Dockers power past TigersRichmond fell to Fremantle by 54 points on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.
By Gemma Bastiani
AFL Media
5 May 2024RICHMOND 1.3 1.7 4.11 6.13 (49)
FREMANTLE 3.4 6.8 8.11 15.13 (103)
GOALS
Richmond: Lefau 2, Sonsie, Ralphsmith, McIntosh, Mansell
Fremantle: Treacy 4, Young 2, Darcy 2, Amiss 2, Walters, Sharp, Johnson, Frederick, Banfield
BEST
Richmond: Baker, Short, D.Rioli, Martin, Vlastuin
Fremantle: Young, Ryan, Serong, Brayshaw, Clark, Treacy
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Fremantle: Darcy (tight calf)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh (replaced Sam Naismith in the third quarter)
Fremantle: Nat Fyfe (replaced Sean Darcy in the third quarter)
Crowd: 32,252 at the MCG
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A spirited Richmond outfit was brushed off by Fremantle in a 54-point loss on Sunday at the MCG.
As players shielded their eyes from the afternoon sun, the Dockers enjoyed a seven-goal final quarter to ultimately win 15.13 (103) to 6.13 (49) in a physical contest.
A career-high four-goal haul from Josh Treacy led the way for the Dockers up forward, while young midfield duo Hayden Young (30 disposals, two goals) and Caleb Serong (38 disposals, 601 metres gained) set the game alight.
It took 10 minutes for Fremantle to break through for its opening goal, finding it difficult to navigate Richmond's defensive structures early.
The Tigers were somewhat willing to concede marks outside the Dockers' forward 50 arc with the aim of shutting down higher percentage opportunities closer to goal.
The class of Amiss (two goals, 12 disposals), however, forced some cracks in that established defensive unit, before Treacy and Michael Frederick (15 disposals, six score involvements) warmed into the game.
Fremantle was willing to be patient in order to establish control, opting to use short kicks coming out of defence and repeatedly switching across the width of the ground to keep Richmond's defence on its toes. As a result, the Dockers finished with 130 marks compared to the Tigers' 97.
At times it was a strategy that worked well, but in other moments the visitors found it hard to break out of that slow, stagnant movement and simply trapped themselves deep in defence.
In an effort to get the ball moving faster in the second quarter, some sloppy ball use began to rear its head for the Dockers.
Unfortunately for Richmond, however, it couldn't punish on the turnover, torching the ball when kicking inside 50 and recording just four behinds from six forward entries for the term.
Luke Ryan was impenetrable for Fremantle, taking 15 marks and registering a career-high 39 disposals in defence.
Returning from a calf injury, Jayden Short (28 disposals, eight marks) picked up right where he left off, attempting to rally his side, while Nick Vlastuin's intercepting ability shone through once again with nine for the game.
After kicking the opening goal of the game via Mykelti Lefau (two goals, eight disposals), it took the Tigers until the five-minute mark of the third term to register their second.
Hugo Ralphsmith, working hard into attack from his wing position, took a strong mark and, importantly, went back and slotted the much-needed major.
It spurred a strong patch from Richmond, able to trap the ball in its front half with a high press and kick another within two minutes by way of Tyler Sonsie
In the end, however, it simply wasn't enough to genuinely threaten the Dockers on the scoreboard.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1547022/dockers-power-past-tigers
