Media articles and stats: Tigers win the hard way over Blues

[one-eyed]

Match report: Tigers win the hard way

afl.com.au
25 June 2017

RICHMOND     3.3       5.10     7.13     11.18 (84)
CARLTON        4.1       4.2       6.6       8.10 (58)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Butler 2, Castagna 2, Ellis, Lambert, Bolton, Nankervis
Carlton: Casboult 2, Kreuzer 2, Wright, Thomas, C.Curnow, Cripps

BEST
Richmond: Rance, Houli, Martin, Lambert, Castagna, Riewoldt
Carlton: Kreuzer, Cripps, Docherty, Gibbs, Casboult, Jones

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Carlton: Lamb (concussion), Ed Curnow (knee), Plowman (calf)

Reports: Houli (Richmond) for striking Lamb (Carlton) in the first quarter

Umpires: Stevic, Williamson, McInerney

Official crowd: 64,448 at the MCG

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THEY can't all be classics. In a round with as many twists, turns and surprises as a Martin Scorsese masterpiece, there was bound to be a couple of games that ran to a more conventional, as-you'd-expect script.

That was the case at the MCG on Sunday, when Richmond beat Carlton by 26 points to record their eighth win of the season and remain entrenched in the hunt for a top-four spot.

If the game was a movie, it might have received a two-and-a-half stars review: not bad, but without any Oscar nominees in the lead roles.

The Tigers trailed at the first change but then controlled the next three terms to run out 11.18 (84) to 8.10 (58) victors, ending the Blues' recent form patch. It was the type of mature response Richmond would have expected following last week's tight loss to Sydney.

It was also the type of win not hung on some starring big names. Brownlow Medal fancy Dustin Martin warmed into things, and finished with 30 disposals in a good game, but it won't make his brilliant highlights reel, while Trent Cotchin was neat and tidy with his touches but relatively quiet. Jack Riewoldt kicked three majors.

It was the next tier's efforts that should please the Punt Road faithful. Kane Lambert was consistent with 26 disposals, six tackles and a goal, while Shaun Grigg (26 touches, 12 marks), Brandon Ellis (23, one goal) and Bachar Houli (28) were busy.

Houli was in the action early, and faces some time on the sidelines after being reported for striking Jed Lamb in the first term. His swinging whack flattened Lamb, who was concussed and spent the rest of the afternoon on the bench.

Patrick Cripps was Carlton's leading midfielder, showing smarts and strength in the middle with 27 disposals and eight tackles, while ruckman Matthew Kreuzer continued his strong form with 14 disposals and a dominant 37 hit-outs and two goals. Sam Docherty (28 disposals), Bryce Gibbs (30) and Marc Murphy (26) were also solid.

Carlton entered the game with plenty of confidence on the back of two strong wins. Kreuzer was working over Tigers ruckman Toby Nankervis to push forward and make himself a target, while Levi Casboult was also dangerous in the air, his clean hands making him a constant and imposing threat in the first quarter.

With Riewoldt the Tigers' sole tall option near goal, they had to be precise pushing forward but their kicking inside-50 was poor, resulting in some messed up chances. But Jason Castagna continued his exciting season with two goals in the opening quarter, and by the first change the Blues led by just four points, an advantage that about summed up the arm wrestle that was unfolding.

But Carlton couldn't add to its goal tally in the second term as Richmond flexed its muscle to head into the second half with a 14-point lead. It should have been more – the Tigers had more than doubled the Blues for inside-50s (33 entries to 16).

For Carlton to turn things around, a change in channel was required. For Richmond, if it could resume regular programming after half time its second win of the season over the Blues loomed.

A goal to Kreuzer early in the third term gave hope for the Blues to get more reward for their effort, but it took another 26 minutes of game time before Carlton scored its next goal. In between, Richmond kicked two and had gotten out to a 19-point advantage.

The Tigers' last-quarter stumbles this season meant anything felt possible, but Richmond looked steady going into the final term with a 13-point lead. And with four of the first five goals to start the final term, they had it sealed. There was to be no Hollywood end to this one.

MEDICAL ROOM
Richmond: Daniel Rioli was in some pain in the third term when he dislocated his finger, but after a snap back into place, the exciting youngster headed back onto the field.

Carlton: Jed Lamb will be assessed this week after being concussed in the opening quarter by a behind-the-play hit that saw opponent Bachar Houli reported. Lamb didn't return after the incident. Jacob Weitering had some treatment on his hamstring in the third term but came back on the ground.

NEXT UP
It's a big game next Saturday night for the Tigers, who head to Adelaide Oval and face Port Adelaide. Carlton will host Adelaide that afternoon at the MCG.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-25/match-report-tigers-win-the-hard-way

[Eat_em_Alive]

Lol we kicked 2.8 to their solitary point in the 2nd qaurter
Game couldbe been over at halftime but instead its alive until 3 mins into last quarter 

Good that we won but honestly when will this team learn to convert goals

[one-eyed]

Tigers in hunt for top four after edging Blues

By Michael Ramsey
The Age
25 June 2017


RICHMOND
3.3         5.10       7.13      11.18         (84)
CARLTON
4.1         4.2         6.6         8.10         (58)

GOALS -
Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, Butler 2, Castagna 2, B Ellis, Lambert, Bolton, Nankervis.
Carlton: Casboult 2, Kreuzer 2, C.Curnow, Thomas, Wright, Cripps.

BEST - Richmond: Martin, Lambert, Rance, Grigg, Ellis, Houli.
Carlton: Cripps, Gibbs, Kreuzer, Simpson, Docherty, Thomas

UMPIRES: Stevic, McInerney, Williamson.
CROWD: 64,448 at the MCG.

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Richmond have continued their dominance of Carlton, sealing a sixth straight win over the Blues.

Richmond survived a late scare from a determined Carlton to edge the Blues by 26 points in a scrappy contest at the MCG.

The Tigers were slow out of the gates and wasteful in front of goal but lifted late in Sunday's game to post an 11.18 (84) to 8.10 (58) win.

It was far from pretty but after a weekend of knife-edge finishes, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick would be relieved with the final result.

The Tigers dominated the inside-50 count and held the lead from early in the second quarter onwards but struggled to put the Blues away.

It was a game of contrasting styles, with Richmond rebounding strongly from their defensive half and Carlton controlling the battle in the air with their intercept marking.

Up by 13 points at three-quarter time, Richmond extended their lead through goals to Dan Butler and Jack Riewoldt.

The Blues answered back through young bull Patrick Cripps, who outmarked Dustin Martin and slotted a classy goal to give his side hope.

But the Blues ran out of steam, and the result was put beyond doubt when Levi Casboult gave away a 50-metre penalty, leading to an easy Toby Nankervis set shot goal.

Bachar Houli was outstanding for the Tigers but faces suspension after being reported for a crude swinging arm to Carlton's Jed Lamb which left the youngster dazed.

Lamb was helped to the rooms after the first-quarter incident and did not return to the game.

It soured a strong game from Houli, who constantly set up the Tigers' offensive chains with his silky ball use.

Richmond superstar Martin was tagged by Carlton youngster Ed Curnow and didn't have his usual influence for most of the first half.

But much like his side, Martin shook off his quiet start and went on to finish with 30 disposals, seven inside-50s and six clearances.

Riewoldt booted three goals, while Shaun Grigg and Kane Lambert were both prolific ball-winners for the Tigers.

Cripps was a clear standout for Carlton with 17 contested possessions and 10 clearances, alongside Sam Docherty (28 disposals, 11 marks).

AAP

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/richmond-v-carlton-tigers-hunt-top-four-spot-after-edging-blues-20170625-gwy996.html

[one-eyed]

Dustin Martin lifts Richmond past Carlton in sloppy affair but Tigers need more firepower

Jay Clark,
Herald Sun
25 June 2017

DAMIEN Hardwick has maintained his cool all season.

To his credit, the Richmond coach has shown understanding each time his side has mucked up late in a game and surrendered a lead.

But at three quarter time against Carlton, ‘Dimma’ would have been entitled to blow his lid.

Richmond had the ball camped in its forward half for enough of the game to have these four premiership points stitched up much earlier on.

But in what has become a recurring theme for the yellow and black this season, another inaccurate day in front of the sticks kept the door ajar for Carlton at the last change, with the Blues trailing by only 13 points.

To that point, Richmond had booted two goals and eight behinds from set shots.

It was looking like a near disaster for Richmond if Carlton could jag a couple of sneaky late majors to continue the round of upsets.

Enter Dustin Martin.

Hemmed in tight on the boundary 60m out, Martin somehow evaded three separate attempted tackles form Kade Simpson and Patrick Cripps and produced a piece of magic which elevated his side out of the doldrums in one of the most error-riddled games we’ve seen this year.

How many times has he sparked Richmond this year?

With some space, Martin whipped out a perfect handpass to Dion Prestia who, on the burst inside 50m, hit-up Dan Butler in one of the cleanest pieces of play for the day.

From the next centre bounce, skipper Trent Cotchin found Jack Riewoldt with a wobbly clearance kick, sealing back-to-back goals to ice the 26-point win at the MCG.

Phew, Hardwick said up in the box. Certainly, it wasn’t pretty until Martin stepped in.

Martin had a modest first half, but he was the difference after the main change to finish with 14 score involvements in his 30 possessions.

That’s another three Brownlow votes and a healthy boost to his contract price, you would think.

Richmond just cannot afford to let this man go.

They were relieved to triumph in a relatively close one, the Tigers, keeping themselves in touch with the top four. It continues an impressive rebound from the low-point of last season with a reinvigorated and more attacking game plan.

But fresh challenges have surfaced too, and that’s not just the extra goal kicking practice which will surely top the coaches’ white boards this week.

Richmond had plenty of delivery forward but suffered from the absence of a genuine second key forward/ruck.

Hardwick said last week it had to be addressed in list management terms.

Ruckman Toby Nankervis has been one of the pick-ups of the year but he was beaten by Matthew Kreuzer and seems to be running low on steam.

It underlines the importance of Ben Griffiths’ comeback from serious concussion issues.

He has resumed training and is hopeful to return, possibly next month.

Richmond tried to lower its eyes and continue to hit up small forward targets but Carlton did a fine job of trying to absorb the repeated entries and counter.

Kreuzer was brilliant again, rucking tirelessly and pressing hard forward, while Patrick Cripps won the battle with Cotchin, with 10 clearances and 17 contested possessions.

Charlie Curnow also shone with some of his aerial work down the line. The hybrid midfielder-forward is one of the most exciting talents at Ikon Park.

But the reality is the Blues were lucky to still be in this game in the second half as the Tigers should have put them away if they had kicked straight.

They were a man down from the opening 10 minutes of the game following an incident that will dominate the headlines over the next 24 hours and re-energise the debate about implementing a concussion substitute.

Tiger Bachar Houli swung an arm back into Jed Lamb’s head, knocking the Blue out and ending his game half way through the first quarter.

The incident is likely to cost Houli a stint on the sidelines after the match review panel meet.


RICHMOND 3.3 5.10 7.13 11.18 (84)
def
CARLTON 4.1 4.2 6.6 8.10 (58)

Goals:
Richmond: J Riewoldt 3 D Butler 2 J Castagna 2 B Ellis K Lambert S Bolton T Nankervis.
Carlton: L Casboult 2 M Kreuzer 2 C Curnow D Thomas M Wright P Cripps.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/dustin-martin-lift-richmond-past-carlton-in-sloppy-affair-but-tigers-need-more-firepower/news-story/0280be1e91580dab9235c0c57ffa4a29