Media articles & stats: Tigers secure double chance, deny Lions minor prem'ship

[one-eyed]

Tigers secure double chance, deny Lions minor premiership

AFL.com.au
Callum Twomey
Aug 25, 2019 6:06PM

RICHMOND     6.2       8.6       10.7     12.10 (82)
BRISBANE       2.1       4.4       7.6       8.7 (55)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Lambert 2, Martin 2, Rioli, Castagna, Lynch, Ellis
Brisbane: Cameron 2, Zorko 2, McCluggage, McInerney, Hipwood, Robinson

BEST
Richmond: Vlastuin, Grimes, Martin, Houli, Short, Lambert
Brisbane: Neale, Zorko, Andrews, McCluggage, Robinson, Rich

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Brisbane: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O'Gorman, Meredith, Fleer

Official crowd: 76,995 at the MCG

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LET'S do it again.

Richmond got the honours over Brisbane on Sunday, but the Lions will have the Gabba on their side when the clubs meet in a qualifying final in two weeks.

That's the upshot of their round 23 meeting, which was played with a finals-like atmosphere with a home ground advantage on the line.

The Tigers won 12.10 (82) to 8.7 (55) but needed a 10-goal win to leapfrog the Lions on the ladder and move into second spot.

The Lions made sure that wasn't going to happen, putting in an impressive performance on the road but ultimately not doing enough to stop Richmond from recording its ninth-straight win.

This was no dress rehearsal. Richmond threw the first punch, the heavyweight landing the early hits.

But the upstart Lions managed to land a couple of blows, too, and although the Tigers walked away victors, Brisbane will also have left with confidence about their return bout in a fortnight.

Richmond's defence was crucial to the win. Dylan Grimes, who overcame an ankle injury, held Brisbane gun Charlie Cameron to seven disposals, Nick Vlastuin dominated in the air, and Bachar Houli (30 disposals) and Liam Baker (20) were also effective.

Dustin Martin will hit September in brilliant form after 21 disposals and two goals, Jack Riewoldt kicked four first-term goals, while captain Trent Cotchin (15 disposals) returned from three weeks out with a hamstring complaint and got through unscathed.

But Brisbane won't be too perturbed. After a slow start, the Lions grew into the game's intensity and can take confidence from their midfield dominance.

Star recruit Lachie Neale strengthened his Brownlow Medal credentials with a career-best 51 disposals and 14 clearances.

Neale was extraordinary, powering his team to a clear win in that area of the game (48 to 32 clearances and 14 to eight out of the centre).

He combined with Hugh McCluggage (28 touches and one goal) and Dayne Zorko (27 and two goals) to drive plenty of Brisbane's work.

The Lions' nine-game winning streak was broken in front of 76,995 fans (the biggest ever home and away crowd for Brisbane) but they were in the hunt throughout and had some other clear winners. 

Harris Andrews outdid Tigers star forward Tom Lynch, and Darcy Gardiner, when moved to Riewoldt after half-time, also performed well.

Riewoldt's rampage started early. The Richmond star was dominant in the first quarter, on the end of some brilliant passes from Tigers teammates.

Brisbane defender Marcus Adams had no answer for Riewoldt, who was too canny on the lead and strong in the air, and could have even had five before quarter-time if not for a fumble close to goal.

The Lions looked nervous. A couple of simple dropped marks opened up opportunities for the Tigers, who had built a 25-point lead at quarter time.

They steadied in the second term, but couldn't make any inroads on the scoreboard.

Brisbane was commanding in the midfield. The Lions, led by Neale who registered 25 disposals and eight clearances in the first half, had nearly doubled the Tigers in clearances (24 to 13) and were winning the ball out of the centre.

But their forward entries were rushed, playing into the hands of Richmond's disciplined and dogged defence.

Importantly, the Lions had shut down Richmond's scoring run, with only two goals apiece in the second term.

That was vital, given the percentage battle between the second and third-placed sides on the ladder.

But the Lions were clearly not thinking about losing margins. A win was still on their mind. Two snapped goals to Zorko in the opening four minutes of the third term cut the Lions' deficit to 14 points and they had picked up their running game, beginning to link up out of defence and create space.

And when Cameron, who had been blanketed for the day, beat Grimes in a one-on-one and ran into an open goal, Brisbane's surge had caught fire.

But Richmond doesn't roll over. And after Cotchin showed some speed to help set up goals to Lynch and Kane Lambert and, the Tigers' buffer was lifted back at 19 points at the final change.

It was almost sealed five minutes into the last quarter, when Martin produced a moment of magic.

In the Tigers' forward pocket at the Punt Road end, the superstar midfielder shrugged off two lunging Brisbane tacklers, steadied and curled around a goal to push his side 25 points ahead and send Richmond fans into a frenzy. You get the sense he's got more to come, too. 

MEDICAL ROOM

Richmond: The Tigers appeared to get through without any injury concerns.

Brisbane: Similarly for the Lions, their good run with injury continues and leaves them in a healthy spot in their return to the finals.

NEXT UP
It's Brisbane's turn to host the Tigers, with their qualifying final clash to be held at the Gabba in two weeks after the Lions' brilliant rise up the ladder into second place.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-08-25/match-report-richmond-v-brisbane

[one-eyed]

Tigers secure top-four finish in a cracking contest against the Lions

Warwick Green
The Age
26 August 2019

But due to their run and willingness to take the game on and - at times - some old fashioned grit and physicality, the Lions refused to yield.

The contest was only decided when the Tigers managed a crack Brisbane's resistance and find a couple of goals in the final quarter, and even then the Lions didn't drop their bundle.

Richmond won thanks to the class of Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt, the superb defending of Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes and the inside grunt work of Dion Prestia and Shane Edwards.

But funnily enough the Lions showed that they have players who can perform on the big stage in those categories as well: the class of Dayne Zorko and Hugh McCluggage, the superb defending of Harris Andrews and Luke Hodge, and the inside grunt work of Lachie Neale and Mitch Robinson.

Vlastuin was superb in the way that he intercept marked the football in Richmond's defensive half and presented as an extra man in what appeared destined to be 50-50 contests.

Grimes, coming off a week in which he was hobbling around with an ankle injury, was the man given the unenviable task of starting the match in the goalsquare alongside the dangerous Charlie Cameron. He wrestled and grappled with Cameron throughout - much to the small forward's obvious frustration - and only once lowered his colours when he fell to ground in the third quarter, allowing Cameron to run into an open goal.

Martin did what we have come to expect from him, charging out of traffic and creating opportunities, while Riewoldt made the most of his opportunities and converted well.

But the Lions will lose no admirers on this showing and will benefit from a pre-finals hitout in front of what was a crowd of 76,995 - a record for Lions home-and-away matches.

Staggeringly, Neale gathered 51 touches, while Zorko had less of the footy but was more damaging. Andrews had the better of Tom Lynch, and Hodge's experience and physicality were telling under pressure.

Mitch Robinson's bull-at-a-gate approach was crucial, epitomised by a crunching tackle on Bachar Houli midway through the third quarter. The Tiger's defender tried to run through a gap like a rugby league player looking for a gap in the line, only for Robinson to stop him in his tracks like a State of Origin front rower.

For an inexperienced team looking to start well, Brisbane had the opening goal of the match on the board within 90 seconds, courtesy of an angled set shot from Hugh McCluggage.

But it was the Tigers who got off to a flying start through their usual suspects.

At the ensuing centre bounce Martin ran on to a Prestia handball and burst out of the centre to drill one home from distance. Riewoldt then set up their second with a superb second effort after over-running the ball; he toe-poked the ball to Daniel Rioli who converted with the outside of his foot from 30 metres.

Riewoldt then converted Richmond's next four goals of the opening term - one on the lead to a Martin centre clearance, another after Martin forced a turnover with consecutive smothers on kicks from Zac Bailey.

Marcus Adams, who won praise for keeping Tom Hawkins goalless last week, lacked the pace and mobility to deal with Riewoldt, frequently trailing in his wake as the Tigers talisman hunted the ball.
Richmond had several chances to extend their lead early in the second term but were wasteful, and the Lions looked more composed and fought their way back into the contest before half time.

The third term was an arm wrestle, particularly in the latter part, where both teams failed to score a goal for 11 minutes before Kane Lambert managed a running 45-metre goal after a handball from Riewoldt.

RICHMOND
6.2 8.6 10.7 12.10 (82)
BRISBANE LIONS
2.1 4.4 7.6 8.7 (55)

GOALS - Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Martin 2, Lambert 2, Ellis, Rioli, Castagna, Lynch.
Brisbane Lions: Cameron 2, Zorko 2, Hipwood, McCluggage, Robinson, McInerney.

BEST - Richmond: Vlastuin, Martin, Prestia, Grimes, Riewoldt, Edwards.
Brisbane Lions: Zorko, Neale, McCluggage, Robinson, Andrews, Hodge.

UMPIRES: Meredith, Fleer, O’Gorman.
CROWD: 76,995 at the MCG.

VOTES
N.Vlastuin (Rich) 9
D.Martin (Rich) 9
D.Zorko (BL) 9
L.Neale (BL) 9
D.Prestia (Rich) 8

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-secure-top-four-finish-in-a-cracking-contest-against-the-lions-20190825-p52kk5.html

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Richmond clinches top four spot with convincing win over Brisbane Lions setting up return bout in Qualifying Final

Jay Clark
Herald Sun
26 August 2019

Timing was everything for Richmond this season.

They may have stumbled out of the blocks and looked like missing finals altogether at one stage mid-season, but Damien Hardwick has got his wish heading into September.

The rampaging Tigers notched their-ninth straight win as they brushed aside a persistent Brisbane at the MCG to lock up a coveted double chance.

They’re humming, Richmond, after another outstanding defensive performance from Nick Vlastuin, Dylan Grimes, David Astbury, Nathan Broad and Bachar Houli kept the Lions to only 55 points.

It was Brisbane’s lowest score of the season.

But the Lions lost no admirers, either after fighting back from a slow start to seriously challenge Richmond, albeit briefly, in the third term.

And there will be one thing which will play on Hardwick’s mind until the two teams meet again in a fortnight at the Gabba, where Richmond has won the past eight straight matches against the Lions.

While the Tigers were brilliant down back, Brisbane onballer Lachie Neale ran riot with 51 possessions to ensure Brisbane held sway in the clearance battle 48-33 and centre clearances 14-8.

If the Lions are allowed off the leash again in the engine room, they will fancy themselves to capitalise much more on the scoreboard on their home deck.

The difference, however, was Richmond put in another commanding performance intercepting the ball across half back and then capitalising inside 50m on the rebound.

Richmond’s twin tower forward set up was dangerous all day and outmarked the Lions inside 50m 16 to eight.


EARLY DAMAGE

Marcus Adams was the most lonely man on the MCG yesterday.

The former Bulldog was lauded for his role on Tom Hawkins last week but the strong-bodied defender was destroyed by an on-fire Jack Riewoldt on the lead early in this one.

Riewoldt piled on four goals before Chris Fagan made the move and switched Darcy Gardiner on to the Tigers’ spearhead early in the second term.

That said, Dion Prestia and Dustin Martin’s delivery to Riewoldt on flaming runs out of the middle was superb in the first quarter.

That first term was as good as the Tigers have played all year, right on the eve of finals.

Adams, whose confidence looked shot by this point, got the job on Trent Cotchin and immediately gave away a free kick to the Richmond skipper early in the second term.

Talk about a nightmare.

It will be a long fortnight for Adams who faces the same test on Riewoldt if Richmond can isolate the same match-up again deep forward when they meet in the first final.

Hardwick will be desperate to orchestrate that match up again in September.

SCOREBOARD

RICHMOND 6.2 8.6 10.7 12.10 (82)

BRISBANE 2.1 4.4 7.6 8.7 (55)

GOALS

Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Lambert 2, Martin 2, Rioli, Castagna, Lynch, Ellis

Brisbane: Cameron 2, Zorko 2, McCluggage, McInerney, Hipwood, Robinson

BEST

Richmond: Vlastuin, Martin, Grimes, Riewoldt, Houli, Prestia, Lambert

Brisbane: Neale, Zorko, McCluggage, Robinson, Rich, Andrews, Martin

INJURIES

Richmond: Nil

Brisbane: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O’Gorman, Meredith, Fleer

Official crowd: 76,995 at the MCG

JAY CLARK’S VOTES

3 — Nick Vlastuin

2 — Dustin Martin

1 — Lachie Neale

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-clinches-topfour-spot-with-convincing-win-over-brisbane-lions-setting-up-return-bout-in-qualifying-final/news-story/e1e195479131aa44dcf0b91eed316177

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Tigers sense a chance to create an era of their own

Craig Little
The Guardian Australia
26 August 2019

The form side going into the finals is Richmond, who on Sunday had the better of Brisbane by close to five goals in front of the biggest home-and-away crowd featuring a team from outside Victoria. The Tigers have won nine consecutive games and have form players across every line, particularly in defence where

Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin have ably covered the loss of All-Australian full-back Alex Rance. The Tigers will again meet Brisbane in the second qualifying final – the qualifier being that this time it will be on Brisbane’s home turf at ‘The Gabbatoir’.

Brisbane lost few fans on Sunday afternoon, matching Richmond after Jack Riewoldt kicked four first-quarter goals. The unanimous recruit of the year, Lachie Neale, had a day out, winning a career-best 51 possessions (at an efficiency better than 88 per cent) and 14 clearances. He is one reason (Hugh McCluggage and Harris Andrews two more) why the Lions will enter their first final in 10 years with more than cautious optimism and “riding-with-their-hearts” hopefulness. Beat Richmond and they’ll shut up everyone who precedes their thoughts on Brisbane’s finals hopes with “wouldn’t it be nice…”

But right now the Tigers are poised to claim an era of their own, after sensing they let an opportunity slip last year. After a once-in-a-generation fairytale flag, Richmond supporters are hungry for another. As Amy Hempel wrote in Memoir: “Just once in my life — oh when have I wanted anything just once in my life?”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/26/hawks-afl-tigers-finals-hawthorn-richmond

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4 Points

Michael Gleeson
The Age
26 Aug 2019

Chris Scott will complain about where they should play the final, but he is unlikely to whine about the opponent. Richmond are simply in hotter, better and more worrying form than Collingwood.

The Tigers and Bulldogs, as evidenced on Sunday in both games, are the teams all other finalists least want to play. The Bulldogs have momentum and utter belief in their system and in each other.

Richmond have Dusty Martin.

Richmond has brilliance across the field. They have an elite player on every line - Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin in defence; Trent Cotchin (not yesterday, but when he is fully fit), Shane Edwards and Dion Prestia in the midfield. Add to that the presence of Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt up forward, but Martin is their ultimate point of difference.

Brisbane kicked the first goal before Richmond literally had one possession. Then Martin intervened to deliver the Tigers the next two without the Lions touching the ball. At critical moments, Martin was critical. Riewoldt was brilliant in the first quarter but Martin was fundamental to Richmond throughout.

Martin has had periods where his form has been queried, but not in the second half of this year and thus he presents as part of this Richmond package that looks the most likely team to win the flag.

They have questions that niggle at selection, but none of them are the type that feel like they will be the difference between them being able to win the flag or not. They have covered the loss of Alex Rance because Grimes is a champion, David Astbury ballast to a backline and Vlastuin inserts class when required.

They dropped Mabior Chol for this game and had another look at Noah Balta after nearly half the year out. Balta on Sunday presented a less persuasive argument for selection than Chol.

Ivan Soldo was very good in the ruck and will make the uneasiness about Toby Nankervis’s fitness and prospects of returning that bit easier to manage. Nankervis is experienced, big hearted and loved so they would rather him fit and in the side but Soldo’s development has made his absence less keenly felt as it might have been.

This was the type of result that had been expected of Brisbane previously when they played top sides, like Geelong last week. Yet in all of those previous encounters the Lions defied doomsaying expectations.

This time they lost but will feel they earned something from the defeat. They played at the MCG, where they had lost their last seven games in a row albeit through a period when they were a terrible side. They will feel they understand the ground better and Richmond better after that game. And next match they get Richmond on their own track.

They never really looked like winning, but they did avoid being belted. They played the way Richmond wanted them to for long periods of the game. They too often lobbed the ball like a fishing line deep and high to the forward line. Oddly their best forward, Charlie Cameron, seldom seemed to be at the base of those packs.

So now due to Hawthorn’s gift to the finals, Richmond plays Brisbane at the Gabba instead of Geelong at the MCG in week one.

The Lions are a different team at home than away but after yesterday, Richmond will feel they have the measure of Brisbane’s game wherever they play them.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/4-points-hawks-final-flutter-a-parting-gift-that-reshaped-top-eight-20190825-p52km3.html