The TackleMark Robinson
Herald-Sun
Monday, May 6, 2013HALFWAY through the third quarter on Saturday night, I tweeted: "Fair game. Cats always play for keeps. Tigers not far behind."
Forty minutes later, as Richmond players trudged off the MCG, the Cats had played for keeps and the Tigers watched them do it.
The Cats led by two goals in the third quarter, when the whips were cracking, and by the end won by seven goals.
The Tigers crumbled, but not to the point of embarrassment.
Within two minutes in the third quarter - and it could only happen to the hapless Tigers - they lost Tyson Vickery to concussion - and he was substituted - and Ivan Maric turned an ankle. Maric returned but he laboured.
Those injuries to their ruckmen were like a sucker punch to the guts and when Luke McGuane was required to take the centre bounces, the end was a formality.
The Cats did what they do. They pounced on the wounded enemy and took no prisoners.
It was a stunning finale, no doubt, but for two and a half quarters, the Tigers played like a team worthy of match-of-the-round status.
They aren't far off the pace, the Tigers, but they do have some issues.
Small forwards can cut them apart, as they can do to all teams, and turnovers kill them.
It was reported the Cats kicked 15 goals from turnovers, as Richmond time and again gifted them the ball.
There are individual concerns.
The Tigers need Brett Deledio surging through the middle, and Taylor Hunt didn't allow it on Saturday night. A subdued Deledio is a major scalp, for when he plays well, so do the Tigers.
If Deledio is down, the contributions of others are telling.
I like Shaun Grigg's consistency, but sometimes question whether his possessions are damaging. He and Daniel Jackson both had five clangers, and when they are both in the midfield, it can make the Tigers midfield sloppy.
With Trent Cotchin down as well, it was a wonder how the Tigers were so in the game midway through the third term.
They were because they are defending better, and on the night, Jake King kicked four goals, which wasn't expected.
The wash-up was the Tigers lost, but most observers would say they were unlucky to lose by so much.
Yes, they are ninth after six rounds (stop smirking), but they will be higher than that by season's end.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/the-tackle-a-frustrated-buddy-franklin-appears-to-be-losing-his-spark/story-fnect155-1226635596083
