Media articles and stats: Tiger Jack's eight buries Saints

[one-eyed]

Jack's eight buries Saints
By Mark Macgugan
afl.com.au
10:22 PM Fri 01 Jun, 2012


RICHMOND    3.7    9.8    12.11    18.13 (121)
ST KILDA       3.4    9.6    10.14    16.17 (113)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 8, Edwards 2, Nahas 2, Deledio, Tuck, I. Maric, Martin, Vickery, Ellis
St Kilda: Saad 3, Riewoldt 3, Armitage 2, Milera 2, Gram 2, Goddard, Dal Santo, Koschitzke, Milne
 
BEST
Richmond: Riewoldt, Deledio, Nahas, I. Maric, Cotchin, Grigg, Newman, Tuck
St Kilda: Armitage, Saad, Gram, Riewoldt, Goddard, Montagna
 
INJURIES
Richmond: Foley (bruised heel)
St Kilda: Cripps (hamstring)
 
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Addam Maric replaced Nathan Foley in the fourth quarter
St Kilda: Arryn Siposs replaced Jamie Cripps in the third quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Stevic, Hay, Meredith
 
Official crowd: 49,337 at Etihad Stadium

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RICHMOND has overcome a last-quarter St Kilda surge to score a drought-breaking eight-point win in a finals-like contest at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Over 49,000 people watched the Tigers squander a 20-point fourth-quarter lead before recovering to squeeze home 18.13 (121) to 16.17 (113).

It was Richmond's first victory over St Kilda for more than nine years, snapping a 14-game run against the Saints. Richmond's last win over the Saints came in round four of 2003, a span of 3329 days.

In his 100th career game, Jack Riewoldt booted eight goals in a best-on-ground performance for the winners, including three in a pulsating final quarter that saw the lead change four times.

Riewoldt now has 30 goals for the season, overtaking Geelong's Tom Hawkins at the front of the Coleman Medal race.

Star midfielders Brett Deledio (29 disposals), Trent Cotchin (28) and Dustin Martin (26) were prolific for the Tigers, and livewire Robin Nahas produced a superb eight-possession, two-goal third quarter that helped extend a two-point half-time lead to an equal game-high 20 points midway through that term.

Saints captain Nick Riewoldt kicked three goals for the losers, taking the family tally for the night to 11 after the cousins squared off in the pre-game coin toss.

First-year small forward Ahmed Saad also booted three goals for St Kilda.

David Armitage was a solid four-quarter contributor, gathering 22 possessions and booting two goals.

Brendon Goddard picked up a team-high 26 touches in a typically creative display across half-back.

Richmond looked home when it booted the opening two goals of the final quarter to take a 20-point lead at the seven-minute mark, but the Saints answered with the next four to snatch the advantage.

Enter Jack Riewoldt.

Goalless since half-time, he kicked the next two for Richmond and, after Brandon Ellis chipped in with one of his own, the full forward fittingly booted the sealing goal with only minutes remaining.

"You love playing for this footy club for moments like that," Riewoldt said post-match.

"There were so many people that came to the game tonight that bleed yellow and black, that are passionate supporters, and to win a game on the big stage, Friday night footy, with a lot of people watching, is important for this group and the way we're going to develop in our maturity.

"We're very proud of the way we played."

St Kilda coach Scott Watters said the free-flowing nature of the match suited the Tigers.

"Defensively we would have liked to probably force the game into stoppage more than we did," he said.

"It was a game of circle work which probably played into their hands more than ours."

Both sides now sit at 5-5 for the season.

The crowd of 49,337 fell just short of the record for a match between the two teams at Etihad Stadium of 49,580, set in round five, 2005.

It was the largest AFL crowd at the venue so far this season, befitting of the high-quality contest.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/137486/default.aspx

[tigs2011]

stuffing Junk Time Jack 

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals            415 - 354
Efficiency%          77 - 70
Kicks                 209 - 200   
Handballs           206 - 154   
Con. Possies       145 - 139
Uncon. Possies    271 - 214
Marks                 87 - 84   
Con. Marks          13 - 12   
Uncon. Marks       74 - 72
Tackles               40 - 55
Clearances           34 - 35   
Clangers              45 - 41
Frees                  16 - 21
Hitouts                43 - 12 ......... ( I.Maric 33, Vickery 7 // Koschitzke 7, Blake 4 )    
Inside 50s            50 - 58   
Rebound 50s         33 - 26
Assists                 13 - 9   
1%ers                  51 - 41
Supercoach       1766 - 1535
Dreamteam        1575 - 1477     

Individual Stats

PLAYER              D      K      H     CP     DE%   M   CM   T   CL   FF  FA I50 R50   G   B   GA   SC

T.Cotchin           29    14    15    11      62%    1    0    6    7    0    1    5    0    0    1    0    106
B.Deledio            29    16    13    10      69%    6    1    1    3    0    1    8    3    1    2    2    114
S.Grigg               26    14    12      6      85%    9    0    2    3    0    1    6    1    0    0    2      97
D.Martin             26    12    14    15      73%    0    0    0    5    0    0    3    1    1    2    0      91
S.Tuck               24      9    15      8      79%    3    1    2    3    0    0    2    0    1    0    0      84
J.Batchelor         22    12    10      5      73%    5    1    4    2    0    0    2    3    0    0    0      85
N.Foley              20      8    12      4      80%    3    0    0    2    0    0    1    3    0    1    1      66
I.Maric               20      8    12      8      70%    7    1    4    3    4    4    2    1    1    0    1    111
S.Morris             20    11      9      4      85%    4    0    0    1    0    0    0    3    0    0    0      60
J.Riewoldt           20    15      5    11      75%    9    4    3    0    2    0    2    0    8    3    1    187
R.Conca             19      9    10      6      95%    3    0    1    0    0    1    2    0    0    0    0      69
C.Newman          19    15      4      7      79%    6    2    2    1    2    0    0    5    0    0    0      93
S.Edwards          18      6    12      8      78%    2    0    1    1    1    0    0    0    2    0    0      82
R.Nahas             18      8    10    11      56%    2    0    4    0    3    2    3    0    2    1    2      93
A.Rance             18      9      9      5      94%    6    0    1    0    1    5    2    3    0    0    0      67
B.Ellis                16      8      8      3      75%    3    1    0    1    0    1    2    3    1    1    0      68
T.Vickery           16      9      7      5      56%    3    0    0    0    1    1    1    1    1    0    0      55
B.Houli               15      8      7      3      87%    4    0    2    1    2    0    1    4    0    0    0      56
D.Jackson           15      7      8      6      67%    3    0    3    1    0    2    4    0    0    0    2      55
J.King                11      5      6      4      82%    5    0    1    0    0    2    1    1    0    0    1      48
B.Griffiths           10      3      7      5    100%    2    2    1    0    0    0    1    1    0    0    0      51
A.Maric               4      3      1      0      75%    1    0    2    0    0    0    2    0    0    0    1      28

http://live-footy.heraldsun.com.au/StatsCentre/Index/20121020120141001
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/16931/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7741&tab=Stats&view=text

[one-eyed]

Five talking points: Richmond v St Kilda
By Luke Holmesby
10:33 PM Fri 01 Jun, 2012


1. Contenders
At certain times, even as recently as a month ago, scheduling St Kilda and Richmond on Friday night footy may have seemed like putting on an underwhelming contest on the sport's biggest stage. But after St Kilda's solid wins over the Sydney Swans and Carlton and Richmond's building form, this was quickly built up to be the game of the round, and neither side disappointed. In a high-scoring, high-intensity game where the lead changed several times in the last quarter, the Tigers and Saints both came away with plenty of positive signs. Richmond's young team proved for a second consecutive week that it rightfully has finals aspirations, while the Saints' slide after several years at the top of the ladder may have to wait.

2. The streak
Richmond hadn't beaten St Kilda in a home and away game since April 21, 2003, exactly 3329 days ago. That Easter Monday clash resulted in an inspiring win to the Danny Frawley-coached Tigers, and was followed by Saints coach Grant Thomas declaring his team was the better of the two despite the loss. Thomas may have been on to something, as the Saints won their next 13 between the sides before a draw last year.

3. Goal for goal
It is no secret that in past years St Kilda has had a tendency to bring games back to a low-scoring contest, while the Tigers often struggled to generate any action on the scoreboard. But the new eras for both clubs were evident in the second quarter when each team kicked six goals. They were often kicked in quick response to each other, with five occasions where two goals were kicked in two minutes. They kicked another six each in a frenetic final quarter where the lead changed four times in five minutes.

4. Big is best
St Kilda's lack of height was a problem widely acknowledged before the game as Rhys Stanley and Ben McEvoy recover from injury. Jason Blake had his work cut out for him as the number one ruckman against the in-form Ivan Maric. Maric was one of three Richmond players standing at 200cm (Ty Vickery and Ben Griffiths the other two) while the Saints three tallest were Justin Koschitzke (197cm), Sam Gilbert (194) and Nick Riewoldt (193).

5. Getting the footy
Most key performance indicators were pretty much even between the two teams except the fact that Richmond simply had more of the football. The Tigers had 57 more touches than the Saints, with its ability to spread from a contest evident in the uncontested possession discrepancy. Again the Tigers had 57 more uncontested possessions than the Saints, with Shaun Grigg the main Tiger able to get off the chain. Grigg had 21 uncontested possessions, while Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin managed 18 each.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/137487/default.aspx

[one-eyed]

Richmond never says die to outlast St Kilda

    Jon Ralph
    From: Herald Sun
    June 02, 2012

JACK Riewoldt was born to strut the prime time stage.

Last night, after a contest of such pulsating quality it might be the match of the year, his Tiger teammates decided they belonged there too.

Riewoldt's eight goals were the centrepiece of Richmond's coming-out party as an AFL contender.

They know they have arrived because last night they triumphed against another worthy rival, a St Kilda side full of resilience, heart and bravery.

Twice last night the Tigers surged to a 20-point lead, then watched that buffer evaporate in a heartbeat.

But Richmond's Riewoldt, a five-goal hero to halftime then shut out in the third term, returned to deliver the killer blow.

St Kilda was everything we know it to be: tough and determined and simply unwilling to concede this extraordinary game was over.

Last night's game, though, was about Richmond testing itself against the extraordinary hype of the past few weeks.

By game's end, as the final siren brought a roar that fairly lifted the Etihad Stadium roof off, that test had been passed on every front.

Ross Lyon certainly wouldn't have approved, but this was a frenetic, entertaining game of the highest quality.

Both sides took turns to dominate periods of the first half, as the two Riewoldt cousins put on a show.

Nick was his usual relentless self, his precise leads and endurance keeping St Kilda in the hunt.

Jack was doing it all - setting up goals with quick leads and sure hands, and hauling in a contender to rival Jeremy Howe's clubhouse leader for mark of the year.

Richmond had the first half of the game on its terms, as it has so often in recent weeks.

Ivan Maric was again a rucking monster, and with Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin burning through the midfield the Tigers held sway.

Yet Nick Riewoldt had willing apprentices in ground level crumbers Ahmed Saad (three goals, a handful of assists) Terry Milera (two goals) and Stephen Milne (a wayward 1.4).

Just like so many teams coached by Lyon, they found a way back into the contest at halftime against the odds.

Then a game that was already running at a frenetic pace just turned crazy good.

The momentum changes came thick and fast. Richmond surged from halftime, with Maric in everything. He lumbered forward to mark and goal, then after another mark he set Robin Nahas loose to goal on the run.

The Tigers were 20 points up. Surely this was the contest done and dusted. Yet 15 minutes later St Kilda was not just hanging on, but had dominated the second half of the quarter.

It was no miracle, just the relentless grinding rhythm of Lenny Hayes' work in close and Riewoldt's hard run opening space for Saad and Milne.

Jack Riewoldt was finally shut down by the ever-underestimated Jason Blake. Their reward, though, was Nick Riewoldt's solitary goal and five behinds.

At the 10 minute mark of the last term, the Tigers were again 20 up. Yet five minutes, and four St Kilda goals later, the lead had been snatched away.

They know they have arrived because last night they triumphed against another worthy rival, a St Kilda side full of resilience, heart and bravery.

This was judgment day: could Richmond self-destruct so completely?

Not this time, as Riewoldt kicked the last two goals and set up Brandon Ellis with the sealer.

Finally a losing streak against St Kilda lasting 13 defeats and a draw had been broken. But more importantly, a Richmond side that had teased and taunted and promised its supporters for so long had come of age.

FOUR POINTS with Rod Nicholson

1 Richmond dominated disposals with its high-possession style of play and had 221 disposals to St Kilda's 170 by halftime.

Although the Tigers had only eight more kicks, they had 43 more handballs. By full time it was seven more kicks, and 50 more handballs. All up they had 412 disposals to 355.

2 Frustration got the better of Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt in the third term when he was not awarded a free kick for being hurled out of a contest.

His verbal outburst cost him a 50m penalty and summed up his team's struggle with the ruthless Tigers, who were asserting their authority both physically and on the scoreboard. The Saints added 1.8 to 3.3 for the term.

3 Jack Riewoldt celebrated his 100th game with Richmond's first and last goal - as well as six more in between. Appropriately, Shane Tuck, playing his 150th game, joined in with the Tigers third of the match.

4 An interested spectator in the stands was Kevin Sheedy. The Greater Western Sydney coach was particularly keen to see Richmond, the Giants' opponent after next week's bye.

The former Tigers captain and premiership player would have been impressed - and concerned.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/richmond-never-says-die-to-outlast-st-kilda/story-e6frf9jf-1226380836392

[one-eyed]

Gritty Tigers hold off Saints
The Age
June 2, 2012

RICHMOND 3.7  9.8  12.11  18.13 (121)
ST KILDA  3.4  9.6  10.14  16.17 (113)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 8, Nahas 2, Edwards 2, Deledio, Ellis, Martin, I Maric, Tuck, Vickery
St Kilda: Saad 3, Riewoldt 3, Armitage 2, Gram 2, Milera 2, Goddard, Koschitzke, Dal Santo, Milne.

BEST
Richmond: Riewoldt, Maric, Cotchin,  Nahas, Deledio, Martin
St Kilda: Goddard, Armitage, Riewoldt, Saad, Gilbert

UMPIRES  Stevic, Meredith, Hay.
CROWD 49,337, at Etihad Stadium.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

NOT even the most sobering talk by Damien Hardwick will be able to contain the fervour at Punt Road now. Richmond last night prevailed over a persistent St Kilda in what was surely the most exhilarating match of 2012 to date and what will be seen as a coming of age for the long dormant Tigers.

In an extraordinary finish, the Tigers built a lead of 20 points early in the last quarter, only to surrender it, and then burst clear again following a brace of goals to Jack Riewoldt, who finished with eight, his final goal pushing the margin out to better than two goals. The Saints had responded on multiple occasions, and fought back, but they didn't have sufficient time for another surge.

At one point in the final term, the teams traded goals - and the lead. Jason Gram had put St Kilda ahead with a curling snap. Richmond hearts sank in the stands. Surely they couldn't blow this one? Richmond hadn't beaten the Saints in their 14 previous encounters.

But Riewoldt answered, out-marking Tom Simpkin one out. Then, Terry Milera snatched it back for the Saints, before Jumping Jack booted his seventh.

A Brandon Ellis goal opened the margin to two kicks. Immediately after that, Riewoldt found himself in an obscene amount of space by 2012 standards and ran in to an open goal, pausing for dramatic effect on the goal line, sending the yellow-and-black throng behind the goal into raptures that, doubtless, will continue for the remainder of the weekend, if not weeks.

The final term reflected the pattern of the entire match - of the Tigers establishing an ascendancy in both play and the scoreboard, only for the less explosive but more efficient Saints to surge and level the match.

But the Saints were always chasing. They were never the frontrunner, even though the match finished up statistically even and the Saints even won the inside 50 count 58-50. Their forward set up was potent, as Nick Riewoldt competed hard and allowed small forward Ahmed Saad (three goals), Milera and Stevie Milne to create goals on the deck.

The margin at each break was under a kick, but the Tigers opened up what seemed a decisive break in the third quarter. The catalyst wasn't Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Dustin Martin or even the mullet man Ivan Maric.

Slender small forward Robin Nahas booted two critical goals, a snap and a running shot, and created one for Maric from a long run in which he kept his poise, lowered his eyes and spotted the Mullet in space.

Maric was a major influence on the game, particularly in the first half, relishing the opportunity to dominate the ruck contests against undersized opponent Jason Blake.

This year, the key forward has found it harder than at any stage since the 1960s, due to the fact that the region they live in has become as congested as peak hour in Mumbai.

Both Riewoldts have been victim of overcrowding in their domain. Saint Nick, who relies on leading space, has found room scarce, while Tiger Jack, too, has found himself jumping against two or even three opponents; neither had quite delivered on what was expected.

Last night, the Riewoldts were finally afforded the kind of space that made it possible for them to thrive. Jack booted five of his eight goals in the opening half and was the beneficiary of a favourable match-up, being pitted to a kid on L plates in Tom Simpkin.

If the Tigers played with more enterprise and flair and were more willing to chance their arm, the corollary is that they were less efficient than the Saints, who scored a number of goals with what seemed to be ludicrous ease, especially in the second quarter. Often, it was their small forwards - Saad and Milne - who would find themselves in acres of space, goal side of their opponent.

Early in the match, Richmond squandered a significant edge in possession and play. The Tigers' two-point lead at quarter-time might have been a few goals but for St Kilda's efficiency in attack and their own profligacy. Even Jack Riewoldt, who would finish the half with five goals, botched a couple of chances for an opening term yield of 2.3.

It was a former St Kilda - and briefly Richmond - coach Allan Jeans who said that teams often began a game in the same manner that they finished the previous week. This was so for the Tigers, who opened with the same energy and run that they'd used in the second half against the Hawks.

Clint Jones had been able to subdue various gun midfielders this year - Marc Murphy was smothered to the point of invisibility - but the scrappy tagger wasn't up to the task of restraining Cotchin in the opening quarter, as Richmond's prospective young champ sliced through the Saints from the midfield during the first 15 minutes, by which stage he'd touched the leather nine times.

Shaun Grigg, was finding space and the ball in the first quarter, continuing his transformation from fringe midfielder at the Blues to a critical cog in an ascending team.

At the end, it was the Tigers who were rising. Finally.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/gritty-tigers-hold-off-saints-20120601-1znry.html#ixzz1wZ2WAKfr

[one-eyed]

Riewoldt shines as Tigers win game of season

    by: Courtney Walsh
    From: The Australian
    June 02, 2012

JACK Riewoldt glanced around while all at Etihad Stadium last night had their hearts in their mouths, took a couple of bounces and booted the ball as high and as far as he could into the stands.

And then the yellow and black army roared as loudly as it has at any stage in recent memory, for with Riewoldt's eighth, the Tigers had clinched a win most remarkable against St Kilda in what is the game of the season to date.

Yellow and black, they roared, and ended a run of 13 losses and a draw against the Saints dating back to 2003.

If Richmond's defeat of Hawthorn a week ago raised the hopes of success-starved Tiger fans, an eight-point win in a match Richmond had secured early in the last quarter only to have to win it again given a stunning St Kilda fightback will only inflame the hype.

This was a pulsating clash in which Riewoldt, with three last-quarter goals to add to the five he kicked in the opening half, emerged the hero. But it is his side that has confirmed itself a legitimate September challenger.

As it stands after last night, Richmond sits ninth just a week shy of the midway mark of the season. Cue the regular Richmond jokes, for ninth is a position frustratingly familiar to Tiger fans starved of finals action for the past three decades.

Yet on the strength of the past fortnight, Richmond will be in the eight when its turn for the bye comes in three weeks, given a home clash with Fremantle and an away stoush with Greater Western Sydney.

An away clash against Adelaide following the break is a difficult task, but following fixtures against Melbourne and the Gold Coast should see the Tigers entrenched in the eight by mid-July if they can maintain form.

When Dustin Martin kicked a magnificent goal from outside 50m to extend Richmond's margin to 20 points early in the last term, it looked the sealer.

St Kilda, though, retains the spirit that took it too successive grand finals in 2009 and 2010. David Armitage took a mark worthy of an Australian slips player directly in front, then Nick Riewoldt soared kicked another.

With the Tigers trembling, Reece Conca gave away a ridiculous free-kick behind play, which allowed the Saints to swing it to Jason Gram, who kicked a long-range goal from near the boundary.

When the ball spilled to Gram soon after, the Saints had kicked four goals in eight minutes to hit the front. Enter Richmond's Riewoldt with his sixth, before first-year Saint Terry Milera provided another rebuttal.

Somehow Riewoldt was again left free as the ball spilled to the Tigers, with his seventh reclaiming the lead again for Richmond with six minutes left.

If ever there was proof of how desperate Richmond was to get this win, it came a minute later when defenders Steven Morris and Alex Rance poleaxed each other trying to spoil Stephen Milne.

When Robin Nahas won a clutch possession and handballed to Riewoldt, who in turn found Bradon Ellis running into goal, the match finally looked the Tigers.

And then came Riewoldt's waltz to glory. Earlier, it was a case of the long and the short of it when Richmond broke the game open in the third term.

Nahas, who shared the status as the smallest on ground at 176cm, booted the first of the half when snapping one around the corner three minutes in.

Some seven minutes later he sizzled down the wing with five bounces before delivering perfectly to Ivan Maric, the equal-tallest Tiger, for another.

When Maric, the mullett-sporting ruckman, marked on the edge of the square soon after, it was Nahas sprinting past to put Richmond 20 points in front.

The Saints, who sit above the Tigers on percentage, continued to press with a goal to skipper Nick Riewoldt keeping them in touch at the final change.

The first half was a scintillating mix of fast ball movement, spectacular goals and marks of the highest order.

While Jack Riewoldt was awry early with his radar, by half-time he had notched five goals, one resulting directly from a mark where he soared high above Jason Blake to mark in the square. Richmond's Shane Edwards and Saint Ahmed Saad swapped soccered goals from mid-air for their second and third goals of the match respectively.

Elsewhere, Riewoldt's more decorated cousin, the Saintly Nick, kicked truely from outside 50m, while Brett Deledio swung the advantage back to Richmond on the brink of half-time when scoring from the edge of the centre square.

Through it all Maric stood tallest of all, both literally and figuratively. The Richmond ruck was always expected to dominate given St Kilda's injury woes robbed them of a recognised rival and dominate he did. By half-time Maric had notched 17 hit outs to St Kilda's four. He also had as many clearances as any other player on the ground.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/riewoldt-shines-as-tigers-win-game-of-season/story-e6frg7mf-1226381052487

[one-eyed]

Jumpin' Jack leads Tigers to victory over Saints
Bruce Matthews
Herald-Sun
June 1, 2012 10:34 PM

RICHMOND is the real deal. Any doubt was dispelled when the Tigers smashed a near decade-long jinx against St Kilda.

The tenacious Tigers hung on grimly to win by eight points in a stirring struggle at Etihad Stadium.

It was Richmond's first win over St Kilda since 2003, snapping a 13 game losing sequence that included 10 in a row at the Docklands.

Tigers spearhead Jack Riewoldt won't ever forget his 100th AFL game as he booted eight goals in a brilliant display.

His seventh on the run put Richmond back in front - the fourth lead change in the enthralling last quarter - and he cooly handballed over the top to a running Brandon Ellis a couple of minutes later who rammed it through from close range to stretch the buffer.

And just to put his final stamp on the contest, Riewoldt gathered a quick kick from Brett Deledio and strolled to almost the goalline to fire through the clincher.

It was a triumph to herald the arrival of the Tigers as a potential finalist as they had to withstand a desperate last quarter lunge for glory by the equally gallant Saints.

The third quarter reflected the trend of the game - Richmond used the run and carry to dominate early before St Kilda fought back to shut it down.

Goals to ruckman Ivan Maric and two from lively little forward Robin Nahas shot the Tigers to a 20 points lead early in the third term before Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt kept them in touch by converting after a falling mark.

It was anyone's game going into the last quarter with Richmond clinging to a nine-points buffer.

The lead swapped five times in the first half as the Tigers strived to break away and St Kilda tenaciously kept reeling them in.

Revved up Richmond controlled the ball for the first 10 minutes, but failed to hurt St Kilda on the scoreboard.

It was a pressure-packed contest with the "hot'' ball causing fumbles and miskicks from players on both teams.

That fierce desire to win possession or dispossess an opponent was emphasised by the costly turnovers - Richmond scored seven goals from them and St Kilda capitalised for five goals.

The Maric-Cotchin double act seemed unstoppable in the opening quarter as the pair combined brilliantly for so many Tiger takeaways from the centre bounces.

Cotchin had 10 possessions by the first break, well supported by Deledio. But Hayes, Dal Santo, Montagna and Goddard got busy in the second quarter to even up the onball duels.

Top 5 Players as voted by SuperFooty readers:
1. J.Riewoldt
2. T.Cotchin
3. B.Deledio
4. I.Maric
5. B.Goddard

http://live-footy.heraldsun.com.au/matchreport/index/20121020120141001

[one-eyed]

Jumping Jack Riewoldt rises to the occasion against St Kilda

    Sam Edmund
    From: Herald Sun
    June 02, 2012

THIS is not a false dawn. Repeat, this is not a false dawn.

After decades of disappointment and countless cases of hope turned sour, this is finally it - Richmond has arrived.

Fittingly, the Tigers chose what will go down as one of the games of the year to announce their arrival against a side they hadn't beaten since 2003.

They were simply brilliant - St Kilda was too - in last night's pulsating eight-point win at Etihad Stadium.

Richmond's fourth win in five games was supplied by many willing soldiers, but if the Tigers are back, so too is Jack Riewoldt.

Riewoldt kicked eight goals from 11 shots and assisted in several others, burying his early-season struggles in a full-forward masterclass. Simply, he was immense.

As always he flew for everything, but the timing is back. Even when he didn't pluck it he created havoc in the Saints' defence.

His eighth and match-sealing goal came after an unchallenged 20m amble into the goal square at the Coventry End. He stopped, waited, and then drilled the ball into the third tier.

The roar was spine-tingling.

It was unmistakably Richmond.

In the middle of the ground the Ivan Maric legend grows, with the Mullett adding another chapter in what is rapidly shaping as the story of the year.

He did it in the ruck, he did it forward and he did it back. There were 20 disposals, 33 hitouts, seven marks and a goal. They are numbers that will turn heads over the weekend, but just as impressively was his sacrificial acts.

When Maric wasn't putting the ball down the throat of his midfield he was chasing the likes of Terry Milera and Nick Dal Santo off the ball to cover for teammates.

Riewoldt and Maric's lead was followed by a midfield gang that might soon live up to Scott Watters' boast of being the best in the competition.

Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Nathan Foley, Shane Tuck and Shaun Grigg ensured Richmond dominated possession 412-355.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/jumping-jack-riewoldt-rises-to-the-occasion-against-st-kilda/story-e6frf9jf-1226381103122

[TigerTimeII]

we cant stop momentum,,, we gotta take this and keep it going

[one-eyed]

St Kilda succumbs to reborn Richmond

    Rod Nicholson
    Sunday Herald Sun
    June 03, 2012

THE exciting thing about Richmond this season is that they are exciting - and excited.

The eight-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night announced to the public, certainly to their huge support base, that the Tigers have arrived as a finals contender. It was something coach Damien Hardwick and the players already knew.

A horror fixture - the Tigers had to play all of last year's finalists in the opening 10 rounds - gave the cubs a taste of what was needed to succeed and, after an opening round loss to Carlton by 44 points, they have gradually, methodically, ruthlessly set about making their own history.

They have lost to Collingwood by 21 points, Geelong and West Coast by 10 points each, and Essendon by 19 points. And they gave them all a scare.

Wins have come against Melbourne (59 points) and Port Adelaide (37), but more importantly against Hawthorn (62) and St Kilda in the past two weeks.

As spearhead Jack Riewoldt said after booting eight goals in his 100th game the Tigers are out to create their own history.

The fact that the Tigers hadn't beaten St Kilda since 2003 counted for nothing.

"The boys are very proud of the way they played. There are a lot of hurdles that we must take along the way," Riewoldt said. "A lot of sides have beaten us over the years, but that's history and a lot of the players in this side take no notice of that."

Hardwick summed up the new energy and determination within the group: "The confidence of the group is growing week by week and it is exciting the way we are getting better," he said.

"We still have improvement, but the draw has given us a chance to see where we are at and the boys feel they can take on and beat those who made the top eight last year. They have shown that."

The Tigers were "challenged enormously" during the match said Hardwick, but they "dug deep which was really pleasing".

"Twelve months ago, after we were headed in the last quarter, we would have blown the game," he said. "But it is a sign that the side is growing that we were able to bounce back and go away to win against a very good side. They are now resilient. At 5-5, having played all last year's finalists, we have an inner confidence. The players now know the required level to win these games. We have battled manfully in the past (without winning) but now we must start winning games (which we are)."

Hardwick's desire for all his players to contest and apply pressure was fulfilled by the defensive group.

"Most are young and inexperienced but they play like their lives depend on it and that is what we pride ourselves on."

Among the ruthless and tough defensive group is Steven Morris (10th game), Ben Griffiths (11) and Brandon Ellis (10). They are led by inspirational skipper Chris Newman and rejuvenated Alex Rance.

The excitement comes in the way they move the ball by hand and foot, running in waves to break open opposition defences. They enjoyed 415 disposals to St Kilda's 354 and had the Saints chasing much of the night.

As Saints coach Scott Watters explained: "We were unable to slow the game down ... We thought they were a very good side and we got what we expected".

Nick Dal Santo said the Tiger midfielders were "quality, young with strong bodies".

Combined with a ruthless defence and an attack with nine goalkickers and Riewoldt booting eight of 18, the Tigers are giving supporters every reason to roar.

http://www.news.com.au/news/st-kilda-succumbs-to-reborn-richmond/story-fndv8ufg-1226381318857