Tigers too tough
5:00:37 PM Sat 9 July, 2005
Matt Burgan
Exclusive to afl.com.au
Essendon's chances of playing off in September appear to be almost over after Richmond produced its best victory since round eight against Collingwood, to record a 26-point win over the Bombers at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers 14.8 (92) defeated the Bombers 9.12 (66) to remain in the top eight and a game clear of the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda - the two teams sitting on Richmond's hammer.
The victory was significant for a number of reasons.
Richmond had won just one of its past five matches, entering this match, after it lost only two of the opening nine rounds. The Tigers needed to bounce back to ensure their quest for a finals berth remained on track.
It was also just the eighth time Richmond had defeated Essendon in 40 matches since the Tigers most recent grand final appearance in 1982. Since that time, the Bombers have dominated, winning 31 times, with the teams also drawing once. It was imperative Richmond overcame its arch-rivals - and it did.
And the cherry on top was Richmond winning the first Kevin Sheedy Cup in the 'Dreamtime at the 'G'.
Richmond set up the win with three lots of four goals, which was telling in the overall result. The most Essendon could muster in a quarter, was two in succession. The Tigers also had five multiple goalkickers, while the Bombers had just two.
Boom forward Matthew Richardson was outstanding with two goals, 14 disposals, but more importantly nine marks in slippery conditions. He also had a hand in several goals for the Tigers.
Wayne Campbell, Mark Coughlan, Joel Bowden, Chris Hyde and Shane Tuck were key figures in Richmond's win, combining for almost 120 disposals. Troy Simmonds in the ruck was also crucial, as he won 30 hit outs.
For Essendon, Matthew Lloyd booted four goals, Jason Johnson racked up 30 touches and emerging tall Kepler Bradley battled hard.
The opening term was action aplenty. It was not stacked with high-flying marks and a quick-running style of game, as the wet weather dictated a rugged style, which Richmond utilised to its advantage.
Bodies were put on the line and this was highlighted by Bowden, who was cleaned up during the quarter, when first-year Bomber Paul Thomas collected the acting Richmond captain in the head, which resulted in a free to the reigning best-and-fairest winner.
But such was Bowden's commitment to the cause, he continued on, when he quite clearly could have wandered off to the bench, which was only a hop, skip and a jump away, for a breather, to gather his thoughts.
Richmond defender Andrew Kellaway was also crunched within the first two minutes and as a result suffered a broken jaw and took no further part in the match, as his afternoon was spent in hospital.
He was replaced by fellow veteran Mark Graham, who despite some ineffective kicking in the first term, notched up seven touches and restricted first-gamer Courtney Johns.
By half-time, Johns, was the only player on the ground, without a touch, yet it must be remembered that for him to even run out onto the ground was a significant achievement in itself, considering he had battled a debilitating hip injury since joining the club.
Mark Bolton started proceedings at the 10-minute mark, but by the first break, it was Richmond that boasted a 19-point advantage.
Andrew Welsh had his name taken in the first term after he clashed with Tiger Chris Hyde, adding to a frustrating period for the Dons.
Richardson was proving a headache up forward, yet he finished the term with 1.2, when he should have at least had two to his name. A mark and subsequent play-on, from less than 10 metres out from goal, resulted in a fluffed shot and a quick stint on the bench.
The wintry conditions forced the lights on at the 'G for the start of the second quarter.
Like the previous term, Essendon posted the first goal, this time via the recalled Ricky Dyson, who was playing his first since round five.
The déjà vu continued, when Richmond booted another four unanswered goals - including majors from Brett Deledio and Richardson at the 19 and 20-minute mark respectively - to runaway to a 35-point buffer.
Bowden, Richardson and Campbell were outstanding in the first half for the Tigers, with the latter particularly influential, with two crucial goals.
The signs were ominous for the Bombers and in the conditions it would take a mighty effort for the Dons to bounce back. But enter Lloyd.
The champion Bomber had just one touch to his name - and was being brilliantly held by Richmond defender Darren Gaspar - until he opened his account with his second disposal at the 25-minute mark of the second term.
But within five minutes - and the half-time siren - he had two to his name and the deficit was reduced to 22 points, giving the Dons some hope.
The Lloyd show continued into the second half, when he kicked truly with two in two minutes to put the Bombers within 10 points and right in the hunt.
The pendulum had clearly swung in Essendon's favour, but that was again set to swing back Richmond's way, when it bounced back with five of the remaining six goals for the term, to claim a 35-point lead at three quarter-time.
Four of Richmond's goals came in red-time, with Tuck chipping in with two of them.
Although Essendon outscored Richmond with two goals to one in the final term, the result was soured further when Thomas was reported for tripping, capping off a disappointing day for the club.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said post-match that he didn't consider that history might repeat itself from last week with another Tiger fade-out in the second half, and rather praised the performance of his players in trying conditions.
"I didn't give any though to last week at all, I thought it was a pretty strong and convincing win from start to finish, I didn't give last week any thought whatsoever," Wallace said.
"I thought the guys handled themselves really well, I certainly thought early in the game our ability to win first use of the ball, I thought we got free kicks because of our ability to go after the footy, and that was always going to be important in the conditions."
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said his team didn't play enough man-on-man football. "We had one or two errors which were undisciplined, which was just a bit of undisciplined play and it cost us, as well as some unnecessary free kicks and 50-metre penalties."
RICHMOND: 4.2, 8.3, 13.6, 14.8 (92)
ESSENDON: 1.1, 4.5, 7.7, 9.12 (66)
GOALS – Richmond: Campbell 2, Richardson 2, Tuck 2, Deledio 2, Hilton 2, Krakouer, Tambling, Knobel, Pettifer
Essendon: Lloyd 4, Lucas 2, Bolton, Dyson, Lovett
BEST – Richmond: Campbell, Bowden, Coughlan, Hyde, Richardson, Tuck, Pettifer, Chaffey, Simmonds
Essendon: J. Johnson, Bradley, Lloyd, Solomon, Thomas, M. Johnson
INJURIES – Richmond: Kellaway (broken jaw)
Essendon: Laycock (calf), Hird (dislocated finger), Lloyd (corked buttock)
CHANGES – Richmond: none
Essendon: McPhee (back) out, replaced in selected side by Bullen
REPORTS - Welsh (Ess) reported for striking Hyde (Rich) in the first quarter by umpire McBurney, Thomas (Ess) reported for tripping Krakouer (Rich) in the fourth quarter by umpire Stevic
UMPIRES - McBurney, Stevic, Meredith
CROWD - 49,975 at the MCG
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