Relentless Tigers clinch victory
4:52:25 PM Sun 21 August, 2005
Jennifer Witham
Exclusive to afl.com.au
Richmond has continued to defy the critics that claim it has fallen away late in the season, with a nail-biting four-point win over Hawthorn at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
The Tigers were relentless in the final term to clinch the 20.17 (137) to 21.7 (133) victory, after the young Hawks had been brave to lead until deep into the last stanza.
The match was sealed in the final minute when young Tiger Brett Deledio streaked out of the centre to deliver straight to Kayne Pettifer, who slotted the goal that shattered the chances – and spirits - of the Hawks.
The come-from-behind win gives Tiger fans something to cheer about after their finals chances were squandered, and it leaves the Hawks with Collingwood and Carlton as candidates for priority draft picks.
Hawthorn had seemingly blown the game apart early, and were up by as much as 41 points in the second term. But, it was the telling third term that had the Tigers right back in the contest with a seven-goal-to-four display.
The last goal of the term came courtesy of a free kick to Matthew Richardson, and the Telstra Dome roof was nearly blown off by the noise of the Tigers' cheer squad as Richmond inched back to a 12-point margin.
With the momentum and down by only two goals entering into the final term, it appeared as though they would trample the young Hawks who were beginning to run out of legs.
But the weary Hawks made sure the game remained within their grasp, and answered the Tigers' early challenge which was marred by hard luck as both Shane Tuck and Jay Schulz hit the post at crucial times.
The Tigers looked to have fumbled their way into a loss as they massively over-possessed the ball late in the game, but they straightened up to kick the final four goals to consequently run away with the four points.
Tuck was the main ball winner for the Tigers with 31 disposals, but shanked the chance to put Richmond within a goal in the final term when he slammed a set shot into the woodwork early in the quarter.
Ray Hall played what was perhaps his best game for the season, and gave the Tigers hope up forward with three goals as Richardson was occasionally double-teamed by the Hawks' defence.
Veteran Tiger and former Hawk Mark Graham had a quiet afternoon in his final AFL game with 16 disposals, and was chaired off the ground to the applause of both Richmond and Hawthorn supporters.
Wayne Campbell was also given a standing ovation as he played his final game in Melbourne, and had a decent afternoon with 18 possessions and four marks.
Richard Tambling had an exciting final term with two goals, and his fellow young gun Deledio joined him in playing a huge part in sealing the Tigers' fate.
At the other end of the ground, Peter Everitt was simply dominating for the Hawks, and his presence was certainly felt across the ground as whenever he took a break from rucking, the Tigers managed to whittle pieces of the Hawks' leading margin away.
Everitt finished with 19 hit-outs, 21 disposals, and two goals, and continued to demonstrate the strong form that he has enjoyed throughout 2005.
Former skipper Shane Crawford was also good for the Hawks and wrapped up 24 possessions, while Luke Hodge ended with 26 of his own.
The game was played with a high level of intensity by both sides, but it was the Hawks who were able to maintain it for a longer period of time in the first half.
Simple skill errors cost Richmond dearly, and it was seven unanswered Hawk goals that spanned the first and second terms that really made the Tigers pay for their mistakes.
While the Hawks utilised the explosive pairing of Ben Dixon and crumber Harry Miller in the continuing absence of Mark Williams, the Tigers' attack was stretched in the final term as they had five individual goal kickers contribute to the win.
What was perhaps the most endearing feature of the Tigers' win was that they came back in stunning fashion once the Hawks slipped off the pace slightly.
RICHMOND: 3.2 7.7 14.11 20.17 (137)
HAWTHORN: 6.2 13.2 17.5 21.5 (133)
GOALS: Richmond: Richardson 4, Pettifer 3, Hall 3, Stafford 2, Tambling 2, Simmonds 2, Hilton, Deledio, Tuck, Johnson Hawthorn: Dixon 5, Miller 4, Everitt 2, Lekkas 2, Croad 2, Franklin 2, Hodge, Clarke, Young, Ries
BEST: Richmond: Deledio, Tuck, Hall, Pettifer, Bowden, Richardson, Simmonds Hawthorn: Everitt, Hodge, Vandenberg, Crawford, Miller, Dixon
INJURIES: Richmond: TBC
Hawthorn: TBC
Umpires: Nicholls, Chamberlain, Ellis
REPORTS: Nil
CROWD: 30,906 at Telstra Dome
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