VFL Tigers downed by Selwood led CatsAFL.com.au
March 19, 2016The Tigers began strongly and held a 12-point lead at the first change, but were overrun in the next three quarters as the Cats slammed on 11-goals-to-five in a polished display.
A modest crowd huddled in the Jack Dyer Stand, as a number of Geelong fans made the trek up the highway to watch Joel Selwood’s first outing of 2016, and they weren’t disappointed.
Geelong’s AFL skipper amassed 34 disposals; laid nine tackles; had six clearances and kicked two-important goals as he split his time through the midfield and up-forward.
Both sides took time to adjust to the blustery and greasy conditions, with intermittent rain and an icy south-westerly proving difficult to contend with.
Richmond, boasting six AFL-listed players and four rookies started strongly, as Liam McBean’s classy right-foot snap in the opening minute sailed through for the perfect start.
The Tiger’s held the ascendency early, as their intensity and pressure around the ball cut down the Cats’ time and space and allowed the Tigers to capitalise on turnovers.
Richmond fans that braved a chilly Friday night would have been delighted with the first quarter form of key-defender Todd Elton and rookie Callum Moore.
The pair controlled the ball in the air and were well supported by newly promoted-rookie Jason Castagna and draftee Oleg Markov who provided the drive off half-back.
Markov had a minor blunder late in the first quarter, as his squaring kick into the corridor was cut-off, which opened the door for the Cats’ opening goal of the night.
Richmond’s forwardline functioned well in the opening term, with the key forwards providing a contest in the air and small forwards Dan Butler and Jayden Short swooping on any loose ball.
Butler was busy around the stoppages in the first-half, as he and mature-age rookie Adam Marcon teamed well with ruckman Ivan Soldo.
After its goal in red-time in the first quarter, Geelong built on that momentum in the second-term.
Aided by a stiff breeze, Joel Selwood surged from the opening bounce and nailed a goal from outside 50 that kicked the Cats into gear.
In the blink of an eye, Geelong had kicked another as Elton’s risky kick exiting defensive 50 was cut-off, which gifted the Cats a one-point lead early in the second quarter.
Turnovers in the defensive half proved extremely costly for Richmond on the night, as Geelong swooped and capitalised on any Tiger errant handball and missed kick.
Callum Moore was defiant under a barrage of pressure, as the rookie defender used his strength, speed and athleticism to continuously repel and rebound from defensive-50.
Moore won critical contests in the air and on the ground and finished the first-half with a team-high 12 disposals, an equal team-high 6 marks, and was Richmond’s best.
Geelong slammed on five-goals-to-one in the second term, as ex-Cat Ryan Bathie used his strength and skill to kick Richmond’s only major for the quarter.
The Cats made a 28-point turn around in the second term to take a 16-point lead into the main change.
McBean started the third term with renewed endeavour and had a hand in two early goals which swung the momentum slightly back the Tigers’ way.
McBean’s slick hands in close set-up Tom Quinn for the first goal of the quarter and when he guided through Taylor Hunt’s long range goal moments later, Richmond began to lift.
VFL-listed Tiger Jordan Quaile cut the margin to three-points after he swooped on a loose ball moments later and took full advantage of McBean’s free kick inside-50.
As was the story for most of the night however, a defensive error handed Geelong back-to-back goals approaching three-quartertime, and the momentum.
Dan Butler kicked the Tigers’ fourth of the term, as he intercepted the Cats, inside the centre circle, then steadied and kicked the goal-of-the-night, with a classy finish, on the run from outside 50.
Richmond won the quarter with four-goals-to-three, but the Cats steadied, and took a handy 10-point lead, kicking with the wind, into the final term.
The Tigers could only manage a miserly two-points into the wind in the last quarter as the Cats cruised home with three final term goals in what was a professional display post quartertime.
A Markov spoil back with the flight and follow-up smother delighted the Richmond faithful and was a rare highlight as he endeavoured to lift the Tigers.
Butler and Castagna’s creativity and daring with ball in hand were features of the final term, as Elton again proved solid down back.
Tiger rookie-listers Marcon (21 disposals, 8 tackles) and Moore (17 disposals and 8 marks) put in solid four-quarter performances and were best afield for the hosts.
Butler (6 tackles and one goal), Castagna (17 disposals and 15 handball receives) and Markov (16 disposals, eight hardball gets and four clearances) also showed promising signs.
Richmond’s next practice match is against Northern Blues at Punt Road Oval on 24 March, starting at 4:00pm.
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2016-03-19/vfl-tigers-downed-by-selwood-led-cats
