Media articles and Stats: Brave Tigers win it by five points over Dons

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Brave Tigers win it by five points
richmondfc.com.au
By Matt Burgan 4:44 PM Sun 26 July, 2009

A MATCH-saving mark by Shane Edwards in defence has helped Richmond hang on for a thrilling five-point win over a fast-finishing Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.

The Tigers 15.11 (101) defeated the Bombers 14.12 (96), giving Jade Rawlings his second win as coach and Richmond its fourth win of the season.

Essendon kicked the last three goals of the match, after trailing by 23 points at the 21-minute mark of the final term.

Goals to Courtenay Dempsey at the 21-minute mark, Brent Stanton (23) and Kyle Reimers (28) put the Dons within a goal. And when the ball rebounded from Richmond's attack – after a Daniel Jackson bomb from a centre clearance almost resulted in a goal – Essendon had one last hurrah.

But when 180cm Tiger Shane Edwards stood his ground in the back-half, the Tigers had roughly 10 seconds remaining. In the end, the Tigers had possession when the siren sounded.

It was capped off a memorable day for the Tigers as Jack Riewoldt kicked a career-best six goals and Ben Cousins played a blinder, racking up 31 disposals. Brett Deledio also got better and better as the match went on, finishing with 26 touches.

Entering the final term, Richmond led by 12 points, but was quickly out to a 23-point lead when Riewoldt opened the term with his sixth and impressive young tall Jayden Post landed his second goal of the day.

And when Mitch Morton kicked Richmond's last goal for the day at the 18-minute mark, the Tigers looked home – until the Dons made one last charge.

The loss puts Essendon's finals chances at risk, plus an injury concern to skipper Matthew Lloyd (foot) is a worry.

The Tigers also suffered a late scare when rookie defender Jarrod Silvester left the ground with a lower left leg injury. Chris Newman also limped off just before the final siren.

The match got under way without the opening bounce, after a free kick was awarded to Essendon. It came about after Tiger Daniel Jackson and Bomber Brent Stanton tangled on the wing, resulting in a free to Essendon from the centre square.

Stanton took the kick and found teammate Scott Lucas, who marked and kicked the first goal, just 30 seconds in.

Richmond opened its account via Riewoldt and when Jake King followed up with a fine running goal mid-way through the term, the Tigers hit the front for the first time. At quarter-time they led by three points.

The Tigers took control in the second term, booting five in a row to claim a 29-point lead at the 25-minute mark. It was an outstanding period for the Tigers, which included two excellent individual efforts to set up a couple of their majors.

The first was a Richard Tambling run that was reminiscent of former Tiger Michael Mitchell's goal of the year against the Sydney Swans at the SCG in 1990.

Tambling won the ball at half-back and had six bounces, but instead of kicking truly, he chipped a pass to Riewoldt, who was on a slight angle close to goal. The key forward then nailed his third.

Soon after, Robin Nahas managed to win the ball on the wing and break clear of Bomber speedster Andrew Lovett, before finding Deledio at half-forward. The reigning Jack Dyer Medalist converted.

But Richmond's fine work was undone somewhat when Essendon jagged two late goals, bringing the margin back to 16 points at half-time.

This led the experienced Cousins to address his teammates on the hallowed turf before they jogged off as a group.

Essendon hit back hard with five of the first six goals in the second half, regaining a six-point lead at the 21-minute mark of the third term.

Just as the Tigers looked set to be overrun by the Dons, they hit back with a hat-trick of goals in time-on to regain the lead. This included two from Riewoldt.

Richmond took a 12-point buffer into the final stanza, before the brilliant last term.


Essendon        2.5 5.6 10.9 14.12 (96)
Richmond        3.2 8.4 12.9 15.11 (101) 

GOALS
Essendon: Lovett 2, Lucas 2, Reimers 2, Ryder 2, McVeigh, Winderlich, McPhee, Dyson, Dempsey, Stanton
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Post 2, Morton 2, King, White, Brown, Deledio, Jackson

BEST
Essendon: Welsh, Prismall, Ryder, Lovett, Stanton, Winderlich, Fletcher
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cousins, Cotchin, Nahas, Deledio, Jackson

INJURIES
Essendon: Lloyd (ankle)
Richmond: Silvester (leg), Newman (knee)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, McBurney, Hendrie

Official crowd: 47,412 at the MCG

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/81398/default.aspx

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Team Stats

Disposals:        329 - 406
Efficiency%:       72 - 75
Kicks:              178 - 210
Handballs:        151 - 196
Con. Marks:         7 - 13
Uncon. Marks:    76 - 91
Tackles:             71 - 75
Clearances:        40 - 27
Clangers:           40 - 37
Hitouts:             30 - 42   ( Vickery 18, Pattison 11 // Ryder 29, Hooker 13 )
Frees:               16 - 19
Con. Possies:   111 - 122
Uncon.Possies: 209 - 278
Inside 50s:        43 - 55
Assists:            17 - 17

Individual Stats

player              D     EFF%  K     H     G     B     CM     UM     T     CL     C     SC     SCA
      
Cousins, B         31    74    13    18    0    0    0    5    2    5    1    106    92
Deledio, B          26    81    10    16    1    1    0    5    7    4    1    129    97
Cotchin, T          23    57    10    13    0    1    0    1    6    5    3    74    61
Jackson, D         22    55    15    7    1    2    0    6    7    7    5    74    83
Tambling, R        20    70    13    7    0    0    1    4    3    3    1    101    89
McMahon, J        19    84    11    8    0    0    0    2    2    1    1    71    82
Riewoldt, J         19    63    12    7    6    1    3    5    3    0    3    140    74
Brown, N           18    61    10    8    1    1    0    3    1    2    1    67    85
Nahas, R           18    67    12    6    0    1    0    7    5    0    5    55    70
Polo, D              16    88    6    10    0    0    0    4    1    1    2    71    82
King, J              14    79    9    5    1    0    0    3    1    4    3    62    53
Newman, C        14    93    11    3    0    0    0    2    3    1    0    85    96
Post, J              14    93    8    6    2    0    0    7    2    0    1    77    49
Edwards, S       13    54    7    6    0    0    1    2    7    2    1    69    52
Morton, M         12    33    8    4    2    1    2    4    3    0    4    57    83
Pattison, A         9    56    4    5    0    0    0    4    2    3    0    50    56
Vickery, T           9    78    1    8    0    0    0    2    2    2    3    27    50
Hislop, T             8    75    3    5    0    1    0    3    4    0    1    52    52
McGuane, L         7    100    2    5    0    0    0    2    3    0    1    40    61
Silvester, J          7    86    4    3    0    0    0    3    2    0    2    45    73
White, M             6    83    5    1    1    0    0    2    3    0    1    42    66
Thursfield, W      4    100    4    0    0    0    0    0    2    0    0    40    48

player            FF     FA     CP     UP     I50     A      
         
Cousins, B         0    0    8    22    3    1    
Deledio, B          1    1    13    13    4    0    
Cotchin, T          1    1    6    16    5    3    
Jackson, D         1    3    6    16    3    0    
Tambling, R       0    0    9    10    2    2    
McMahon, J        0    1    3    13    2    1    
Riewoldt, J         1    0    8    11    1    2    
Brown, N           0    0    5    13    5    2    
Nahas, R           1    1    5    13    2    2    
Polo, D              2    2    8    8    0    0    
King, J               2    2    7    7    2    0    
Newman, C        0    0    4    8    3    1    
Post, J               0    0    1    13    0    0    
Edwards, S        1    1    6    7    1    0    
Morton, M          0      1    5    7    4    0    
Pattison, A         0    0    4    5    2    1    
Vickery, T          1    3    4    5    1    0    
Hislop, T            2    0    4    5    0    1    
McGuane, L        1    1    2    5    0    0    
Silvester, J         1    1    2    5    0    0    
White, M            0      1    0    5    2    0    
Thursfield, W     1    0    1    2    1    1

http://superstats.heraldsun.com.au/gamestatslive/5015593.html

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Tigers beat Bombers in thriller
AAP | July 26, 2009

RICHMOND has held on for a nailbiting five-point AFL win over Essendon at the MCG.

The 15.11 (101) to 14.12 (96) win is a major hit to Essendon's finals chances and they will drop out of the top eight should Port Adelaide win Sunday's Showdown against Adelaide.

Essendon fought back from 23 points down at 21 minutes into the final quarter, but Richmond defended grimly for a well-deserved win.

Jack Riewoldt starred for Richmond with six goals, his best AFL haul, while Ben Cousins had 31 disposals and veteran full-back Dustin Fletcher was Essendon's best player.

Essendon play West Coast at Subiaco next Sunday and then host Brisbane in round 19.

Essendon were favoured to win and had Richmond in trouble within seconds of the game starting.

They were awarded a free at the opening bounce and Scott Lucas goalled.

But the Tigers were impressive with their early pressure and led by three points at the first change.

Richmond then kicked five straight goals in the second term to lead by 29 points late in the second quarter.

But a week after blowing a 43-point lead against North Melbourne, the Tigers conceded two late goals and the Bombers only trailed by 16 points at the main break.

Essendon kicked another two goals at the start of the third quarter, but Richmond rallied as Bombers captain Matthew Lloyd limped off the ground.

Lloyd had only managed 10 possessions and had not scored as he clearly struggled with a leg injury.

Two goals to Andrew Lovett midway through the third quarter meant Essendon led by a point, the first time they had been in front since early in the second term.

Richmond hit back again, kicking three straight goals, including two to Riewoldt.

Nathan Brown had a set shot late in the quarter and had he goalled, Richmond would have led by 17 points at the final change.

He missed badly, meaning a two-goal margin.

Best:
Richmond: J Riewoldt B Cousins T Cotchin B Deledio R Nahas D Jackson R Tambling.
Essendon: D Fletcher B Prismall A Lovett H Slattery P Ryder.

Injuries:
Richmond: J Silvester (knee).
Essendon: A Davey (leg) J Watson (corked thigh) M Lloyd (heel) M McVeigh (corked thigh).

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25837273-5015593,00.html

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Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings desperate to stay on
Jon Ralph | July 27, 2009

RICHMOND'S nailbiting win over Essendon strengthened the claims of caretaker coach Jade Rawlings, who declared he was desperate to continue leading the club.

The Tigers led by 23 points at the 23-minute mark of the last term, and just hung on in the desperate final seconds.

The five-point victory made it two victories and a draw from six matches under Rawlings, while also showcasing the club's array of young talent.

Forward Jack Riewoldt was the six-goal hero, Shane Edwards took the last-gasp defensive mark, and Trent Cotchin has run into excellent form.

Rawlings has reinvigorated No.1 draft pick Brett Deledio as a bone fide midfielder, and revealed post-match he threatened him with demotion to Coburg only three weeks ago.

The Tigers hierarchy now rates Rawlings, who is now seen as the equal of any other Richmond coaching candidate.

The Tigers are finally playing intense, tackle-first football with a young side showing sides of improvement.

Rawlings was emphatic yesterday that after six weeks in the job, he wanted it long-term.

"People who know me well will understand how much it means for me to coach this footy club," he said. "I feel confident about what I can do. I am improving every week."

The Tigers led by 29 points late in the second term, lost the lead, then won it again.

But goals to Courtenay Dempsey, Brent Stanton and Kyle Reimers had Essendon within a goal with 75 seconds left before Richmond's rear-guard action.

Deledio had 26 possessions, half of them contested, and the 100-gamer has finally started to play the kind of football expected of him.

Asked what had shaped the on and off-field turnaround, Rawlings replied: "That he was going to wear a Coburg jumper. That was where it was at for him before Adelaide (in Round 14)."

The Tigers face winnable games against Melbourne and Sydney at the MCG before finishing with Collingwood, Hawthorn (also at the MCG) and West Coast (Subiaco).

Rawlings said it would have been a crushing blow had the Tigers not been able to withstand Essendon's late rally.

"I think it was an enormous confidence booster. If we had have got pipped, with the admirable losses we have had against Carlton and the draw (against North Melbourne), and we were pretty good against Adelaide . . . it would have been hard to keep getting them up. Hopefully that was a bit of a watershed for this group.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25838491-19742,00.html

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Jack Riewoldt earns a name for himself as Richmond defeats Essendon
Mark Robinson | July 26, 2009 11:01pm

IF ONLY George Johnston had penned My Cousin Jack and not My Brother Jack, then headline writers would be waxing lyrical today. 

A night after his cousin Nick put the Bulldogs to the sword at Docklands, Jack Riewoldt climbed out of football adolescence to put in a matchwinning six-goal effort against Essendon at the MCG.

"Jumping Jack" was a handful for, in order, Tayte Pears, Michael Hurley, Adam McPhee and Dustin Fletcher, and his three goals either side of the three-quarter-time break were pivotal to Richmond's five-point victory.

So, too, were Ben Cousins - whose sure hands and feet and calmness in congestion stood out -- and Brett Deledio, with his game-high 13 contested possessions.

Who would have thought? Deledio was the only player on the ground with double-figure hardball gets.

Coach Jade Rawlings said after the game the threat of a Coburg appearance a month ago apparently snapped Deledio out of his lethargy. On yesterday's effort, Rawlings should threaten him every week.

But the title of most influential player goes to the most feared name in the game - Riewoldt.

"I think it was his best game, the fact it was in a big game as well," Rawlings said.

"He's scratched the surface, Jack Riewoldt. He kicked five goals against the Eagles last year, but we were 10 goals up, and he can be a genuine key forward for this footy club."

Of Deledio, he said: "He's been our most consistent player for three weeks. He's winning big ball now, he doesn't have to rely on the people giving it to him."

The eighth-placed Bombers would be devastated by the defeat but, truth be told, they did not deserve the four points.

Their skill level and decision-making was poor, be it kicking to an unmarked teammate or deciding, in a time of unease, to kick to a teammate who had an opponent on him. If the Blues were woeful on Friday night, the Bombers were their identical twin.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights bemoaned the fact his team had 75 more possessions, 20 more marks and 55 inside 50s for just 14 goals.

The Tigers reaped 15 goals from their 43 entries, and dominated clearances 40-27.

They closed space on the Bombers, who were forced to dish off behind too many times, or even retreat.

Combine wasteful disposal with what seemed to be a relaxed attitude, and the Bombers will rue this one for some time yet.

Richmond did not give up the lead from the 24th minute of the third quarter.

From the start key match-ups were Jackson-Watson, King-Lovett, Silvester-Lucas, Polo-Monfries, McGuane-Lloyd, Edwards-Davey and White-Stanton. And if any Bomber wants to put his hand up for Cousins, that would be nice.

It was a strange contest in that both teams had periods of dominance.

The Tigers seized the game during the second quarter with five unanswered goals - two from Riewoldt, one each from Nathan Brown - who, if he was a horse, would be better for the run - and Deledio and Matthew White.

The Bombers responded with four of their own on the trot late into the second and early third quarters. Daniel Jackson broke the run at the fifth minute of the third quarter with a goal, but the Tigers missed their next four shots: Riewoldt from the near point post, Mitch Morton from a mark, Jackson from a stoppage and Morton with a rushed effort from 48m.

Scoreboard pressure - David Parkin coined it, and the Tigers muffed it.

A potential four-goal lead was lost as the irrepressible Andrew Lovett kicked two goals in three minutes against Jake King, who seemed to relish a midfield role on Lovett but not a small backman's role on Lovett.

The Tigers kicked the next three goals - two from midfield clearances from King, the other a tackle from Riewoldt on Courtenay Dempsey.

It was Riewoldt's time to shine.

He also kicked the first goal of the last quarter to make it 18 points and dished off to Jayden Post for another three minutes later. At that point the Tigers led by 23 points.

Then it was Essendon's turn to choke in front of goal.

Brent Stanton missed from 20m, Mark McVeigh from 40m - one or both were desperately needed - and at the 21st minute the teams were still four goals apart.

The thrilling end came about because Essendon, panicked into activity, took the game on and kicked three goals in seven minutes.

"There was a lot we did wrong late in the game . . . it shouldn't have got down to five points," Rawlings said.

Knights felt "the most disappointing part about it all was that we didn't play our brand of football until the game was gone".

Is there a book called Missed Opportunity?

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25837273-19742,00.html

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Deledio, Tigers turn it around
Michael Gleeson | July 27, 2009

THIS was a Richmond victory in part conceived in the loss to St Kilda. It was that game that altered the season of the Tigers' current Jack Dyer medallist Brett Deledio such that yesterday's win would have been unlikely without him.

It may even prove to be the watershed game of the talented Tiger's career.

Brett Deledio, the 2004 No. 1 draft pick, was playing football this year as he always had, which was, in part, the problem — he hadn't grown up. He was playing the game on his terms and cared not for opponents. After the St Kilda loss he was told not only by the coaches but, importantly, by the entire leadership group that those days were over. Come the Tuesday meeting he was out of the team.

A reprieve was to come by Thursday night but only after the message was delivered that his days of playing loose behind the ball and without an opponent were over. He was put in the middle of the ground and made to run with the opposition's best player. That meant he has since been opposed to Bryce Gibbs and Chris Judd, Leigh Harding and, yesterday, Andrew Welsh.

The impact has been dramatic not only on Deledio's game but on Richmond. Half his 26 possessions yesterday were contested and he had a game-high seven tackles. These are the figures of a player working hard for the ball when he doesn't have it, not waiting to be given it.

"He has not played holistic footy [before] as he has in the last three weeks. We put it pretty squarely to him before the Crows game up on the Gold Coast that he needed to lift in a couple of areas. As a leader and as a player he has taken that on board and he has been our most consistent player since," Tiger caretaker coach Jade Rawlings said of the showdown with the club's talented but flawed star.

Deledio would have known that Rawlings would be good to his word — not for nothing had the coach already earned the nickname "Jade the Blade".

"He is winning some big ball now, he doesn't rely on people having to get it to him all the time. To win it himself he will earn the respect of his teammates and hopefully the greater football community," Rawlings said.

"We just told him he was going to be wearing a Coburg jumper — that was basically where it was at for him before the Adelaide game.

"I think emphatically over three weeks he [has changed] — he is a serious player now because he is so much more well rounded.

"He is consistent, we can rely on him. We will keep putting him on the ball and on the best players. We keep exposing him to the best players. People say, 'Where is he best suited, is he a forward, is he a mid?' Well, we are going to find out fairly and squarely and play him in the midfield for the rest of the year."

Deledio yesterday said he was unaware how loose he was regarded and how dire his place in the side had become until confronted.

"I was just going out there and playing my own game because that is what you grow up doing — just run around by yourself pretty much — so it is being aware where my opponent is all the time and trying to stop them getting possessions," Deledio said. "It is a surprising thing, footy, if you are doing the defensive work things seem to work out for you offensively."

Which was precisely how things worked out for Richmond yesterday. The Tigers won this game with the defensive work they applied to Essendon, halting the Essendon run through the corridor, blocking the Bombers' run by corralling them with the ball.

Forward they had the stronger, more threatening options with Jack Riewoldt kicking six and Mitch Morton and Robin Nahas flighty but proving a handful for the Bombers. Jayden Post also showed scope for being a player.

It was a contrast to Essendon, whose captain Matthew Lloyd was so restricted by a heel injury that he took until late in the second term to get his first kick — in defence — and was on the bench for the last term. Scott Lucas rarely looked dangerous, Mark McVeigh had a corked thigh and tried to conjure something from a forward pocket to little avail. Angus Monfries was quiet.

The difference was not only Riewoldt's six goals but the midfield contrast where Ben Cousins reprised his finer moments and illuminated the difference in ball use between himself and the rest of those on the ground, save for Trent Cotchin whose second quarter, in particular, was phenomenal.

After last week sacrificing a supposedly commanding lead against North nothing was assured by Richmond taking a 23-point lead as late as the 21-minute mark of the final term. But the dogged Tigers held on.

RICHMOND 3.2 8.4 12.9 15.11 (101)
ESSENDON 2.5 5.6 10.9 14.12 (96)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Post 2, Morton 2, Deledio, Jackson, King, White, Brown.
Essendon: Lovett 2, Reimers 2, Ryder 2, Lucas 2, McPhee, Stanton, Dempsey, Winderlich, McVeigh, Dyson.

BEST
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cousins, Cotchin, Deledio, Newman, Jackson, King, Polo.
Essendon: Fletcher, Prismall, Winderlich, Lovett, Slattery, Ryder.

INJURIES Richmond: Silvester (knee). Essendon: Davey (leg), Watson (corked thigh), Lloyd (heel), McVeigh (corked thigh).

UMPIRES Donlon, Hendrie, McBurney.

CROWD 47,412 at MCG.

MAIN MEN
Jack Riewoldt booted six goals, Ben Cousins played like a player who had won a Brownlow, Trent Cotchin like a player who will win one and Brett Deledio like a player now playing the game aware that he has an opponent.

TURNING POINT
Was it when the third-shortest man on the ground, Shane Edwards, took the game-saving mark in a pack in defence with only a minute to go and Essendon charging? Or was it when Kyle Reimers dropped an uncontested mark 30 metres out directly in front with three minutes to go? Perhaps it was when Matthew Lloyd injured his heel or when Mark McVeigh, with a corked thigh, missed his set shot. Not much went right for Essendon.

THE UPSHOT
This was not just a win for Richmond, it was a win for Hawthorn. Essendon losing — and Port, for that matter — was a big boost for Hawthorn's finals hopes, which after its performance on Saturday was enough to send a shiver through eight other sides above it.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfmatchreport/deledio-tigers-turn-it-around/2009/07/26/1248546629301.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1