Media articles and stats: Brave Tigers downed by Dons

[one-eyed]

Brave Tigers downed by Dons
By Nick Bowen
afl.com.au
10:28 PM Sat 19 May, 2012


ESSENDON             6.2     12.7    16.9    19.14  (128)
RICHMOND             4.2       6.8    11.16    15.19  (109)

GOALS
Essendon: Ryder 4, Stanton 3, Monfries 3, Watson 2, Jetta 2, Davey 2, Crameri, Howlett, Lovett-Murray
Richmond: Cotchin 3, Edwards 3, Grigg 2, Martin 2, Deledio, Jackson, Miller, Nahas, Riewoldt

BEST
Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Crameri, Ryder, Jetta, Bellchambers, Heppell, Zaharakis
Richmond: Deledio, Cotchin, Grigg, Foley, Maric, Tuck, Jackson


INJURIES
Essendon: Fletcher (thigh), Hardingham (calf)
Richmond: Grimes (hamstring)

 
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Nathan Lovett-Murray replaced Dustin Fletcher (thigh) in the third quarter.
Richmond: Brandon Ellis replaced Dylan Grimes (hamstring) in the second quarter.
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Rosebury, Stewart, Bannister
 
Official crowd: 80,900 at the MCG

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESSENDON'S edge in class was enough to pull it over the line against a spirited Richmond, recording a 19-point win in a frantic finish at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Bombers looked set for a comfortable night when they led by 42 points early in the third term.

But the Tigers then turned the game on its head, dominating general play to hit the front by two points at the 10-minute mark of the final quarter.

However, just when the Bombers looked headed for their second loss of the season, substitute Nathan Lovett-Murray, who came on for Dustin Fletcher late in the third term, regained the lead for them with a clever snap at the 13-minute mark.

When Alwyn Davey kicked a goal at the 25-minute mark, Essendon could rest easy, running out 19.14 (128) to 15.19 (109) winners.

Brett Deledio starred for the Tigers, racking up 35 possessions to win the Yiooken Award as the best player on the ground.

Essendon skipper Jobe Watson (30 possessions) was outstanding, providing the steadying influence his team so desperately needed when their night was veering off course.

Teammate Brent Stanton continued his outstanding form with 29 possessions while Stewart Crameri worked tirelessly as a lead-up option. Patrick Ryder (four goals) provided a strong target in attack and Leroy Jetta and Alwyn Davey (two goals each) were dangerous at his feet.

As disappointing as the result was for the Tigers, they could take some comfort that they gave the Bombers one hell of a scare.

However, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick will be left rueing his team's inaccurate third term, when it kicked 5.8. This meant that despite pumping the ball inside their forward 50 19 times to the Bombers' nine, they only cut the Bombers' 35-point half-time lead by 12 points.

The Tigers maintained that momentum at the start of the final term, kicking the first four goals to hit the front for the first time at the 10-minute mark - the first time they had led since the two-minute mark of the first quarter.

Trent Cotchin (29 possessions and three goals) provided the Tigers with much of their drive through the middle and kicked the goal that put Richmond in front. Ruckman Ivan Maric was also instrumental in the Tigers' fight back, wrestling the ascendancy around the ground from Bombers counterpart Tom Bellchambers after a quiet first half.

Shane Edwards also gave the Tigers a spark on their forward line with three goals.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/136272/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals           370 - 363
Efficiency%         76 - 75
Kicks                 210 - 219
Handballs           160 - 144   
Con. Possies       129 - 124   
Uncon. Possies    236 - 230
Marks                 104 - 102
Con. Marks           15 - 12
Uncon. Marks        89 - 90
Tackles                 64 - 54   
Clearances            30 - 36
Clangers               42 - 39
Hitouts                 33 - 35 .......... ( Maric 29 // Bellchambers 20, Ryder 13 )
Frees                    10 - 15
Inside 50s             66 - 48
Marks In50            11 - 16
Rebound 50s         23 - 45
1%ers                  46 - 46
Assists                  11 - 10   
Supercoach        1645 - 1648
Dreamteam        1622 - 1613

Individual Stats

PLAYED              D     K      H     CP     DE%   M   CM   T   CL   FF  FA  I50  R50   G   B   GA   SC

B.Deledio          35    19    16      9      77%    7    0    10    5    0    0    7    2    1    2    1    157
S.Grigg             30    21      9      6      77%    9    0      1    3    0    0    7    3    2    1    0    109
T.Cotchin          29    20      9    12      76%    7    1      6    6    1    0    6    1    3    1    0    130
S.Tuck              26    12    14    12      77%    7    2      0    4    1    4    7    1    0    0    0      87
N.Foley             24      9    15    13      75%    6    0      2    4    0    0    6    1    0    1    1    104
I.Maric              22    11    11    10      73%    9    5      4    2    0    1    4    0    0    0    2    137
D.Jackson          22    12    10      5      82%    3    0      3    1    2    0    1    4    1    2    0      91
D.Martin            21    13      8      7      57%    2    0      2    1    1    1    4    1    2    3    0      74
S.Edwards         17      9      8      7      88%    4    0      4    1    0    1    2    0    3    1    2      98
B.Houli              16    11      5      3      62%    4    0      2    0    0    0    4    2    0    0    0      56
A.Rance            14      9      5      4      86%    4    0      5    0    1    0    1    3    0    0    1      84
R.Conca            14      8      6      5      71%    7    1      1    1    0    3    1    1    0    1    0      44
J.Batchelor        14    11      3      4      79%    9    2      1    0    0    1    1    2    0    1    0      64
R.Nahas            13      5      8      5      46%    3    1      5    0    0    1    3    0    1    0    0      55
B.Miller             13      9      4      4      77%    5    1      3    0    0    0    3    0    1    1    1      69
B.Ellis               10      5      5      1      80%    2    0      3    1    0    0    1    0    0    1    0      39
J.King                 9      6      3      4      78%    2    0      3    0    2    1    3    0    0    1    0      46
M.Dea                 9      2      7      3      89%    3    0      1    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0      31
J.Riewoldt           8      3      5      7      87%    2    2      3    0    0    0    1    0    1    0    2      60
C.Newman          8      5      3      2      75%    3    0      3    1    0    0    1    1    0    0    0      34
S.Morris              8      6      2      4    100%    3    0      2    0    1    0    3    0    0    0    1      48
D.Grimes            8      4      4      2      75%    3    0      0    0    1    1    0    1    0    0    0      28

http://live-footy.heraldsun.com.au/StatsCentre/Index/20120820120140805
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/16931/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7728&tab=Stats

[one-eyed]

Dons' aim hurts Tigers
Rohan Connolly
May 20, 2012

ESSENDON 6.2 12.7 16.9 19.14 (128)
RICHMOND 4.2 6.8 11.16 15.19 (109)

GOALS
Essendon: Ryder 4, Monfries 3, Stanton 3, Davey 2, Watson 2, Jetta 2, Howlett, Lovett-Murray, Crameri.
Richmond: Edwards 3, Cotchin 3, Martin 2, Grigg 2, Deledio, Miller, Jackson, Riewoldt, Nahas.

BEST
Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Ryder, Hurley, Zaharakis, Fletcher.
Richmond: Deledio, Maric, Cotchin, Grigg, Edwards, Tuck.

UMPIRES Stewart, Rosebury, Bannister.
CROWD: 80,900, at MCG.

=====================================

THEY had it won, lost it, and won it back again. That was Essendon's 19-point win over Richmond in a nutshell. But it's a margin that will give only a hint of the incredible drama that unfolded before more than 80,000 people in a game so fast and open it never let up for a moment.

Essendon was so much more efficient with both its ball use and conversion in the first half that by the time Paddy Ryder kicked his fourth goal only a minute into the second half, the margin had blown out to 42 points, despite having had only as many inside-50 entries as its opposition. When the Dons went forward, they scored goals. When Richmond attacked, it kicked behinds.

It was a scenario summed up beautifully just before the half-time siren. Angus Monfries had kicked a goal to put Essendon more than five goals to the good. But Richmond wasn't done. The Tigers had legs, and they had forward entries. But in quick succession, Reece Conca, Trent Cotchin then Dustin Martin all missed gettable goals. Of course, the result of all that unrewarded labour was that Brent Stanton, yet again outstanding in midfield for the Dons, booted another goal.

That, and Ryder's first of the second half should have been the end of Richmond. That it wasn't says a lot about the tougher streak that exists in Damien Hardwick's Tigers.

The stirrings began with a goal to Shane Edwards, who played a terrific second half. Brad Miller caused the yellow-and-black hordes to find some voice.

Brett Deledio, ultimately a clear best on ground, bounced one through. Shaun Grigg snapped truly. And this was well and truly game on. From then, this game was Richmond's for the taking. Ivan Maric began to dominate in the ruck. Cotchin was all class.

Dustin Fletcher, superb for the Dons in defence, limped off just as Daniel Jackson brought the gap down to 17 points.

Essendon looked like it was going up and down in the one spot, out of ideas and inspiration. And by the 11-minute mark of the last quarter, and two goals each from Edwards and Cotchin, Richmond had a two-point lead, within striking distance of what would have been one of the most important victories in its recent history. You wouldn't have backed the Bombers for love or money.

Cue another twist in the plot. Substitute Nathan Lovett-Murray snapped one from near the boundary, and the Dons awoke. That was from just the their 13th inside-50 for the half. Then Monfries intercepted a speculative Cotchin pass.

This was becoming a classic, both sides like punch-drunk boxers exchanging blow and counter blow, but only coming up with behinds.

All before Alwyn Davey sealed the issue once and for all with a little chip intended for Jobe Watson, but which ended up bouncing through. Richmond had ended up with 18 more inside 50s, nearly as much contested ball, but lost the game.

A glance at the final score - 19.14 to 15.19 - says plenty about why.

Richmond certainly couldn't have asked for a more emphatic start, Martin snapping the first goal of the game over his shoulder from the very first bounce, barely 20 seconds having elapsed. The Tigers looked up and about. But within another five minutes they were three goals down, Essendon making its own statement, both symbolically and on the scoreboard. Befitting the ''Dreamtime'' theme, it was the Bombers' indigenous stars who fired the first shots. Martin's opener was answered by Ryder almost immediately, Heath Hocking's centre clearance marked in front by the lithe big man. Then the even more lithe little man Davey sunk his teeth into the occasion, pouncing on Deledio's misguided clearing kick and belting it back over his head.

More neat work out of the square had Ryder marking in front of an increasingly desperate-looking Alex Rance again, Shaun Grigg's goal on the run for the Tigers merely an interruption to a steady flow of Essendon scores.

Ryder's third and most impressive came on the run, and when Monfries took advantage of a more-than-handy advantage call, the Dons were three goals to the good and the Tigers rightly worried.

The difference with Hardwick's mob now is that they can actually keep afloat a sinking ship mid-stream. And just a little more finesse in doing so will ensure results that leave them with a greater sense of satisfaction than with which they left the MCG last night.

DREAM STAGE

Nathan Lovett-Murray was Essendon's sub but he was more than a bit player in Dreamtime at the 'G. His indigenous record label PayBack represents Yung Warriors, whose album was launched as part of the Long Walk celebrations. The group's lead singer, Tjimba Possum Burns, sang with Shane Howard before the match. In a game that means a great deal to the indigenous players from both sides, Paddy Ryder and Aaron Davey combined for the Bombers' first four goals while Shane Edwards finished with three for the Tigers.

ON THE SQUIRT

Mark Thompson is a calm and experienced presence in the Essendon coach's box but he caused a scene early in the third term when his soft drink exploded all over James Hird, who was sitting in front of him. Hird could afford to laugh at that point as Ryder put through his fourth goal while the coach wiped himself down and regained his composure.

MAD MEN

Not so hilarious in the Richmond coach's box where Damien Hardwick got up, punched the wall and walked out after a free kick and 50-metre penalty was paid against Ivan ''The Mullet'' Maric for holding the ball. It was a tough call as the ball was held to him by Brent Stanton, who kicked a goal as a result, halting the Tigers' third-quarter momentum. Richmond would surge again in the last, attacking the goals after Dustin Fletcher was subbed out of the game. - CHLOE SALTAU

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dons-aim-hurts-tigers-20120519-1yyd8.html#ixzz1vLhWiRRR

[Ruanaidh]

The I50's and Marks I50 tell the story.....and possibly the clearances.

[one-eyed]

Dawning of a brand new day
Greg Baum
May 20, 2012

IN THE Wurundjeri tribe creation story so vividly narrated in dance and song before last night's Dreamtime match at the MCG, emu and brolga argue in a sunless world over the quality of their eggs, until the infuriated brolga hurls an emu egg into the sky, where it shatters and flames to become the risen sun.

The football had a little of the same quality, although a football coach surely would be displeased with the brolga's ill-discipline. Essendon and Richmond, the traditional owners of this most joyous of AFL theme matches, have had their recent dark days - Richmond's in particular are the stuff of mythology - but this night met as teams on the threshold of new dawns. Nearly 81,000 were drawn, anxious not to miss the hurling of this uniquely Australian egg into the air.

Football, unlike folklore, allows for only one fairytale at a time. Last night, each took their turn. The Bombers blazed their way to a 42-point lead early in the third quarter, and looked on every line a premiership fancy. But the loss of the ageless Dustin Fletcher acted on Essendon as the dislodging of keystone. The Tigers mounted a spirited fightback until the brilliant Trent Cotchin speared them into the lead early in the last quarter. Essendon coach James Hird betrayed the Bombers' anxiety by manifesting on the boundary line. Sadly for the Bomber faithful, he was not stripped.

But like some sort of mythical creature, Richmond seemed to spend all their earthly powers in the effort. Alternately, the Tigers could not quite believe that they had turned around the game so quickly and so soon, and began to act as if caught in guilty possession. Essendon regathered to kick the last three goals of the match. This morning, it sits atop the AFL ladder.

In the AFL, new dawns rarely burst into the consciousness as in the tropics. Essendon's has been years in the breaking.

But for the Tigers, this was scarcely a plunge back into darkness. They dominated the third quarter, but kicked strings of behinds, when in Richmond's dreaming they needed a blaze of goals. It could not be dawn for the Tigers, but the glimmer on the horizon remains, ever reddening.

In the creation story, the people light a fire to celebrate what they suddenly can see on this wondrous new day. In both the football and the rituals, last night was true to this idea. The occasion was tribal. Whenever former Bomber Bachar Houli had the ball for Richmond, the Essendon fans booed. When the scoreboard screened a shot of a lone fan in a Collingwood guernsey, everyone booed.

But the spirit mostly was brotherly. The pre-match ceremony was a thread to draw all together. A swirling flock of real birds - MCG seagulls - to match the make-believe birds on the ground reinforced the sense of magic. Each player and umpire were presented with a gumleaf, a simple and unambiguous gesture. For once, mercifully, the national anthem was not played, which means that the next time it is heard at a football match, it might have some meaning.

The ceremony pre-empted the match, and the match honoured the occasion. Like the kookaburra in the opening ceremony, the Bombers had the last laugh. It was hearty enough, but not in any way triumphal.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dawning-of-a-brand-new-day-20120519-1yye4.html#ixzz1vLjUjAUE

[one-eyed]

Five talking points: Essendon v Richmond
By Adam McNicol
afl.com.au
Sat 19 May, 2012


Dreamtime at the 'G
1. On a night Australian football celebrated Aboriginal culture and heritage, Essendon's first four goals were kicked by indigenous players. Patrick Ryder, who was far too good for Richmond defender Alex Rance during the early stages, booted three of them. Two of Ryder's goals came from marks, while the other one was a sensational long bomb from deep in the right forward pocket. The other goal in the Bombers' initial onslaught was kicked by little man Alwyn Davey.

Dylan's dark day
2. When the Dreamtime at the 'G game comes around next year, Richmond defender Dylan Grimes would be excused if he declared himself unavailable. Last year Grimes suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in the showcase game against the Bombers, and this year it was more of the same. Although the hamstring strain that Grimes was struck down by on Saturday night doesn't appear nearly as bad as when he tore the muscle off the bone in 2011, he was inconsolable when subbed out of the game in the second quarter.

From foal to thoroughbred for Bellchambers
3. When Essendon's 202cm ruckman Tom Bellchambers made his AFL debut in 2008 he seemed to stagger around the field like a new-born foal. His kicking look suspect and he rarely took marks. But the Bombers' development coaches and Bellchambers himself deserve much praise, because the 22-year-old is rapidly developing into one of the best ruckmen in the game. In the absence of David Hille, who is battling back from a calf injury, Bellchambers did it all against the Tigers. He took nine strong marks and amassed 13 possessions and 20 hit-outs in what was an entertaining battle with Richmond man-mountain Ivan Maric.

Comedy of errors
4. The greasy conditions meant the game was marred by skill-errors, although the players involved in the funniest passage of play only had themselves to blame for the comedy capers they were involved in. The shemozzle began when Richmond's Robin Nahas took a mark 35m from the Tigers' goal, 16 minutes into the second quarter. Despite being on only a slight angle, he was desperate to pass the ball. Eventually, he tried to lob it to Brett Deledio in the forward pocket but managed instead to put it right on the chest of the man on the mark, Kyle Hardingham. Inexplicably, Hardingham's attempted short pass to Sam Lonergan then landed in the lap of Richmond's Dustin Martin. As phones were thrown against desks in both coaches' boxes, Martin kicked an easy goal.

Kicking themselves
5. How can you have 18 more inside-50s and lose the game? That's what Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and his players will be asking themselves over and over again. Basically, it comes down to an old footy phrase: Bad kicking is bad football. The Tigers dominated the second half - they had 37 inside-50s to 20 after the long break. But they cost themselves what would have been a brilliant come-from-behind win (they trailed by 42 points early in the third quarter) because they couldn't hit the target when kicking for goal. The Tigers booted 5.8 in the third quarter and 4.3 in the last. Essendon, in contrast, kicked 7.5 in the second half.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/136273/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Essendon can sniff top-four finish after win over Richmond

    Warwick Green
    From: Herald Sun
    May 20, 2012

DON'T worry about the Dreamtime game. For Essendon supporters, it's dare-to-dream time.

Essendon had to fight tooth and nail for its 19-point win over a tenacious Richmond at the MCG last night and can now sniff its first top-four finish since 2001.

Actually, Richmond supporters are daring to dream, too, because on that performance the Tigers are not far off taking the next step and making the eight, also for the first time since 2001.

The Tigers dominated much of the second half and absolutely refused to give in.

They easily won the inside-50 count and could have snatched victory had they kicked accurately.

In the end it was some simple errors that cost them dearly.

A crucial 50m penalty from Ivan Maric and a turnover on the last line by Trent Cotchin resulted in goals when Essendon was gasping for air.

Meanwhile Richmond was wasteful when it drove the ball forward, in particular during its dominant third quarter when it kicked 5.8 from countless forays inside 50.

In was a spasmodic game, but the most encouraging aspect for Essendon was that it had many contributors throughout the night.

The depth of the Dons' midfield was crucial.

Skipper Jobe Watson used his vision to create opportunities despite having a run-with opponent in Shane Tuck.

Watson also managed to win the ball in space and pushed forward to kick useful goals.

The same applied to Brent Stanton, who struggled early against Daniel Jackson, but became more damaging as the game went on.

They had ample support from the likes of Ben Howlett, who has applied 61 tackles in eight matches, easily the best figure at the club, and David Zaharakis, who stood up late.

Nathan Lovett-Murray, who came on as the substitute for the injured Dustin Fletcher late in the third term, had a significant bearing on the result, adding dash and energy to the midfield in the last quarter.

Up forward, Stewart Crameri, Paddy Ryder and Michael Hurley all had influential spells as the key marking target, no doubt helped after halftime when Richmond was stretched for tall defenders after Dylan Grimes strained a hamstring in the second quarter.

At ground level Alwyn Davey and Angus Monfries gave Essendon other scoring options.

Richmond had two superb players through the midfield in Brett Deledio, who deservedly won the medal for best afield with 35 disposals, 10 tackles and five clearances, and Cotchin, who continues to impress and rarely wastes a disposal.

Essendon looked headed for a comfortable win early in the match, with Ryder and Davey providing the early spark.

Fittingly for the indigenous-themed night the pair contributed the Bombers' first four goals.

Richmond's defenders were caught behind as Essendon produced flowing and clean ball movement.

The Bombers had the clearer and more potent avenues to goal, whereas Richmond scored its goals through the individual brilliance of Dustin Martin and Cotchin, as well as an awful turnover and a dodgy mark paid to Jack Riewoldt.

The Tigers spearhead managed three kicks and a few useful knock-ons.

FOUR POINTS with Matt Windley

1. IT was Dreamtime at the ’G and Essendon’s indigenous players stood up to be counted. Paddy Ryder (three goals), Leroy Jetta (two) and Alwyn Davey combined to kick six of the Bombers’ first nine majors.

2. CHRIS Newman took too long to take his shot when he lined up from 65m in the second term. The ump told him to move along, which allowed David Zaharakis to rush off the mark and forced the Tigers skipper to pop the ball to the top of the goalsquare.

3. MAYBE Mark Thompson’s drink spill took the fizz out of Dons. As the club legend went to take a swig from a soft drink bottle, it exploded on opening early in the third term. It burst all over the back of James Hird, who could see the funny side despite having the fizzy stuff in his equipment and through his hair. Probably not so funny later as the sticky situation in the box became sticky on the field.

4. RICHMOND had a staggering 66 inside 50s to 48, including 37 to 20 in the second half, but couldn’t hurt Essendon on the scoreboard. The Tigers won the second half by 16 points, but will rue their inaccuracy after kicking 9.11 to 7.7 after the main break.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/live-hq-bombers-v-tigers/story-e6frf9jf-1226361045786