Richmond's five best home and away wins of the modern era Rohan Connolly
The Age
January 8, 2016 1. Sydney v Richmond (Round 23, 2014, ANZ Stadium)Richmond had recovered superbly after a miserable 3-10 start which had left them on points equal last on the ladder. But even eight wins on end saw them travel to Sydney for the final round of the season still needing to beat the Swans to reach the finals. Sydney was a game clear on top, having won 16 of their last 17 games, and spelled several key players. But this was still a tremendous performance, Richmond getting the jump with Jack Riewoldt, Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin on fire. Typically, though the Swans scrapped their way back into the contest, hitting the front in the third term. But Richmond wasn't going to let their turnaround go unrewarded. Under total bombardment in the last term, Alex Rance was superb in defence, a brilliant Dustin Martin goal offered breathing space, and the Tigers survived another late one from Sydney, the siren heralding a famous three-point victory.
2. Collingwood v Richmond (Round 4, 1980, Victoria Park)The Magpies were coming off a 1979 grand final appearance, while the Tigers had missed the finals, and weren't faring a lot better as the new season began with just one win from their first three games. But turning points don't come a lot bigger than half-time of this game. At that stage, the Tigers had kicked only four goals and trailed by nine points. Coach Tony Jewell tore strips off his team at the break, and the response was emphatic, 12 goals to three after the break giving Richmond a 52-point win. Key forwards Michael Roach and David Cloke booted five goals each, and centreman Geoff Raines and runners like Dale Weightman, Barry Rowlings and Rob Wiley had a picnic. It would be the first of 11 straight wins for the Tigers. And they'd repeat the dose on Collingwood on grand final day by a then-record 81 points, still their most recent premiership.
3. Richmond v North Melbourne (Round 4, 1995, MCG)The Tigers had won their first three games, but after 13 years since a finals appearance, there was plenty of scepticism when they took on a 1995 flag fancy in North Melbourne on the Monday night before Anzac Day. What followed was as emphatic a performance as the Tiges had delivered since they played off for the 1982 flag. In front of nearly 63,000 people, a relentless Richmond slammed on six goals to nothing in the first eight minutes and nine for the first term to stun the Roos, on-ballers Matthew Knights and Wayne Campbell starring, and the forward trio of Nick Daffy, Matthew Richardson and Stuart Edwards on fire, finishing the night with 14 goals between them. They did it again in the third term with another seven goals to one, eventually winning by 49 points. The Tigers were, clearly, very much back in town.
4. Richmond v Collingwood (Round 8, 1991, MCG)Collingwood was the defending premier in 1991. Admittedly, the Pies had got off to a sluggish start, but after a week off, come round eight were looking to click back into stride against a hapless Richmond, 1-5, third-last on the ladder, broke and struggling simply to survive after the recent "Save Our Skins" campaign. Instead, this game became popularly known as the "Mother's Day Massacre". Richmond conceded seven goals to the Pies in the first term, but hit back with eight of their own in the second. But another 12 to four in the second half saw them run out big 57-point winners. In the stellar performance of his career, spearhead Jeff Hogg booted 10 goals, while Craig Lambert (36 disposals) and Dale Weightman (33) ran amok. Richmond would still finish third last and replace Kevin Bartlett as coach. This, though, was a day when the "Tigers of old" were revived.
5. Richmond v Adelaide (Round 8, 2006, Telstra Dome)As a spectacle, this was actually a shocker. But for a win against-the-odds and a coaching master plan carried out to perfection, this was one of Richmond's finest. Adelaide were on top of the AFL ladder, the Tigers 11th, having just been smashed by 118 points against Sydney. But coach Terry Wallace set out to blunt the Crows' by having his side essentially play keepings-off, and it worked to a tee. Richmond had averaged 80 short kicks. In this one, they had 180. Just 13 of their 181 marks were contested. But with Joel Bowden sweeping around half-back, and Andrew Raines and Dean Polo shutting down Mark Ricciuto and Brett Burton, they simply denied Adelaide opportunity. When they trailed by 23 points in the last term, the Crows finally released the handbrake, kicking five of the next seven goals to creep within three points. But the damage had been done, and one of the biggest upsets of the season executed.
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