Media articles & stats: Tigers endangered but alive after downing Roos

[one-eyed]

Tigers endangered but alive after downing gallant Roos

Richmond overcomes another poor start to get home over an impressive North Melbourne

By Sarah Black
afl.com.au
7 August 2020 7:30pm

RICHMOND                 0.3    2.4    9.6    13.11 (89)               
NORTH MELBOURNE    3.4    5.6    7.8    8.8 (56)

GOALS
Richmond: Edwards 2, Coleman-Jones 2, Riewoldt 2, Baker 2, Bolton, Rioli jnr, Parker, Ralphsmith, Prestia
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 4, Larkey, Scott, Taylor, Mahony

BEST
Richmond: Graham, Prestia, Cotchin, Baker, Nankervis, Vlastuin
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Zurhaar, Hall, Anderson

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Thomson Dow
North Melbourne: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Castagna (unused)
North Melbourne: Phillips (unused)

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RICHMOND has kept its faint finals hopes alive, producing a seven-goal third term to defeat North Melbourne by 33 points at the MCG.

The Roos were outstanding in the first half, but didn't take advantage of their 20-point lead at half-time, fading as the Tigers flicked the switch in the 13.11 (89) to 8.8 (56) result.

As cliched as it sounds, it really was a game of two halves; North Melbourne dominated with uncontested marks in the opening two quarters, while Richmond turned the game on its head after the main break, bringing its tackle pressure to the fore.

The developing Roos have been in much better form than the Tigers in the past month, and it showed from the opening bounce, while the home side reflected the general lethargy settled over a city in its sixth lockdown.

North Melbourne's defence – led by Harry McKay, Robbie Tarrant and a dashing Aaron Hall breaking lines through the middle – was outstanding in the first half, but struggled to move the ball as fluidly through the centre corridor after the main break.

In a battle of the returning players, Cam Zurhaar kept Nick Vlastuin well occupied early, the bustling Roo capitalising on some slick ball movement by booting three before the long break and adding another in the second half.

The Tigers conceded 72 uncontested marks in the first two quarters, but tightened up considerably as the game progressed, creating a contested game and producing that deadly forward-half pressure which has deserted them this year.

Jack Graham (36 disposals) was crucial in keeping Richmond in the game in the first half, as was Trent Cotchin (23 and four clearances), while ruckman Toby Nankervis' tackle pressure lifted the Tigers after half-time.

Jy Simpkin (34 and five clearances) used the ball beautifully going inside 50, while Tarryn Thomas (22 and eight marks) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (38 and five clearances) were constant threats in the midfield.

Returning players add some much-needed Tiger balm
Richmond has been one of several sides badly hit by injury this year, but the tide is beginning to shift. Vlastuin returned after a month with knee and quad issues, and his intercept marking was key to the win, and while they've now got a few games under their belt, Shane Edwards and Dion Prestia's normal polish began to return as the game progressed.

North Melbourne's centre clearance dominance continues
Promisingly for the Roos, one of their biggest strengths was in the middle, as it has been for the past few weeks. With talismanic midfield bull Ben Cunnington sidelined due to a tumour, Jy Simpkin, Tarryn Thomas, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jed Anderson continued their fine clearance form, working well with Todd Goldstein. They won the centre clearances 14-7 and overall clearances 32-20.

Maurice Rioli jnr's time to shine
A bright spot for the Tigers was the zip and dash shown by debutant Maurice Rioli jnr. A father-son product taken with pick No.51 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, Rioli shot through the ranks this year, impressing with his dedication and desire to improve. With his father Maurice's number taken by Daniel Rioli, the small forward wears the 49 his dad wore at South Fremantle.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/659946/tigers-endangered-but-alive-after-downing-gallant-roos

[one-eyed]

Tigers purr in second half to keep finals hopes alive

Andrew Stafford
The Age
August 8, 2021

Richmond’s finals charge remains alive – just – after kicking 11 second-half goals to three to roll over the top of North Melbourne at the MCG, moving to ninth on the ladder, half a game behind Greater Western Sydney.

It was an unconvincing performance, but if the Tigers are good enough, they will have the chance to overtake the Giants when they meet next week. They face the flagging Hawthorn in the final round.

North, for their part, look better than the bottom-placed team they currently are. They are far from the basket case they were painted as early in the season. Mostly, they played with dare and purpose, and Cameron Zurhaar and Nick Larkey look better up forward by the week.

But they were unable to take full advantage of the vast amount of latitude they were given by Richmond in the first half, with Larkey spraying several easy shots to blot his game, and they became hurried and untidy as Richmond lifted their game after the break.

The loss of confidence that Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has spoken of remained palpable. One bright spot was the much-anticipated debut of Maurice Rioli jnr, who chased and tackled inside 50 with intent and was rewarded in the third quarter with a deserving goal.

Time and again, the Tigers turned the ball over on the wing, only to see North switch aggressively to the centre and sweep it down-field. The old Tigers brand of extreme pressure on the ball carrier was nowhere to be seen as the Roos collected uncontested marks at will.

Rioli Jr’s efforts aside, where was the willingness to trap the ball in the forward line that would create multiple opportunities for Richmond’s forwards? Aaron Hall and Jack Ziebell were having a picnic, sweeping the ball from half-back for the Roos with ease.

There was a lack of discipline, exemplified by Shai Bolton shoving Kayne Turner to the turf, giving away a downfield free to Zurhaar, then doing it again, to gift the forward 50 metres, just when the Tigers were starting to gain some traction.

Zurhaar had already kicked the Kangaroos’ first. He didn’t need such an open invitation for a second. He had his third a minute later to extend their lead to 26 points. Centre clearances were running eight to zip North’s way, with Todd Goldstein and Jy Simpkin dominant.

Only a free kick and goal to Jack Riewoldt on the stroke of half-time, and some poor kicking by the Kangaroos – Larkey, so impressive with his marking, missing two sitters – kept the Tigers in touch.

And then the switch was flipped. Suddenly, the Tigers looked more like the Tigers of old. Toby Nankervis willed himself into the contest in the ruck, the pressure around the contest lifted, and uncontested marks for the Kangaroos dried up.

Seven goals to two for the quarter was the result. Some big names lifted, especially Shane Edwards and Bolton, while Jack Graham was the Tigers’ heartbeat: he and key defender Nick Vlastuin were among their few four-quarter performers.

But the final score flattered the Tigers, who were nowhere near it for the first half. Yes, they turned the match on its head, and deserve credit for that. But the game style that they once implemented by rote they now have to be reminded of.

After the game, Hardwick spoke of the importance of his side sticking to their own brand of football.

“They had, I think, 70 marks up until half-time, so we knew if we took that part of their game away from them, we’d bring the game back into a Richmond-type game, which is high-contest, high-pressure, which suits us,” he said.

North counterpart David Noble praised the Tigers for their pressure acts.

“They’re a great pressure team,” he said.

“I think some of our turnovers were a direct result of some terrific pressure from the Tigers that they brought. They probably escalated it up to another level, and we weren’t able to match it.”

BEST
Richmond: Graham, Vlastuin, Baker, Prestia, Stack, Short.
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Hall, Ziebell, Thomas.

VOTES
J. Graham (Richmomd) 9
N. Vlastuin (Richmond) 8
J. Simpkin (North Melbourne) 8
L. Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne) 7
L. Baker (Richmond) 7

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tigers-purr-in-second-half-to-keep-finals-hopes-alive-20210807-p58grc.html