Media Articles and Stats: Tigers keep finals hopes alive

[one-eyed]

Tigers keep finals hopes alive
richmondfc.com.au
By Ben Broad
7:48 PM Sun 15 June, 2008

Richmond       3.6       11.13    13.15     16.20 (116)
Melbourne       5.3        6.5        11.8       14.10 (94)

GOALS
Richmond: Richardson 5, Brown 3, Morton 2, Cotchin, Hyde, Polak, Simmonds, Tuck, White
Melbourne: Miller 3, Bartram 2, Bruce 2, Davey 2, Bate, Garland, Green, White, Wonaeamirri

BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Deledio, Brown, Tuck, Cotchin, Polak
Melbourne: Bruce, Wheatley, McLean, Miller, White, Garland

INJURIES
Richmond: tbc
Melbourne: tbc

Reports: tbc
Umpires: Sully, M.Nicholls, Ryan
Official crowd: 27,348 at Telstra Dome


RICHMOND has kept its finals hopes alive with a hard-fought 22-point win over Melbourne in an extraordinary game at Telstra Dome.

The Tigers looked headed for a certain victory after an eight-goal second quarter established what seemed a match-winning lead.

But the Demons wouldn’t lie down, fighting back bravely in the second half only to fall short as Richmond celebrated Nathan Brown’s 200th game in style, winning 16.20 (116) to 14.10 (94).

Matthew Richardson was clearly the star of the night for Richmond, booting five goals and taking a staggering 18 marks to earn best afield honours.

Brett Deledio and Shane Tuck also shone in a see-sawing match, while first-year star Trent Cotchin again impressed with his poise and clean hands.

However in the end it was the Tigers’ second-quarter blitz that proved the difference.

The victory could not have come at a better time for those at Punt Road, whose confidence was in dire need of a boost after disappointing results in recent weeks.

Fittingly, a right-foot curling snap from milestone man Brown helped steady the Tigers after Melbourne closed to within just eight points in the final term and looked to be making all the running.

Mitch Morton, reaffirming the faith showed in him by his coach, then put the issue beyond doubt with a long bomb a minute later.

Earlier, the Demons started in spirited fashion, jumping to an early lead as star ballwinners Brock McLean and Cameron Bruce led from the front in the early exchanges.

And when key forward Brad Miller booted a long bomb from wide out just two minutes into the second term Dean Bailey’s men – who led by as much as 21 points in the first term – extended their quarter-time lead to 15 points.

But from then on the first half belonged to Richmond.
The Tigers, helped by some Deledio dash, started to win the ball from the middle and once they got it anywhere near Richo, he seemed to do the rest or at least help others get into the action.

Brown booted two for the second term, Cotchin capped his good work with a major, Jack Riewoldt took a hanger and even Graham Polak found his range.

Perhaps the only downside to an otherwise near-perfect 30 minutes for Wallace’s men was Troy Simmond’s continued waywardness in front of goal, the big man butchering his second attempt for the match from point-blank range.

It had seemed hard to fathom early in the second quarter, but at the long change – after kicking 8.7 to 1.2 for the term – the Tigers led by 38 points.

Melbourne showed plenty of pluck to fight back with five goals to two in the third term.

Paul Wheatley, Bruce and Miller helped lead the revival, but ultimately Richmond always had a little too much in the bank.

And Richardson, wherever he roamed on the field, proved a menace.

The Tigers travel to AAMI Stadium next Saturday efternoon to take on a struggling Port Adelaide side, while the Demons meet the Sydney Swans at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Sunday.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/6301/Default.aspx?newsId=61518

[one-eyed]

Tigers seal points
AAP | June 15, 2008 07:59pm

RICHMOND held off a second-half comeback from Melbourne to win their AFL match by 22 points tonight at Telstra Dome.

The Demons twice closed to within eight points in the final term before the Tigers steadied to win 16.20 (116) to 14.10 (94).

Richmond utility Matthew Richardson continued his outstanding form with 18 marks and five goals.

The two teams showed why they are entrenched in the bottom eight, as the Tigers failed to kill off Melbourne despite eight-straight goals in the second term.

Likewise, the Demons fought back hard in the second half, but lacked the poise and system to overrun the Tigers.

Two of Richmond's best players tonight, Shane Tuck and Nathan Brown, combined for a crucial goal midway through the last term that extended Richmond's lead to 15 points.

Tuck's slick handball found Brown, playing his 200th game, who snapped his third goal under plenty of pressure in his 200th AFL match.

It was Richmond's fourth win of the season.

The Tigers were well on the way to blowing the game apart in the second term when they kicked eight-straight goals to lead by 32 points.

But they closed out the half with six behinds in a row, meaning the Demons were not quite out of the game.

It took 11 minutes for the opening goal of the third term and it went to Melbourne's Colin Garland, as the Demons slowly wrestled back the momentum.

They kicked the next two before Aaron Davey took a towering mark over Richardson.

He then goalled, Davey's second in a row, and when Brad Miller's booming shot from outside 50 went through the Demons were only 13 points down.

But three minutes later, Richardson moved up from defence and took a brilliant diving mark, with his long goal meaning the Tigers went into three-quarter time with a 19-point lead.

Earlier, the game had swung dramatically - Richmond kicked the opening goal of the match in the first 30 seconds, then Melbourne took control to lead by 21 points late in the first quarter.

But Richardson kicked two goals from marks, meaning the Tigers only trailled by nine points at the first change.

After Miller opening the second term with his first goal, again a 50m-plus bomb, the Tigers went on their rampage.

Richardson kicked another two goals, Tuck had a series of centre clearances and Brett Deledio cut Melbourne to pieces with a succession of scything runs through the midfield.

This was an important game for the two teams, despite the Tigers sitting 12th on the ladder and the Demons looking set for the wooden spoon.

Richmond badly needed a win after successive thrashings from Sydney and Adelaide, while last week Demons legend Jim Stynes took over from Paul Gardner as club chairman.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23867065-5015610,00.html

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals:     317 - 362
Efficiency%:    78 - 77
Kicks:           187 - 227
Handballs:    130 - 135
Con. Marks:    12 - 7
Uncon.Marks:  93 - 136
Tackles:          42 - 54
Clearances:     35 - 29
Clangers:        35 - 42
Frees:               8 - 18 
Con. Possies:   91 - 88
Uncon.Possies: 227 - 273
Inside 50s:      56 - 46
Assists:            26 - 15

Individual Stats

player                       D EFF% K H  G B CM UM T CL C

3 Deledio, B              29   83 13 16 0 0 1   9 3 4 0
21 Tuck, S                26   88 13 13 1 0 0   3 4 11 2
7 Brown, N               21   71 15   6 3 2 0   7 0 2 2
12 Richardson, M      21   95 13   8 5 0 4 14 1 0 1
30 Tambling, R         18   67 10   8 0 1 0   4 3 0 2
13 McMahon, J          17   88 13   4 0 1 0   2 1 1 0
41 Foley, N               16   88   5 11 0 0 0   2 1 3 2
6 Polak, G                 15   93   7   8 1 0 1  5 0 0 2
9 Cotchin, T              14   64   6   8 1 2 0  3 1 3 2
40 Moore, K              14   86 10   4 0 0 0  4 2 1 1
8 Riewoldt, J             14   57   8   6 0 1 1  6 2 0 3
11 Bowden, J            13   92   5   8 0 1 0  2 2 1 1
23 Jackson, D           12   67   9   3 0 0 0  1 2 2 3
20 Morton, M            12   83   8   4 2 1 0  3 3 0 0
1 Newman, C            11 100 10   1 0 0 0  3 0 1 1
29 Oakley-Nicholls, J 11   73   6   5 0 0 0  6 1 0 0
16 McGuane, L          10   80   7   3 0 0 1  5 1 0 3
25 Schulz, J               9   56   7   2 0 3 2  4 3 0 2 
35 White, M               9   78   7   2 1 0 0  3 6 2 2   
26 Pattison, A            8   63   4   4 0 0 0  2 2 2 3   
31 Hyde, C                6   67   3   3 1 0 0  1 3 0 2

player FF FA CP UP I50 A   
   
3 Deledio, B              0 0   7 21 7 3       
21 Tuck, S                0 1 10 16 4 2     
7 Brown, N               0 0   4 16 5 4       
12 Richardson, M      2 0   7 14 1 1       
30 Tambling, R         0 1   2 16 5 1     
13 McMahon, J          0 0   0 17 3 1     
41 Foley, N               2 2 10   6 2 1       
6 Polak, G                 1 2   5 10 0 0       
9 Cotchin, T              0 1   7   7 1 1       
40 Moore, K              0 0   4 10 0 0       
8 Riewoldt, J            1 0   5   9 4 2     
11 Bowden, J            0 1   2 11 0 1       
23 Jackson, D           0 1   2 10 5 1       
20 Morton, M            0 0   2 10 5 3       
1 Newman, C            1 1   4   7 3 0       
29 Oakley-Nicholls, J 0 0   1 10 0 0       
5 Simmonds, T         0 1   4   7 4 1     
16 McGuane, L          0 3  4   5 0 0       
25 Schulz, J             0 1   3   6 4 0       
35 White, M             0 0   2   7 2 2       
26 Pattison, A          1 2   4   4 1 1     
31 Hyde, C              0 1   2   4 0 1

http://superstats.heraldsun.com.au/gamestatslive/5015610.html

[jackstar]

Who wrote the first article, Ben Broad ?? Richmond  keep there finals hopes alive

[one-eyed]

Demons missing 16 minutes and it's game lost
Len Johnson | The Age | June 16, 2008

FOR Richard Nixon, there was the notorious 18½-minute gap on the Watergate tapes. For Ray Milland, in the movie of an alcoholic's drinking binge, it was The Lost Weekend.

To those infamous real and fictional periods during which we don't know what really happened, we can now add the 16 minutes of the second quarter yesterday when Melbourne went missing and lost a game of football to Richmond.

Just on six minutes into the second quarter, Cameron Bruce had a shot to put Melbourne 21 points up. At the 22-minute mark, Nathan Brown kicked a goal to put the Tigers 26 points ahead; 10 minutes later, had Jay Schulz kicked accurately after the siren, Richmond would have been seven goals up.

The observable facts were these: Bruce missed his set shot from 30 metres on an insignificant angle. Brown swooped on the ball in the half-forward line, wheeled across the 50-metre arc into space and snapped accurately around the body, his kick shepherded through by Matthew Richardson.

In between, a fleet-footed pack of Tigers, led by Brett Deledio, Nathan Foley and Shane Tuck, marauded freely through the middle of Telstra Dome, untroubled by their nominal opponents, as Richmond added 7.1 to a solitary point.

That point, a desperate snap by Adem Yze, was at least evidence that Melbourne was still playing. As to precisely what happened in the intervening 16 minutes, however, we await the efforts of the archivists, the historians or even the archaeologists. It was beyond mere spectators to figure it out.

That should have been that. But there were more twists in the tale of an unlikely game. Deep in the third quarter, it took a "Richo" angled sprint from the wing to inside 50, a mark taken diving full-stretch from a superb kick across the centre square by Jordan McMahon, and the Tiger star's fifth goal to push the lead back out to 19 points. In the final term, Melbourne came even closer as it pressed for its second win of the seasons, a goal by Austin Wonaeamirri bringing the deficit back to only eight points.

But it was not to be for the Demons. Brown's third goal, a cool conversion from a tight angle by Mitch Morton and a conversion straight out of the centre by Tuck got Richmond home by 21. The maths was damning for the Demons: 16 minutes gone missing, 22 points short on the scoreboard.

Richardson took two marks in the defensive goal square in the closing minutes, pushing his tally to an amazing 18 for the game. He kicked five goals at one end, but he took marks all over the place as he continued the free-ranging role that has revitalised him from a seemingly almost-spent force to a match winner. He even got into the charitable atmosphere, his contribution being to provide the unwilling platform for Aaron Davey to launch himself skywards for the mark of the day and a goal that brought Melbourne to within 19 points during the third term.

The last quarter started with the game very much a contest. Richmond fans roared when Brown snapped a goal to start the final term, then howled their disapproval when the umpire ruled the ball had been thrown to him. A free to Jeff White when Adam Pattison cannoned into him at a forward-line ruck contest a minute or two later brought Melbourne within 13 points.

Wonaeamirri, perhaps thinking that Davey took "speccies" all the time, gave his teammate a difficult mark to take at centre half-forward. As if to show him how it should be done, Davey then speared a low pass back to Wonaeamirri and the margin was back to eight points.

Trent Cotchin, with a set shot from 40 metres on a tight angle, and Joel Bowden, with a pressured snap, now missed for Richmond. But Brown's goal pushed the lead out to 15 points.

There were no more surprises and Richmond won with a degree of comfort.

The Tigers' fourth win of the season (along with a draw), their first since round nine against Essendon, and their first at Docklands since round 20, 2006, has left them if not exactly poised outside the top eight, at least within sight of it.

BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Deledio, Brown, Tuck, Tambling, Cotchin.

THE UPSHOT
When Richmond defeated Essendon in round nine, Terry Wallace said the Tigers had to beat teams they were expected to. They did it again yesterday, but only just. Had they faltered, you could have bet your bottom dollar the manure trucks would have been on their way again to Punt Road Oval this morning.

TALKING POINT
Umpire Mathew Nicholls was pole-axed by Richmond's Shane Tuck in the third term as he reversed out of a centre bounce. He hit the deck winded and badly shaken. However, replays show Melbourne's Brock McLean will probably be in strife with the judiciary for deliberately pushing Tuck into Nicholls' path.

HOT AND COLD
Former No. 1 draft pick Brett Deledio has clearly taken a step up this season and was one of the best afield last night. However, Joel Bowden may well be wondering whether the sound he's hearing is the selectors' axe being sharpened.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfmatchreport/demons-missing-16-minutes-and-its-over/2008/06/15/1213468242313.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[one-eyed]

Demons lack a saviour like Richo
Peter Hanlon | The Age | June 16, 2008

MELBOURNE, it has become crushingly apparent of late, is a football club in need. It needs money, as much as $4.5 million to clear its debt. It needs members, many more than the 300 or so who have signed up since Jim Stynes began his rebirth presidency last week.

It needs people with belief and patience, so that Dean Bailey can bring on the likes of Cale Morton, Colin Garland, Clint Bartram and Nathan Jones, and see off those deemed surplus to future requirements.

It needs many more sustained periods of intensity married to adventure, such as last night's third quarter, which reaped five goals and effected a stunning change of direction to a contest that seemed all but won by Richmond, courtesy of an equally devastating burst of one-way traffic before half-time.

But for a couple of fumbles at untimely moments, the Demons might have pulled off the sort of win young men dream of telling their grandkids about. That they didn't can largely be put down to something else they need, or rather someone, and in coveting him they are surely not alone.

Matthew Richardson could, by now, have a doctorate in how to plug away in a rebuilding team without losing faith (and only occasionally losing your rag). The Tigers have missed the finals in 13 of his 15 seasons, yet at 33, his football is more joyously optimistic than ever. Witnessing his commitment at close range week-in, week-out is the greatest tutorial his young teammates will ever attend. His 2008 has been a celebration, and last night may well have garnered another three Brownlow votes. Perhaps the umpires looked elsewhere, to the barnstorming Brett Deledio, the sublime Nathan Brown, or Melbourne's Cam Bruce or Paul Wheatley. Fair enough, but none matched Richo's penchant for the timely intervention.

Having begun on a wing, he saw the Demons kick 21 points clear, so journeyed forward to mark at full stretch, his marker Matthew Warnock bearing down. Deep in the pocket, his 45-metre kick was never in doubt.

Not two minutes later, he spotted Warnock hypnotically drawn to a half-clearance, so hung back in the goal square, and was on the end of Nathan Foley's kick after Matt White's tackle stripped Bartram of the ball.

He added two more in the second — and two assists with big goal-square shepherds that saw home two Brown goals — and delved into a spot of orchestral crowd work after thumping home his second, having stepped in from the pocket, righted himself and let fly.

Yet his fifth and last was his best, coming as Melbourne clawed its way to within 13 points. Having spent much of the quarter in defence trying to stem the rising tide, Richardson took off down the railway wing, caught the free-wheeling Jordan McMahon's eye, and threw every sinew of his 195-centimetre, 104-kilogram frame at the ball, marking in his fingertips at full stretch.

A swing of his famously jittery right leg, and the wolves were pushed a little further away from Richmond's door. It was his 778th career goal, equalling Kevin Bartlett's career tally, with only the great Jack Titus' 970 before him at Punt Road.

His last quarter was again played everywhere and with every ounce of his being, best illustrated when he hurled himself at a boundary-bound ball as if the line was a cliff-edge and his reason for being could disappear over it. He got up clutching his knee and hobbled back for more.

He had been there when the game needed to be won, and was there when it cried out to be saved, too. His 17th and 18th marks were taken on the very last line of defence.

Melbourne was never going to be marked harshly on last night's performance, so long as it put its head over the ball and had a crack. Richmond was a different story.

Had the Tigers capitulated, football's focus would have been trained squarely on coach Terry Wallace, who will enjoy a calmer week than he might have and, for that, he can also give thanks to Richo.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/demons-lack-a-saviour-like-richo/2008/06/15/1213468242277.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[one-eyed]

Burst buys Tigers a little breather
Jon Anderson | Herald-Sun | June 16, 2008

RICHMOND'S ability to kick eight goals in 15 minutes and just one in the next 35 was entirely appropriate at Telstra Dome last night.

To be genuinely fraudulent you must first promise something, and the Tigers are good at that.

To ram home eight goals in the second quarter showed they can play football, but just a reminder to supporters - the bad times are only ever minutes away.

Maybe it's what sorts the wheat from the chaff when you are talking about the Tigers and teams such as Hawthorn and Geelong.

It's called consistency and the only consistency Richmond finds on a regular basis is inconsistency.

In fairness, that happens with young sides, although you sometimes fear it is terminal at Punt Rd.

In beating Melbourne last night, the Tigers did nothing to answer the doubters except buy themselves breathing space for another week.

If you follow Richmond you would have left the Dome last night satisfied that Brett Deledio is living up to the No. 1 draft tag that he has had to wear for 3 1/2 years and Nathan Brown continues to get back to somewhere near his sublime best.

And anyone who doubts that Matthew Richardson is a champion of the game should get a tape of last night's game.

Richo willed his 33-year-old body to enough contests to gather 18 marks, kick five goals and surely add another three Brownlow votes to what would be a fairytale medal.

There is nothing to suggest that Richardson won't play another one, two or even three seasons because of his extraordinary athleticism and the ability to mark like few before him.

And just to complete the package, he even delivered a vintage Richo spray when Troy Simmonds failed to handball to him in the goalsquare in the first quarter.

Shane Tuck was a key component with 11 clearances and Richard Tambling worked into the game when given a running role out of defence.

The Dees couldn't take too much out of the match. Cale Morton proved yet again he can play, as did Colin Garland and Matthew Warnock.

Sometimes it's hard to know what Melbourne's on-field direction is.

Not having a key forward of any obvious stature makes the job of coach Dean Bailey that much harder, although Brad Miller at least presented last night.

Before Richmond began its eight-goal blitz in the second quarter, the first half encapsulated most of what is bad in our game.

Players regularly hit targets lace-out, the only problem being they were opponents.

Space was plentiful and pressure a dirty word.

Whatever credits Melbourne had bought by competitive performances against Collingwood and Hawthorn in recent weeks were eliminated in 20 minutes of the second quarter.

The Tigers then kicked six straight behinds to end the term and if the game wasn't over at halftime, it should have been.

The day is best summed up by Melbourne in the first half managing one contested mark and 14 hardball gets but committing 24 clangers.

And the Demons know how to make the errors count more than most.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23868894-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Richo gallant again, this time in victory
Mike Sheahan
June 16, 2008

NO WONDER they love him.

Matthew Richardson got Richmond home again last night, this time in a game critical to the immediate future of so many at Punt Rd.

With the game against Melbourne slipping away in the first quarter, Richo made the first of his statements of intent.

Typically, it involved an outstanding mark. Not so typically, it led to a superb conversion from a testing angle.

He repeated the effort 90 seconds later.

So, after trailing 33-12 two minutes before quarter-time, the Tigers were able to halt the Demon momentum and gather themselves at the break.

Richmond ran riot in the second quarter and built a six-goal lead before Melbourne issued a spirited challenge in the third quarter.

Just before three-quarter time, with Melbourne surging and the margin back to 13 points, Richo marked and goaled yet again.

Melbourne were to get within eight points, but the Tigers steadied and skipped away to a 22-point win.

Richo finished with 18 marks - including two on the defensive goal-line in the final five minutes - and five goals. Five straight.

At 33, he may not be quite as quick as he was, yet he is more rounded, more reliable.

As of last night, he also is joint second with Kevin Bartlett on the list of Richmond's greatest goalkickers. They are on 778, behind only Jack Titus, who kicked 970 from 294 games.

The Tigers got a fright last night in the game they simply had to win, but they got what they needed.

While Richo and 200-game veteran Nathan Brown kicked 50 per cent of the 16 goals, there was a lot to like about the younger element of the team.

Brett Deledio had another big game with 29 possessions and plenty of run, while Mitch Morton and Trent Cotchin have a welcome splash of class about their work, and Richard Tambling looked comfortable in defence.

Melbourne played with plenty of endeavour, as you might expect after the off-field events of the week.

The Demons looked like they were going to run all over the tired Tigers in the last term, but they tailed off a fraction and had to be content with another spirited loss.

They matched Richmond in contested possessions and laid more tackles, a popular indicator of attitude in 2008.

Good signs generally, including Aaron Davey's lively return.

Richmond has edged up to 11th place after 12 rounds. Its next four weeks will tell all.

The Tigers play Port Adelaide (AAMI Stadium), Carlton, West Coast (Subiaco) and Essendon.

If they are to take a significant step forward this year, they should be aiming at three wins from that sequence, which would put them in finals contention.

While Richo stays fit and in the form he has been in this year, it's not out of the question.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/1,9191,23868895-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Dees play with loose change
Mark Hayes | Herald-Sun | June 16, 2008

JIM Stynes admitted distress when he saw the true state of Melbourne's finances on Friday.

But the new Demons chairman must have been mortified last night when he realised his football coffers were virtually empty.

He has high hopes the once-proud Demons will trade out of their financial plight, but any accountant in his football department would file for bankruptcy.

With an eye only on the scores, it's arguably harsh to put a line through a team that lost by just 22 points and loomed within a couple of kicks midway through the final term.

But when you dissect the nature of the defeat, it is nothing but fitting.

Stynes the player was ferocious. He never gave anything less than 100 per cent and expected nothing less from those around him.

His face must have been ashen last night when Richmond effectively played 20 minutes of footy to roll over the hapless Dees, who again relied on far too few to get the job done.

Even worse, it was the old guard of Cameron Bruce and Paul Wheatley who were largely responsible for the flattering scoreline, again raising concern about the club's medium-term on-field future.

As tough and talented as those blokes have been, it is hard to see Stynes' new board garnering massive corporate support or fan interest based on their output.

Brock McLean and the gritty Nathan Jones typically tried hard in the middle; Colin Garland and Clint Bartram showed presence in brief flashes around the ground; Cale Morton won a lot of footy; and Aaron Davey did enough to fill his customary highlight reel.

But in between, a litany of errors with hands, feet and, most critically, in decisions, killed any hope of the Dees' second victory for the season against a team that, let's not forget, won the wooden spoon last year.

When coach Dean Bailey begins his review today, he will be appalled at a string of glaring deficiencies.

Nine minutes into the third quarter last night, Garland took Melbourne's second contested mark of the night. Yes, the third quarter.

Sadly, in the same passage of play two kicks later, the Tigers marked outside 50 and broke free in the other direction.

Morton, as valiant as he was, accumulated just 16 ranking points despite 20 touches - a staggering nine ineffective or clanger disposals butchering his value to the team.

But in the critical second term, when Richmond blew the match apart in 20 withering minutes, the most damning errors were probably mental when Brett Deledio and Shane Tuck masterminded the Dees' demise.

Tuck had five centre clearances in 10 minutes and Deledio 12 disposals for the quarter, along with eight running bounces.

Five of those came in one scintillating run from the back pocket straight up the middle of the Dome.

Their dominance was plain to all, yet nobody in red and blue took it on themselves to stand in their path.

But aside from Matthew Richardson's best-afield heroics and Nathan Brown's three goals in his 200th match, the Tigers would be wise not to celebrate too heartily.

Coach Terry Wallace was happy his team pegged back an early deficit, then steadied as Melbourne came again late.

But had his charges' error-laden performance come against anyone else, the penalty might have been stiffer.

It's a sad indictment on the gap between footy's haves and have-nots this season that Richmond is still within sight of the eight after wins against only Fremantle, Essendon, Carlton and now the Demons.

As for the Dees, they probably did enough to paper over the widening cracks that surely have Stynes wondering about the size of the task ahead.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/1,9191,23869419-19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Pics from the game from aflphotos.com.au:

http://www.gspimages.com.au/photography/results/?q=collection:AFL%202008%20Rd%2012%20-%20Richmond%20v%20Melbourne&sub_code=all&per_page=100

[Stripes]

Thanks as always One-eyed!