Tigers claim MCG record with another final-quarter blitz against PiesBy Jon Pierik
28 July 2018 — 4:54pmThis had been billed as the match of the season, a potential grand final preview between the league-leading Richmond and contender Collingwood, albeit the latter missing two of their elite stars. In an era of often needless hyperbole, predictions of that kind can look foolish. Thankfully, after a week where the state of the game was again questioned, this contest lived up to the hype, certainly for three quarters.
In front of 88,180 fans - the largest crowd between the sides since the 1980 grand final - the Tigers surged to a 28-point win, breaking a 62-year-old VFL-AFL record to claim their 18th-straight win at the home of football. Not since Melbourne had been undefeated from round two, 1955, until a defeat to Footscray in round 14, 1956, has a team enjoyed such a run (the Demons would win their next 10 at the 'G' after that defeat).
This match had it all: ferocity, skill, a goal-of-the-year contender, tactical changes and, unfortunately, injury, with fears Magpies' defender Matthew Scharenberg faces a third knee reconstruction. The Pies also lost key defender Jeremy Howe (concussion) in the first term.
Leading by four points at the final change, the Tigers, as they did when the teams met in round six, provided a match-winning burst, in this case three goals in the opening six minutes. When two more came, they had won 14 of 18 last quarters this season.
The win came on the back of an even team performance, including a relatively quiet performance from skipper Trent Cotchin while Dustin Martin's best work was up forward. Levi Greenwood had shut Martin down in the midfield with a hard tag but the Brownlow medallist booted three goals, including one in the final term.
Defenders David Astbury and Jayden Short were instrumental, the latter providing two clever, pivotal goals in the first term, while runners Shane Edwards and Dion Prestia provided consistent drive.
Pies ruckman Brodie Grundy was best afield. While Toby Nankervis battled hard, Grundy had 48 hit outs and five clearances, his work around the ground was more akin to that of a midfielder. His efforts only enhanced his prospects of claiming the league's top individual award - the Brownlow Medal.
Magpie midfielders Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams found plenty of the ball but their combined kicking efficiency was poor. This ultimately hurt, for the Tigers were able to capitalise on their opponents' mistakes, the backbone of their rise in the past two seasons.
The third quarter was intoxicating, with a combined seven goals. Scharenberg was hurt in an innocuous incident while battling Martin. He fell to the ground and knew immediately he was in trouble.
The injury came in the same sequence that the exciting Jack Higgins provided a goal-of-the-year contender. Higgins pounced on the loose ball and, showing the smarts of a small forward, he remained in control of the ball despite being behind the goal line, threw the ball in the air around the goal post, and then kicked over his head. There was a goal review but this effort was soon down on the scoresheet as a major.
For the Magpies, their emotions could not have contrasted greater, for Scharenberg was helped from the field, as Higgins celebrated.
The Tigers were relentless early in the first term. They had the first two goals on the board, the second a reward for a Higgins' tackle. The Pies settled, and nostalgia buffs would have enjoyed having a Daicos and Brown open the Pies' scoring, in this case Josh and Callum. The Pies lifted their contested work, particularly around the stoppages, but suffered from a lapse in concentration.
Short, the rebounding half-back and known for his long kicking, was twice allowed to saddle up to a teammate who had marked 50m from goal, accept a handball and drill a long, running goal. It was fair to say Travis Varcoe, given the defensive job on Short, would have loved to have found a hole to hide in.
There were further pain when Howe, who had been superb when the teams last met, was accidentally kneed in the head in a marking contest by Darcy Moore and helped from the field. His day was over but Moore continued to show good signs as a key defender.
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Trailing by three goals at the first break, the Pies had to lift quickly if they were to remain in the contest. They booted five goals to three in the second term, with Mason Cox contributing two. The tall American was superb all day and had good reason to complain about being buffeted off the ball.
The Pies changed tactics at quarter-time, opting to kick more than handball. Tom Phillips was busy, Brody Mihocek, nursing an injury, had a couple of important touches, while Varcoe responded with a crunching hit on Prestia, who had been the Tigers' best in the first term.
Martin grew increasingly frustrated with Greenwood. He conceded a 50m penalty late in the second term, and the runner wanted him to head to the bench to regroup. No, said Martin, who duly took his small opponent to full forward, and marked over him, converting the Tigers' third after the siren. The match had lived up to its billing.
RICHMOND 5.2 8.3 11.6 16.9 (105)
COLLINGWOOD 2.1 7.1 11.2 12.5 (77)
Goals:
Richmond: D Martin 3 J Riewoldt 3 J Castagna 2 J Higgins 2 J Short 2 D Rioli J Caddy J Townsend S Edwards.
Collingwood: J Thomas 4 W Hoskin-Elliott 3 M Cox 2 B Mihocek C Brown J Daicos.
Best:
Richmond: Astbury, Prestia, Short, Edwards, Grimes.
Collingwood: Grundy, Pendlebury, Cox, Thomas, Phillips, Moore.
Injuries: Richmond: Prestia (ribs).
Collingwood: Howe (concussion), Mihocek (ankle), Scharenberg (knee).
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Dean Margetts, Brendan Hosking.
Official Crowd: 88,180 at MCG
VOTES:
9: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
7: Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
7: Tom Phillips (Collingwood)
7: Shane Edwards (Richmond)
7: David Astbury (Richmond)
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-claim-mcg-record-with-another-final-quarter-blitz-against-pies-20180728-p4zu4z.html
