Media articles & stats: Red-hot Tigers leapfrog flat Pies to jump into top four

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Red-hot Tigers leapfrog flat Pies to jump into top four

AFL.com.au
Jonathan Healy
Jul 26, 2019 10:19PM

COLLINGWOOD           1.2   3.6    5.10   9.12 (66)
RICHMOND                5.4   9.7    11.12   14.14 (98)           

GOALS
Collingwood: Mihocek 2, Pendlebury 2, Crocker, De Goey, Elliott, Thomas, Treloar
Richmond: Lynch 5, Lambert 2, Martin 2, Bolton, Chol, Riewoldt, Soldo, Stack

BEST
Collingwood: De Goey, Treloar, Grundy, Crisp, Howe
Richmond: Lynch, Martin, Prestia, Vlastuin, Bolton, Grimes

Fans' Best on Ground in partnership with Google: Dustin Martin

INJURIES
Collingwood: Adams (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Crocker, Roughead (concussion)
Richmond: Cotchin (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stephens, Nicholls, Mollison

Official crowd: 78,722 at the MCG

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

OFF-SEASON recruit Tom Lynch booted five goals as Richmond reaffirmed its claim as a genuine premiership threat with an impressive 32-point victory over fellow contender Collingwood at a wet MCG on Friday night.

The 14.14 (98) to 9.12 (66) triumph was Richmond's fifth on the trot and moves them back into the top four - replacing Collingwood - for the first time since round 10 this season.

The only negative to come from the match for the Tigers was the injury to Trent Cotchin, with the inspirational skipper suffering some hamstring soreness during the opening quarter and subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the match.

With Dustin Martin doing as he liked through the middle of the ground, Lynch dominating up forward and the fringe players fighting for their lives, Richmond was never seriously threatened after setting up the victory with nine unanswered goals during the opening half.

There were signs of the premiership side of 2017 during the goal spree, moving the ball swiftly and accurately and providing key forwards Jack Riewoldt and Lynch with a bevy of opportunities to score.

The pair combined for six goals and anything they didn't grab was swallowed up by Kane Lambert, Sydney Stack, Shai Bolton and Martin as the Tigers did as they pleased on a disappointing night for Nathan Buckley's side.

Midfield duo Martin (38 disposals and two goals) and Dion Prestia (35 touches) were dominant through the middle of the ground all night, while veteran defender Bachar Houli celebrated his 200th match in style by picking up 31 possessions of his own.

In truth, Richmond had 22 contributors on the night and is starting to gather some depth waiting in the wings if injury or loss of form hits any of its squad during the run home.

While Collingwood could almost field a full team of injured players and also picked up a pair of new concerns when Taylor Adams was ruled out before the match with a hamstring complaint and Jordan Roughead succumbed to concussion just prior to half-time, they can hardly be used as an excuse for the insipid performance.

Adam Treloar (39 disposals) and Jordan De Goey (28) stood out for the losers, and Chris Mayne (30 possessions) and Scott Pendlebury (28 touches and two goals) tried hard, but there are some serious issues for Nathan Buckley to address after his side fell to its fourth loss from its last five games.

The disappointing defeat drops Collingwood to fifth on the ladder and they could finish the round even lower if results of other premiership contenders go against them.

With four games remaining and winnable matches over the next fortnight against Gold Coast and Melbourne, there is still time for the Pies to turn it around.

But on their performance on the big stage on Friday night, they need to get back some key personnel from injury quickly and then rediscover the ability to play for each other and as a team.

While Collingwood is in a slump, Richmond is humming and could well be on the way to repeating its premiership heroics from two years ago if it can maintain its current form for the remainder of the season.


MEDICAL ROOM

Collingwood: Roughead was battling a concussion issue during the second term and went up the race for observations. The key defender failed to pass all the required tests and was ruled out for the remainder of the match during the half-time break.

Richmond: Cotchin went to the rooms midway through the opening quarter with a sore hamstring and was ruled out for the remainder of the match at quarter-time.

NEXT UP
The Magpies have more than a week off to lick their wounds ahead of a clash against lowly Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday next round, while Richmond will battle it out against fellow tenant Melbourne at the same venue on the previous night.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-07-26/match-report-collingwood-v-richmond

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Tigers on the march as Pies on the slide

Nick Smart,
Herald Sun
27 July 2019

You can put a line through Collingwood.

A top-four spot looked a certainty for a long time, but now it appears it’ll be flat out surviving past week one of a cutthroat elimination final.

The Magpies surrendered fourth spot to a rampaging Richmond side that will not leave the comforts of the MCG for the remainder of the home-and-away season.

They’re the form side of the competition, the Tigers, and well and truly on the march to September.

It is very hard to see them relinquishing the double chance.

In fact, you could argue they’re the premiership favourites.

The force has awakened at Punt Rd with strong shades of 2017 that are all but impossible to ignore.

They’ve won five in a row, and set up Friday night’s 14.14 (98) to 9.12 (66) mauling with nine consecutive goals after Magpie Adam Treloar booted the first goal of the match.

At the Magpies, meanwhile, there is barely a pulse.

A season that promised so much is quickly going down the gurgler.

Last September they ambushed the Tigers in the preliminary final, and a week later they were less than two minutes away from holding up the premiership cup.

On Friday night’s showing — and their efforts over the past six weeks or even longer — there is next to no chance of them avenging that heartbreak this year.


DUSTY ON THE CHARGE

It is hard not to think back to 2017 watching this Tigers time right now.

Just watching a rejuvenated Dustin Martin bursting through the middle of the MCG and kicking goals on the run would be enough to bring the memories flood back.

That was what he did, gaining 38 possessions and kicking two goals in a best on ground performance.

And then there’s midfielder Dion Prestia.

He was already enjoying his best season to date before his huge showing.

The midfielder had 21 disposals to halftime and finished with 35 disposals.

It is crucial for Richmond his good form continues, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding skipper Trent Cotchin’s hamstring.

He shows no signs of slowing down.

Neither does Bachar Houli, who starred with 31 touches in his 200th game.


WHAT’S GONE WRONG?

Collingwood 1990 premiership player Mick McGuane wrote in Friday’s Herald Sun the Magpies had to rediscover their brand and quickly.

But even that is difficult because, as McGuane wrote, it’s not even identifiable right now and we’ve seen it only in glimpses.

It used to have its pressure brand, but that has fallen by the wayside.

There’s also a lot of Magpies out of form at the same time.

“They’ve been smashed around the middle of the ground. At the moment they’re a long way off,” former star Chris Judd said on Triple M.

How Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley now responds will be fascinating.

Will he back himself to rejuvenate this group and get them to keep working on the things they do well, or does he throw the magnets on the board around in an attempt to revive this season?


MORE INJURIES

It was perfect conditions for Magpies hard-at-it midfielder Taylor Adams.

That is why many Magpie supporters would have rolled their eyes and cursed under their breaths when news broke that Adams was a late withdrawal with hamstring soreness.

He was replaced by Ben Crocker, which resulted in many Collingwood people questioning whether Rupert Wills would have been a better option in the soggy conditions.

The Adams injury continues a wretched run of injuries for the Magpies, which has been come an annual theme for Buckley.

They also lost defender Jordan Roughead (concussion) during the game.

What Buckley would no doubt give for just one year without a lengthy injury list.

SCOREBOARD

COLLINGWOOD 1.2 3.6 5.10 9.12 (66)

RICHMOND 5.4 9.7 11.12 14.14 (98)

GOALS

Collingwood: Mihocek 2, Pendlebury 2, Crocker, De Goey, Elliott, Thomas, Treloar

Richmond: Lynch 5, Lambert 2, Martin 2, Bolton, Chol, Riewoldt, Soldo, Stack

BEST

Collingwood: De Goey, Treloar, Grundy, Crisp, Howe

Richmond: Lynch, Martin, Vlastuin, Bolton, Grimes, Bolton, Prestia

INJURIES

Collingwood: Adams (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Crocker, Roughead (concussion)

Richmond: Cotchin (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stephens, Nicholls, Mollison

Official crowd: 78,722 at the MCG

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/richmond-charges-into-fourth-spot-at-the-expense-of-collingwood-after-emphatic-win-at-the-mcg/news-story/62421a535311f87e00a665720b5146f6

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Lynch leads Richmond past Collingwood and into top four

Peter Ryan
The Age
27 July 2019

Richmond recruit Tom Lynch delivered on the big stage, crushing Collingwood’s spirit with four first-half goals to lob the Tigers in the top four as the Magpies continue their post-bye slide down the ladder.

The contest was over before half-time as the Tigers responded to Collingwood’s opening goal with nine unanswered goals to open a 50-point lead on the way to their fifth consecutive win, a run that has taken them from ninth to fourth.

In the end the margin was 32 points with most of the second half as exciting as a cold cup of tea, the certainty of the result subduing the crowd as Lynch finished with five goals.

That the Tigers opened up such a lead with Trent Cotchin on the bench after hamstring soreness in the first quarter only emphasised the gathering strength of Richmond, with Collingwood continuing their woeful run since the bye, having lost four of their past five games.

Collingwood did not look like scoring as Dustin Martin ran around seemingly without an opponent, racking up 23 disposals in the first half while Dion Prestia continued his brilliant season with 21 touches before the long break.

Whenever the ball hit the ground inside Richmond’s forward 50 it seemed as though a Tiger was ready to pounce. If they weren’t, Collingwood rushed the kick and Richmond had numbers behind the ball to send the ball straight back, with Dylan Grimes outstanding.

On the rare occasions Collingwood moved the ball from defence to attack they struggled to score.

The Magpies seem to have problems that run much deeper than form such is the drop-off they have experienced since the AFL suspended Jaidyn Stephenson for 10 weeks when he admitted to placing bets on Collingwood games.

No sane person would bet on Collingwood winning a game right now as they make basic errors and fail to apply enough pressure on the opposition, the fierce bond they carried to the 2018 grand final not apparent.

Injuries haven’t helped with Taylor Adams pulling out late with a hamstring injury after Brayden Sier suffered a calf injury at training during the week.

By contrast Richmond are clicking into gear, with their surging style suited to the wet conditions and their confidence high.

Lynch is rising to the occasion too, clearly enjoying what was the second Friday night match at the MCG in his career with Jack Riewoldt dangerous in a supporting role, their advantage only increasing when Jordan Roughead sat out the second half with concussion.

MYSTERIOUS FREES
Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy and Richmond’s Ivan Soldo received a bonus kick for goal in the first quarter when the umpires handed them a free kick apiece from a stoppage in front of goal. No-one except the men with the whistle knew why one ruckman deserved the free kick more than the other.

COTCHIN CONCERN
The Tigers’ skipper was on tenterhooks all week awaiting the birth of his third child but he played. Unfortunately Cotchin was injured at the 19-minute mark of the first quarter and sat out the rest of the game.

TIGER TIMING
It is coming together nicely for Richmond with ruckman Toby Nankervis likely to be available to play next week. Josh Caddy missed the VFL with an ankle injury but he will come into the team when needed. More importantly, the win puts Richmond in the top four for the first time since round 10. They have games against fellow top-four contenders West Coast and the Brisbane Lions at the MCG in the final two rounds.

RICHMOND
5.4 9.7 11.12 14.14 (98)
COLLINGWOOD
1.2 3.6 5.10 9.12 (66)

GOALS -
Richmond: Lynch 5, Martin 2, Lambert 2, Soldo, Riewoldt, Chol, Bolton, Stack.
Collingwood: Mihocek 2, Pendlebury 2, Treloar, Crocker, DeGoey, Elliott, Thomas.

BEST-
Richmond: Lynch, Martin, Prestia, Grimes, Vlastuin, Houli, Lambert.
Collingwood: Howe, DeGoey, Treloar, Sidebottom, Mayne.

INJURIES -
Collingwood: Adams (hamstring soreness) replaced in selected side by Crocker, Roughead (concussion).
Richmond: Cotchin (hamstring).

UMPIRES Mollison, Nicholls, Stephens.

CROWD 78,722 at MCG.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/lynch-leads-richmond-past-collingwood-and-into-top-four-20190726-p52b9m.html