Media articles & stats: Tigers storm to victory over Freo

[one-eyed]

Match report: Tigers storm to victory and add to Freo's pain

Alex Malcolm 
AFL.com.au
May 21, 2016 10:30 PM

FREMANTLE 1.1 2.3 5.7 6.9 (45)
RICHMOND 2.3 6.10 9.10 11.17 (83)

GOALS
Fremantle: Ballantyne 3, Taberner, Langdon, Walters
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Miles 2, Edwards 2, Grigg, Griffiths, Morris, Lloyd, Menadue

BEST
Fremantle: Neale, D Pearce, Blakely, Ballantyne, Suban, Mundy
Richmond: Cotchin, Martin, Grigg, Deledio, Edwards, B Ellis

INJURIES
Fremantle: A Pearce (ankle)
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Fremantle's Zac Dawson for striking Steven Morris in the third term; Richmond's Tyrone Vickery for striking Nick Suban in the third term

Umpires: Chamberlain, Fisher, Donlon

Official crowd: 20,184 at Domain Stadium

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FREMANTLE's nightmare winless season continues after Richmond produced a comprehensive 38-point win in horrendous, stormy conditions at Domain Stadium.

The Tigers completely outplayed the Dockers from start to finish, handling the 30-40 km/h winds and intermittent rain to win 11.17 (83) to 6.9 (45).

Only 20,184 hardy fans braved the terrible conditions despite a season-high 43,943 tickets being sold for the game.

To make matters worse for the Dockers promising young defender Alex Pearce was carried off in the last quarter after badly rolling his ankle.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin was a star in his first game back from a fractured cheekbone. Cotchin, wearing a helmet, collected a game-high 39 disposals, 18 contested and 10 clearances. Dustin Martin showed his power in close with 14 contested possessions. Anthony Miles and Shane Edwards both kicked two goals to go with 22 possessions apiece. Jack Riewoldt also kicked two important goals.     

Lachie Neale fought hard for the Dockers to collect 37 touches, included 18 contested. Youngster Connor Blakely played one of his best games in his short career with 22 disposals and six tackles. Hayden Ballantyne kicked three of the Dockers' six goals including one that defied physics.

But the Dockers did not have enough focal points up forward. It was a difficult night to mark the ball but the Tigers took 10 marks inside 50 to four and produced 28 scoring shots to 15 from the same number of inside 50 entries.

There was a significant wind advantage to the city end but the Tigers were better going both into the wind in the first and third terms as well as with the wind in the second and last quarters.

They led at quarter-time by eight points after winning the clearance battle by two in the opening term. The Tigers then locked the ball in their front half in the second term to kick four goals to one to open up a 23-point half-time lead. The Dockers could not get the football out of their defence.

There was some controversy at the start of the second term. Fremantle defender Lee Spurr was penalised for a deliberate rushed behind by umpire Ray Chamberlain. Spurr soccered the ball through his defensive goal from 15m out with Tiger Ben Griffiths giving chase only two metres behind. But Spurr was deemed not to be under sufficient pressure and Griffiths kicked a goal from the goalsquare with the resultant free kick.

The Dockers dominated the third term but kicked just three goals from 11 entries. The Tigers kicked three goals from just five inside 50s into the wind.   

Both Ty Vickery and Zac Dawson had dirty nights that were compounded by respective reports. Vickery was involved in a scuffle with Nick Suban and was reported for striking, although Suban was not hurt at all. Dawson threw out a loose arm to floor Steven Morris well after he had taken a mark coming back with the flight. But the force was low and Morris got up to kick the goal from the resulting 50m penalty.

MEDICAL ROOM

Fremantle: Alex Pearce badly rolled his right ankle in the last quarter was carried from the ground in a lot of discomfort.Clancee Pearce was groggy after a head clash in the last quarter. Zac Clarke twisted his left knee in the first quarter and had to come from the ground to be re-strapped. He returned to play out the game. 

Richmond: Steven Morris appeared to be concussed in a head clash with Clancee Pearce late in the last quarter.

NEXT UP
The Dockers head to Etihad Stadium to take on St Kilda next Saturday afternoon. The Tigers face Essendon on Saturday night for Dreamtime at the 'G.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-21/match-report-fremantle-v-richmond

[one-eyed]

Resurgent Tigers ease past gloomy Dockers

Herald-Sun
May 22, 2016

FIERCE thunderstorms, gloomy skies and temporary damage.

Those were not only Saturday’s local weather conditions, but an apt description of Fremantle’s floundering 2016 campaign. And judging by the crowd of just 20,184 at Subiaco Oval — the lowest for an AFL game there since 2001 — not many Dockers fans were keen to be exposed to either.

The winless run of the pre-season premiership fancy rolls on, with Richmond the latest team to breach what was once a purple fortress with an 11.17 (83) to 6.9 (45) triumph.

Nine games into last season, Fremantle had not lost a game and had captured the attention of the football world. Nine games into this campaign, the situation could not be more different.

Just as the rain is set to sweep across Fremantle Harbour for the immediate future, there’s unlikely to be much relief for Dockers supporters without the likes of Nat Fyfe, Harley Bennell and Michael Johnson.

The absence of that collection of star talent — as well as short-term casualties Stephen Hill and Aaron Sandilands — was juxtaposed with the class of Richmond’s top-line performers.

Trent Cotchin was electric with a career-best 39-disposal performance, particularly damaging in the second term, where the Tigers took advantage of their turn to kick with a howling wind.

The class of Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio and Jack Riewoldt in driving the Tigers forward was also evident, while Alex Rance was able to nullify Matthew Pavlich’s influence.

The positives were few and far between for Fremantle. Lachie Neale (37 touches) continues to thrive on the responsibility of carrying the midfield load, retaining his status as the league’s top ballwinner this season.

Connor Blakely (22 touches, six clearances) still needs plenty of polish, but appears fearless and is growing by the week. Hayden Ballantyne made the most of limited opportunities close to goal to nail three majors.

But too much was left to too few, with Fremantle ultimately only narrowly avoiding posting its lowest-ever home score against a travelling side.

In the midst of their slump, the last thing the Dockers needed was to feel the wrath of a controversial umpiring decision.

It came early in the second term when Ray Chamberlain opted to penalise Lee Spurr for soccering through a rushed behind under what appeared to be an appropriate level of pressure from a chasing Ben Griffiths.

The Tiger tall gleefully accepted the gift free kick to set the visitors on their way to boot four goals to one for the quarter.

Another thing Ross Lyon’s side could do without is yet another injury, with the Dockers holding their breath the late ankle complaint that benched rising star Alex Pearce isn’t serious.

Largely, though, Fremantle brought pressure on itself. 100-gamer Clancee Pearce butchered two kicks out of defence within the space of a minute as his side struggled to fight the second-term wind, with Shane Edwards cashing in on the second one with a snapped goal.

And after Ballantyne jagged two quick majors after halftime to briefly give his side hope, a late Zac Dawson clip on a marking Steve Morris led to a report and 50m penalty, enabling the Tigers to steady before finishing in effective cruise control.

The loss gave Dockers fans the right to wonder exactly when the season’s first win will come, with home fixtures against middling interstate sides no longer guaranteeing success.

Just once in its history has Fremantle experienced a longer drought at Subiaco Oval — an 11-game losing run in 2001.

This battered Dockers side will be desperate to distance itself from that two-win outfit of 15 years ago, but continues to search for the single victory with which to start.

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RICHMOND 2.3 6.10 9.10 11.17 (83)

FREMANTLE 1.1 2.3 5.7 6.9 (45)

GOALS

Richmond: Edwards Miles Riewoldt 2, Grigg Morris Lloyd Menadue Griffiths.

Fremantle: Ballantyne 3, Langdon Walters Taberner.

BEST

Richmond: Cotchin, Martin, Miles, Grigg, Deledio, Rance, Edwards.

Fremantle: Neale, Blakely, Ballantyne, Suban, Mundy.

INJURIES

Richmond: Chaplin (back).

Fremantle: Clarke (knee), A Pearce (ankle).

REPORTS

Vickery (Rich) for striking Suban in the third quarter; Dawson (Fre) for striking Steve Morris (Rich) in the third quarter.

UMPIRES

Chris Donlon, Leigh Fisher, Ray Chamberlain.

CROWD

20,184 at Subiaco Oval, Perth.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/stormy-weather-in-fremantles-forecast-as-dockers-go-09-losing-to-richmond-by-38-points/news-story/79a5ac982ce50450ac1f6a94c459365f

[one-eyed]

Fremantle v Richmond: Trent Cotchin stars in Tigers 38-point win

Brad Elborough
The Age
May 22, 2016


RICHMOND 2.3 6.10 9.10 11.17 (83)

FREMANTLE 1.1 2.3 5.7 6.9 (45)

Goals -
Richmond: A Miles 2 J Riewoldt 2 S Edwards 2 B Griffiths C Menadue S Grigg S Lloyd S Morris.
Fremantle: H Ballantyne 3 E Langdon M Taberner M Walters.

Best -
Richmond: T Cotchin, S Grigg, D Martin, A Miles, A Rance, N Vlastuin.
Fremantle: L Neale, D Pearce, C Blakely, N Suban, D Mundy, H Ballantyne.

Umpires: Chris Donlon, Ray Chamberlain, Leigh Fisher.

Official Crowd: 20,184 at Domain Stadium.

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The interpretation of the deliberate out of bounds rule has changed the way football is played in 2016.

But it was a free kick paid for another deliberate action at Domain Stadium, in Richmond's 38-point win over Fremantle, on Saturday night that breathed life into the Perth crowd of just 20,184 - the smallest to watch the Dockers at Domain Stadium since 2001.

Finally, a free kick was paid for a defender deliberately rushing a behind.

The AFL has threatened to crack down on it, but it finally took umpire Ray Chamberlain to remind us that the rule exists. Richmond was the team that benefited from it, early in the second term of their victory over Fremantle.

Dockers defender Lee Spurr kicked the ball from the ground in slippery conditions two minutes into the second term on Saturday night when the Tigers led by eight points. It hit the post and Chamberlain decided that the big man in pursuit, Ben Griffiths, wasn't putting enough pressure on him.

He awarded a free kick from the top of the goal square and the resultant goal didn't make a difference to the result though.

It didn't cost the Dockers their first win of a frustrating season after nine rounds and didn't help the Tigers to consolidate their one-point after-the-siren victory over the Sydney Swans from last week.

It did give Richmond its third win for the season, but still leaves it two victories outside of the top eight.

The Tigers lead of eight points at quarter-time came despite them having kicked into a massive breeze.

Fremantle managed only one goal with it; and at half-time (trailing by 31 points) the Dockers had only one more.

In that second term, Richmond had its chance to blow the Dockers away, with 4.7 from their 14 entries into their forward 50.

Trent Cotchin, returning from a two-game lay-off with a fractured cheekbone and donning a helmet, provided the spark for the Tigers.

Cotchin had a game-high 18 possessions at the main break and with seven of those being contested, certainly wasn't holding out of contests. He didn't slow after the break and finished with a career-high 39.

Through two early goals to Hayden Ballantyne in the third term, the results of hard work in the midfield by Fremantle skipper David Mundy, the Dockers got the margin back from 37 points to 24.

Lachie Neale's solid form also continued in the absence of Nat Fyfe and Stephen Hill, and with Michael Barlow back in the WAFL searching for form. Whether the young South Australian (Neale) signs a contract extension, or looks to head elsewhere, remains one of the few points of interest in the Dockers season – besides when last year's minor premiers might finally win their first game. Essendon, at Domain Stadium in round 11 looks the most likely, although those hopes could be affected by the possible loss of improving young defender Alex Pearce, who was carried off with what appeared an ankle injury late in the final term.

During the third term when the Dockers started to gain some ascendency.

It was Zac Dawson that managed to slow his own side's momentum and arguably allow Richmond to seal the result. The Dockers defender collected Richmond's Steven Morris late and high after he'd taken a mark, allowing the umpire to make the easy decision of moving the shot on goal to 5m out instead of 45m.

The goal took the margin back to 30 points. Dawson will face the Match Review Panel for the incident, as will Ty Vickery who, in the same quarter, gave away a free kick behind the play for high contact with Fremantle's Nick Suban.

Votes

FREMANTLE v RICHMOND

(Brad Elborough)

9 T Cotchin

8 S Grigg

8 D Martin

8 L Neale

7 A Miles

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/fremantle-v-richmond-trent-cotchin-stars-in-tigers-38point-win-20160521-gp0qj4.html