Tigers compound Lions' misery
10:11:18 PM Sat 21 May, 2005
Simon White
Exclusive to richmondfc.com.au
Nathan Brown turned from villain to hero as Richmond won at the Gabba for the first time since 2000, inflicting a fourth straight home defeat on the Brisbane Lions by four points on Saturday night.
The normally deadly Brown missed several gilt-edged chances in the third quarter, but stepped to the fore in the final term with two timely snaps - the first on his natural left foot to give the Tigers the lead 13 minutes in, and the second on his non-preferred right boot to put Richmond back in front with a shade over two minutes remaining.
The latter proved decisive as Richmond held on for a 12.15 (87) to 12.11 (83) win - a result that reduces the Lions' season record to 3-6, with three losses by a goal or less.
Earlier the Tigers had threatened to do what recent hard-running Gabba victors Sydney, West Coast and Western Bulldogs had done before them, dominating the opening exchanges with some enterprising play and quick ball movement.
After Michael Voss' conversion off a step put the Lions up two straight goals to one, Richmond kicked the next three majors - but missed as many opportunities as they made use of.
The net result was the Lions roaring back into the contest on the back of five consecutive inside 50s and the last four goals of the first term.
With Nigel Lappin providing plenty of run with seven disposals for the quarter and Jason Akermanis returning from an early ankle injury scare in typically dynamic fashion, the Lions stretched the Tigers across the field - and Ashley McGrath was the chief beneficiary.
McGrath, who turned 22 on Friday, booted the Lions' first goal and twice split the big sticks from 50m to match his goal-haul from last week's win over Adelaide inside the first 30 minutes.
The Tigers re-grouped in term two and, while the Lions momentarily stretched their advantage on the back of successive goals by Michael Voss and Simon Black, Terry Wallace's team was soon right back in the mix.
Matthew Richardson roamed far and wide from his usual station in the forward line and Richmond ended the first half with goals from the lively Jay Schulz and Kayne Pettifer to enter half-time only two points in arrears.
The third stanza was one of missed chances for both teams, with Brown, who was giving Lions youngster Jed Adcock the runaround, a particularly guilty party.
Two goals from Richardson within the space of a minute gave Richmond their first lead since the opening quarter but a great effort from the recalled Anthony Corrie put the Lions up by two-points to set up the nail-biting last quarter.
For Richmond, Shane Tuck was simply outstanding with 30 touches, six hard-ball gets, six clearances and five inside 50s. Those numbers were almost matched by his captain Kane Johnson, while Mark Coughlan had 11 disposals in the first quarter to finish with 28 for the match.
Tim Notting was the Lions' leading possession-winner with 27 but he struggled to hit targets and it was left to the usual suspects of Voss, Akermanis and Simon Black to provide most of the home team's cutting edge.
McGrath, who finished the match limping after a kick to the lower leg, kicked 5.1 to be the Lions' most effective forward - with Jonathan Brown failing to have his usual impact on the contest.
Both teams will exit the game with injury worries, with Richmond youngster Richard Tambling appearing to tear a hamstring in the last term and Lions pairing Chris Scott and Mal Michael also looking to have struck hamstring trouble.
The Tigers' 2004 best-and-fairest Joel Bowden left the ground in the third quarter after a head clash with Chris Hyde - ironically, Hyde was making a comeback from a horrific head clash injury of his own - and did not return.
BRISBANE: 6.5, 8.5, 10.9, 12.11 (83)
RICHMOND: 4.5, 7.9, 9.13, 12.15 (87)
GOALS – BRISBANE: McGrath 5, Corrie, Voss 2, Akermanis, Black, Bradshaw
RICHMOND: Brown 4, Richardson 3, Simmonds 2, Schulz, Pettifer, Krakouer
BEST – BRISBANE: Voss, Akermanis, Michael, Black, Brown, Merrett
RICHMOND: Brown, Richardson, Coughlan, Gaspar, Tuck, Kellaway
INJURIES – BRISBANE: Nil
RICHMOND: Nil
CHANGES – BRISBANE: Nil
RICHMOND: Schulz in for Stafford (ankle) in selected side
REPORTS - Nil
UMPIRES - Donlon, Rowe, Head
CROWD - at the Gabba
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