Media articles: Tigers weather Lions' late surge at Carrara

[one-eyed]

Tigers weather Lions' late surge at Carrara
By Crystal Ja
richmondfc.com.au
11:10 PM Fri 13 March, 2009

Richmond          3.4    7.6    10.9    12.13 (85)
Brisbane Lions    3.1    5.2    6.4    11.4  (70)

GOALS
Richmond: Brown 3, Morton 2, Schulz 2, Cousins, Moore, Riewoldt, Bowden, Tuck.
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 5, Drummond 2, Brown, Dalziell, Johnstone, Stiller.

BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Schulz, Deledio, Cousins.
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw, Drummond, Adcock, Power.

Umpires: S Grun M James S Wenn.

Crowd: 4369 at Carrara Stadium.

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RICHMOND has weathered a late surge and a five-goal haul from Daniel Bradshaw to win their NAB Challenge match against the Brisbane Lions on the Gold Coast.

The Tigers had secured a 29-point buffer at three-quarter time, only for the Lions to pile on five goals to two to give themselves a chance of stealing the match.

A brilliant running goal from Josh Drummond from outside 50 gave Brisbane the momentum and got them to within eight points with 10 minutes to go.

But the Tigers were able to stem the flow with two steadying goals from Jack Riewoldt and Shane Tuck to ensure a 12.13 (85) to 11.4 (70) win.

The Tigers, fielding a near full-strength team, also celebrated a solid performance from Ben Cousins, who played all four quarters and kicked his first goal in the yellow and black.

The new recruit was swamped by his teammates after snapping through a goal on the run midway through the first quarter.

He finished with 31 touches, one of the best performing Tigers of the night, along with Brett Deledio and Troy Simmonds in the ruck.

Matthew Richardson may have failed to register a goal on the scoreboard, but he had a hand in several others and was prominent all over the ground.

He pulled in a brilliant defensive mark running backwards into the Lions' forward 50 late in the last quarter to stem Brisbane's late surge.

The Tigers lost the final quarter five goals to two, but it was enough to take the spoils.

Veteran Bradshaw was a stand-out for the Lions, finishing with five goals - nearly half his team's total score.

He opened the goalscoring for the night, kicking two of the Lions' three for the first term.

In a low-scoring affair, that was enough to keep pace with the Tigers, who threatened to race away several times in the first half.

They kicked four goals in the second quarter to the Lions' two to set a 16-point lead at halftime, before stretching that to 29 with a quarter to play.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/73208/default.aspx

[julzqld]

I dunno if I'd have Schultz or Deledio as our best players.  Browny yes.  Richo whilst quiet on the goal kicking front, did make his presence known but I wouldn't say he was our best player.  White is a good soldier.

[one-eyed]

Tigers weather Lions' late surge
richmondfc.com.au
By Michael Whiting 11:10 PM Fri 13 March, 2009

RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace said his team needed to work on its conversion rate before round one after his Tigers almost blew a match-winning lead against the Brisbane Lions on Friday night.

Despite dominating for large parts of the NAB Challenge clash and having 10 more scoring shots than the Lions, Richmond just hung on for a 13.12 (85) to 11.4 (70) win at Gold Coast Stadium.

The Tigers were led by big guns Nathan Brown (three goals), Matthew Richardson (20 possessions, 13 marks) and Ben Cousins (25 touches).

The Lions relied on Daniel Bradshaw's five goals up forward but were wasteful entering the forward 50.

Richmond extended their lead for each of the first three terms before the Lions slammed on the first four of the last quarter to draw within six points.

Wallace admitted his team's poor conversion, which included a number of set shot misses from inside 40m, almost cost them.

"Every time you don't convert that keeps the game open," he said.

"Unfortunately we missed our easy opportunities and when they went forward they nailed theirs.

“It was similar to our game against Collingwood, we missed scoring opportunities in that game as well so the one thing we've really come away with we need to tidy up before round one is just our conversion rate.

"Most of them we thought were relatively kickable."

Wallace was happy with most of his team, including centre half back Luke McGuane who kept Lions captain Jonathan Brown to one goal, and saved special praise for Cousins.

In just his second game this season, the Brownlow medallist was superb, racking up possessions all over the ground.

"Obviously he's stepping up a bit each and every time he plays," Wallace said.

"I thought his tackle intensity was the better part of his game that lifted our rating early in the second quarter."

Wallace said he was unlikely to make many changes for round one.

Richmond          3.4    7.6    10.9    12.13 (85)
Brisbane Lions    3.1    5.2    6.4    11.4  (70)

GOALS
Richmond: Brown 3, Morton 2, Schulz 2, Cousins, Moore, Riewoldt, Bowden, Tuck.
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 5, Drummond 2, Brown, Dalziell, Johnstone, Stiller.

BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Schulz, Deledio, Cousins.
Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw, Drummond, Adcock, Power.

Injuries
Richmond: Foley (lower leg).
Brisbane Lions: Nil.

Umpires: S Grun M James S Wenn.

Crowd: 4369 at Carrara Stadium.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/73214/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Richmond too good for Lions
Crystal Ja
March 14, 2009 - 12:19AM

Richmond may have come away with the win, but both coaches said they were still working on major improvements heading into the season proper.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace was obviously pleased to have come out on top but rued wasted opportunities in front of goal.

"We had 10 scoring shots more than the owe missed our easy opportunities and when they went forward, they nailed theirs," he said.

"The one thing we've really come away with that we need to tidy up before round one is our conversion rate ... (but) I thought we controlled most aspects of the game for three quarters."

While reluctant to add to the scrutiny on Cousins, Wallace conceded the 30-year-old had helped boost the Tigers' tackling intensity in the vital stages before labelling him "just one player" in the squad.

Lions coach Michael Voss agreed his side had a few issues to work on, but praised the work of Bradshaw, Brown and Mitch Clark, who he rated the best on ground for Brisbane.

"We were sloppy with the ball, we turned it over, we'd fumble a handball," he said.

"We were unable to get the ball forward with any real penetration ... and in our profession, you can't afford to fumble, you can't afford to miss targets.

"Richmond scored 22 times out of our mistakes and that's an enormous amount.

"Realistically they should have put us away sooner than they did."

But Voss was not disappointed by the loss, saying he expected the team to lift before round one begins, when the side should also be boosted by the likes of Simon Black, Ashley McGrath and Jamie Charman.

Both teams have practice matches before round one, when the Tigers tackle Carlton in the opening game of the year and Brisbane host the West Coast Eagles.

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/richmond-too-good-for-lions-20090313-8y1p.html

[one-eyed]

Ben Cousins performs magic as Tigers outpoint Lions
Courier Mail/Herald-Sun
Robert Craddock | March 13, 2009 11:00pm

WITH a neat goal, some robust tackling and a strong work ethic, Ben Cousins has sent a message to the football world ... he's still got it.

The AFL's most notorious player is moving steadily through the gears in his comeback with Richmond and, with a team-high 25 touches last night, looks ready to impose himself on the season proper after a strong performance for Richmond against the Lions in a trial match at Carrara.

Richmond 12.13 (85) outpointed the Lions 11.4 (70) despite Daniel Bradshaw scoring five goals.

Cousins's performance might not have taken away the breath of anyone but himself but he managed to provide some flashes of the class the Tigers hope will hoist them into the top eight this season.

He started well, finished strongly and despite plenty of huffing and puffing didn't look like a man short of the match practice he has been starved of.

Cousins raised his arm in triumph at kicking a first-quarter goal when he played on from a free kick and spun around for an angled 25m goal.

Lions coach Michael Voss paid Cousins the compliment of occasionally putting prized ball-winner Luke Power on the maverick star when the Tigers were pressing forward.

Cousins's commitment was best exemplified by two strong tackles on Travis Johnstone and particularly Power, when Cousins ran hard to nab his man from behind.

Late in the first half he feigned to go one way then darted another when cramped for room, and his kick to the goal square drew a free kick which prompted Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson to run from quite a way to congratulate Cousins on his effort.

Jed Adcock, Matthew Leuenberger and Michael Rischitelli were among Brisbane's best, while Johnstone continued his solid early-season form.

Daniel Rich again played with the poise to suggest he will be chosen first up against West Coast after being drafted by the club this season.

Brisbane continued their search for goal-kicking options apart from their two anchormen Jonathan Brown and Bradshaw but the duo kicked the first three goals between them and it still looks a case of them or bust for the Lions this winter.

Richmond looked sound and were well served by their big guns including Brett Deledio, Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown who were a handful for Brisbane.

Brisbane still turn the ball over too regularly to be a top side and lacked ground level support for their big guns in the forward line.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,25184830-5016169,00.html

[one-eyed]

Cousins magic spurs on Tigers
Nick Smart
March 14th, 2009

THE Ben Cousins magic continues to work wonders at Richmond as the rejuvenated Tigers finalised their preparations for round one with a win over Brisbane in a trial game at Gold Coast Stadium last night.

The Tigers have been impressive during the pre-season and look primed for their season-opener against Carlton in two weeks following the 12-13 (85) to 11-4 (70) victory.

Richmond were well in control for most of the match but had to survive a late charge from the fast-finishing Lions.

After a goal from star forward Daniel Bradshaw, a long goal from Josh Drummond reduced the lead to just one goal eight minutes into the final term.

A goal from Richmond goalsneak Nathan Brown off one step appeared to seal it before Bradshaw, who was clearly Brisbane's best, booted his fifth.

But a late goal to Shane Tuck meant the Tigers were able to keep the Lions at bay.

Cousins was the star attraction and the 4369 in attendance buzzed with excitement whenever he went near the ball.

And he didn't disappoint, picking up 25 disposals and booting one goal in an eye-catching performance.

His final term in particular was instrumental in the Tigers' win.

Star forward Nathan Brown also starred for Richmond with 25 possessions and veteran Matthew Richardson had 20 touches.

It was a disappointing performance by Brisbane who turned the ball over too many times for their liking.

But they will take solace from the fact they were without Brownlow medallist Simon Black, Jamie Charman and Gold Coast product Daniel Merrett.

Big man Jonathan Brown was used sparingly and finished with one goal. The threatening rain held off to the relief of the crowd at Carrara.

In what was always going to be a scrappy contest in the slippery conditions, the Tigers went up a gear towards the end of the opening half.

With Brown, Brett Deledio and Richardson dominating, they led by 16 points at the main change and it would have been more if not for some poor finishing.

For the Lions, it became apparent early that Bradshaw was going to be hard for the Tigers' defence to stop.

He had two early goals to quarter-time while Brown chipped in with one goal.

But the highlight of the early going came from the man of the moment. Late in the term Cousins received a free kick for in the back deep in Richmond's forward line.

He quickly played on and snapped a goal around his body to bring the strong Richmond contingent in attendance to its feet.

It was enough to give the Tigers a slight three-point advantage at the first change.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/03/14/59315_gold-coast-sport.html