Tigers stun SwansBy Adam McNicol
Sun 14 Aug, 2011Richmond 1.4 5.8 8.12 14.15 (99)
Sydney Swans 2.6 3.9 5.11 7.14 (56)
GOALS
Richmond: Nahas 3, Martin 2, Riewoldt 2, Cotchin, Deledio, Houli, Miller, Morton, King, Vickery
Sydney Swans: Kennedy 2, O'Keefe 2, Bird, Goodes, Meredith
BEST
Richmond: Houli, Cotchin, Deledio, Rance, Martin, Nahas, Riewoldt
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Hannebery, Mumford, O'Keefe, Goodes
INJURIES
Richmond: Batchelor (shoulder)
Sydney Swans: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Brett Meredith replaced by Luke Parker in the fourth quarter
Sydney Swans: Nathan Foley replaced by Mitch Morton in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Grun, Jeffery
Crowd: 34, 337 at the MCG
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HAS RICHMOND improved in 2011? It is a question that Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has been asked often during the second half of the season.
Thankfully for Hardwick, his team's upset 43-point victory over the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Sunday means he can now answer "yes" and point to his team's win-loss record for a simple explanation.
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Richmond won six games last year; this season it has won six-and-a-half.
What was a very ugly game for three quarters was brought to life when the Tigers kicked six goals to two in the final term.
With the Swans offering little resistance, they finished full of running, a 60m bomb from Dustin Martin sealing their 14.15 (99) to 7.14 (56) win.
It was just Richmond's second victory since it beat Essendon in round nine.
Robin Nahas kicked three goals for the winners, while Trent Cotchin was brilliant in the midfield.
It was a disastrous loss for the eighth-placed Swans, who appeared to have been flattened by last week's one-point defeat at the hands of Essendon.
John Longmire's men played without their usual intensity or composure. For much of the afternoon they also struggled to make an impression on the scoreboard.
Brett Meredith put them nine points up at the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, but they didn't kick another goal until Ryan O'Keefe kicked truly six minutes into the third term.
The Swans, who had won nine of their past 10 encounters with Richmond, may well have cost themselves the chance to host a final.
In fact, their poor performance means they remain only two points clear of ninth-placed Fremantle.
Influential playersIn a contest that was marred by skill errors, Cotchin was a standout performer. He gathered 29 possessions, while Bachar Houli (32 touches) and Brett Deledio (30) were the other leading ball-winners for the Tigers.
Richmond pair Alex Rance and Shane Tuck did a great job quelling the influence of Adam Goodes. Rance picked up Goodes when the Swans champion was in the forward line and Tuck took on the job when he moved into the midfield. Goodes finished the afternoon with only 16 possessions.
Stats that matterRichmond showed it was up and about by registering the first five inside-50s of the game. By the final siren, the tally was 56-45 in the Tigers' favour, a dominance that was reflected on the scoreboard.
Dream Team highlightRichmond: Trent Cotchin's 29-possession effort was rewarded with 121 Dream Team points, his second-highest score of the season. Bachar Houli was the only other Tiger to top the ton, with 118 points.
QUARTER BY QUARTER
FIRST QUARTERRichmond dominated the opening stages of the quarter with the first five inside-50s, but could only manage to convert one opportunity into a goal, with Robin Nahas kicking the first of the term. The Swans, though also scrappy with possession going forward, held firm to kick their first goal at the 20-minute mark through a mark from co-captain Adam Goodes. Goodes also set up the Swans' second goal of the quarter - a nicely weighted snap by Josh Kennedy - to help the Swans to an unlikely, and perhaps somewhat fortunate, eight-point lead at the first change.
Richmond 1.4 (10) Sydney Swans 2.6 (18)
SECOND QUARTERIt was again a quarter riddled by skill errors and poor decision-making, but the Tigers, unlike the first term, were able to capitalise on their dominance. Jack Riewoldt became more involved, Dustin Martin was proving too strong and clever up forward, and the Tigers were given too much space in the middle of the ground to create opportunities. It was never more evident than when Houli strolled through the centre square, took two bounces and slotted a shot at goal from outside 50. The Tigers looked in-board at every opportunity and were beneficiaries of their work with a deserved 11-point lead by the main change. Richmond 5.8 (38) Sydney Swans 3.9 (27)
THIRD QUARTEREven though Martin's after-the-siren shot at goal sailed right for a behind, it was another impressive quarter from the Tigers. The Swans appeared likely to get back into the contest when Kennedy kicked a goal from just outside the goalsquare after a 50m penalty, but it actually stung the Tigers back into action. Brett Deledio was crucial off half-back in setting up the play and even drifted forward to kick a goal. When Nahas' hard running was rewarded with a mark and smart snap around his body for a third goal with less than a minute remaining in the term, the Tigers had all the momentum heading into the fourth quarter.
Richmond 8.12 (60) Sydney 5.11 (41)
FOURTH QUARTERAs is often the case, the first goal of the last quarter was always going to be important and, in this game, it was two tackles which epitomised Richmond's effort all day. At one end, as Goodes streamed towards goal, Houli brought the champion Swan to ground and received a free kick for holding the ball. The ball swung into the Tigers' attack, where forward Brad Miller caught a clumsy Heath Grundy in a tackle and dispossessed him of the ball. Miller earned the free kick, went back and kicked the goal, all but ending the Swans' hopes. Richmond rammed home the advantage with five more goals to sink the Swans.
Richmond 14.15 (99) Sydney 7.14 (56)
Next threeRichmond: The Tigers will be looking to finish the season on a high with three winnable games to come. Richmond plays Melbourne next Sunday at the MCG before travelling to Adelaide to face the Crows and then closing their 2011 campaign against North Melbourne in round 24.
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