Media articles - Tigers chased down by Freo

[one-eyed]

Tigers chased down by Freo
10:24:04 PM Sat 3 June, 2006
Justin Chadwick
Exclusive to richmondfc.com.au

Coming off two fabulous victories, the Tigers were cruelly denied a third in succession against Fremantle at Subiaco on Saturday night, leading until the closing minutes before going down by 11 points.

Richmond led by 14 points at the 12-minute mark of the last quarter before the Dockers launched a frenzied final-quarter comeback, booting four goals in a remarkable seven-minute period to secure the 15.10 (100) to 13.11 (89) win.

The loss worsens Richmond's win-loss record at Subiaco to 4-15, and the club has not tasted success at the venue since 2001 when they defeated the Dockers.

Following fantastic wins over Adelaide and Geelong in the past fortnight, the Tigers entered the match full of confidence, but were unable to respond when Fremantle launched its final-quarter comeback, and will be disappointed to leave Subiaco without the points.

Mark Coughlan was Richmond's biggest ball-winner with 35 possessions, while Shane Tuck (28 touches), Patrick Bowden (24) and Joel Bowden (23) also received plenty of the leather.

Chris Hyde proved a handful with 20 touches and two goals, with Troy Simmonds the only other multiple goalkicker with two goals as well.

Brett Peake was the Dockers' most prolific onballer and finished with 24 touches, while Shaun McManus, Michael Johnson and Steven Dodd were also influential in the win.

Matthew Pavlich made the most of his limited opportunities up forward to finish with three goals, while Brett Peake, Des Headland and Paul Medhurst chipped in with two goals each.

Richmond was dealt a blow during the week with confirmation that spearhead Matthew Richardson (wrist), goalsneak Andrew Krakouer (knee) and young gun Brett Deledio (knee) would be unavailable for the match.

In contrast, Fremantle welcomed back giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands from a broken jaw, and forwards Luke McPharlin and Jeff Farmer, while Des Headland became a surprise late inclusion for the injury-prone Justin Longmuir, the former Lion making a early return from a broken thumb.

The inclusion of Sandilands proved pivotal, collecting 26 hitouts in the ruck to help Fremantle dominate the centre clearances.

Peter Bell started proceedings with a slice of magic at the five-minute mark, dribbling through a fantastic goal while tucked away on the boundary line to the delight of the 36,032 crowd.

However, the captain's night was over just 20 minutes later, when he was forced to the bench with a lower calf injury.

Greg Stafford kick-started Richmond's night when he kicked truly after eight minutes, but late goals to Brett Peake and Matthew Pavlich ensured Fremantle headed into the first break with a six-point lead.

The teams traded majors early in the second term, before Paul Medhurst broke the trend with a fantastic goal on the run from deep inside the right full-forward pocket to give the Dockers a 13-point break.

But Fremantle's momentum was halted as both sides began to apply a heavy flood, with Richmond handling the conditions the better as they slammed home the next three goals to grab the lead.

A late goal to Sandilands stopped the rot, as the teams headed into the main break with scores level at 7.6 apiece. Amazingly, the Dockers absolutely dominated the centre breaks 14-1 in the first half, but could not capitalise on the scoreboard as Richmond's defence held firm.

Richmond shot out of the blocks early in the second, with goals to Chris Hyde and Kayne Pettifer opening up a handy 14-point lead, before the Dockers kicked into action, posting the next three six-pointers to regain the lead at the 14-minute mark.

Des Headland suffered from a moment of madness shortly after, applying a fierce tackle to Pettifer to take the Tiger over the goal line, and was then reported for striking.

With the intensity noticably lifted, it was the Tigers who responded the better, registering the final two goals of the quarter to enter the final break with a nine-point advantage.

Coughlan had the small contingent of Tiger fans cheering loudly when he kicked truly at the three-minute mark, but Peake replied two minutes later to reduce the margin back to nine points.

The next seven minutes became a stand-off, before Tiger debutant Matthew White kicked a fantastic 47m snap across his body to extend the lead out to 14 points.

The game had turned into a scrap, with players from both sides fighting hard for every possession in highly congested conditions, but it was from there the Dockers turned it on.

Matthew Carr began a fantastic period for the Dockers with a successful snap out of a pack, and when Headland threaded one through from a tight angle after Ray Hall was penalised for running too far, the margin was just a point.

Veteran McManus gave the Dockers the lead with a 30m goal on the run, and when Medhurst's snap snuck over the line to extend the lead to 11 at the 25 minute mark, it was game over.

FREMANTLE: 3.4, 7.6, 10.8, 15.10 (100)
RICHMOND: 2.4, 7.6, 11.11, 13.11 (89)

GOALS – Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Peake, Headland, Medhurst 2, McPharlin, Sandilands, Farmer, Bell, M Carr, McManus
Richmond: Simmonds, Hyde 2, Stafford, Kellaway, Tivendale, Foley, P Bowden, Pettifer, Coughlan, Tuck, White

BEST – Fremantle: Johnson, Peake, McManus, Pavlich, Walker, Dodd
Richmond: Coughlan, P Bowden, Hyde, Pettifer, Tuck, Raines

INJURIES – Fremantle: Bell (lower calf)
Richmond: Nil

CHANGES – Fremantle: Longmuir replaced in selected side by Headland
Richmond: Nil

REPORTS - Headland (Frem) reported for striking Pettifer. Pettifer (Rich) reported for striking Peake.

UMPIRES - Vozzo, Davis, Grun
CROWD - 36,032 at Subiaco Oval, Perth

http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=271033

[one-eyed]

Freo surge denies Tigers another upset
03 June 2006 
 Herald Sun
AAP

A LATE surge by Fremantle denied Richmond a third successive AFL upset tonight, the Dockers overcoming a 15-point last-quarter deficit to eventually beat the Tigers 15.10 (100) to 13.11 (89).

With Terry Wallace's tactics frustrating Fremantle players and fans all evening, Matthew White's first AFL goal looked set to send Richmond into the top eight at the expense of their opponents.

But, despite the loss of captain Peter Bell with a calf injury in the first quarter, the Dockers' persistence paid dividends with four unanswered goals in seven last-quarter minutes stealing the points.

Richmond's effort to keep possession and keep the ball in Freo's territory was admirable, with Mark Coughlan and both Bowden's attracting the ball all night.

But without Matthew Richardson, Fremantle always had an extra cutting edge up front and the late goal burst from came after sustained pressure on Richmond's efforts to hog the Sherrin.

Deprived of Richardson, Brett Deledio, and Nathan Brown, Richmond's discipline and workrate needed to be at least equal to its last two weeks, when it provided shocks against Adelaide and Geelong.

After Bell's freak goal from the whitewash on five minutes opened the major scoring, the game settled into a staccato pattern dominated by Richmond's flooding and rebound.

Fremantle's best attacking option was coming from speedy restarts with ease from kick ins and after Pavlich's equaliser, Medhurst and James Walker combined to supply Brett Peake.

The one goal lead at quarter time was badly offset by the absence of Bell whose calf was heavily iced immediately after his exit 24 minutes into the first quarter.

With Coughlan and Patrick Bowden hoovering up possessions, Fremantle decided if they couldn't beat the Tigers' flood they would join it, getting man behind the ball themselves - prompting a goal-for-goal game.

Patrick Bowden's effort was matched by Pavlich and then Simmonds' goal against his old club was cancelled out by McPharlin .

With Fremantle's lead out to 13, back came Richmond with Greg Tivendale goaling from Shane Parker's needless 50m penalty and Nathan Foley's soccer handing Richmond the lead.

The pressure on the scoreboard was translating into Dockers' errors and, after Matthew Carr and Aaron Sandilands spoiled each other, Troy Simmonds kicked his second to extend the advantage.

Sandilands redeemed himself with just his second goal of the year and Matt Carr's frantic kick with seconds remaining levelled the scores at half time.

After leaving Fremantle waiting to restart the second half, the Tigers then left their hosts in their wake, kicking fifteen unanswered points to give them a chance of another upset.

After a desperate start to the quar ter, Coughlan eventually finished off with a hook around the body to secure a fifteen-point lead.

Peake and White's traded majors to keep the Tigers ahead but Freo began to apply huge pressure.

It finally told with Carr's bouncing goal, Headland's true strike, McManus's strike on the ruin and Medhurst's looping shot which Ray Hall insisted he had touched on the line.
 
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19356468%255E20322,00.html

[one-eyed]

Courageous Tigers run out of puff
04 June 2006   Sunday Herald Sun
David Davutovic

 RICHMOND'S brave bid for its third consecutive win came unstuck at Subiaco last night when the Tigers were overrun by Fremantle.
 
The depleted Tigers led by as much as 15 points, but the Dockers dug deep to wear them down.

Fremantle kicked the last four goals of the match, with a Des Headland set shot putting the home side ahead in time-on. Goals to Shaun McManus and Paul Medhurst sealed the 11-point win, which entrenches the Dockers in the eight.

Matthew Pavlich kicked three and Michael Johnson was composed in defence to be the Dockers' best.

Mark Coughlan was sensational for the Tigers and was well supported by Shane Tuck and Greg Tivendale, but they ran out of petrol.

When the Tigers last played in Perth seven weeks ago, they played a disciplined game that forced West Coast outside the corridor, but they could not maintain the pressure in the second half.

It was a similar story last night for the visitors, who were undermanned with the absence of Matthew Richardson (wrist), Nathan Brown (leg), Brett Deledio (knee) and Andrew Krakouer (knee).

It took only two minutes for the Tigers to flood back behind the footy.

Coach Terry Wallace used Greg Stafford, Richard Tambling, Kayne Pettifer and Troy Simmonds out of the goalsquare, but all were under strict instruction to sprint back when Fremantle won possession inside the defensive 50m.

Similarly, the Tigers were urged to stream forward in numbers when they won the ball in deep positions.

Fremantle's task was to pick holes in the Tigers' watertight defensive, as it was against the Kangaroos a fortnight ago.

Peter Bell led by example in the opening minutes and his brilliant dribbled goal after sharking an Aaron Sandilands tap was the first of the game.

Bell accumulated six touches and three clearances by the time he was forced from the ground 22 minutes in with a calf injury. He cut a forlorn figure in the dugout for the next three quarters.

Brett Peake put the Dockers six points ahead with a 30m set shot as Bell was limping off, a lead they carried into the first change.

Fremantle worked hard to open up a 13-point lead 10 minutes into the second term, when Medhurst exposed a mismatch with Darren Gaspar by taking him on and sprinting into the open goal.

But the Dockers then gifted the visitors three consecutive goals, thanks to Shane Parker giving away a 50m penalty, an episode of ball-watching and then lack of talking as Sandilands and Matthew Carr contested the same mark.

The ball finished with Simmonds, who slotted his second to hand the Tigers a seven-point lead.


Chris Hyde kicked two third-quarter goals, the second answering three consecutive majors for the Dockers, then Shane Tuck snapped to hand Richmond a clear edge at the last change.

But with the home crowd behind them the Dockers kicked five goals to the Tigers' two in the last term to prevail.
 
 http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19357125%255E19771,00.html

[mightytiges]

Surprised not one report mentions Polo's mark controversially not being paid and Freo getting the goal to put them in front  ???.

[Ox]

Surprised not one report mentions Polo's mark controversially not being paid and Freo getting the goal to put them in front  ???.

lol
after that decision i dropped 2 stillnox

[one-eyed]

Fremantle's late charge
05 June 2006   
Herald Sun
David Davutovic

RESPECT is a tough thing to earn in the AFL. When the chance is there, you have to grab it.

So it's little wonder Richmond coach Terry Wallace was so disappointed after his team's loss at Subiaco on Saturday night.

The Tigers led by 15 points midway through the last quarter and seemed to have the game under control only to let the Dockers kick the last four goals of the match.

More galling for Wallace was the way the Dockers wound down the clock with short, uncontested footy – a tactic he has used in recent weeks.

Tigers ruckman Troy Simmonds acknowledged the frustration after the game.

"We've been good at it in the last few weeks, doing it against Adelaide and Geelong," Simmonds said.

"Terry pretty much said that. He said we were a better side on the night. They didn't play any better than us. We just cost ourselves, and that is very disappointing."

A win would have allowed the Tigers to leap-frog the Dockers into the eight.

Wallace said: "I just thought with six minutes to go when you're over two kicks in front, you ought to think that you would be able to hold on from there.

"In the last quarter we had some blokes that couldn't get hold of the footy. Our kick numbers went down to almost half of what they were in the early part of the game and they made some poor decisions.

"In the end it was probably that bit of quality up forward that makes the difference. (Matthew) Pavlich chips in for a few, as does (Paul) Medhurst and (Des) Headland and we probably just lacked that bit of quality polish."

The win keeps Fremantle in the eight but coach Chris Connolly was far from satisfied and said the Dockers would concentrate on their kicking at training this week.

"Our basic kicking was frustrating. I know there's a lot of pressure on the players but we need to start getting crisper with our ball use," he said.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19361537%255E19742,00.html