Author Topic: Media Article & Stats: Tiger's Roar Into Top 4 after Steamrolling Roos  (Read 777 times)

Offline WilliamPowell

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Tigers roar into top four after steamrolling Roos

By Michael Whiting

RICHMOND still has a lot of improving to do but took a nice step forward on Saturday night in demolishing North Melbourne by 54 points at Metricon Stadium.

Six days after battling to win a "horrendous game" against Sydney at the Gabba, the Tigers put the Kangaroos away early with a rampant first quarter.

They won 11.11 (77) to 2.11 (23) to move into fourth spot on the ladder.

The game was effectively over at quarter-time, with Richmond leading 27-0 on the back of an 18-1 inside-50 count.

It was one-way traffic, and although losing Josh Caddy to a hamstring injury in the second term, the Tigers lost none of their hunger, playing with intensity right until the final siren.

While Dustin Martin (16 disposals and two goals) had his moments, and Dylan Grimes excelled in marshalling a defence that could not be penetrated, it was some younger faces that would excite Tiger fans.

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (23), Jack Higgins (19) and Shai Bolton (19) were among the premiers' best players in an even team performance.

The game was not much short of a nightmare for North Melbourne, losing skipper Jack Ziebell to a hamstring injury and never threatening after the disheartening first quarter.

There haven't been many bad moments for Todd Goldstein this year but this wasn't his finest effort

To compound the Roos' woes, youngster Kyron Hayden was carried off the field in the third quarter after a heavy collision with Tom Lynch.

Hayden courageously ran back with the flight of the ball but was inadvertently caught by Lynch's elbow before crashing to the ground.

It was the Kangaroos' fifth straight loss.

Another Hammy for Ziebell
After missing two weeks with a hamstring injury suffered against Hawthorn in round four, Jack Ziebell lasted barely 15 minutes before succumbing to the same problem against the Tigers. In what looked an innocuous incident, the Kangaroos' skipper limped off after failing to get to a marking contest on centre wing. Ziebell looked distraught as he hobbled straight to the team's dressing-room. Josh Caddy suffered the same fate for Richmond in the second

Is Dusty in trouble?
His teammate Dylan Grimes got reported, but Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin could also be in trouble with the Match Review Officer. Martin let his frustration get the better of him in the second quarter when he let fly with a short right-handed punch to the stomach of Luke McDonald. The incident resulted in a free kick to North, and while McDonald went to ground, he was back to his feet quickly. Grimes was reported during the second term for a high hit on Mason Wood, but the impact looked minimal.

New faces take their chances
With injuries to Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis and personal reasons keeping Shane Edwards and Bachar Houli in Melbourne, the new-look Tigers have been looking for some fresh faces to step up – and on Saturday night they got it. Defender Derek Eggmolesse-Smith was super impressive in his fourth game, using the ball superbly from the back-half. He finished with a polished 23 disposals at 82 percent efficiency. Shai Bolton was also a strong midfield contributor, using his explosive speed to jump from stoppages, win five clearances and propel Richmond into its forward 50 on numerous occasions, gaining 502m for the match.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS
RICHMOND                    4.3     6.5     9.7     11.11     (77)
NORTH MELBOURNE     0.0     2.3     2.6     2.11     (23)

GOALS
Richmond: Aarts 2, Chol 2, Martin 2, Castagna, Lynch, Pickett, Riewoldt, Rioli
North Melbourne: Dumont, Walker

BEST
Richmond: Eggmolesse-Smith, Bolton, Grimes, Short, Higgins, Martin
North Melbourne: Higgins, Walker, Dumont, Hall

INJURIES
Richmond: Caddy (hamstring)
North Melbourne: Zurhaar (calf) replaced in selected by McKay. Ziebell (Hamstring), Hayden (Head)

https://www.afl.com.au/news/466185/tigers-roar-into-top-four-after-steamrolling-roos
« Last Edit: July 19, 2020, 01:03:01 PM by WilliamPowell »
"Oh yes I am a dreamer, I still see us flying high!"

from the song "Don't Walk Away" by Pat Benatar 1988 (Wide Awake In Dreamland)

Offline WilliamPowell

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RICHMOND BRAND OF FOOTY IS BACK: GRAHAM

BY SAM MILLS

Richmond 2017 premiership player Jack Graham says the iconic Tigers brand of football has returned following the team's 54-point win over North Melbourne.

The 22-year-old said on AFL Nation post-match that he felt the Tigers had finally put together a typical yellow and black four-quarter performance.

“Last week we were building on it and this week we really wanted to knuckle down and show that Richmond brand of football," he said.

“We always knew that we were going to get back to the Richmond brand. In previous games we’d shown glimpses of it but tonight we played all four quarters.

“We had a strong focus for our intensity and our hunt around the ball because that’s where we play our best footy."

Graham paid credit to the club's strong VFL program for developing some of the club's newest players like Jake Aarts and Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, while admitting the team's small forwards were a barometer.

“Our VFL program over the past few years has had a huge focus on preparing those players," he said.

“Those small forwards play such an important role.

“Obviously their goal smarts but also defensively, we know when that ball hits the floor they’re going to be cracking in and pressuring the footy to try and keep it in our forward half."

The midfielder added that he was excited to be back playing in front of fans, and that the Tigers would only improve in the coming weeks.

“It’s nice hearing the crowd after a goal and the Tiger Army roar, even if there was only 3,000 and we’re used to 80,000," he said.

“It’s an exciting time at Tigerland. There’s plenty more to come which is exciting."

Richmond travel to Sydney to take on GWS at Giants Stadium next Friday night.


https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/18/richmond-brand-of-footy-is-back-graham/
"Oh yes I am a dreamer, I still see us flying high!"

from the song "Don't Walk Away" by Pat Benatar 1988 (Wide Awake In Dreamland)

Offline WilliamPowell

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Rampant Richmond bruise, batter the Roos
By Greg Davis
July 18, 2020 — 10.33pm

Uncaged and untouchable in a relentless opening quarter, Richmond roared back to near their imperious best with a brutal 54-point disposal of a hapless North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers cruised to their third-straight win and ominously jumped to fourth on the ladder after a dominant opening quarter, which condemned the Kangaroos to their fifth consecutive loss in a disastrous two-goal night.

North Melbourne lost skipper Jack Ziebell to a hamstring injury in the first term after young gun Cam Zurhaar was a late withdrawal with a calf issue. Kangaroos ball magnet Jy Simpkin also battled an ankle problem from the first term.

And that was just the early casualty ward. To make matters worse for North Melbourne, the Tigers were hungry for blood. Too many goals were far too easy for the rampant Richmond as the under-manned and out-classed Kangaroos were blown out of the water on the Gold Coast.

Their intent, physicality and general body language from the opening salvos all pointed to the reigning premiers being switched on after grinding to a halt in last Sunday's slugfest with Sydney.

Richmond had 18 inside 50 entries to North Melbourne's one in the first quarter as they raced to a 4.3 (27) to nil buffer at the first break. The Kangaroos had nine more possessions than Richmond, who made the most of every touch with an 86 per cent disposal efficiency.

It was just the second time in 45 years that the Tigers had kept a side scoreless in the opening term and the first time since 2004, ensuring a career-first clean sheet for senior coach Damien Hardwick.

In an incredibly even team performance, the Tigers had many contributors but few absolute standouts with the likes of Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Shai Bolton, Jack Higgins, Dylan Grimes and Dustin Martin all chipping in.

Shaun Higgins had 36 touches for North who were well served by precious few other than Trent Dumont (25) and Josh Walker (14).

Richmond took eight inside 50 entries to register their first goal of the night through grand final fairytale story Marlion Pickett. Martin was awarded a technical 50-metre penalty to hand the Tigers their second major and a strong mark and calm set-shot from ruckman Mabior Choi saw them cash-in further.

Stand-in captain Jack Riewoldt completed the first term rout after clever build-up work from fellow spearhead Tom Lynch.

Unlike last week against the Swans, when they kicked three goals early and added just one for the rest of the game, Richmond were able to maintain some sort of momentum to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

They led by 26 points at the main break after the Kangaroos finally kicked their first goal of the match through Dumont with just three minutes left in the second quarter, before Walker added to North Melbourne's meagre tally that eventually surpassed their lowest-ever total of 1.8 (14) against Geelong last season.

The Tigers should have been further in front after being wasteful and wayward in front of goal but did kick truly through Jason Castagna and Lynch to extend their advantage to 41-2.

It was not all plain sailing for the Tigers with defender Grimes going on report for high contact with Mason Wood in the second term, while Josh Caddy suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter.

Kyron Hayden added to North Melbourne's bulging injury list when he was taken from the field on a stretcher in the third quarter after colliding with Lynch's elbow in a marking contest.

Richmond enjoyed a 43-point cushion at the last change. The first career goal for Jake Aarts – after three misses earlier in the night – was the highlight for the Tigers in the final term.

Richmond roar back to life

The Swans poked the Tigers last week and the Kangaroos paid the price. Richmond looked they had a point to prove after the snore-fest of last Sunday and put North Melbourne to the sword swiftly. They have numerous gears to go up – and several stars to welcome back - too. Beware.

School of hard knocks


North Melbourne have a bigger casualty ward than an episode of "MASH". Ziebell (hamstring) and Hayden (head knock) were lost during the game, and Zurhaar (calf) before the first bounce. Ben Cunnington (back), Tarryn Thomas (ankle) and Jed Anderson (quad) were already sidelined. Trouble.

Roos should persist with Walker as a forward

It was a dirty old night for the Shinboners but the endeavour and aerial prowess from new recruit Walker was a pinch of positivity. After stints at Geelong and Brisbane, the key position swing-man took a game-high five grabs by half-time and worked hard to earn three shots at goal by the main break. He had eight marks by full-time. They should persist with him as a forward – not a defender.

BEST

Richmond: Eggmolesse-Smith, Bolton, Higgins, Grimes, Martin, Short
North Melbourne: Higgins, Dumont, Walker, Hall

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/rampant-richmond-bruise-batter-the-roos-20200718-p55dc4.html
"Oh yes I am a dreamer, I still see us flying high!"

from the song "Don't Walk Away" by Pat Benatar 1988 (Wide Awake In Dreamland)

Offline RedanTiger

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Thing I noticed after the game was how comfortable our players looked.

Eggy talked about the support of the Bros. (Mabs, Daniel, Shai etc)
Dusty walking off with a satisfied smile on his face the whole way.

Think the hub is doing wonders at making our connection even stronger.

Only one suffering I think is Jack who seems to be missing his social butterfly role in Melbourne media. Is his family with him?