Media articles and stats: Bold Tigers maul Swans

[one-eyed]

Bold Tigers maul Swans
By Paul Daffey
7:11 PM Sat 12 May, 2012


RICHMOND              5.6    7.9    8.11    13.13   (91)                 
SYDNEY SWANS      0.2     2.7     6.9      8.14   (62)         
 
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Grigg 3, Miller 2, Conca, Martin, Deledio, Maric
Sydney Swans: Kennedy 2, Dennis-Lane, Everitt, Grundy, Hannebery, McGlynn, Seaby
 
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Grigg, Foley, Tuck, Grimes, Martin, Deledio, Maric
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Jetta, Bolton, O'Keefe, Hannebery
 
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Sydney Swans: Parker (knee)
 
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Brandon Ellis replaced Jake Batchelor in the fourth quarter
Sydney Swans: Trent Dennis-Lane replaced Luke Parker in the third quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Stevic, Ryan, Mollison
 
Official crowd: 40,352 at the MCG

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RICHMOND overcame a third-quarter scare to pull away from the Sydney Swans and convincingly win their twilight match at the MCG by 29 points.

The Tigers' richly-deserved victory gave them a cherished top-four scalp, with the Swans sitting in fourth spot before the match.

Richmond had narrowly missed out on defeating Geelong and West Coast in rounds four and five, with 10-point losses to both, but this performance boosts the credibility it has been craving.

The final score was 13.13 (91) to 8.14 (62).

The Tigers put themselves on the path to victory with five unanswered goals in a first quarter in which they owned the ball, racing to a 34-point lead.

While 13 Richmond players had six or more disposals in this quarter, not one Swans player had six. Josh Kennedy and Craig Bird had five.

The second quarter was even before the Swans kicked four goals to one during a spirited fightback in the third quarter.

Their rally enabled them to pull the margin back to 14 points at the final change.

The Swans had the momentum going into the last quarter and looked half a chance to pull off an unlikely win.

But the air went out of their sails when Richmond midfielder Shaun Grigg kicked the first goal of the last quarter and right the ship back in favour of the Tigers.

Richmond went on to kick five goals to two in the last quarter to seal only their third victory over the Swans in 12 attempts.

The Tigers would be loath to admit it, but they benefited trough the absence of out-of-form tall forward Tyrone Vickery.

To cover for Vickery they alternated midfielders Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin out of the goalsquare, and looked more potent because of it.

Jack Riewoldt played upfield early but played deeper in the second half and continued on from the form he showed with four goals in the 37-point victory over Port Adelaide last week.

He kicked another four goals, while Grigg kicked three.

While Cotchin was goalless, he had an equal match-high 27 disposals. Key defender Alex Rance also had 27 disposals.

Richmond next week seeks another quality scalp when it plays Essendon in the Dreamtime match at the MCG, while the Swans host winless Melbourne.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/135592/default.aspx

[TigerTimeII]

this is the first time i can remember in ages we never crumbled after we were challenged by a good team, any team, we finally showed grit, toughness poise and maturity, well done tigers

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals           417 - 287
Efficiency%          74 - 71
Kicks                 233 - 180   
Handballs           184 - 107
Con. Possies       141 - 114
Uncon. Possies    276 - 173
Marks                 114 - 72
Con. Marks             9 - 7
Uncon. Marks      105 - 65
Tackles                 66 - 71
Clearances            34 - 28
Clangers               42 - 39
Hitouts                 37  -29 ..... ( I.Maric 28, Miller 3 // Seaby 18, White 9 )
Fress                    14 - 13
Inside 50s             49 - 48
Marks In50            13 - 10
Rebound 50s         37 - 29
Assists                  11 - 5
Supercoach        1931 - 1372


Individual Stats

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

T.Cotchin           27    15    12    11    67%      2    0    5    6    0    0    6    1    0    0    2    111
A.Rance             27    20      7      8    78%    12    1    1    1    1    0    1    3    0    0    0    108
S.Grigg              26    18      8      4    73%      7    0    1    1    0    0    4    1    3    0    1    111
B.Houli              26    11    15      5    81%      5    0    2    1    0    2    2    9    0    0    0      79
B.Deledio           25    13    12      7    76%      5    1    4    3    2    0    4    1    1    1    2    100
N.Foley              25    11    14    16    72%      1    0    8    7    1    0    6    1    0    1    1    134
C.Newman         25    16      9      7    92%      5    0    1    0    1    0    2    5    0    0    0    116
D.Grimes           24    18      6      3    96%    13    0    2    0    0    1    0    6    0    0    0    109
D.Martin            24    13    11      9    71%      2    1    4    0    2    2    3    0    1    1    0      88
S.Tuck               24    10    14    14    67%      6    1    8    4    1    3    1    2    0    0    0      98
S.Edwards         20      7    13      8    75%      4    0    1    3    1    0    2    0    0    0    2      76
D.Jackson          18    10      8      3    89%    10    1    3    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    1      79
S.Morris            18    11      7      4    83%      6    0    2    1    1    0    2    1    0    0    1      73
R.Conca            17    10      7      7    82%      4    0    5    3    1    1    1    4    1    0    0      90
I.Maric              17      8      9      5    82%      4    0    3    1    1    0    1    1    1    1    0    119
R.Nahas            16    10      6      7    81%      5    0    6    1    0    0    4    0    0    1    0      97
J.Batchelor        14      6      8      6    93%      3    0    2    1    2    1    1    2    0    0    0      81
M.Dea               14      3    11      6    86%      3    0    3    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0      65
B.Miller             10      9      1      3    50%      8    2    1    0    0    1    4    0    2    0    0      65
J.Riewoldt           9      8      1      5    44%      5    2    3    0    0    0    0    0    4    4    0      96
J.King                 8      6      2      2    75%      4    0    1    1    0    2    3    0    0    0    1      34
B.Ellis                 3      0      3      1    33%      0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0        2

http://live-footy.heraldsun.com.au/StatsCentre/Index/20120720120140704
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/16931/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7717&tab=Stats

[one-eyed]

Richmond rallies to stun Sydney

    Warwick Green
    From: Herald Sun
    May 13, 2012

STRANGE as it may sound, if you were looking for a microcosm of the Richmond and Sydney contest, you needed to look no further than two of the biggest names in Hawthorn history.

Tuck and Kennedy.

In the first half, Shane Tuck did a superb job nullifying Sydney playmaker Josh Kennedy, holding him to nine disposals and shading him at the clearances. Kennedy struggled to have an influence.

The Swan found himself shifted to full-forward in a desperate attempt to shake things up.

In the third term, Kennedy dragged himself back into the game and made an impact on the scoreboard, while Tuck had slight lapses in concentration and work rate and made a crucial disposal error which led to a Ben McGlynn goal.

But in the final term Tuck responded, with eight disposals to three as Kennedy faded and watched the game slip away.

It was that sort of match. It should have been over before halftime, with Richmond kicking seven of the game's first eight goals and dominating. A percentage booster looked on the cards.

At the first change the Tigers were ahead 129-52 in the possession count and were taking all of the risks.

The Swans could not get their hands on the ball, and in the absence of Adam Goodes they had no system on the rare occasions when they did go into their forward half.

In the midfield it was the Richmond players who were taking the initiative. Trent Cotchin continues to move into the elite bracket, winning ball inside and slicing teams up with creative disposal.

Nathan Foley is back to his best and adds much-needed pace, while Shaun Grigg is making a play for most improved player in the competition.

They were well served by ruckman Ivan Maric, whose superb showing yesterday illustrated he is more than a cult figure.

Maric smashed premiership ruckman Mark Seaby at the centre bounces, marked strongly around the ground and brought smaller players into the contest with clever handball.

He even brought a massive roar from the 40,000 crowd with a skilfully snapped goal in the second term.

Brett Deledio, playing in his 100th consecutive match, produced a game which proved he is capable of doing more than drifting across half-back picking off possessions. He did some good work in traffic and his goal came from a contested intercept mark.

Encouragingly Richmond's defensive unit is improving, and did not make as many disposal errors under pressure as it has in several games this season.

It was led by a calm and creative Dylan Grimes, while Alex Rance continued his fine start to the season.

On this display, there remain question marks over the forward line. Jack Riewoldt managed two early and two late goals, and gave the Tigers a target.

He contested well, but was patchy, and is not yet back to his peak form.

Seven goalkickers helped, but the Tigers still seemed to scramble their goals. The encouraging sign for coach Damien Hardwick was the even effort of the team, with 19 of his players managing double-figure disposals.

The concern would be that the Tigers took their foot off the accelerator in the third term.

For its part, Sydney looked a shadow of the team that won the first five games of the season.

It took veterans Jude Bolton, Jarrad McVeigh and Ryan O'Keefe to drag the Swans back into the contest, while Leroy Jetta looked the one player who had game-changing qualities.

Sydney's backline battled gamely, but too many of the Swans simply had no bearing on the contest.

As inconceivable as it may have seemed before this match, the team mostly likely to feature in September could well be Richmond, not Sydney.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/richmond-rallies-to-stun-sydney/story-fn6bn7f4-1226353810394

[one-eyed]

Tigers up and running
Jake Niall
The Age
May 13, 2012

RICHMOND 5.6 7.9 8.11 13.13 (91)
SYDNEY      0.2 2.7 6.9   8.14 (62)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Grigg 3, Miller 2, Deledio, Martin, I Maric, Conca.
Sydney: Kennedy 2, Everitt, McGlynn, Hannebery, Grundy, Seaby, Dennis-Lane.

BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Foley, Grigg, Rance, Maric, Tuck, Deledio.
Sydney: Bolton, Kennedy, Jetta, Hannebery.

INJURIES Sydney: Parker (knee).
UMPIRES M Stevic, J Mollison, H Ryan.
CROWD 40,352 at MCG.

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WHETHER it manages to play finals this year or not, Richmond's 2012 revival seems more authentic than its previous soufflé-like rises and rapid falls.

The bona fides of Richmond's renaissance were demonstrated not simply in its winning margin over a team that was unbeaten eight days ago, it was seen in two traits not associated with the Tigers for a while.
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The first is defensive competence - both in the back line and all over the field. The Tigers restricted Sydney to two goals in a half last night, and held the No-Goodes Sydney to eight goals from virtually the same number of forward thrusts.

A no-frills defence is gradually taking shape, featuring a vastly improved desperado, Alex Rance, the talented Dylan Grimes and some runners who can use the ball - Reece Conca, Bachar Houli and skipper Chris Newman.

The second sign this great awakening might prove sustainable is the spread of Richmond contributors to its 29-point eclipse of the Swans. Whereas Sydney had no player win the ball more than 21 times and more than half its team had fewer than 15 touches, the Tigers had only three players who touched the ball fewer than 10 times.

One of the sub-10 players was Jack Riewoldt, who booted 4.4 by canny positioning in the air and on the ground. Jake King, who always competes, was another and the third was the substitute Brandon Ellis.

Whenever the Tigers have won over the past 18 months, one tends to finger the usual suspects - Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Dustin Martin, Riewoldt and maybe Newman - as the architects.

While these players are bound to be prominent in any Richmond victory - if they're not producing at a reasonable level, the Tigers don't win - the output of some second- and third-tier types was more telling.

Deledio and Martin were proficient, rather than outstanding.

Cotchin's was closer to a stand-out performance, though his possession rate (27) wasn't above the norm. Again, it was the quality of his work - the intelligence and composure - that distinguished him from the pack.

Nathan Foley was another midfielder who was well above par.

Foley doesn't have the class of Deledio or Cotchin but he managed what the Swans couldn't - he won the ball and, on occasion, he broke into space, including one run through the middle in the last quarter when he set up Riewoldt's fourth goal, restoring the margin to beyond five goals.

Sydney's losses to Adelaide and the Tigers are a sobering reminder that it is vulnerable whenever it doesn't produce manic intensity around the ball. This game was the first test of its capacity to cope with the loss of Adam Goodes, whose unique two-players-in-one abilities can only be replaced by a sharing of his workload by many.

Almost as significant an absentee, certainly in the first quarter and a bit, was Shane Mumford.

Mark Seaby was eclipsed by Ivan ''the Mullet'' Maric in the ruck in that decisive time, helping the Tigers to build that 34-point, quarter-time advantage. Predictably, Sydney closed in the third term, when Jude Bolton, Josh Kennedy and Ryan O'Keefe began to win the ball, but this wasn't convincing.

Kennedy, whose form had put him among Brownlow medal favourites, was subdued at the stoppages by another strong-bodied son of a Hawthorn champion, Shane Tuck.

Ted Richards, one of the most significant players in Sydney's 5-0 start to 2012, was unsettled from the outset by Richmond coach Damien Hardwick's decision to play a smaller forward line, meaning Richards had to play on Martin and occasionally Cotchin early on.

The Swans had barely any decent players, as the lopsided possession count - contested, uncontested, take your pick - suggests.

They had cameos from Bolton and Kennedy, a few flashes from Lewis Jetta and precious little else.

The night belonged to the Tigers. If you didn't know they were coming, don't worry. You'll hear about it.

TACTICAL TIGERS

The Tigers' endeavour could not be questioned in the first term; neither could the tactics of coach Damien Hardwick. Realising how important Ted Richards has been to sparking the Swans' counter-attack from defence, the Tigers had midfielders Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin alternate on him. This forced Richards to be accountable, and denied the Swans much-needed run. The Tigers dominated the first term, boasting a 129-52 advantage in disposals, 31-6 marks, 15-5 clearances and a 34-point lead.

MILLER TIME

Brad Miller was supposedly washed up as a senior footballer when he was let go by Melbourne after the 2010 season. The veteran forward was a handy acquisition for the Tigers last season but has emerged as a key component this year, particularly with Ty Vickery struggling. Miller had two goals last night, and has 13 after seven matches. There are a few Demons supporters who think he would still be a handy sidekick alongside Mitch Clark.

SWAN DIVE

Since losing the 2006 grand final, the Swans have struggled at the MCG, losing 13 of 17 matches, with one draw. This latest defeat came courtesy of the Tigers' run and carry. The Swans prefer the contest to be more inside than out, but were still beaten 141-114 in contested possession. The Swans know how to play tempo footy when in trouble at the smaller SCG; it's a more difficult task at the home of football. If the Swans are to have finals success this year, much improvement is required.

- with JON PIERIK

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-up-and-running-20120512-1yjv6.html#ixzz1ug2syyIY

[one-eyed]

Tigers in touching distance of eight
Jon Pierik
The Age
May 13, 2012

ALREADY a cult figure at his new club, Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric attracted even more support last night when he helped guide the Tigers to an important 29-point win over Sydney.

Maric, complete with his now famous mullet, was dominant in the ruck, finishing with 28 hit-outs, 17 disposals and a goal in the second term that sparked the most applause of the night.

''I really just want to play footy, and play hard and passionate footy, and that's what I love doing,'' Maric said.

''If they [the supporters] decide I am a cult figure, I am happy for them to make those decisions.''

That was certainly the case after the Tigers posted their third win of the season, and second in succession, by dismantling the third-placed Swans, who endured another horrible outing at the MCG.

The win ensured the Tigers remain firmly in touch with the top eight and sets up as a fascinating Dreamtime at the 'G clash against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night in what will be skipper Chris Newman's 200th match.

The Tigers established their supremacy in the first term, holding the Swans goalless and jumping out to a 34-point lead. That advantage was extended to 41 points early in the second term, and was 32 at half-time.

However, the Swans rallied in the third term, booting four goals to one to cut the deficit to only 14 points by three-quarter-time.

The visitors had the momentum when Josh Kennedy goaled on the siren but the Tigers all but ended the contest by booting the opening three goals of the final term.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick understood the importance of a win against a ferocious opponent he hopes his team will one-day represent.

''It was a pleasing win for us because it's just great to beat a good footy side like that,'' he said.

''They are probably a side that will occupy between third and fifth. To win a footy game against sides that probably are thought to be above us is certainly important.

''We have got a reasonably tough draw coming up, Essendon next week and Hawthorn the week after, so they are the sort of games we need to win to solidify our position challenging for the eight.''

They will do just that if they dominate the contested-possession count (141-114) and clearances (34-28) as they did last night.

Brett Deledio (25 disposals), Nathan Foley (25), Trent Cotchin (27) and Shaun Grigg (26) were superb through the middle, while Hardwick praised Shane Tuck for restricting Kennedy to 21 disposals.

Key defenders Alex Rance and Dylan Grimes were also dominant, holding Sam Reid, troubled by an ankle injury, and Jesse White goalless.

Newman was steady across half-back.

After an indifferent start to the season, Jack Riewoldt kept his emotions in check and finished with four goals.

''Jack is probably a little bit tentative at stages with his kick but he knows how to adjust that,'' Hardwick said.

''He is probably missing the little dribble kick goals at stages as well, which is a little bit disappointing. But we have been really pleased with his defensive pursuits.''

Swans coach John Longmire lamented his team's miserable start.

''That was the complete opposite to the way we wanted to play,'' he said.

The Swans have now lost 13 of their past 17 matches at the MCG since the 2006 grand final. Longmire said the size of the ground, compared to the smaller SCG, was not to blame.

Veteran midfielder Ryan O'Keefe was also frustrated by his team's poor efforts in Melbourne.

''Every time we turn up to the MCG, we just don't play our brand of footy. It's really disappointing,'' he said.

''There is only one way to do something about it - that's change it and win.''

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-in-touching-distance-of-eight-20120512-1yjvy.html#ixzz1ug3TgtO2

[one-eyed]

Five talking points: Richmond v Sydney Swans
By Jason Phelan
afl.com.au
Sat 12 May, 2012

1. Tiger trouncing
Trent Cotchin started at full-forward, but was soon in the thick of things in the midfield, where the Tigers set the tone early. Cotchin and teammates Shaun Grigg, Nathan Foley, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio overpowered the Swans onballers in the first half. Forward Lewis Jetta and key back Luke Parker were the only two Swans players to hit double figures in the possession count to half-time, while 11 Tigers made it into double figures. When the teams went into the first break, Richmond had recorded a whopping 77 more disposals than the visitors.

2. Swans ruck a tall order
Shane Mumford's importance to the Swans was highlighted in the first half when Mark Seaby struggled mightily against Ivan Maric. Seaby was outpointed in the ruck where he managed eight hit-outs to Maric's 19 and registered just one handball. Seaby lifted a bit in the second half, but they need more from him with Mumford still a few weeks away with the back injury he suffered in round four.

3. Martin's milestones
Dustin Martin played his 50th game for the Tigers since being snapped up third overall at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, and it was a milestone night to remember. The hard nut was influential throughout and finished with 24 possessions and a goal. It's been a momentous week for the fan favourite, with club president Gary March telling the pre-match function that Martin had a recently bought a new house and would be moving out of the March household, where he has stayed since joining the club.

4. Swans snap out of it
The Swans looked destined for a heavy defeat on the evidence of their lifeless first-half display, but it was a reinvigorated outfit that emerged from the rooms after half-time. Jude Bolton, who had been held to six touches, led the charge with 12 possessions for the quarter as the Swans cut the margin from 32 to 14 at the last change. They desperately needed the first goal of the final term to really make the Tigers nervous, but Shaun Grigg halted their momentum with his second of the match.

5. Big finish
Even with that first goal of the last quarter, there would still have been some nerves among the Richmond faithful, who have seen their team disappoint late in games before. But the Tigers made the kind of statement the fans and the club would have been after by running the game out strongly. "It was really pleasing to see that when they were challenged they responded and got the game back on our terms," Damien Hardwick said.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/135593/default.aspx