Media articles: Fast finishing Tigers pip Bombers

[one-eyed]

Fast finishing Tigers pip Bombers
By Callum Twomey
richmondfc.com.au
8:22pm AEDT Saturday, March 2, 2013


ESSENDON    0.2.2   1.5.4   1.8.7   1.10.9 (78)                 
RICHMOND   1.2.4   1.4.9   1.7.11   2.8.20 (86)         

SUPERGOALS
Essendon: Jetta
Richmond: White, Petterd

GOALS
Essendon: Ryder 3, Stanton, Hurley 2, Crameri, Kommer, Hille
Richmond: McGuane, Tuck 2, White, Arnot, Nahas, Riewoldt

BEST
Essendon: Carlisle, Goddard, Hibberd, Heppell, Crameri, Ryder, Hurley
Richmond: Grigg, S.Edwards, Rance, Astbury, Vlastuin, McGuane

INJURIES
Essendon: Hurley (leg)
Richmond: Nil
 
Reports: Nil
 
Official crowd: 11,000 at Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta Showgrounds

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A FEW things hadn't changed. The crowd again lined the cycling track around the Wangaratta Showgrounds' oval sitting in deckchairs and on blankets. The game was a sell-out before a ball was bounced, with 11,000 or so packed in.

Locals made the most of the extra business behind the canteen. Brendon Goddard racked up a lot of the ball.

But this year was vastly different to last, when Essendon's chartered plane failed to land in the region due to torrential conditions and the club forfeited its NAB Cup clash with St Kilda, who went on to play an intra-club match to appease drenched fans.

This time, the sun was out, it was hot, and players applied zinc to their faces. Goddard was still getting a lot of the ball, but in a different coloured jumper.

The Bombers, with an almost full-strength squad, played Richmond. But even despite more senior experience and a more balanced side, the Tigers triumphed by eight points in an unlikely victory.

After a close first half, an even tighter second half ensued, with the final key moment belonging to Tiger Ricky Petterd.

The former Demon, who crossed to the club at the end of last year, gathered the ball outside the 50-metre arc and kicked a long supergoal to hand the Tigers a seven-point lead with moments remaining. 

Petterd had been solid in his new defensive role, but relished his moment up forward when it came his way.

The Tigers kicked another point after Petterd's supergoal, their ninth of an inaccurate final term, to win 2.8.20 (86) to the Bombers' 1.10.9 (78).

It was a win that was unexpected given the strength of the two sides on the park.

Apart from David Zaharakis (quad) and Jason Winderlich (groin), this was close to Essendon's best side as it ramped up its preparation for a round one encounter with Adelaide on March 22.

Paddy Ryder, Michael Hurley and Stewart Crameri worked themselves into the game in attack.

In defence they were organised, too, with Jake Carlisle convincingly winning his battle with Tiger spearhead Jack Riewoldt, who was Richmond captain for the night.

Damien Hardwick's Tigers were missing a host of key players, including captain Trent Cotchin, vice-captain Brett Deledio and ruckman Ivan Maric.

Steven Morris, Reece Conca and Chris Knights also didn't play.

Those who took their place clearly made an impact. David Astbury, who has had an injury ravaged two seasons was important early, youngster Nick Vlastuin continued his push for a full AFL debut, and Shane Edwards won a lot of the ball. 

Luke McGuane showed he could play a part in Richmond's attack with two goals, and ruckman Orren Stephenson put his hand up for a spot on the Tigers' senior list with 14 disposals and 19 hit-outs.

- See more at: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2013-03-02/fast-finishing-tigers-pip-bombers#sthash.K4lXXfR9.dpuf

[one-eyed]

Tigers snatch thrilling win over Essendon
    From: AAP
    March 02, 2013 8:09PM

RICKY Petterd's late super goal has given Richmond an eight-point win in their AFL pre-season match against Essendon.

The former Melbourne forward kicked his nine-point goal with less than three minutes left and the Tigers won 2.8.20 (86) to 1.10.9 (78) at Wangaratta.

Richmond attacked repeatedly in the final term, but had kicked a wayward 1.8 before Petterd put them in front for the first time in the second half of the round-two pre-season Cup game.

The game attracted a sold-out crowd of about 11,000, a year after Essendon had to forfeit a pre-season game at the same venue against St Kilda.

Richmond recruited Petterd through the rookie draft and he had been solid in defence before going forward for his decisive long-range bomb.

Midfielder Shaun Grigg was best for the Tigers, while Essendon defender Jake Carlisle was outstanding on Richmond key forward Jack Riewoldt.

Paddy Ryder kicked three goals for the Bombers, who led by 14 points in the last term before Richmond stormed home.

Richmond's Matt White opened the scoring with a nine-point goal less than a minute after the first bounce.

Essendon hit back with a goal to newcomer Nick Kommer, but the Tigers capitalised on some strong tackling pressure to take an 11-point lead at the first break.

After a goal to Bombers forward Stewart Crameri early in the second, Shane Tuck and Jack Riewoldt kicked accurately to give the Tigers a 20-point lead late in the first half.

But Essendon suddenly started winning the ball out of the middle.

They dramatically hit back with goals to Michael Hurley and Brent Stanton and a nine-pointer to Leroy Jetta, all within three minutes, for an improbable one-point lead at the main break.

Ryder and Richmond key forward Luke McGuane kicked two goals apiece in the third term.

The Bombers led by 13 points midway through the term, but McGuane and Shane Tuck goalled late in the term to reduce the margin to two points at the last change.

Essendon were nearly at full strength, while the Tigers were missing several big names including captain Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric and Port Adelaide recruit Troy Chaplin.

- See more at: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/tigers-snatch-thrilling-win-over-essendon/story-e6frf9jf-1226589085410#sthash.jcjwoPw5.dpuf

[tiger101]

Tiger stars set for return
By Callum Twomey8:30pm AEDT Saturday, March 2, 2013


RICHMOND is set to welcome back up to eight members of its best side as its preparations advance for round one.

The Tigers beat Essendon by eight points in Wangaratta on Saturday in round two of the NAB Cup, but remain far from full strength, unlike the Bombers who were missing only two first-choice players.

Captain Trent Cotchin, vice-captain Brett Deledio and ruckman Ivan Maric all missed the Bombers' clash, as did defender Steven Morris, recruit Chris Knights and young midfielder Reece Conca.

With defenders Dylan Grimes and Troy Chaplin also close to returning, coach Damien Hardwick said things were going to plan.

"There's probably about eight guys who will come back into our best 22 and that's really good for us," Hardwick said after the Essendon win.

"We've gone about it in a certain way, so we'll probably play pretty much full-strength sides in [the third and fourth rounds of the NAB Cup.]"

Chaplin, who crossed from Port Adelaide at the end of last year, is likely to take the field for his new club for the first time next week against Hawthorn. Grimes, recovering from a hamstring injury, is a chance to play the following week.

"Probably the only guys who possibly won't play round one [are] Grimes and [Nathan] Foley. But other than that we're in reasonable shape which is good," Hardwick said.

Hardwick was pleased with his side's ability to close out the win against the Bombers, and praised returning defender David Astbury for his job on Essendon forward Michael Hurley.

Bombers coach James Hird was less satisfied, noting some experimental elements to the game plan didn't work out.

"We tried a few things late in the second half of the last quarter and that probably didn't help us, the things we tried," Hird said.

"I think we let them score too much, we let them run it out of their half-back line too easily at certain times. And around the contest early on in the game we weren't as good as we have been."

The Bombers played in bursts and weren't able to produce when the game was up for grabs, but Hird said there were positives to take.

Jake Carlisle's effort against Jack Riewoldt was acknowledged, Nick Kommer's rugged approach has seen him be in round one contention, and Hird was happy to get more game time into a group of senior players.

Hird said Hurley, who had his right leg bandaged and then left the field after colliding with Astbury, had only suffered a cork and will be fine to take on Greater Western Sydney next Friday at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-02/essendon-v-richmond-press-conference

[Go Richo 12]

http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1335226/scores-updates-and-photos-essendon-vs-richmond/?cs=11
ESSENDON 1 - 10 - 9 TOTAL - 78
RICHMOND 2 - 8 - 20 TOTAL - 86
RICHMOND have scraped home to beat Essendon by 8 points in a pre-season game to decide who would remain in the running for the NAB Cup grand final.
Wangaratta's Norms Minns Oval was at capacity for the long-awaited game, with an estimated 10,000 to 11,000 people turning out to support the two AFL teams.
The crowd was a vocal and passionate one.
Reporter Jack Baker said Essendon players were getting plenty of flack from the crowd about not turning up to last year's game.
He said before half time the two groups of supporters were in a "chant war" and a minor scuffle broke out between opposing players.
Commentators said Richmond players were having a go at Essendon about their off-field drug controversy.
Fortunately, this time the rain that stopped Essendon's plane landing at Wangaratta last year was nowhere to be seen.
A sunny day, packed ground and what commentators described as "country football at its best" was showcased with live coverage on Fox Sports.
The day also delivered a cracking match, with the lead swinging between the two teams after Richmond got out to a strong start and a 19-point lead.
After Essendon pegged back the points neither team were able to run away with a solid run of goals.
With three minutes to go there were just three points the difference.
Richmond's Matt Arnot and Tyrone Vickery kicked three points between them in the final minutes of the game,  before Ricky Petterd got a super goal and delivered his team a match-winning lead.

[one-eyed]

Tigers earn stripes in final stages

    Emma Quayle, Wangaratta
    The Age
    March 3, 2013

RICHMOND 1.2.4 1.4.9 1.7.11 2.8.20 (86)
ESSENDON 0.2.2 1.5.4 1.8.7 1.10.9 (78)

SUPER GOALS
Richmond: White, Petterd.
Essendon: Jetta.

GOALS
Richmond: McGuane 2, Tuck 2, Riewoldt, Arnot, White, Nahas.
Essendon: Ryder 3, Stanton 2, Hurley 2, Hille, Kommer, Crameri.

UMPIRES Chamberlain, Gleeson, Hosking.
VENUE Wangaratta Showgrounds.

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

RICHMOND learnt how quickly a game can be grabbed away from it. The Tigers started with more initiative than Essendon, got the ball out of busy situations better and moved it forward with enough time and space to do something more thoughtful.

They did it enough times that with more than 20 minutes gone in the second quarter they were more than three goals clear. But in the space of three minutes they let the Bombers kick three goals and found themselves playing catch-up for most of the second half.

It wasn't until the last few minutes that Ricky Petterd jumped on a loose ball, ran it to just outside the 50-metre line and kicked a nine-point goal that ensured Richmond an eight-point win.
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Before then it learnt other things, hanging in just behind the Bombers during the third term and kicking two late goals to keep it in touch.

Then persisting when it scored eight behinds through the last quarter, before Petterd's shot sailed through.

That pleased coach Damien Hardwick. Richmond lost many of the close games it found itself in last year - it went 2-6 in games decided by 12 points or less - and getting better when things get tight is something the Tigers have been working on during the pre-season.

''Obviously it's been well documented last year about how we failed to finish out those close games,'' Hardwick said. ''Tonight we probably didn't help our cause, missing with all those points, but we've worked on a couple of things to help us with the closing out, and it certainly came through for us, which was good.''

The hero was Petterd, whom the Tigers recruited as a rookie last year from Melbourne. ''He's still got a little bit to learn about our system,'' Hardwick said. ''But we certainly think we've picked up a player that can contribute.''

There were others. Draftee Nick Vlastuin has what his coach likes: a no-fuss attitude and a willingness to put his body where the ball is. David Astbury's game on Michael Hurley was further encouragement that he can get back to the promising place he was in when he injured his knee two years ago.

Orren Stephenson held his own, with six early clearances helping enable Richmond's more productive movement out of traffic. Shaun Grigg was busy from start to finish and Tyrone Vickery could've had a huge influence in the last quarter but missed a couple of shots. Essendon's start was nowhere near as sharp and the Bombers' three-goal burst at the end of the second half, with two of their three goals coming from fast centre-square breaks, was their best patch of the game.

It was the only time they were able to really slow the Tigers up.

''I was disappointed we weren't able to keep Richmond to a lesser score. I think we let them score too much and we let them run it out of their half-back line too easily at certain times,'' coach James Hird said.

There were things to like for the Bombers too, though. Jake Carlisle was excellent against Jack Riewoldt, his safe hands and reading of the play a more than handy combination. Nick Kommer was ferocious and Jobe Watson was solid on his return from a minor knee injury, as were Jake Melksham and Ben Howlett in their first appearances of 2013.

The duel between Hurley and Astbury was a good one, with Hurley becoming more involved after half-time before corking a thigh. Michael Hibberd played well off half-back, Stewart Crameri's body work was influential at times and Paddy Ryder scored three goals. ''We had our good patches but, for the whole game, it wasn't what we wanted,'' Hird said.
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Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-earn-stripes-in-final-stages-20130302-2fdf0.html#ixzz2MOWfsiA2