Media articles and Stats: Tigers' season ends on a high

[one-eyed]

Season ends on a high
richmondfc.com.au
By Ben Casanelia
4:38 PM Sun 31 August, 2008

DETAILS

Melbourne    2.1    3.1      4.4        6.5 (41)
Richmond     2.5    8.9    12.10    18.13 (121)

GOALS
Melbourne: White 2, Green, Holland, Sylvia, Whelan
Richmond: Deledio 4, Bowden 3, Jackson 2, Riewoldt 2, Connors, Foley, McMahon, Morton, Tivendale, Tuck, White

BEST
Melbourne: Yze, Whelan, Bruce, Warnock, Garland
Richmond: Bowden, Tuck, Newman, Deledio, Foley, McGuane, Johnson, McMahon

INJURIES
Richmond: Connors replaced Pattison in selected side
Melbourne: Petterd (hamstring)

Umpires: Margetts, Ryan, Ellis
Official crowd: 37,046 at MCG


A SEASON of hope ended in style for a Richmond side on the move when it downed wooden-spooner Melbourne by 80 points in front of 37,046 fans at the MCG.

In a game that never reached any great heights – no surprise given there was nothing other than pride on the line – the Tigers set up the victory with an six-goals to one second term before cruising away to win 18.13 (121) to 6.5 (41).

Joel Bowden, Shane Tuck, Chris Newman, Brett Deledio and a rock solid back six were superb all day for the Tigers, while Greg Tivendale, in his last game for the club, provided the day’s highlight when he drilled a 65-metre running goal midway through the second term that sent the otherwise sedate Tiger fans into raptures.

It was one of six for the quarter that effectively put the game’s result beyond doubt despite the fact there was still a half to play.

Tivendale, 29, hopes to continue his career elsewhere in 2009 and did his chances no harm with a steady 24-possession effort.

In every department the Tigers had the Demons covered.

They won the inside 50 count 67-34, had 76 more possessions, laid 17 more tackles and importantly converted possessions into scoring opportunities to register 20 more scoring shots.

The dominance was reflected on the scoreboard where the Tigers increased their lead at every change as the likes of Tuck, Nathan Foley, Kane Johnson and Bowden did as they pleased all over the ground.

In essence, it was as complete a victory as Richmond has enjoyed all season.

While the Demons fumbled and stumbled their way through the afternoon, the Tigers’ superior skill and decision making made the game all one-way traffic.

The fact Melbourne could only produce 11 scoring shots against a defence ranked 13th in the league told the story of a miserable day for the Demons.

While Melbourne failed to make the contest an interesting one, it did have reason to celebrate given it was the last appearance in red and blue for Jeff White, Adem Yze and Ben Holland.

White played his usual serviceable game in the ruck to gather 17 touches and kick two goals, Yze was handy around the ground in gathering 25 while Holland managed a farewell goal late in the third term to give himself and fans something to smile about.

Both White and Yze are looking to play on in 2009, with Carlton rumoured to be interested in acquiring White for next season.

While some careers ended others were just beginning for Melbourne in the form of Jack Grimes. While the youngster struggled in his first game, it was invaluable experience.

As it was for the likes of Colin Garland, Addam Maric, Matthew Warnock, Simon Buckley, Clint Bartram, Ricky Petterd and Cale Morton who represent a bright future for the Melbourne Football Club.

What’s needed now is patience.

Not so for Richmond, who after ending the season with 11 wins and in ninth position, can look to 2009 optimistically from a finals perspective.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/tabid/6301/Default.aspx?newsid=66697

[one-eyed]

Tigers thrash Melbourne
AAP | August 31, 2008 05:15pm

RICHMOND destroyed Melbourne by 80 points today in their season-ending AFL match at the MCG.

Brett Deledio kicked four goals for the Tigers as they brushed aside the Demons 18.13 (121) to 6.5 (41).

As expected, Richmond finished ninth, with the loss condemning Melbourne to their first wooden spoon since 1997.

Adem Yze, Jeff White and Ben Holland played their last games for the Demons and Greg Tivendale kicked a 60m goal in his final AFL match for Richmond.

Only Yze has confirmed his retirement from football.

It is the sixth time since 1994 that the Tigers have taken ninth spot, but there is growing optimism at the club after a solid finish to the season.

Today's insipid performance by Melbourne followed the 78-point wallopin g last week from Port Adelaide.

After an even first quarter, Richmond kicked seven unanswered goals either side of halftime and they blew Melbourne away.

Joel Bowden had a game-high 34 possessions, starting in defence and then kicking three goals after halftime.

Deledio was superb with 25 touches and Chris Newman and Shane Tuck also had 30 disposals apiece.

Yze was high among Melbourne's best with 25 possessions.

Matthew Warnock also worked hard in defence for the Demons, but otherwise they looked listless and made too many errors.

Deledio kicked three goals in the final term to cap off another strong game.

The former Rising Star winner will be one of the favourites to win what would be his first Richmond best and fairest award.

As the Tigers start work on next year's crucial season, a tough summer looms for Melbourne.

They were uncompetitive for most of this season and it is tough to see where they will make quick improvement, although they will get three of the top 20 picks in October's national draft.

FULLTIME DETAILS

RICHMOND 2.5 8.9 12.10 18.13 (121)
MELBOURNE 2.1 3.1 4.4 6.5 (41)

Goals:
Richmond: B Deledio 4 J Bowden 3 J Riewoldt 2 D Jackson 2 J McMahon M Morton S Tuck G Tivendale M White D Connors N Foley.
Melbourne: J White 2 B Holland C Sylvia B Green M Whelan.

Best:
Richmond: B Deledio J Bowden S Tuck C Newman G Tivendale L McGuane.
Melbourne: A Yze M Warnock.

Umpires: D Margetts H Ryan M Ellis
Official crowd: 37,046 at the MCG.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24270655-5015598,00.html

[bushranger]

This game really showed what we are about when playing as a team. A job really well done by a true team. 

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals:        427 - 351
Efficiency%:       78 - 77
Kicks:              239 - 205
Handballs:       188 - 146
Con. Marks:         8 - 5
Uncon. Marks:  116 - 116
Tackles:             53 - 37
Clearances:        30 - 26
Clangers:           40 - 43
Frees:                20 - 19
Con. Possies:    120 - 92
Uncon.Possies:  306 - 258
Inside 50s:         67 - 34  
Assists:              20 - 5
Hitouts:              27 - 28   (Simmonds 22 // White 23)

Individual Stats

player        D EFF% K H G B CM UM T CL C
    
Bowden        34 88 21 13 3 1 1 12 1 0 1  
Newman       30 87 23   7 0 1 0  5 1 1 2  
Tuck             30 80 13 17 1 0 0  8 3 4 1  
Deledio         25 60 17   8 4 2 4  6 3 2 2  
McMahon      25 88 14 11 1 0 0   5 1 2 2  
Johnson        24 79 10 14 0 0 0  5 2 0 1  
Tivendale      24 63 16   8 1 2 0  6 2 4 2  
Foley            22 64   8 14 1 0 0  2 7 3 0  
McGuane      22 82 13   9 0 0 0  8 3 1 1  
Moore           20 95 11   9 0 0 0  4 0 1 3
Jackson        19 84 11   8 2 0 0  8 4 1 0  
Tambling      18 83   9   9 0 0 0  9 6 1 1  
Cotchin         17 71   7 10 0 0 0  1 4 3 0  
Simmonds    17 88   9   8 0 0 2  4 0 2 5  
White           17 88   8   9 1 0 0  5 2 1 0  
Thursfield     15 87   2 13 0 0 0  6 1 1 3  
Riewoldt       14 57 12   2 2 1 0  6 2 0 1  
Edwards       12 92   3   9 0 0 0  2 4 2 1  
Richardson   12 58 12   0 0 0 1  5 0 0 7  
Schulz         11 73   6   5 0 1 0  3 1 0 2  
Connors       10 60   7   3 1 1 0  3 4 0 3  
Morton           9 78   7   2 1 1 0  3 2 1 2  

player FF FA CP UP I50 A  

Bowden       1 1   7 27 5 1  
Newman      0 0   5 24 4 2  
Tuck            1 1 11 18 7 1  
Deledio        1 0 13 12 4 1  
McMahon      0 0  4 20 4 0  
Johnson       2 0  5 20 2 2  
Tivendale     0 1  6 18 8 2  
Foley           1 0  9 13 4 2  
McGuane      0 1  4 19 1 0  
Moore           2 3  8 11 0 0  
Jackson        0 0  4 14 5 1  
Tambling      0 0  2 17 2 2  
Cotchin         2 0 10  7 3 0  
Simmonds    1 4  4 14 4 0  
White           0 0  5 12 1 1  
Thursfield     0 2  2 13 0 0  
Riewoldt       1 0  6   7 3 3  
Edwards       1 0  5   7 0 1  
Richardson   2 2  3   9 2 0  
Schulz         1 1  1 11 1 0  
Connors       1 3  2   8 4 0  
Morton         3 0  4   5 3 1

[one-eyed]

Tigers deliver last rites to inept Demons
Courtney Walsh | The Australian | September 01, 2008

IT is often instinct that elevates the great from the normal, separates the victor from the vanquished and while Richmond's 80-point win over Melbourne equates to a flogging, it was two early flashes at the MCG yesterday that paved the Tigers' path to victory, 18.13 (121) to 6.5 (41).

While great is a description that could be applied perhaps only to Matthew Richardson of those participating in a match that saw four more veterans exit their clubs, with the certain prospect more will come from Melbourne given the dismal quality on offer yesterday, it was moments of brilliance from Nathan Foley and Jack Riewoldt that allowed the Tigers to shake the Demons.

After a scrappy first term marred by poor disposal and decision making, there appeared little hope the entertainment would improve when a heavy shower hit the ground early in the second quarter.

Demon James McDonald, an All Australian and dual best and fairest, fumbled a ball rendered soap-like by the conditions despite sitting metres in the clear in attack. Several Richmond forays were also foiled by the ball slewing off the sides of boots.

But then Foley and Riewoldt, two Tigers likely to be key players over the next decade, acted decisively, perhaps helped by having no time to think, to effectively end the scrap eight minutes into the term. Foley, a classy midfielder whose emergence led to representative honours with Victoria earlier this year, managed to thump ball on boot in heavy traffic to put the Tigers 10 points up.

Then Riewoldt bettered that brilliance with an instinctive kick off the ground that sailed through from an acute angle to extend the lead to almost three goals.

Cue Melbourne's Mad Monday seven minutes into the second term, for it made little impression from that moment, much to the disgust of coach Dean Bailey.

In a year supposed to be a celebration of Melbourne's 150th anniversary, another pitiful effort saw it claim the wooden spoon a win shy of West Coast.

"I think we have embarrassed ourselves to all our supporters and members," Bailey said.

Melbourne yesterday farewelled veterans Adem Yze, Jeff White and Ben Holland, though the former two have expressed a desire to continue elsewhere, but Bailey made it clear more will follow.

While Melbourne's immediate future looks bleak, Richmond coach Terry Wallace is confident the Tigers are on track for a 2009 September tilt in his final season of a five-year contract.

The Tigers, who farewelled Greg Tivendale in style yesterday, won eight of their last 11 matches and have shown vast improvement across the ground after finishing 16th last year.

"I think we are now locked and loaded ... and now capable of putting in some sort of challenge next year," Wallace said. "We have put games into our young players over a couple of years and we have felt the wrath of what Melbourne is going through at the moment."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24272099-5012432,00.html