Media articles: Tigers thrash Cats in Yea

[1965]

Tigers thrash Cats in practice match

IT WAS a practice match in Yea but it's not every day the Tigers post a win over the reigning premiers.

Richmond made the most of its opportunity against a depleted Geelong side to boost pre-season confidence.

A 51-point win delighted the 6500 strong crowd, most of which were supporters of the Yea Tigers.

The first win for new coach Damien Hardwick was met with an optimistic but realistic assessment.

''From our point of view it was all about the game plan and just getting that up and going,'' Hardwick said.

''Against Hawthorn (in the NAB Cup two weeks ago) it really struggled to take place.

"Hawthorn's pressure was outstanding, we couldn't get our hands on the ball. This week the boys took in the resolve to get out there and show us what they're made of. So it was really good from that point of view.

''You take 12 players out of a Geelong side your pressure is going to look better than what it is. The scoreline flattered us with those players out. But I was really happy with the guys' endeavour.''

There was only a goal in it at quarter-time but the Tigers took control from there. Jack Riewoldt booted four goals and took a screamer in the final quarter, while Mitch Morton bagged three.

Standouts through the midfield were Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin and Richard Tambling. But the other notable performances came from forward Troy Taylor, Northern Territory rookie Relton Roberts and defender Matt Dea.

''Between Troy (and) Relton Roberts we've got some exciting players up there (in attack),'' Hardwick said.

''Graham Polak did well again. We're just building a nice little forward line and it will take some time. Like our side we're going to have some good quarters, some good halves and some good games, but we're also going to have some terrible losses. That's what comes with a young list, we've just got to keep moving forward.''

Hardwick said the Tigers would rest some senior players such as Deledio for next week's NAB Challenge game.

''Dustin Martin did well again, Jeromey Webberley did really well,'' he said.

''Matty Dea probably struggled a little in the last quarter on Podsiadly but he'll move on and become a better player. We'll go in with a less experienced side if that's possible.''


Full report at

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-thrash-cats-in-practice-match/story-e6frf9jf-1225835102333

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Hardwick's Tigers thrash Cats 102-51
February 27, 2010 - 7:09PM
AAP

Richmond have delivered Damien Hardwick his first victory as head coach, with a 15.12 (102) to 7.9 (51) thumping of Geelong in an AFL practice match in Yea in country Victoria.

The Tigers were keen to improve after being thrashed by Hawthorn in the opening round of the NAB Cup in Hardwick's first game in charge.

They showed much greater defensive pressure, keeping the Cats to two goals until the final quarter, when they piled on five in an eight-minute burst to cut the margin.

Geelong would not have been too concerned, though, given they were missing about 11 first-choice players, including captain Cameron Ling, and midfield stars Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood.

Young key forward Jack Riewoldt impressed with four goals for the Tigers, while Mitch Morton chimed in with three.

Midfielders Brett Deledio and Richard Tambling both won plenty of the ball, while Shane Edwards and Daniel Connors provided run from halfback.

Indigenous half-forwards Troy Taylor and Relton Roberts, both playing their first game for the club, showed some exciting glimpses, including some good chasing and tackling from the pacy Roberts.

For the Cats, their senior players stood out among a large group of inexperienced teammates, with Paul Chapman and Corey Enright two of their best.

The country venue teemed with about 6,000 spectators, with the game doubling as a community fundraiser and attended by AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, chief executive Andrew Demetriou and football operations manager Adrian Anderson.

The football ground last year served as a meeting point for the surrounding areas, which were affected by Victoria's bushfire tragedy.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/hardwicks-tigers-thrash-cats-10251-20100227-pa2e.html

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Richmond too good for Geelong in Yea
richmondfc.com.au
By Adrian Ceddia 8:41 PM Sat 27 February, 2010


Richmond 3.1, 6.4, 11.8, 15.12.102
Geelong   2.1, 2.4,   2.8,   7.9.51

Goals: Riewoldt 4, Morton 3, Nahas 2, Taylor, Roberts, Jackson, Hislop, Polak, Newman.

Best: Deledio, Riewoldt, Thomson, Edwards, Connors, McGuane.

Injuries: Nil

Crowd: Approx 5,000

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Richmond has recorded its first win of the 2010 pre season - a 51-point thrashing of Geelong in Yea.

A healthy crowd saw the Tigers lead from start to finish against the reigning premier.

The Cats fielded an under-strength lineup for the clash, with only 11 of its 2009 premiership team included in the squad.

They were without the likes of Gary Ablett, Cam Mooney, Joel Selwood and Steve Johnson, while Richmond regained Ben Cousins, Troy Simmonds, Daniel Jackson and Will Thursfield.

But the Tigers’ endeavour was the most pleasing aspect of the win, the first for new coach Damien Hardwick.

Jack Riewoldt booted four goals and was dangerous all afternoon, and he was well supported by Mitch Morton (three goals), Robin Nahas (two), Graham Polak and Tom Hislop.

Riewoldt’s fourth goal was the highlight of the match - a left foot snap from the boundary line in the dying stages of the fourth quarter.

Two of the Club’s newest recruits - Troy Taylor and Relton Roberts - also looked lively up forward and each kicked a goal in the first half.

Richmond played a hard-running, expansive style of play, with many of their attacks being launched from defence.

Brett Deledio, Shane Edwards, Adam Thomson, Richard Tambling and Daniel Connors all showed dash through the middle of the ground.

Down back, the familiar trio of Thursfield, Kel Moore and Luke McGuane outshone their opponents, allowing Geelong no goals in the second and third quarters.

After an even first term, the Tigers booted three goals in the second stanza and five in the third to lead by 54 points at the final change.

Geelong kicked five of the last seven goals while the Richmond coaching staff experimented with different players in defensive positions.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/tabid/6301/default.aspx?newsid=90002

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Hardwick praises Tigers’ endeavour
richmondfc.com.au
By Adrian Ceddia 9:27 PM Sat 27 February, 2010


Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has praised his young team’s ability to bounce back from its round one NAB Cup loss to Hawthorn a fortnight ago.

The Tigers defeated Geelong by 51 points at Yea Recreational Reserve today in front of about 5,000 fans.

“I was really pleased with the guys’ endeavour today,” Hardwick said.

“From where we came from two weeks ago, we needed to show a bit more, and it was really pleasing that the team in general played pretty well.”

The Tigers tackled, chased and created turnovers against an under-strength Geelong team.

“It’s been a focus of our whole pre season. Even in the Hawthorn game I thought our pressure was pretty good,” Hardwick said.

“Look, you take 12 players out of a Geelong side and our pressure is going to look pretty good.

“We’ll take some good things out of the game, move on and look forward to NAB Challenge Three.”

Hardwick was impressed by the younger brigade of Tigers, in particular first gamers Relton Roberts, Troy Taylor, Jeromey Webberley and Matthew Dea.

“The great thing about bringing young players into a group is that they all show something at some stage,” he said.

“It gives the club a sign for the future. Every guy that’s come in so far has done a really good job.”

Hardwick said next week’s NAB Challenge match will give the club a chance to rest some of its stars as the home and away season nears.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/tabid/6301/default.aspx?newsid=90006

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Yea! Tigers rejoice in rare win over (depleted) Cats
MARTIN BOULTON AND ANDREA PETRIE
February 28, 2010

RICHMOND bounced back from its humiliating NAB Cup loss against Hawthorn with a 51-point victory against a below-strength Geelong - it was missing about a dozen of its stars - in a practice match in Yea yesterday.

The near full-strength Tigers kept the Cats goalless for two quarters and eventually doubled the Cats' score to give new coach Damien Hardwick his first win.

Mature-aged Cats rookie James Podsiadly kicked two goals as the Cats managed five straight in the final quarter, while fellow rookie midfielder Jesse Stringer also kicked a goal.

But the day was not so good for young Cats Tom Allwright, who left the ground with a posterior cruciate ligament strain in the second term.

Teammate Jeremy Laidler rolled an ankle late in the last and was on crutches at the end of the game with his ankle heavily iced.

For the Tigers, the club showed off a couple of potential cult heros in indigenous duo Troy Taylor and Relton Roberts - the latter had to be escorted out of the ground by security due to so many people wanting his autograph.

The pair got plenty of the ball early and laid a few good tackles, showing they weren't intimidated playing their first senior match.

The country venue teemed with about 6000 spectators, with the game doubling as a community fundraiser and attended by AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, chief executive Andrew Demetriou and football operations manager Adrian Anderson.

The football ground last year served as a meeting point for the surrounding areas, which were affected by Victoria's bushfire tragedy.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/yea-tigers-rejoice-in-rare-win-over-depleted-cats-20100227-paan.html

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Cautious coach hails his Tigers' endeavour
ANDREA PETRIE
February 28, 2010

RICHMOND 3.1 6.4 11.8 15.12 (102)
GEELONG   2.1 2.4   2.8  7.9 (51)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Morton 3, Nahas 2, Polak, Newman, Jackson, Hislop, Taylor, Roberts. Geelong: Podsiadly 2, T Varcoe, Chapman, Wojcinski, A Varcoe, Stringer.

BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Tambling, Riewoldt, Nahas, Edwards, Moore. Geelong: Chapman, Enright, Lonergan, Wojcinski, Bartel, Podsiadly.

INJURIES
Geelong: Laidler (ankle), Allwright (knee).

CROWD
About 6000 at Yea.

RICHMOND'S 51-point victory over Geelong in Yea yesterday should boost the side's confidence as it continues working on its new game plan, coach Damien Hardwick said after his first victory.

Richmond led at every change in front of a 6000-strong crowd and despite a late five-goal haul by the Cats, who were missing plenty of experience, it was nowhere near enough to catch up.

But Hardwick refused to talk up his side's performance.

''It's pre-season so it's not too exciting to be honest,'' he said.

''I was just really happy with the guys' endeavour. I thought from where we were two weeks ago, we needed to show a bit more, so it's really pleasing not from my point of view but the team in general played really well today which was good.

''From our point of view it was all about the game plan and getting that up and going,'' he said.

''Against Hawthorn it really struggled to take place. Hawthorn's pressure was outstanding and we just couldn't get our hand on the ball. This week the boys took it in their resolve to get out there and show them what they're made of so it was really good.''

Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Joel Corey, Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson, Cameron Ling, Andrew Mackie, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke, Harry Taylor and Mark Blake were all out of the side as part of the club's pre-season rotation policy.

AFL bosses Andrew Demetriou, Adrian Anderson and Mike Fitzpatrick were all in attendance yesterday, with the admission proceeds donated to the Yea community, to help with its recovery effort from last year's bushfires.

Both teams chipped the ball around in the first quarter on the huge ground until it reached both forward lines, where defenders did their work.

Richmond's Relton Roberts, Troy Taylor and Robin Nahas showed some class early and goals to Taylor, Mitch Morton and Jack Riewoldt gave the Tigers a six-point advantage at the first change.

Geelong's mature-age rookie James Podsiadly was a favourite with the crowd, while Darren Milburn, Jimmy Bartel and David Wojcinski were in form.

The second term continued as a tussle between each side's defenders and while Geelong missed a couple shots at goal, goals to Roberts and Nahas stretched the Tigers' lead out even further as Geelong's Tom Allwright had to be helped off the ground with a suspected posterior cruciate ligament injury.

Tom Hislop then almost took a great mark that teammate Daniel Jackson mopped up to give Richmond a 24-point lead as Geelong was held goalless for the term.

Richmond's pressure and intensity continued, scoring 5.4 in the third term, stretching the lead to 68 points.

While the Cats' more experienced players, including Paul Chapman, looked good whenever they took possession, the forwards couldn't finish the job and all Geelong could muster was four points for the term.

Travis Varcoe - whose brother Adam also did a few good things - kicked a much-needed goal for the Cats about eight minutes into the final term, which was followed by majors to Chapman, Jesse Stringer and a couple to Podsiadly.

But Riewoldt and Morton were also firing taking strong marks converting them in front of goal to seal the win.

While Brett Deledio, Richard Tambling, Riewoldt (four goals), Shane Edwards, Luke McGuane, Nahas and Morton (three goals) were impressive, Hardwick singled out youngsters Taylor and Roberts and was also pleased with Graham Polak's game.

''We're just building a nice little forward line that will take some time,'' he said.

''Like our side, we're going to have some good quarters, some good halves and some good games, but we're also going to have some terrible losses.''

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cautious-coach-hails-his-tigers-endeavour-20100227-paaq.html