Tigers sound warning Rohan Connolly
The Age
June 15, 2013 - 7:21PM RICHMOND 5.2 9.7 11.10 16.14 (110)
ADELAIDE 2.1 5.4 6.10 10.12 (72)
GOALS:
Richmond: Martin 4, Riewoldt 3, Ellis 2, Grigg 2, Newman, Maric, King, Edwards, Cotchin.
Adelaide: Jenkins 2, Dangerfield 2, Mackay, Callinan, Porplyzia, van Berlo, Thompson, Lynch.
BEST:
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Ellis, Riewoldt, Foley, Houli.
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Douglas, Rutten, Sloane.
UMPIRES: Meredith, Stewart, Margetts.
CROWD 43,615 at MCG.
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This was just the sort of game that last year, would have had Richmond more than a little anxious. Against an opponent in Adelaide down but capable. Coming off an inspiring win in Perth, but with that momentum having been interrupted by a week off. Yet going in expected to win if it was to prove itself a credible top-eight team.
It’s the sort of scenario that has seen the Tigers stumble before. But not this time. In fact, this performance smacked of finals credibility. Tough. Featuring a relatively even spread of contributors. And which when threatened even briefly, saw Richmond answer emphatically. That’s what the good teams do.
Only recently, had Richmond, having led all day, conceded its opponent the first two goals of the final term within four minutes and seen what had not long before been a six-goal lead slashed to just 19 points, panic might well have set in. Instead, the Tigers slammed on the next five goals to blow the margin out to 50 before the Crows managed a couple of meaningless six-pointers in junk time.
It was the Tigers who had made the early running. And who finished things off in style, its opponent, which last year came within a kick of a grand final berth, looking, as it has much of this season, a shadow of its former self. Not that Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson could have levelled the same ‘‘insipid’’ accusation he had after the Crows’ belting at the hands of Sydney last week early in this game.
They gave it a decent enough crack. But an impotent looking forward set-up that simply didn’t have the capacity to make the most of its chances wasn’t going to be enough. And, really, it hasn’t been even since Taylor Walker went down on this same bogey ground for Adelaide seven weeks ago. Nothing illustrated that impotence better than midway through the opening term, by which time Richmond had enjoyed only two more inside 50s than its opposition, but already had three goals to one on the board.
The Tigers looked dangerous when they went forward, Adelaide not so much. Skipper Trent Cotchin got the ball rolling with a left-foot snap, Jack Riewoldt pounced on a ground ball to soccer another, then Dustin Martin, who along with Brett Deledio was dangerous right from the start, bombed one home from outside 50 metres.
The Crows’ goals came from opportunistic snaps more than calculated forward plays, both Ian Callinan and Josh Jenkins at least keeping their side in the hunt. But the patter continued. It was five goals to two at the first break, and seven goals to two by the eight-minute mark of the second term after Riewoldt dished one off for veteran Chris Newman, then Brandon Ellis scouted the crumbs of another Riewoldt contest.
It took Adelaide more than 10 minutes of the second term to even enter its forward 50. It had a brief flurry late in the half when Tom Lynch, Jason Porplyzia and Patrick Dangerfield, again at times seeming to play a lone hand, all kicked goals to reduce the gap to 20 points. But Riewoldt’s third goal from a perhaps fortunate free kick, undid much of that momentum.
Adelaide created at least its share of chances. But big men Jenkins, Lynch and Shaun McKernan, the latter eventually substituted off, simply couldn’t take enough grabs. It was left to Dangerfield to conjure something, and even he couldn’t produce enough magic. Not for want of trying, though. He’d finish with 28 disposals, 19 of them contested, eight clearances, two goals, even half-a-dozen hitouts. But he couldn’t be everywhere. Nor compete with the amount of support his opposition had. And the odd bit of luck, too.
Most of what tricks the Tigers had came off. None so spectacularly as Shaun Grigg’s half-volleyed goal. Or the sheer luck of Shane Edwards’ accidental goal in the last term when Adelaide veteran Ben Rutten, attempting to concede the behind, merely tapped the ball on to his opponent’s boot.
But that was just an added bonus. Richmond didn’t need the luck. It grafted this win and one which makes the prospect of that yellow-and-black cry being belted out this September a bit more likely.
Read more:
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-sound-warning-20130615-2oasw.html#ixzz2WHHGCtc3
