Media articles and stats: Ruthless Tigers book home prelim with win over Hawks

[one-eyed]

Match report: Ruthless Tigers book home prelim

Nick Bowen
afl.com.au
Sep 6, 2018 9:55PM

RICHMOND     2.2       5.7     10.13   13.17 (95)
HAWTHORN   2.3       3.5      5.8       9.10 (64)

GOALS
Richmond: McIntosh 3, Rioli 3, Caddy 2, Martin, Prestia, Higgins, Edwards, Graham
Hawthorn: Roughead 3, Shiels, Nash, Impey, Mitchell, Breust, Smith

BEST
Richmond: Martin, Prestia, Cotchin, Rioli, Lambert, Grimes, Grigg
Hawthorn: O'Meara, Mitchell, Shiels, Smith, Henderson, Sicily

INJURIES
Richmond: Rance (left foot)
Hawthorn: Ryan Schoenmakers (Achilles soreness) replaced in selected side by Daniel Howe, Hardwick (hip), Stratton (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Deboy, Ryan

Official crowd: 91,446 at the MCG

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

A POWERHOUSE performance from Dustin Martin in his 200th game has led Richmond to an imposing 31-point victory over Hawthorn in the first qualifying final at the MCG on a wet Thursday night.

Damien Hardwick had warned Martin was ready to take September by the scruff of the neck on the eve of Richmond's first ever finals clash against the Hawks.

The Tigers coach clearly knows his man.

After an excellent season by any standards other than the unparalleled ones he set in 2017, Martin was back to his very best against the Hawks.

The reigning Brownlow and Norm Smith medallist did it all on Thursday night – high curling goals from the boundary, dribble handballs that bamboozled Hawks opponents and his trademark bulldozing work around the stoppages.

Martin finished with 29 possessions, 10 clearances, five inside 50s and one goal to get the Tigers' finals campaign off to the perfect start with a 13.17 (95) to 9.10 (64) victory.

The Hawks kept pace with the Tigers for much of the first half, but their failure to capitalise on some golden opportunities and Martin's brilliance meant they trailed by 14 points at half-time.

Richmond then took control of the contest with a five-goal-to-two third term that sent it into the final break with an unassailable 36-point lead.

The sting went out of the game in the final term, but the Tigers did what they had to do to extend their record streak of wins at the MCG to 22.

The victory also marked the first time since 1980-82 that the Tigers had won four consecutive finals.

Richmond's relentless pressure simply proved too much for the Hawks to handle in the second half, with some of their youngsters having moments they would prefer to forget.

Their loss was further soured by a right hamstring to Ben Stratton that ended the influential defender's night midway through the third term and could end his season.

Conditions were slippery when the game got underway, with light drizzle falling for much of the game.

As outstanding as Martin was, he had plenty of support.

Captain Trent Cotchin (26 possessions and seven clearances), Dion Prestia (26 possessions, seven inside 50s and five clearances) and Kane Lambert (26 possessions and three goal assists) were influential through the midfield.

Nick Vlastuin, Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes and David Astbury were almost impassable in defence, while Kamdyn McIntosh (three goals), Daniel Rioli (three) and Jack Higgins (one) made life hell for the Hawks' defenders at ground level.

Rance pulled up sore at three-quarter time with a foot injury, but played out the game. He could also come under scrutiny for a scuffle with Paul Puopolo in the second quarter.

Tom Mitchell (38 possessions, 11 clearances and one goal) underlined his status as one of the game's elite ball-winners and never stopped trying even when the Hawks' cause was lost.

Jaeger O'Meara (29 possessions and eight clearances), Liam Shiels (26 possessions and 11 tackles) and Ricky Henderson (29 possessions) fought bravely through the midfield, while James Frawley kept Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt to just two behinds for the night.

Richmond got off to a fast start, kicking the game's opening two goals, through McIntosh and Rioli, to jump to an 11-point lead inside the first 10 minutes.

Hawthorn missed a golden opportunity to hit back soon after when usual dead-eye Shaun Burgoyne somehow missed a set shot from 15m.

But they took a one-point lead into the first change on the back of late goals from Shiels and Jarryd Roughead

The Tigers had the opening four scores of the second term. Fortunately for the Hawks, just one of them was a goal, but it was one to remember, coming via a brilliant dribble kick by Rioli from 30m.

Nash cut the margin to two points before Martin stood up to give the Tigers some valuable breathing space.

First, he majestically curled the ball through the big sticks from 40m on the boundary line. Then in the dying minutes before half-time he cut through the Hawks' defences with a clever dribble handball that set up McIntosh's second goal.

Hawthorn had its chances in the run-in to half-time, but Roughead put a 40m shot on the run out on the full, Luke Breust botched a 15m set shot from dead in front – a miss that was just as staggering as Burgoyne's in the first quarter – and Rance bobbed up to get a finger on an on-target shot by O'Meara.

Sadly for the Hawks the Tigers gave them no chance of getting back into the match after the main break.

MEDICAL ROOM

Richmond: Jack Riewoldt came from the ground early in the final term with an apparent foot injury, but returned to finish the game.

Hawthorn: Defender Ben Stratton's night ended midway through the third quarter when he came off with a right hamstring injury. He finished the game on the interchange bench with ice strapped around his muscle. Blake Hardwick went into the rooms early in the third term with a hip complaint, but came back on to the ground soon after.

NEXT UP
The Tigers are straight through to a preliminary final in two weeks' time, while the Hawks will play the winner of the Melbourne-Geelong elimination final, most likely next Friday night at the MCG.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-06/match-report-richmond-v-hawthorn

[one-eyed]

Dustin Martin inspires Tigers as they roar into preliminary final

Peter Ryan
The Age
Sept. 7, 2018

Despite its chaotic nature, the first final between the two power clubs was outstanding to watch in the opening half as the pressure was unrelenting. The Tigers used every opportunity they had to knock the ball forward, which stopped Hawthorn from settling into any sort of rhythm.

Hawthorn did not wilt however, applying 31 tackles in the first term, responding to Richmond’s pressure with manic intensity of their own, laying eight tackles inside their own forward 50.

However they could not stop two skilful Tigers from rising above the mayhem in front of 90,000 to kick goals and put a gap on Hawthorn in the second quarter, inspirational moments that set the defending premiers up for a surging third term.

Daniel Rioli was the first to excite the fans, kicking a goal as good as anyone sharing his surname has before, dribbling the ball under Hawthorn defender Blake Hardwick’s attempt to smother, curling the ball through the goals.

It was like watching a set of dominoes tumble as the ball followed the required path perfectly along the grass.

But nothing could top Martin’s effort in his 200th game when he rose above the ferocity to kick the most audacious goal of the game at the 19-minute mark of the second when just three points separated the two teams.

He simply flew past a stoppage with tattoos blurring into the expectant crowd in the background, accepted a handball from Kane Lambert and kicking the ball around his body from somewhere near where cricketers walk out to bat on Boxing Day just before he crossed the boundary line.

The shot never looked like missing as the crowd rose in waves as they realised last year’s Brownlow medallist had managed to kick the impossible.

It was enough to give all Tigers a feeling that the game was heading their way and they were not going to stumble at the first hurdle.

Martin finished with 29 disposals – including 17 contested – and gained more than 500 metres in a virtuoso display.

Soon after half-time their pressure began to turn into Richmond goals as they piled on 5.6 (36) to Hawthorn’s 2.3 (15) and opened up a 35-point lead in the premiership quarter.

They not only hit the scoreboard but they dominated territory, recording 22 inside 50s to the Hawks nine and looked threatening every time the ball hit the ground.

It wasn’t just Richmond’s big names doing the damage either with Kamdyn McIntosh kicking a career-high third major early in the third and Josh Caddy outstanding in both curbing James Sicily’s influence and kicking two of his own.

There was nothing picturesque in the way Richmond played but in the wet weather they played fast and ferocious football, happy to soccer the ball off the ground and keep it alive when clean possession wasn’t possible.

They punched the ball forward and connected well in defence, either winning one-on-ones or running to support. Whatever move they made they ensured Hawthorn had no respite.

Eventually the Hawks, as most teams have done against the Tigers this season, lost their poise and crumbled. Jaeger O’Meara was outstanding with his clean hands while Tom Mitchell was prolific but not overly productive.

Jarman Impey tried to lift in the second half and create some run but he was working against a tide of Tigers who just jumped upon any fumble.

Richmond now sit in pole position and wait for their unlucky preliminary opponent while Hawthorn faces the winner of Melbourne and Geelong next Friday night.

RICHMOND 3.2 3.4 10.13 13.17 (95)
HAWTHORN 4.0 3.5 5.8 9.10 (64)

Goals: Richmond: McIntosh 3, Rioli 3, Caddy 2, Martin, Prestia, Higgins, Edwards, Graham. Hawthorn: Roughead 3, Shiels, Nash, Impey, Mitchell, Breust, Smith.

Best: Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Short, Vlastuin, Lambert, McIntosh, Caddy, Rioli, Grimes. Hawthorn: O’Meara, Henderson, Puopolo, Shiels, Impey, Mitchell.

Injuries: Hawthorn: Stratton (hamstring), Hardwick (hip), Schoenmakers (achilles) replaced in selected side by Howe. Richmond: Rance (foot).

Crowd: 91,446 at the MCG.

Votes
D Martin (Rich) 9
K Lambert (Rich) 8
N Vlastuin (Rich) 7
T Cotchin (Rich) 7
J O’Meara (Haw) 7

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/dustin-martin-inspires-tigers-as-they-roar-into-preliminary-final-20180906-p5028z.html

[one-eyed]

Richmond blows Hawthorn away in the second half to make a powerful finals statement

SAM LANDSBERGER,
Herald Sun
September 7, 2018

IT poured before the first siren, but it was nothing like the deluge of pressure and pizzazz Richmond and Hawthorn had waiting for each other at the MCG.

It was unrelenting.

The question from the outer was clear. How long could the Hawks maintain the rage? It was a while before it was answered.

They led by one point at quarter-time and trailed by just 14 points at halftime.

And the Hawks would’ve hit the rooms frustrated after Shaun Burgoyne and Luke Breust fluffed simple set-shots from 15m.

If you had to choose two Hawks to kick for your life, they would be No.1 and 2.

They needed to make inroads. Instead they began to implode.

The Tigers schooled the Hawks in the third quarter, and when school dropout Jack Higgins booted his first snag this first qualifying final was done.

The Tigers recorded 15 out of 16 inside 50s in a blitz used to book a home preliminary final and consign the Hawks to their third-straight finals defeat.

That’s Richmond’s 22nd win in a row at the MCG. Make it 24 and they’ll have back-to-back flags for the first time since 1973-74.

Shane Edwards pushed Richmond’s lead beyond six goals when the Hawks had only mustered five.

By the final break another question had been answered — a champion coach is no match for a champion team.

All-Australian Hawks Jack Gunston and Luke Breust and their re-signed sidekick Paul Puopolo contributed 42 per cent of the club’s goals in the regular season.

The trio combined for 1.2.

Hawthorn fumbles became contagious and Richmond players were kicking the outrageous.

How about Dustin Martin’s right-foot snap running to the boundary line in the second quarter?

Martin’s 16th disposal might’ve been the best of his brilliant 200-game career.

It was reminiscent of Jason Akermanis at the Gabba, except Martin wiggled his finger in celebration while Aker covered his mouth in disbelief.

And what about Daniel Rioli? Moments before Martin’s magic, Rioli’s right foot dribbled through a goal which belied the wet conditions.

It was a goal his recently retired uncle Cyril would’ve happily claimed. Rioli delivered goals in each of the first three quarters and harassed like hell for four.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick took away Hawthorn’s uncontested marks.

They average 85 under an Alastair Clarkson gamestyle where they look to control a game void of chaos. They took just 50 against the Tigers.

The Tigers’ weakness is their stoppage work, ranking 18th for clearances. But they broke even, taking away a perceived Hawthorn edge.

The opening quarter had the hallmarks of a September classic. They combined for 40 tackles before time-on, with Tigers captain Trent Cotchin topping the count with five.

Then, when Cotchin was caught, Liam Shiels coolly converted the free kick into kicked Hawthorn’s first goal. There have been 136 tackles on average this year. There were 94 in the first half.

Josh Caddy — outside of mouthing off at James Frawley — was instrumental as a leading target while Dion Prestia carried the ball further than any anyone on a night where large chunks were played claustrophobically.

The Hawks are left hoping Collingwood upsets West Coast on Saturday night.

An Eagles win would see their path to the Grand Final detour to Perth for a possible preliminary final.

But after three consecutive finals losses, Hawthorn first has to bypass a second straight-sets exits in three years, albeit with vastly different teams.

The Dees or Cats await next Friday night.

VOTES

3. Dustin Martin (Rich)

That goal will be replayed 1000 times but how about a game-high 10 clearances, including five out of the centre? That’s four BOGs from four winning finals in 12 months.

2. Tom Mitchell (Haw)

Bullocked his way through for the game’s first clearance and then won 10 more as well as kicking the first goal of the final quarter. Shapes as the No.1 headache for the Dees or Cats next week.

1. Kamdyn McIntosh (Rich)

The wingman from Pinjarra kicked three of the Tigers’ first six goals. McIntosh had never kicked three goals in his life before last night and his majors either side of halftime helped pull a stubborn Hawthorn apart.

RICHMOND 2.2 5.7 10.13 13.17 (95)

HAWTHORN 2.3 3.5 5.8 9.10 (64)

GOALS

Tigers: McIntosh 3, Rioli 3, Caddy 2, Martin, Prestia, Higgins, Edwards, Graham

Hawks: Roughead 3, Shiels, Nash, Impey, Mitchell, Breust, Smith

BEST

Tigers: Martin, McIntosh, Higgins, Cotchin, Rioli, Prestia, Caddy, Lambert, Grigg, Grimes

Hawks: Mitchell, O’Meara, Shiels, Henderson, Smith, Sicily

INJURIES

Tigers: Rance (left foot)

Hawks: Ryan Schoenmakers (Achilles soreness) replaced in selected side by Daniel Howe, Hardwick (hip), Stratton (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Deboy, Ryan

Official crowd: 91,446 at the MCG

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/richmond-makes-powerful-finals-statement-with-dominant-win-over-hawthorn/news-story/712e5bcedadc93420b73c7d199101e84

[one-eyed]

Richmond are a pack of bulls fuelled by unwavering belief, and good luck to everyone else

West Australian
7 Sept. 2018

The task facing seven AFL teams dreaming of September glory became crystal clear at the MCG in front of more than 91,000 people when Richmond bulldozed Hawthorn out of the way, claimed their 22nd consecutive win at the home of football and a preliminary final berth.

Those wondering if Richmond had faltered ever so slightly towards the end of the season when their games at the G got close had to find something else to wonder about.

This was a 31-point spread and, had the Tigers not opted for cruise control late in the last quarter after slight injury scares for both Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt, it might have climbed closer to fifty.

The defining period of the game was the 15 minutes before half time when the Hawks were in it up to their eyeballs and reigning Brownlow, Norm Smith and Jack Dyer Medallist Dustin Martin put his foot on the accelerator and put a gap in the game in the process.

There was one of the goals of the year from deep in the forward pocket. There was a contested mark at half back he had no right to take in the greasy conditions. And there was a brilliant between legs handball that set up another goal.

Richmond went to half time 14 points clear and 14 points had become 35 points by three quarter time. The Hawks were broken.

There are times when Richmond’s opponents at the G must feel like they are in something more akin to the running of the bulls than a game of AFL football.

Wave upon wave of physical pressure just rains down on them. This is a total belief football system that the Richmond players believe in, totally.

Once the Tigers get the ball it is as if a homing device is activated. It must go forward any way it can. Not backwards, not sideways.

It will be soccered, knocked on or buffeted goalwards if it can’t be grabbed.

There is complete belief that there will always be someone ahead or to the side if it is handballed, there will always be a target ahead if it is passed by foot, there will always be a competitor in the air if it is kicked long and high, there will always be a crumber on the deck when it spills and more than one tackler if the opposition gets the crumb.

And if, somehow, the opposition manages to withstand the barrage and turn the ball over, any Richmond player not close enough to surge will have set up behind the ball ready to intercept the counter attack.

This is not pretty football but it is awesome to watch for its power and for Martin’s sheer majesty when it matters. Martin the maestro with writing all over his body, is the perfect punctuation mark to his team’s raw power.

Hawthorn’s kicking precision game took them to four flags in eight years. But Richmond’s surge will loom alongside it as an impressive football method if they conjure two more MCG wins and take back to back flags.

Even its imperfections take it close to perfection.

Daniel Rioli turned Hawthorn inside out and used his skills brilliantly to goal for Richmond in the qualifying final.

Jack Riewoldt went goalless but was a significant contributor because of his contests. Toby ‘Nank the Tank’ Nankervis is the bull of a ruckman perfect for what happens around him.

Nick Vlastuin’s double-fisted counter attack, Kamdyn McIntosh’s rangy run, Kane Lambert’s nip, Shane Edwards’ subtle touches, Jason Castagna’s limb pumping pace and pressure and Jack Higgins’ exuberance with a bit of Rioli September sauce spooned over the top of it.

We know Richmond are beatable at the MCG for the simple reason that we know no-one is unbeatable.

But this game plan somehow all fits together and it is going to take an injury, a suspension or something very composed and special from an opponent to pull it apart at the MCG this September.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/mark-duffield/richmond-are-a-pack-of-bulls-fuelled-by-unwavering-belief-and-good-luck-to-everyone-else-ng-b88953152z

[Slipper]

For all this hype, I reckon there is a fair bit of improvement left in the team.

If they want to see a finals statement, wait til we hit top gear.