Who really won Friday night?
Richmond take points in Round 23 but North set to bring back big guns after resting starsHerald-Sun
September 5, 2015RICHMOND won the clash, ensuring they will almost certainly get an MCG final next week, but were they the real winner in Friday night football?
The Tigers trailed at half-time and took until late in the third term before shaking off North Melbourne’s persistent second-string side, which controversially was allowed to rest almost half its regular line-up ahead of an elimination final next weekend.
Eventually, the Tigers’ class prevailed, the likes of Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin proving the difference as Damien Hardwick’s side ran away to win by 41 points.
Richmond had little motivation except the need to win to avoid a possible trip to Adelaide, and appeared to struggle early as the Kangas took it right up to them.
But as North threatened to skip away, Richmond responded.
North Melbourne had little to gain from the match, but coach Brad Scott hit out after the game at any critics who suggested his side wasn’t trying to win the match.
The result likely means the two teams will now almost certainly clash in an elimination final at the MCG on Sunday.
But just what either side learned from Friday night’s clash is debatable. Fans of both teams will this week be spruiking their team’s chances, confident they enjoyed the perfect hit-out and one could mount a case for each club.
Richmond, with little to play for, eventually put its foot down and next week will return to its more preferable MCG, with a very similar line-up.
The rested North Melbourne group will inject a heap of class back into its side and, after its promising first half can be confident of matching it with the Tigers. Before last night, the Kangas had beaten Richmond in its previous five encounters.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-take-points-in-round-23-but-north-set-to-bring-back-big-guns-after-resting-stars/story-fnelctok-1227513924774
