Not pretty, but Tigers on the moveAshley Porter, Adelaide
The Age
May 7, 2012RICHMOND 3.2 8.7 9.10 13.13 (91)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 2.2 6.4 8.6 (54)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Nahas 3, King 2, Deledio, Miller, Newman, Conca.
Port Adelaide: Renouf 2, Broadbent 2, Young, Jacobs, Stewart, Butcher.
BEST
Richmond: Maric, Tuck, Deledio, Martin, Grimes, Rance.
Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert, Jacobs, Broadbent, Cassisi, Boak, Hartlett.
INJURIES
Richmond: Newman (shin), Vickery (corked buttock).
Port Adelaide: Hitchcock (hamstring), Cornes (knee).
UMPIRES McBurney, Margetts, Ritchie.
CROWD 18,522, at AAMI Stadium.
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JUST 12 minutes into the game, Port's Cameron Hitchcock, in his first game this year from shoulder surgery, sat on the bench at AAMI Stadium with his head bowed and his hands covering his eyes.
Many believed it was because of a hamstring strain, but more likely he was no different to anyone else at this Port Adelaide and Richmond game - no one could bear to watch.
Richmond won by 37 points - a deserving change based on its recent admirable losses - but it, too, produced patches of its worst football this season, particularly in the first half when it led 8.7 to 2.2.
It would nice to raise the hopes of the faithful by suggesting this may be the turnaround in fortunes the Tigers were hunting, but the performance was far from convincing on this cold, drizzly and overall miserable Sunday afternoon.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick conceded it wasn't pretty. ''It was a tough day in the office,'' he lamented.
''That rain just before the half made it very slippery … the numbers around the ball certainly made it difficult to move the ball with any fluency.
''It wasn't a great game to probably watch, but they are the games we expect to win.
''I have said our performances up to this stage have been OK without quite getting the four points, and to come over here and beat Port on their home deck by 37 points is not easy when you're travelling. It is certainly a win that we will take stock of and move on.''
Richmond's effort was first class, but there were also times when it reverted to its dreadful short kicking, go backwards, sideways and negative style. Taking six or seven disposals moving backwards when it wasn't necessary and losing possession in the spot where the movement started looked awful.
But there were obviously many quality moments, and clearly leading the way was ruckman Ivan Maric with 46 hit-outs and 20 disposals, earning high praise - and a friendly sledge - by Hardwick.
''Ivan has been a real star,'' Hardwick said. ''He's a high-calibre person, and what he is delivering on the field is also high calibre. We have been really pleased.
''He still has some areas he can work on, mainly his hair, but other than that we move on. He seems to be getting better the longer the mullet. He's a guy who is starting to understand our system, what is required of him. He gets the ball and moves it from A-to-B. he's been a real plus.''
Jack Riewoldt missed three set shots, but he certainly made up for it with four goals. His workrate was outstanding in difficult conditions. Also pleasing was the performance by Dylan Grimes, who after struggling last year with a hamstring injury has continued to be a quality performer in the backline.
Richmond had many other valuable contributors in this slog-fest, but ultimately it was that will-to-win that gave it a 47-point lead just after half-time and resistance to Port's expected third-term comeback.
Brad Ebert was again best for Port, but too often his hard-earned possessions were wasted by teammates. Dom Cassisi led Port's third-term revival with his typical in-and-under approach, while Travis Boak and Matthew Broadbent had their share of good moments.
But unlike Richmond's list of contributors, Port had few players who had a big impact on this game. Like the Tigers, the effort has been there of recent weeks, but Port just doesn't seem to have the depth of genuine AFL players. The fans will now be on the back of coach Matthew Primus, but that lack of depth goes back to the recruiting staff.
The Power has too many players who fall over, pass to players under pressure, or simply don't have the confidence to take a deep breath and effectively work the ball inside-50. Too much of the old kick-and-hope-it-reaches-a-target routine.
Danyle Pearce, who was dropped to the SANFL to find form, was injured playing for Sturt on Saturday and will be out for some weeks.
It just gets worse for Port Adelaide, but at Richmond they're singing ''we're from Tigerland'' with a lot more gusto.
A lot of improvement is still needed, but at least the lads are moving forward.
WELCOME HOMEIvan Maric made a welcome return to AAMI Stadium after six seasons at Adelaide and was clearly best on ground with 46 hit-outs and 20 disposals. Among the first to congratulate him - and catch up on old times - was former Crows teammate Tyson Edwards, who is now an assistant coach at Port.
FIGURESRichmond's dominance was reflected by 73 more disposals, but 60 of them were uncontested. The Tigers were also way ahead with inside-50s, leading 55-37. The key here was the second term when Richmond went inside 19 times to Port's two, and kicked 5.5 to 1.0 - a match-winning term.
AGAINST THE WINDSurprisingly, Port captain Dom Cassisi won the toss and kicked against the wind. Port had won only one of its five last quarters, and perhaps the expectation was of the wind becoming stronger and Port having a last hurrah. Of course, it didn't come, with Richmond out-scoring Port 4.3 to 2.2 in the last term against a fading breeze.
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