Media articles - Tigers just too good

[one-eyed]

Tigers just too good
4:38:47 PM Sat 10 June, 2006
Matt Burgan
Exclusive to afl.com.au

Richmond has broken a four-match losing streak against the Kangaroos, posting its first win over the Roos since round 21, 2001 with a comfortable 35-point victory at the MCG on Saturday.

The Tigers 15.12 (102) defeated the Roos 9.13 (67), and it was just Richmond's third win from its past 11 encounters with the Kangaroos. The Roos' dominance over Richmond in the modern era extends right back to 1987, with the Kangas winning 23 of 32 matches.

But the victory was yet another tick for the Tigers. After losing their opening three rounds of the season - including a 115-point drubbing courtesy of the Western Bulldogs in round one - Richmond has bounced back strongly.

The Tigers have now won six of their past eight encounters and are teetering on the top-eight in ninth position, after languishing on the bottom at the conclusion of the first four rounds.
 
For the Kangaroos, it was their ninth loss of the season - their fifth consecutive defeat - and it is now their worst start to a season since 1984, when they won just two of their first 16 rounds.

To cap off a disappointing day for the Roos, Jade Rawlings had his number taken after cleaning up Richmond's Richard Tambling with the type of front-on bump that has dominated footy talk this week, while Daniel Wells came off hurt late in the final term.

Yet the day belonged to Richmond. After seven lead changes early in the match, the Tigers took hold of the match at the 13-minute mark of the second term, when Chris Hyde answered. From that point, they never looked back.

Kayne Petttifer was terrific with four goals, while the Bowden brothers - Joel and Patrick - won plenty of the ball with 52 possessions between them. Big man Troy Simmonds continued his underrated season in the ruck, while Andy Kellaway was a fine contributor.

Nathan Brown, in his comeback match - he had not played since round three after difficulties with the leg he broke badly last season - came on at the nine-minute mark of the first quarter and finished the match with two goals and 14 disposals.

Kangaroos forward Nathan Thompson booted five goals - and was clearly his side's best player - while Brent Haryey, Adam Simpson and Daniel Harris all won more than 20 touches for the Roos.

The first major was on the board within the opening minute of the match, when Patrick Bowden slammed one home for the Tigers. And early on, it was goal-for-goal, until Thompson broke the trend with two of his own.

Four lead changes occurred during the first term and the biggest lead was a 10-point advantage to the Kangaroos, yet the Roos should have been further in front, had they not squandered several opportunities in front of goal.

As a result, the Kangas only took a four-point lead into quarter-time, after Pettifer jagged one back for the Tigers just before the first change.

The see-sawing trend continued early in the second term, until Richmond regained the lead at the 13-minute mark. The Tigers then posted three in a row and at half-time held a 14-point lead.

Richmond broke away to a 26-point margin early in the third term, but when Thompson bobbed up with a couple and Corey Jones kicked truly, the deficit was cut back to just eight points.

But Pettifer soon hit back with two of his own and when Andrew Krakouer jagged one just before three-quarter-time, the Tigers were back to out to a 28-point lead.

The final term was a low-scoring affair, with just three goals recorded, which thwarted any thought of a Kangaroos' comeback.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace was pleased that the majority of his younger brigade was able to perform well in the absence of key forward Matthew Richardson and found it hard to fault the work rate of his players after quarter-time.

"I just thought today was a good methodical victory for the footy club," he said.

"We were coming back from a Perth game, we were in a situation where you've got your key player (Richardson) out and you've got your first game back for another of your key players at the club in Nathan Brown."

"There was more emphasis on the younger players being able to step up and do their jobs and they were fairly methodical I thought."

Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley conceded his side's efficiency in front of goal was costly in the wash-up.

"Our goal-kicking … it's to do with the decision-making process, because it's your confidence and when your confidence goes, you try and play safe and you don't play with the free abandon and you've got those shackles on you," Laidley said.

"If you go back to this time last year, those same blokes were kicking the goals and hitting their targets, but confidence is such a wonderful thing."

RICHMOND: 3.2, 7.5, 13.8, 15.12 (102)
KANGAROOS: 3.6, 4.9, 8.10, 9.13 (67)

GOALS - Richmond: Pettifer 4, Brown 2, Meyer 2, P Bowden, Tivendale, Simmonds, Kellaway, Krakouer, Hyde, J Bowden
Kangaroos: Thompson 5, Co. Jones, Green, J Rawlings, Harvey

BEST - Richmond: P Bowden, Simmonds, J Bowden, Pettifer, Deledio, Raines, Tuck, Tivendale
Kangaroos: Thompson, Harris, Wells, Simpson, Pratt, Harvey

INJURIES - Richmond: Kangaroos:

CHANGES - Kangaroos: Firrito (leg) replaced in selected side by Thurley

REPORTS - Kangaroos: Jade Rawlings reported by umpire Shaun Ryan for engaging in rough conduct against Richard Tambling in the first quarter

UMPIRES - Kamolins, Ryan, Nicholls

CROWD - 42,841 at the MCG

http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=272769

[one-eyed]

Tigers workmanlike against Roos
10 June 2006   
Herald Sun
AAP

A DETERMINED Richmond achieved a workmanlike 35-point AFL win over a scrappy Kangaroos side on a cold, foggy day at the MCG today.

The Tigers trailed by four points at quarter-time, but then wore down the 'Roos with their running play, outscoring them in each of the remaining three quarters to win 15.12 (102) to 9.13 (67).

It was Richmond's biggest win of its six victories this season.

Half-forward Kayne Pettifer starred with four goals to continue his strong form, while Nathan Brown kicked two in his comeback match, after missing the past seven games with leg soreness.

For the Kangaroos, big forward Nathan Thompson was excellent, playing a lone hand in attack to kick five goals.

He was unlucky not to have kicked more, hitting the post three times in the final term.

The Kangaroos attacked the match vigorously early and had plenty of the ball in the first quarter, with captain Adam Simpson and Brent Harvey working hard.

But the 'Roos' regular skill errors, indirect play and some poor shooting for goal meant they were unable to make it count for much on the scoreboard.

Their untidy disposal entering attack enabled Richmond brothers Patrick and Joel Bowden to take a heap of marks in defence and provide a huge amount of drive.

Richmond worked its way on top in general play after quarter-time.

Midfield workhorses Mark Coughlan, Nathan Foley, Kane Johnson and Shane Tuck all started to win their share of the ball.

It enabled running players such as Brett Deledio, Andrew Raines, Andrew Krakouer, Danny Meyer, Greg Tivendale and Richard Tambling to slowly take control of the game.

The Kangaroos fought back to within eight points with a three-goal burst inspired by Daniel Wells midway through the third quarter.

But Richmond answered with the final three goals of the term, including two to Pettifer, to lead by 28 points at the last change.

It was only the second match this season in which the Tigers have topped the 100-point mark, a good effort given they were without spearhead Matthew Richardson and Brown played only a minor role.

Kangaroos forward Jade Rawlings was reported, for colliding with Richard Tambling front-on, when the Richmond speedster had his head down over the ball in the first quarter.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19428000%255E20322,00.html

[one-eyed]

Tigers work over wayward Roos
Lyall Johnson
The Age
June 11, 2006

Much of today's football is about work rate.

It's a simple equation. The team that wins is likely to have run the hardest, tackled the fiercest and generally, put in the most effort to do the "team things". Of course, it doesn't hurt either if you kick the straightest at goal, especially when your defenders are helping you do it.

So two scenes in the last quarter yesterday at the MCG were subtle, yet telling, in why the Tigers took the points over the Kangaroos in the freezing fog for the first time since 2001.

In the 17th minute, Kayne Pettifer, who kicked four goals as Richmond's most impressive forward, was in the back-pocket, clearing the ball from defence. Only moments earlier he had contested a mark in his forward pocket.

Two minutes later, Andrew Kellaway, the Tigers' best defender, marked the ball at half-forward. He didn't kick the goal, as he had earlier, one of three key backmen to chalk their name on the scoreboard. Rather it was fellow defender Joel Bowden's goal at the start of the last quarter that effectively sealed the game.

Instructive as those pieces of play were, it was the Tigers' overall team effort that set them apart from the Kangaroos, who now languish at only two wins from 11 starts. The Tigers, however, have tipped the scales into the positive with six wins.

Richmond had few passengers, and, apart from when it trailed through the first quarter, its attack on the football was better, its running in numbers telling and its ability to use the football more consistent than the Kangaroos.

Richmond set the tone for the rest of the game in the second quarter. Trailing by four points, Nathan Brown, with his third kick after coming on to rousing applause in the first quarter, found Kane Johnson who in turn hit Danny Meyer with a lovely pass. For the next five minutes the Tigers worked tirelessly to keep the ball in their forward line and were only defeated on the break when Nathan Thompson marked and kicked his third in only the Roos' second foray inside 50 in eight minutes.

And from there the Tigers took control. Their better leg speed showed when Brett Deledio took a handful of bounces and drove it long to centre half-forward where Chris Hyde converted after being tripped. Deledio was instrumental in the next in finding Brown on the lead, who was mobbed by a dozen teammates after converting to put Richmond eight points up.

Mark Coughlan was impressive, as was Greg Tivendale in his best game of the year, and late in the quarter Kellaway raced forward to mark and kick his only goal.

But if the tone was set in the second, the Tigers iced the game in the third when they booted six goals to four. Showing no signs that he was impeded by his leg, Brown was magnificent and had a hand in two early goals with a deft kick, handball receive and pass to Tivendale, followed by a brilliant backwards handball to Stafford who found Pettifer alone in the goal square. For good measure he then kicked one of his own to propel the Tigers away.

They withstood a mid-quarter charge that saw the Roos close in, then kicked the last three goals of the quarter to lead by 28 points at three-quarter-time, with the game in the bag.

For the Roos, it was an extremely disappointing effort. They looked in the contest only in the first term when they peppered the goal early for little result and then in the third when they kicked three straight to reduce the margin to eight points.

Had it not been for Thompson, the Roos may well have suffered a more humiliating defeat.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/06/10/1149815361725.html

[one-eyed]

Shinboner spirit vanishes
11 June 2006   
Sunday Herald Sun
Scot Palmer

IT was not all doom and gloom for the Kangaroos at the foggy MCG, but the battling club's bright spot lasted only for the opening 10 minutes yesterday.

Based on their display against Richmond, when that us-against-the-rest spirit was in short supply, the sky may be ready to fall in on the Kangas if they fail to come up with the right answers in the second half of the season.

Where was the leg speed, where were the skills and that revered inspirational play the old North Melbourne supporters always look for in times of crisis?

The Kangas are in trouble when they fail to kick any more than 67 points on a perfect MCG surface, on an afternoon with little wind and with most of their best players available.

In four weeks out of five the team that once loved a shootout for big scores hasn't been able to kick above the 60s – tallies that aren't going to win games in today's football.

Richmond did it without its key target, Matthew Richardson. Ten Tigers were among the goals, proving that with clever rotations they can keep the scoreboard ticking over in their favour.

Kayne Pettifer scored four goals yesterday and could not be contained by any of the Kangas coach Dean Laidley shifted on to him.

It is easy to pity Laidley when you see him dragging off his headphones and hitting the coaches' bench as the messages he had hammered into his team this week were not reflected by on-field exploits.

How often do you see Shannon Grant miss a target, hardman Glenn Archer react when he got a "don't argue" palm in the face and when little Brent Harvey failed to make headway for his team with any of his 26 possessions?

Had it not been for Nathan Thompson's solo effort of five goals – and three posters – the game could have been a percentage disaster for the Kangaroos, who face a tough battle to climb from the AFL cellar.

Richmond's advances this year, and there have been many, were enhanced yesterday by the 2 1/2 quarters completed by its injured game-breaker, Nathan Brown, who booted two goals.

But his presence was what counted in the Richmond attack.

From next Sunday, when the Tigers meet Hawthorn, expect Brown to be given even more time.

With Richardson said to returning after the split round, the Tigers can't be overlooked in finals speculation.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace is sure to underline another important issue in Richmond's surge up the ladder – one he may call it the Bowden factor.

Joel and Patrick in tandem – because Joel usually looks for Patrick in clearing the ball – each collected 26 possessions against the Kangaroos.

Joel provided value, too, in his ground coverage. Going by Tiger statistics, he covered something in the vicinity of 575m, while Patrick was not far behind with 483m.

Richmond was able to exploit the Kangaroos' lack of pace and continued to blood players such as Danny Meyer, Richard Tambling and Andrew Raines, giving them advantages a side such as the Roos would love.

While full-back was a problem for the Tigers against Nathan Thompson yesterday, Wallace and his match committee have a bloke named Darren Gaspar looking for another chance.
 
 http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19430915%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Rawlings sweats on hit
11 June 2006   Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph

THE AFL match review panel will be under scrutiny again after Jade Rawlings was reported for a head-high hit on young Tiger Richard Tambling in Richmond's commanding 35-point win yesterday.

The Tigers had too much leg speed and polish in Nathan Brown's comeback match, but all the talk afterwards was about Rawlings' clumsy attempt to tackle Tambling in the first quarter.

While the force was not severe, Rawlings clearly collected Tambling with his head over the ball and was charged with engaging in rough play by field umpire Shaun Ryan.

He could not have picked a worse time to test the match review panel's mood, with debate at fever pitch in the wake of Collingwood forward Blake Caracella's neck injury last week.

Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley would not be drawn on the incident last night.

"I haven't seen the incident and I am sure it will get looked after in due course," he said.

The panel will convene tomorrow, and could also consider Jimmy Bartel's late hit on Damien Peverill from Friday's match.

Meanwhile, Richmond looks set to be firmly entrenched in the top eight by the split round, after surging to 6-5 and with Hawthorn to come at the controversial Aurora Stadium next week.

While the Tigers won their first game for the year by a margin greater than 20-points, coach Terry Wallace said a win against Hawthorn would be critical.

"It is very important for us. We don't underestimate anyone and we just go out and do the job week in and week out. But if you have a look at our run in the six weeks after the break, it's a pretty tough old run," he said.

"It goes something like Collingwood, Port Adelaide over there (AAMI Stadium), Melbourne, Sydney in Sydney (SCG), St Kilda and the Bulldogs. We need to be in the right sort of shape leading into that to have a crack at those."

Richmond was best served by in-form ruckman Troy Simmonds, Brett Deledio and the Bowden brothers, while Brown made a successful comeback from his broken leg with 14 touches and two goals.

Nathan Foley clamped down on Daniel Harris, Chris Newman tagged Shannon Grant out of the game and Dean Polo's tagging job on Daniel Wells was excellent early.

The Kangaroos have more than the Rawlings' report to worry about – yesterday's loss was their first five-match losing streak since 1992.

Despite the club's injury list being close to non-existent, it is bereft of confidence and was only kept in the game by Nathan Thompson's superb 5.4, including three posters.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19431401%255E19771,00.html

[one-eyed]

Richmond's brotherly blitz
11 June 2006   Sunday Herald Sun
Mark Harding

FOOTY has certainly changed. There was a time when the team that had the stand-out forward of the match, the better midfield, won the clearances and entered the forward 50m more often would almost certainly be the winner.

Not any more. Richmond outran the Kangaroos at the MCG and outsmarted the opposition with its brand of football 2006-style.

The Tigers took a big step forward yesterday, moving into the eight, albeit temporarily, but more importantly proving they can play four quarters of even, committed and honest football.

For a change, they went in as favourites, but did not buckle under expectations. They won minus Matthew Richardson, but with the Bowden brothers, Joel and Patrick, combining brilliantly in defence.

They won after returning from a Perth trip with excellent contributions from several of their bright young stars, who will be with them for a decade. And they won with a touch of Nathan Brown inspiration.

Brown eased into the game off the bench and in racing parlance will be better for the run. But he played 10 minutes of stunning footy early in the third term, breaking the game open for the first time, kicking a goal and having a key role in two others.

Added to an earlier goal, it was a stylish comeback, which drew rave reviews from the fans, who cheered when he ran into play and cheered when he was rested. This adopted son is much loved at Tigerland.

So, too, must be the coach, who again took the honours in strategies, closing down the space in the Roos' forward line and getting his players to change the tempo of the game to suit themselves.

The best example came late in the third quarter after Kayne Pettifer had kicked his fourth goal with the aid of a 50m penalty against the inexperienced Joshua Gibson. Instead of Pettifer returning to the forward line, he and several other Tiger forwards suddenly moved into defence for the next centre bounce.

It created vast spaces in the Tiger forward 50m, which they were able to exploit when Troy Simmonds gave the "don't argue" to Glenn Archer and got the ball to Andrew Krakouer, who ran into the open goal.

The Tigers had stolen a goal and went into the final break on a high with a 28-point lead.

Pettifer was also a great player all day – he was much too nippy for Leigh Brown in the first term. While there was an element of luck to a couple of his goals, he picked up 22 possessions and looked dangerous.

But the best forward player on the ground was Nathan Thompson, who tried heroically against the odds, kicking five goals and taking as many contested marks as the Richmond team. Thompson's marks had to be contested because the forward line was congested. He lined up on Ray Hall while Joel Bowden took Jade Rawlings.

Bowden was magnificent, continually leaving his man to fall back into Thompson's space and cutting off attack after attack. If he wasn't thwarting the Roos, it was Patrick.

Between them they had 52 possessions and took 19 marks. They were ably assisted by Andrew Kellaway, who also ran forward on occasions to provide another option in attack for the Tigers.

The Roos seemingly had Thompson – and no other options. When Terry Wallace was forced to move Joel Bowden on to Thompson, it should have given the Roos some heart. But it was a win for the Tigers because Thompson didn't kick another goal and Bowden was able to provide the bulk of his team's rebounds.


Kangaroo midfielders Adam Simpson and Daniel Harris were fine contributors and Brent Harvey won his wing battle with Greg Tivendale. But too many of their mates were missing in action or lacked the skill to deliver the ball to the forwards.

They were hurt numerous times by turnovers or lost opportunities which instead of resulting in goals led to a 12-point swing with a Tiger goal. A weak tackle by Daniel Wells in the first term and a Drew Petrie clanger in the second term were prime examples.

Wells was tagged by Dean Polo. The Roo had flashes of brilliance and improved after half-time, but Polo picked up just as much of the ball and broke even on the day. For the Tigers, that was a win.

Danny Meyer in only his 10th game, kicked two goals and showed that along with Brett Deledio, Andrew Raines, Nathan Foley and Polo there is lot better to come from the Tigers in 2007 and beyond.

As for this year, believe it or not, they are a genuine finals chance.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,19430922%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

High bump back on agenda
Emma Quayle and Rohan Connolly
The Age
June 11, 2006

THE legitimacy of head-high contact will be debated by the match review panel again this week, after Kangaroo Jade Rawlings was yesterday reported for a high hip-and-shoulder on Richmond youngster Richard Tambling.

Rawlings, who was booked for rough conduct during the first quarter of Richmond's 35-point win at the MCG, bent to bump Tambling as the onballer tried to gather a loose ball on the Tigers' half-back flank, and made contact with his head.

He will come under scrutiny a week after Collingwood player Blake Caracella was taken to hospital with a serious neck injury after a clash with former Brisbane Lions teammate Tim Notting, which the match review panel deemed accidental and within the rules.

Tambling got straight up to take his free kick after the collision and played out Richmond's win.

Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley would not comment on his player's potential fate. "I haven't seen the incident. I'm sure it will get looked after in due course," he said.

Laidley, who lamented his side's reliance on five-goal forward Nathan Thompson, said he was still unsure of his best line-up and would play six or seven more players in the second half of the season.

Yesterday's match left the Roos languishing with two wins and nine losses for the season, but propelled Richmond to ninth.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace praised ruckman Troy Simmonds' potential All-Australian form, saying next week's match against Hawthorn would determine which players wanted spots for their tough six matches after the split round. He was satisfied with Nathan Brown's two-goal return.

The Kangaroos have today and tomorrow off ahead of their split-round break next weekend.

Laidley said he would stick with young forward Chad Jones and give the likes of Blake Grima and Ben Schwarze chances in the midfield after the break.

"I think what you do now is you know who you go with and who you won't. The best team, that's going to be a real juggling act at least for the second half of this year and early parts of next year," Laidley said.

"To be honest, I don't know what our best side is at the moment. We've played 31 or 32 players now, and for the past three or four years we've played 33 or 34 players. We'll probably play close to 40 players this year."

Brown felt some apprehension about returning to his in-form team. He said he would probably not have played in round one, in hindsight, but had pulled up well and hoped to increase his output.

"Everyone loves to be out there for the full 100 minutes and I certainly would have loved to have been out there a bit more today, but we've got to manage it," Brown said.

"I think we'll step it up week by week. I probably would have played 60 per cent of the game today, so I'd be looking to bump that up by 10 per cent every week as we go.

"Hopefully the leg feels good and pulls up well from training and playing, and then hopefully in three or four or five weeks I'm not having to come off all the time."

Wallace was pleased with his team's increasing ability to switch between the Tigers' three different game plans in the course of matches. He was also happy they had beaten a side that had toppled them in their past four matches.

Wallace said next week's clash against Hawthorn in Launceston was crucial in setting Richmond up for a demanding six-week stretch after the break. The Tigers play Collingwood, Port Adelaide in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney at the SCG, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs after the Hawks match.

"If you have a look at our run, it's a pretty tough old run. It's a pretty tough six weeks so we need to be in the right sort of shape leading into the break to really have a crack at those," Wallace said. "We've sort of said to our guys, if you want to play in some big games and really get to enjoy them, you've got to do the right thing in the lead-up."

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/06/10/1149815361689.html