Media articles and stats: Tigers fall short to Freo

[one-eyed]

Tenacious Tigers fall short
By Nathan Schmook
10:44PM Sun 04 Mar, 2012

FREMANTLE    0.2.4    0.6.6    1.8.10    1.14.12 (105)
RICHMOND       0.3.0    0.5.2    0.7.4       0.10.7 (67)

GOALS
Fremantle: Broughton (supergoal); Bradley (3), Pitt (3), Mellington (2), Fyfe, Broughton, Mayne, de Boer, Ballantyne, Mzungu
Richmond: Riewoldt (2), Nahas (2), Miller, Vickery, Elton, Derickx, Connors, A. Maric

BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Bradley, Mzungu, Broughton, Pearce, Ballantyne
Richmond: Martin, Ivan Maric, Riewoldt, Tuck, Addam Maric, Webberley

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Law, Ritchie and Bannister

Official crowd: 7,294 at Patersons Stadium

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A DOGGED Richmond fell short of a big NAB Cup upset against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Sunday afternoon, going down by 38 points.

For full match replays 12 hours after the game, go to AFL VIDEOS under the screen

Despite missing captain Matthew Pavlich and star ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who was a late withdrawal after pulling up sore in the warm-up, Fremantle kicked the last five goals of the game to win 1.14.12 (105) to 0.10.7 (67).

Young midfielder Nat Fyfe was brilliant for the home team, finishing with 25 disposals (14 contested) and one goal in a sign that he could join the AFL's elite this season.

The 20-year-old was instrumental in the third quarter when Fremantle built a 21-point lead, winning 10 possessions for the term before being subbed out of the game at the final change.   

While Fremantle entered the match without its two best players, Richmond also made a point of protecting its top end talent, with midfielder Trent Cotchin and star half-back Brett Deledio rested for the trip west.

Coach Damien Hardwick also removed midfielder Dustin Martin at half-time after the gun youngster won 16 possessions (eight contested) in a brilliant start to the match.

The 20-year-old was still the Tigers' leading possession winner at three-quarter time - alongside Shane Tuck - and was arguably his side's best contributor.

Without its two best on-ballers, and with ruckman Ivan Maric also subbed out of the game at half-time after a strong start, the Tigers lost control of the midfield in the third quarter.

The visitors mounted a brief rally in the final quarter to pull the margin back to seven points, with Daniel Connors, Jeromey Webberley and Melbourne recruit Addam Maric all influential. 

Fremantle entered the match without injured midfield trio David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Anthony Morabito, and coach Ross Lyon chose not to take any risks with Sandilands after he pulled up sore in the warm up.

Given opportunities, young forward Josh Mellington (17 disposals and two goals), Jayden Pitt (three goals) and Clancee Pearce (25 disposals) were solid contributors for the home team.

Richmond also subbed key forward Jack Riewoldt out of the match in the second half after he kicked two goals in a bright start.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/130005/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals        269 - 376
Kicks              159 - 208       
Handballs        110 - 168
Marks               60 - 93
Hitouts             26 - 30
Tackles             48 - 59
Frees                19 - 29
Inside 50s         33 - 49

Individual Stats

Player Name               K   H   D    M   HO  T  FF  FA SG G   B   DT
Brandon Ellis             12   7   19   3     0   0   0   0   0   0   0   59
Shane Tuck               10   9   19   2     1   3   2   2   0   0   0   63
Jeromey Webberley  13   4   17   6     0   2   1   1   0   0   0   71
Shane Edwards         10   6   16   1     0   9   1   3   0   0   0   73
Dustin Martin            11   5   16   2     0   2   1   0   0   0   0   58
Steven Morris             6   8   14   1     0   3   2   1   0   0   0   48
Jayden Post                8   6   14   4     0   1   2   0   0   0   0   54
Jake King                    4   7   11   4     0   2   0   3   0   0   0   37
Brad J. Miller               8   3   11   6     1   2   2   3   0   1   1   57
Matthew Arnot           3   7   10   1     0   0   0   1   0   0   0   23
Jake Batchelor           8   2   10   4     0   2   0   1   0   0   1   46
Addam Maric              8   2   10   2     0   0   0   0   0   1   0   40
Jack Riewoldt             5   5   10   4     1   1   0   0   0   2   0   54
Luke McGuane           2   7     9   1     0   0   0   2   0   0   0   17
Matt White                 9   0     9   1     0   2   1   1   0   0   0   36
Daniel Connors           4   4     8   1     0   2   0   0   0   1   1   38
Brad Helbig                3   5     8   4     0   3   0   0   0   0   1   44
Bachar Houli              6   1     7   2     0   1   1   0   0   0   0   31
Ivan Maric                 5   2     7   2   13   1   0   1   0   0   0   39
Matt Dea                   4   2     6   1     0   0   0   0   0   0   0   19
Robin Nahas              4   2     6   1     0   5   0   1   0   2   1   49
Chris Newman           4   2     6   2     0   1   0   0   0   0   0   26
Alex Rance                4   2     6   0     0   3   4   1   0   0   0   29
Tom Derickx              3   2     5   1   10   1   2   4   0   1   0   26
Tyrone Vickery          3   2     5   3     0   0   0   0   0   1   0   28
Steven Verrier           0   4     4   0     0   0   0   1   0   0   0     5
Todd Elton                1   2     3   1     0   0   0   0   0   1   0   16
Piva Wright               1   1     2   0     0   1   0   0   0   0   0     9
Brett O'Hanlon          0   1     1   0     0   1   0   1   0   0   0     3

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/18551/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7884&tab=Stats

[Coach]

fair dinkum

[dwaino]

Tackles             48 - 59
Frees                19 - 29

First one, the difference is too great. As the losing side by 38 we should of had a few more.

Second one shows how stupid Nob cup is. Just have to crash a player when the footy is on the ground and you get pinged.

[Willy]

I thought we were very stiff with the umps agaisnt the roos last week, but i think we were just clumsy and reckless around the contests tonight. Most of the frees were there.

[tony_montana]

We give away too many dumb unnecessary free kicks at stoppages giving our opponents free clearances. Been a problem a for a while. I don't mind occasional aggressive frees at the contest, but lots are illegal she Harding pushing just on the periphery of the contest. Stupid

[one-eyed]

Late goal barrage seals 38 point win for Fremantle against Richmond

    by: Braden Quartermaine
    From: Herald Sun
    March 05, 2012

RICHMOND began brightly but fell away after pulling its stars out at halftime in last night's 38-point NAB Cup defeat to Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.

Fremantle left out champion veterans Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands but Nat Fyfe shone with 25 disposals before taking an early cut at the final change.

The loss ended any hope of the Tigers progressing to the NAB Cup grand final, with Richmond to face Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Saturday before a yet-to-be scheduled Round 4 pre-season fixture.

But it was difficult to read much into the Richmond showing, with no Tiger reaching the 20-disposal mark as Damien Hardwick took the chance to share game time around and test a host of youngsters.

Dustin Martin was impressive in a Tigers midfield that was missing Trent Cotchin and Daniel Jackson, before being pulled out of the game at halftime with 16 touches to his name.

Forward Jack Riewoldt, who kicked two goals, and skipper Chris Newman also completed just the first half of the contest.

Tigers big man Tyrone Vickery copped a bad cork in a shepherd from Docker Zac Dawson in the first term, but returned in the second quarter and booted the Tigers' fourth major.

Riewoldt's second goal, a beauty of a set shot from a tough angle four minutes into the second stanza, saw Richmond open up a 14-point lead.

There would be a long wait for the next major though, with the visitors going goalless until the 17-minute mark of the third quarter when teenage big man Todd Elton converted from a set shot.

The Dockers had added six goals in the meantime as they began to get reward for their advantage in forward entries.

Richmond got back to within a couple of goals before a Greg Broughton supergoal just before three-quarter time restored a comfortable buffer for the Dockers.

The Tigers were within a goal 10 minutes

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/late-goal-barrage-seals-38-point-win-for-fremantle-against-richmond/story-e6frf9jf-1226288844429

[one-eyed]

Dockers finish over top of Tigers
Tim Clarke, Perth
March 5, 2012



ON SATURDAY it was a packed house in Wangaratta, and no game to entertain. On Sunday in Perth, Richmond and Fremantle both turned up, but the crowds didn't, as the Tigers gave up any meaningful part of the NAB Cup but showed some encouraging signs.

In front of just more than 7000 fans at Patersons Stadium, Fremantle won out 1.14.12 (105) to 0.10.7 (67), to complete a NAB Cup round beset by more injuries and much less focus on the results than preparation.

With Dockers stars Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich rested from the outset, and Richmond's stars rested after half-time, only true enthusiasts for the game and the clubs will remember - or care - about the result.

But the clash nevertheless illustrated that Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Ivan Maric will be Tigers' prime movers this year - with the young Tiger and the old Crow both drawing the eye.

If Richmond's Martin epitomises the 21st-century footballer - swagger, silk, steel and ink - then Maric is a 1970s throwback.

Built like a wardrobe, and with a running style which makes him appear to move like one at times, the ex-Crow already seems to have added more grunt to the Richmond engine room - and not just with his agricultural hairstyle.

His battle with Jonathan Griffin, and admirable work around the ground, showed that his acquisition may be key to take Tigers fans back to the halcyon days.

Fremantle was without its dynamic duo, who were nominally rested and withdrawn late despite both appearing on the official team sheet.

If those absences showed a lack of interest or just pre-season precaution from coach Ross Lyon, the feelings were matched by the Perth public, who stayed away.

And the stay-aways were not confined to WA people and players, with Trent Cotchin, Nathan Foley, Shaun Grigg, Daniel Jackson, Dylan Grimes, Reece Conca and Brett Deledio all missing for the visitors.

Given the low-key feel, the first half was satisfyingly willing from both sides, with Martin and Nat Fyfe the smooth dominators.

Trailing by 10 points at half-time, the value of the result of Richmond was illustrated with the withdrawal of Riewoldt, Martin, Chris Newman and Maric.

Jake King's rousing address to lead his team out for the second half in the absence of his skipper could do nothing to stop the marauding Fyfe.

The Dockers streamed clear late to win by 38 points.

http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/dockers-finish-over-top-of-tigers-20120304-1ubei.html#ixzz1oAbufOgf

[Smokey]

I thought we were very stiff with the umps agaisnt the roos last week, but i think we were just clumsy and reckless around the contests tonight. Most of the frees were there.

The one against Rance when he executed a perfect spoil near the boundary line was a shocker.