Author Topic: Media articles & stats: Tiger charge sets up much-needed win over Eagles  (Read 394 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Tiger charge sets up much-needed win over Eagles

By Dejan Kalinic
AAP/AFL website
6 May 2023


RICHMOND            1.2     5.8     10.12     15.14 (104)
WEST COAST         2.3     4.5       7.6         8.10 (58)

GOALS
Richmond: Prestia 3, Bolton 3, Taranto 2, Ryan, Pickett, Miller, Martin, Hopper, Graham, Clarke
West Coast: Allen 4, Williams, West, Petruccelle, Darling

BEST
Richmond: Bolton, Taranto, Martin, Hopper, Prestia, Baker
West Coast: Sheed, Kelly, Allen, Duggan, Jones

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
West Coast: Culley (knee), Allen (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Rhyan Mansell (replaced Noah Cumberland in third quarter)
West Coast: Zane Trew (replaced Jai Culley in first quarter)

Crowd: 28,293 at the MCG

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

A BRILLIANT burst from Dion Prestia has helped Richmond snap a five-match losing streak with a 46-point win over injury-ravaged West Coast.

Prestia got hot in bitterly cold conditions on Saturday, kicking three goals in five minutes late in the third quarter to break open a dour contest at the MCG.

Midfield recruits Tim Taranto (30 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals) and Jacob Hopper (32, 10 and one) were also influential as the Tigers triumphed 15.14 (104) to 8.10 (58).

Prestia's three majors equalled a career-high tally for the 199-game midfielder.

Fellow star Shai Bolton (31 disposals, seven clearances) also finished with three goals.

It was Richmond's (2-1-5) first win since round two, breathing some much-needed life back into its season.

West Coast forward Oscar Allen kicked a game-high four goals but couldn't drag his side over the line as it suffered a sixth straight defeat.

Already ravaged by injuries this season, the Eagles' woes continued when young midfielder Jai Culley went down clutching his right knee 12 minutes into the match.

The 20-year-old, an AFL Rising Star nominee playing his ninth senior game, hobbled off with help from trainers and was substituted out minutes later.

Culley and coach Adam Simpson were both emotional at the quarter-time huddle.

Tim Kelly (29 disposals, nine clearances) and Dom Sheed (29, nine) worked tirelessly in a losing cause for the Eagles, while Jamaine Jones won a career-high 30 disposals.

The visitors won clearances (45-37) but were beaten in contested possession (153-130) and smashed in inside 50s (65-43).

West Coast kicked the first two goals of a scrappy opening term – which featured just one mark inside 50m for each side – before Culley was injured.

It kept its noses in front until midway through the second quarter when a Bolton mark and goal gave Richmond the lead for the first time.

Inaccuracy prevented a bigger margin than the Tigers' nine-point buffer at the main break after they dominated inside 50s (20-8) and kicked 4.6 to 2.2 in the second term.

Two goals from Allen to start the second half and another from the quiet Jack Darling, who was limited to just four disposals by Nathan Broad, briefly put the Eagles back in front.

But a quick reply from Bolton and Prestia's scintillating burst wrested momentum before the final change and the Tigers coasted home.

Richmond forward Noah Cumberland was substituted out of the match during the third quarter with just two disposals to his name.

Cumberland gave away two free kicks and was harshly penalised 50 metres when he kicked a ball that had already drifted over the boundary line.

Super Shai lifts Tigers
Shai Bolton produced his best performance of the season on Saturday. The All-Australian was lively throughout and finished with 31 disposals and 3.2. Bolton had season-highs for disposals, tackles (five), clearances (seven) and contested possessions (18).

Tiger recruits make their mark again
There has been plenty of talk about the Tigers' decision to bring in Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper from Greater Western Sydney, but the duo impressed again at the MCG. That pair combined for 20 clearances (10 each) and also hit the scoreboard (three goals between them).

Eagles' bad luck continues
With their injury woes already well known, West Coast suffered another blow in the first quarter on Saturday. Jai Culley, the No.1 pick in last year's AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, was substituted after suffering a knee injury. Eagles coach Adam Simpson comforted Culley in a nice moment at quarter-time.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/918653/tiger-charge-sets-up-much-needed-win-over-eagles

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Richmond recover from listless first half to defeat West Coast

Ed Bourke
HeraldSun
May 6, 2023 - 5:35PM


Richmond’s season has a pulse. A very, very faint pulse.

The Tigers were listless early in an error-riddled Saturday afternoon clash with West Coast, but eventually found the spark needed to kick away and claim a 46-point win, which will keep them within two-and-a-half games of the top eight at the end of the round.

Eagles stars Oscar Allen and Tim Kelly relished their only chance to play on the MCG this season and were terrific with four goals and 29 disposals respectively, but they were only a sliver of light on another dark day for the struggling club, who lost impressive youngster Jai Culley early to a suspected serious knee injury.

It took until time-on in the third term for the Tigers to move clear of the plucky visitors, thanks to an extraordinary three consecutive goals in five minutes from Dion Prestia.

The first major in Prestia’s cameo was sparked by a clever and well-timed handball from Dustin Martin as he drew several Eagles defenders towards him.

The 30-year-old’s classy finishing was an outlier for the Tigers, who wasted several easy chances to go ahead during the second quarter.

Allen could not miss when provided with opportunities to score, booting two goals early in the third term as the Eagles briefly threatened a stunning boilover, but Richmond’s ongoing dominance in the contested ball, thanks to some impressive ruckwork from Samson Ryan, meant the resistance was always going to falter.

CRUSHING BLOW FOR CULLEY

Just a fortnight after he deservedly claimed an AFL Rising Star nomination, Jai Culley’s promising season appears to have come to a shattering end.

The hardworking 20-year-old crumpled in a marking contest just after the 10-minute mark of the first quarter, and although he was able to walk off the field with trainers he was soon subbed out of the game.

Culley was in tears at quarter time as he was consoled by teammates, with his reaction suggesting another devastating blow amid the Eagles’ hellish run of injuries.

DIMMA LOSES PATIENCE (AGAIN)

Omitted forward Noah Cumberland won a reprieve after Ivan Soldo was withdrawn from the game with a foot issue, but early in the third quarter the left-footer found himself out of the 22, tactically subbed off with an almost unprecedented -10 ranking points.

Since his destructive first quarter performance on Anzac Day Eve, Cumberland has managed only 10 possessions and 0.2, with the 22-year-old likely set for a stint in the VFL to regain confidence.

EAGLES LEADER SETS THE TONE

West Coast coach Adam Simpson said last week the Eagles will look to rotate the captaincy in the coming weeks as captain Luke Shuey and his deputy Jeremy McGovern remain sidelined, but current acting skipper Tom Barrass emphatically stamped his on-field leadership credentials with a colossal first half performance to keep his side in the contest.

The 27-year-old had seven spoils and reeled in three intercept marks, including a courageous grab seconds after returning to the field with his head heavily strapped, preventing the in-form Jack Riewoldt from having any access to the ball around goal.

SCOREBOARD

TIGERS 1.2, 5.8, 10.12, 15.14 (104)

EAGLES 2.3, 4.5, 7.6, 8.10 (58)

BOURKE’S BEST
Tigers: Bolton, Taranto, Prestia, Hopper, Ryan, Martin.
Eagles: Allen, Kelly, Sheed, Duggan, Barrass, Jones.

GOALS
Tigers: Prestia 3, Bolton 3, Taranto 2, Pickett, Graham, Miller, Clarke, Hopper, Ryan, Martin. Eagles: Allen 4, Petruccelle, West, Darling, Williams.

UMPIRES Dore, Fleer, Toner, Young.

INJURIES Tigers: none. Eagles: Culley (knee), Barrass (head).

CROWD 28,293 at the MCG

BOURKE’S VOTES

3. S. Bolton (Rich)

2. T. Taranto (Rich)

1. D. Prestia (Rich)

https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/afl-round-8-latest-news-and-analysis-from-richmond-v-west-coast/news-story/781c70a016c39950c9504438ae028f98

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Bolton, Prestia take charge as Tigers topple Eagles (Age)
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2023, 07:29:12 PM »
Bolton, Prestia take charge as Tigers topple Eagles

Jon Pierik
The Age
May 6, 2023 — 5.05pm


On a day the revered Richmond 1973 premiership team celebrated its 50th anniversary, a heavy bump by Liam Baker into the midriff of West Coast Eagle Andrew Gaff would surely have warmed the hearts of the Tigers of yesteryear.

Baker’s clash at half-forward in the second term of a largely grinding affair led to a late Tim Taranto goal, giving the Tigers a nine-point edge at the main break.

This was a day the Tigers, having slipped to 16th on the ladder, had to flex some muscle. That they did with a 46-point win over the bottom-placed Eagles, but what it really means will only be evident when they face powerhouse Geelong at the MCG on Friday night. Remember, the Blues thumped the Eagles by 106 points last weekend.

“If we look at the way we play, we have been doing some phases really well, our defence and our contest work has been very good. What has let us down is our offence,” said Richmond coach Damien Hardwick post-match.

“We are hoping today we take some lessons out of that and some confidence out of that to attack the game against one of the best sides, if not the best side in the competition.

“They [Cats] have really hit their straps … they are a great test, we always have great games against them. I hope our fans get out and support a great contest.”

The Tigers have had trouble scoring this season, having slipped in scores from turnovers and overall efficiency once they go inside attacking 50. They still remain issues, but there were signs of improvement against the under-manned Eagles.

Having fallen behind by a point when Jack Darling goaled a shade under 20 minutes into the third term, the Tigers responded with four goals from five inside 50s inside six minutes. Their pressure inside attacking 50 lifted, and Dion Prestia prospered. The hard-running midfielder in his return game booted three straight running goals, the Tigers ignited by a clever tap by ruckman Samson Ryan at a stoppage and a running snap by Shai Bolton.

“He is a pretty special player, Dion, and he played really hurt at the start of the year, and he put his hand up to play,” said Hardwick.

“We didn’t really have a lot of other magnets to promote opportunity, so for him to come back, have a rest and rejig, I thought was pretty important today. For him to hit the scoreboard when it mattered, it sort of broke the game open from there.”

The Tigers know how to play burst football. In the second term, they had taken charge when a dozen straight inside 50s turned a seven-point deficit at the first change into a 10-point lead. Come the final term, the Tigers almost did as they pleased, the Eagles lacking dare.

Bolton was back to his influential best. While he hasn’t quite had the impact he had wanted recently, this game was a welcome sign, for he finished with 31 disposals, a season high, 13 score involvements, seven clearances and three goals.

“Generally when Shai is playing well, we are playing well,” Hardwick said.

Taranto, who is likely leading the Tigers’ best and fairest count, was typically tough at the stoppages. He had 30 disposals and 10 clearances, including more than 20 pressure acts, and scrounged through the closing nail in the final term. Hopper had 32 touches, 10 clearances and delivered 644 metres gained. Co-captain Dylan Grimes silenced Kennedy, while fellow defenders Nick Vlastuin and Nathan Broad were steady.

“Those two boys, what we have brought in with Hopper and Taranto, we wouldn’t be anywhere where we need to be and, more importantly, we wouldn’t be anywhere near we want to be without those two boys. They have been wonderful for our footy club,” Hardwick said.

Veteran Eagle Dom Sheed was robust through the midfield, while Tim Kelly and Jamaine Jones had plenty of the ball on a day Oscar Allen’s fine comeback season continued with four goals.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said his team was “overwhelmed” from midway through the third term. “For our club at the moment, it’s been a challenge to win,” he said. “For our group at the moment, there is growth from experience.”

Pain game
The Eagles have had an injury list as long as the Nullarbor, having had 18 players unavailable this week. Naturally, there was a collective groan from all involved at the club when young star Jai Culley fell to the turf innocuously in the first term and clutched his knee. He was helped from the field by trainers, and will have scans on what is feared to be a serious injury.

Dusty days
Dustin Martin had averaged 21 disposals but kicked only one goal over the past three weeks heading into this contest. He spent most of the afternoon at half-forward, finishing with 27 touches, 347m gained and a late goal. He also had a direct hand in Prestia’s first goal late in the third term, and remains dangerous when near the ball. Some pundits doubt whether the three-time Norm Smith medallist still has the consistent burst to turn a game, but he is still elite.

Flying high
Oscar Allen has been one of the few Eagles’ success stories this season. Having missed the entire 2022 campaign because of injury, Allen has been a force up forward. A strong marking tall, Allen’s touch was on show when he sharked a loose ball off the pack and snapped the Eagles’ second of the afternoon. Allen prospered from a Noah Cumberland brain fade in the second term, the Tiger having kicked the ball into the boundary fence - after Noah Balta’s initial kick was out on the full. This led to a 50-metre penalty, the ensuing pass marked by Allen, who converted. Cumberland, having won a reprieve at selection when Ivan Soldo was a late withdrawal, was taken from the field. He was subbed off in the third term, and replaced by Rhyann Mansell.

Best:

Richmond: Taranto, Bolton, Prestia, Hopper, Martin.
West Coast: Allen, Sheed, Jones, Kelly.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bolton-prestia-take-charge-as-tigers-topple-eagles-20230505-p5d66d.html