Media articles: Hawthorn disposes easily of Tigers

[one-eyed]

Hawthorn easily disposes of Tigers
By Adam McNicol
10:00pm Fri 04 Mar, 2011


HAWTHORN               3.5       8.10    10.13  12.17 (89)
RICHMOND                2.1       4.3       6.5       7.6 (48)
 
GOALS
Hawthorn: Osborne 3, Franklin 2, Roughead 2, Hale, Savage, Shiels, Young, Mitchell
Richmond: Vickery 2, Cotchin, Morton, Graham, Nahas, Miller

BEST
Hawthorn: Rioli, Osborne, Roughead, Hale, Mitchell, Cheney, Shiels
Richmond: Cotchin, Martin, Vickery, Conca, Graham, Foley

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Farmer (ankle), McGuane (concussion)
 
Reports: Nil

Official crowd: 6,108 approx. at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton

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HAWTHORN has continued its impressive pre-season by easily accounting for Richmond by 41 points in a spirited NAB Challenge match in Shepparton on Friday night.

A crowd of 6,000 packed into Deakin Reserve and watched Hawks dynamo Cyril Rioli put on a superb show in the midfield.

Rioli more than ably filled in for missing teammates Luke Hodge, Chance Bateman, Shaun Burgoyne and Jordan Lewis as his team prevailed 12.17 (89) to 7.6 (48).

Hawthorn's Michael Osborne booted three goals, while Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead chipped in with two each.

Recruits David Hale, Cameron Bruce and Kyle Cheney were all impressive contributors for the Hawks. Hale booted a goal and took a number of strong marks up forward.

"In the last half, [Franklin and Roughead] were just rotating on and off," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson explained after the final siren.

"Both of them weren't on the ground together at any stage. We tried Hale and [Brent] Renouf up forward a little bit more tonight. This period is really about trialling a few things and seeing how they go.

"Probably the most pleasing thing is when you get through these games reasonably unscathed.

"We didn't get any injuries, but we got a lot of good game-time into our players."

Trent Cotchin was clearly Richmond's best while the club's first pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft, Reece Conca, found plenty of the ball during stints in the middle of the ground.

Fresh from booting five goals against Port Adelaide last weekend, Tigers big man Tyrone Vickery bobbed up again with two majors, while former Carlton onballer Shaun Grigg gave his new team some grunt around the stoppages.

"I thought Ty was terrific - probably one of our better players again tonight," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"He looks damaging up forward, quite capable of taking a mark, and was composed at ground level as well."

Forgotten midfielder Nathan Foley, who has been sidelined for the best part of two years by a chronic ankle injury, was also a solid performer.

Brett Deledio spent time floating across half-back in his first game of the pre-season, but had little impact on the contest.

Another downside for Richmond was an ankle injury suffered by Mitch Farmer. The defender went down late in the first quarter, then aggravated the problem early in the next term and finished the game on crutches.

"We lost Mitch early then we lost Lukey McGuane with a little bit of concussion as well, which probably wasn't a great start for us," Hardwick said.

"But I'm pretty sure they'll both be fine for the next couple of weeks."

The Hawks dominated the opening stages of the match as the blustery conditions proved too much for Richmond to overcome.

It took the Tigers 12 minutes to record their first inside-50, and if not for Cotchin they would have trailed by far more than 10 points at the opening change.

Hardwick's team, which was missing reigning Coleman Medalist Jack Riewoldt and skipper Chris Newman, narrowed the margin to under a goal when Vickery started the second quarter with a strong mark and a straight kick.

However, Hawthorn pulled away thanks to the creative play of Osborne and Rioli and by half-time the difference had blown out to 31 points.

"[Rioli's] had a really good summer and a great block of training," Clarkson said. "Hopefully he can take some of that early season form into the early rounds."

The intensity dropped off in the second half, with Hawthorn looking in far superior shape than the Tigers as round one looms.

"We were really, really poor in the first half," Hardwick admitted. "I thought we were really, really flat.

"We gave them a slight bake at half-time and I think they came out and showed a little bit.

"We've got a bit of work to do. We gave the ball back far too easily at times."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/108793/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Rioli leads Hawks past Richmond
WWOS-ninemsn
22:46 AEST Fri Mar 4 2011


Cyril Rioli has led a slick Hawthorn past Richmond by 41 points in their AFL practice match at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton on Friday night.

The Hawks should have won by far more, having 24 more entries inside their forward 50m and 16 more scoring shots than the Tigers, but only managing a 12.17 (89) to 7.6 (48) victory.

Led by Rioli, the Hawks were never headed after opening up a 15-point buffer in the first term.

The premiership star won plenty of the ball playing through the midfield in the absence of some of the Hawk regulars such as new skipper Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne and Jordan Lewis.

Rioli was also menacing when up forward, forcing the Tigers' defence into many turnovers through his pressure and tackling.

Coach Alistair Clarkson rested Rioli in the last quarter due to his heavy schedule of game time during the pre-season.

"(Rioli) has had a really good summer and a good block of training," Clarkson said.

"He has played in a number of roles from halfback to midfield to a little bit of time up forward."

Clarkson was pleased to get through the game with no injuries.

"It was good to get through the game and get our preparations ready for a fierce battle with the Crows away in round one," he said.

"Our conversion rate was not so flash considering we had plenty of inside 50s.

"We didn't convert as well as we would have liked, but we will go away and do some work on it this week."

The premiership coach added it was a solid four-quarter effort from his players.

The Hawks' superior skills by foot and hand through the likes of former skipper Sam Mitchell, Clinton Young, Brad Sewell, Michael Osborne and Rioli allowed them to open up a 10 point advantage at the first change.

Stand in Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Robin Nahas, Alex Rance and Tyrone Vickery (two goals) tried to keep their team in the contest, but the margin had blown out to 31 points by the long break.

Hawthorn kicked away to a game high of 43 points early in the third quarter before the sting eventually went out of the game in the last quarter.

Richmond hope to regain skipper Chris Newman for next week's game, missing the game with hamstring tightness.

Hawthorn's Michael Osborne booted three goals, while Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead chipped in with two each.

Recruits David Hale, Cameron Bruce and Kyle Cheney were all impressive contributors for the Hawks.

Hale booted a goal and took a number of strong marks up forward.

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8219894

[one-eyed]

Cyril Rioli leads Hawks past Richmond

    * Sam Edmund
    * From: Herald Sun
    * March 04, 2011 11:03PM


THE absence of a few names on the Hawthorn team sheet meant he had to play there.

But should history ever repeat this year, Cyril Rioli revelling in a permanent midfield role will be the definition of a blessing in disguise.

The little master lit up Shepparton's Deakin Reserve last night in the Hawks' comfortable 41-point win over Richmond.

With skipper Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne, Jordan Lewis and Chance Bateman all staying behind in Melbourne, coach Alastair Clarkson deployed Rioli in the middle of the country ground.

Supremely fit and moving freely, he responded by putting on a clinic that had the 6100-strong crowd gasping.

Robin Nahas went to his side in a bid to shut him down, but to little effect.

Rioli's pace and skill going forward simply overwhelmed the Tigers.

...

Richmond played with endeavour, but in a familiar story, turned the ball over by hand and foot in critical areas of the ground.

The Hawks were clean and for the most part, moved the ball quickly and directly.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/cyril-rioli-leads-hawks-past-richmond/story-e6frf9jf-1226016171737

[tiger till i die]

brace ur selves tiger fans for this is only the beginning

[mightytiges]

I think most people realistically expect us to finish bottom 4 this year with our list. We along with the Eagles are arguably the worst sides as far as skills and class  .

Richmond hope to regain skipper Chris Newman for next week's game, missing the game with hamstring tightness.

That's two weeks in a row Newy has missed due to hammy "tightness" .