spot on the ladder.

With a 6-2 record since Andrew McQualter took control, the Tigers are now lurking dangerously, just two premiership points behind sixth-placed St Kilda and one win adrift of fifth-placed Geelong.

They play Hawthorn at the MCG in the next round.

Whether they have Dustin Martin for that clash will come down to how the MRO views an incident the superstar was involved with behind the play with Eagles defender Alex Witherden in the second term.

It appears Martin connected with an elbow into the midriff of the Eagle, but the force may not have been enough to warrant a suspension.

The Tigers were wasteful in front of goal, in winning 14.14 (98) to 8.12 (60).

They had 3.9 on the scoreboard and led by only 10 points just before half-time before Liam Baker and Ivan Soldo kicked late goals to give them a 22 point lead the main break.

A six-minute run early in the third term, when Richmond kicked 4.0, was the difference in the game.

Richmond is the first of six sides to play the struggling bottom side West Coast for a second time this season.

But it appears that the easy beat tag that the Eagles have held all season, may be no longer.

OWN WORST ENEMY

When Shai Bolton marked and took a set shot on goal within 50 seconds of game starting, it looked like a tough day ahead was coming for West Coast.

Instead, Bolton’s missed shot set the tone for the first half.

The Tigers dominated the opening term, having 18 inside 50 entries in the first quarter.

And they took eight marks within scoring distance.

But they didn’t get the reward that they deserved, with just 2.6 on the scoreboard at the first break.

That put unnecessary pressure on the Tigers who led by just 11 points at the first break.

Daniel Rioli set the tone for effort in defence though. His run was the reason the forwards kept getting their shots on goal. He finished with 31 disposals, at a remarkable 96 per cent efficiency.

Bolton finished with 2.4 from 23 touches and Martin also had 23 disposals, kicking his second goal after the final siren.

SCOREBOARD

EAGLES 1.1 2.5 6.8 8.12 (60)

TIGERS 2.6 5.9 10.13 14.14 (98)

BEST PLAYERS:

Eagles - Kelly, Sheed, Gaff, Duggan, Cole, Cripps.

Tigers - D Rioli, Taranto, Bolton, Martin, Soldo.

GOAL KICKERS:

Eagles - Allen 3; B Williams, Maric, Long, Darling, Duggan

Tigers - Bolton 2, Pickett 2, Martin 2; Taranto, Soldo, Ross, Riewoldt, Prestia, Miller, Baker, McIntosh.

Votes

3 D Rioli (Tigers)

2 Kelly (Eagles)

1 Taranto (Tigers)

https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-west-coast-v-richmond-dustin-martin-under-mro-scrutiny-for-elbow-off-the-ball/news-story/1231dc8330c8d9e1cc2519dce1bb26ee

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Martin’s elbow in MRO spotlight after win in west

Roy Ward
The Age
17 July 2023

Richmond kept themselves in the finals conversation by beating West Coast on Sunday, but the Tigers face a nervous wait on whether veteran star Dustin Martin is cited by the match review officer.

The Tigers kicked seven goals in a row between the second and third terms to lay the foundations for a 38-point win over the bottom-placed Eagles, who were competitive in the first half but couldn’t keep with the visitors when they bolted clear after half-time.

Daniel Rioli’s run from half-back gave the Tigers endless drive into attack, while midfielders Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia and Jacob Hopper all found plenty of football along with Martin and Shai Bolton in the forward line.

The Tigers will go into round 19 with an 8-8-1 record, on level points with 10th-placed Carlton, and within four points of all teams placed fifth to ninth on the ladder (albeit with weak percentage).

But all eyes will be on the match review findings on Monday as Martin, who was among their best on Sunday, remains a vital player in their hopes of a late charge into finals contention.

The Tigers play Hawthorn at the MCG this coming Saturday, followed by Melbourne at the MCG on July 30.

The Eagles lost star first-year midfielder Reuben Ginbey to a hamstring injury in the first term, but the upside was that experienced substitute Andrew Gaff was arguably their best player, making the most of a longer-than-expected stint on the ground.

In a season of frustration, Eagles veteran Jack Darling became the third Eagle to kick 500 career goals when he nailed a set shot in the third term. He received a standing ovation from the Optus Stadium crowd as he joined Josh Kennedy and Peter Sumich in exclusive company at the club.

WEST COAST  1.1 2.5   6.8    8.12 (60)
RICHMOND     2.6 5.9 10.13 14.14 (98)

GOALS:
West Coast: Allen 3, B.Williams, Darling, Maric, Long, Duggan.
Richmond: Pickett 2, Bolton 2, Martin 2, Taranto, Soldo, Ross, Riewoldt, Prestia, Miller, Baker, McIntosh.

BEST:
Richmond: D. Rioli, Taranto, Prestia, Martin, Bolton, Balta, Soldo.
West Coast: Gaff, Kelly, Hurn, Cole, Darling, Allen.

SUBSTITUTES:
West Coast: Andrew Gaff (replaced Reuben Ginbey in the first quarter).
Richmond: Hugo Ralphsmith (replaced Maurice Rioli jnr in the fourth quarter)

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/wouldn-t-be-surprised-if-he-got-a-week-martin-s-elbow-in-mro-spotlight-after-win-in-west-20230715-p5doil.html