Media articles and stats: Ruthless Tigers hammer flat Freo

[one-eyed]

Match report: Ruthless Tigers hammer flat Freo

afl.com.au
20 August 2017

FREMANTLE       3.4     3.5     5.7      7.9 (51)                 
RICHMOND        3.0    11.2    17.5   25.5 (155)           

GOALS

Fremantle: Bennell 2, Crozier 2, Fyfe, Deluca, Ballantyne
Richmond: Townsend 6, Riewoldt 4, Lambert 3, Butler 3, Martin 2, Rioli, Houli, Edwards, McIntosh, Nankervis, Rance, Graham

BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Hamling, S.Hill, Mundy
Richmond: Martin, Grigg, Townsend, Ellis, Lambert, Houli

INJURIES 

Fremantle: Nil
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Sean Darcy (Fremantle) for striking Nick Vlastuin (Richmond) in the third quarter.

Umpires: Fisher, Dalgleish, Hosking

Official crowd: 34,204 at Domain Stadium

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THE TIGERS' top-four destiny remains in their hands after Richmond completely ruined Fremantle's send-off to Domain Stadium with a ruthless 104-point victory on Sunday.

Needing to knock over the Dockers in their last-ever home game at the old Subiaco Oval to move back into fourth spot on the ladder, the Tigers withstood a fierce opening term before breaking the contest wide open.

Richmond's swarming pressure and breakneck speed shocked the Dockers, who were listless after quarter-time in their biggest ever loss to the Tigers.

The visitors booted 22 of the game's last 26 majors – including eight in a barnstorming second quarter – in the crushing 25.5 (155) to 7.9 (51) triumph.

Unlikely heroes Jacob Townsend (six goals) and Kane Lambert (three) both delivered career-best hauls for the visitors, while supporting midfield cast Shaun Grigg (36 disposals) and Brandon Ellis (33) took centre stage.

Townsend had only previously booted four goals in 32 games but Freo had no answers for the tough nut in attack.

But there were winners for Richmond everywhere.

Superstar Dustin Martin (36 disposals, two goals) confirmed his standing as the Brownlow medallist in waiting, while key forward Jack Riewoldt (four goals) also had his turn in the spotlight in the Tigers' 14th victory for the season.

Sunday's thumping victory was one to savour and Damien Hardwick's men could yet climb to third if they defeat St Kilda in round 23 and the Giants win in Geelong or if GWS loses and the Tigers make up the 1.6 percentage difference.

This was Richmond's fifth win from six games in Perth and the club's biggest victory at Domain Stadium.

It was difficult to find a positive for Freo in the club's final home game before moving to Perth Stadium next year.

The Dockers suffered consecutive 104-point beltings – the biggest losses of Ross Lyon's coaching career - after being thumped by Sydney last round and are limping to the finish line after defeats in 10 of their last 12 games.

Sunday was only the second loss by more than 100 points in 265 games at Domain Stadium for Fremantle, and Tigers coach Damien Hardwick had sympathy for counterpart Lyon leading a rebuilding team.

"I do know what Ross is going through," he said post-match.

"We went through a similar thing last year when your boys are really struggling to find something to play for, which is tough.

"We got belted a couple of times late (last year).

"They're a better side than what they played today - their first quarter's more evident of, when they're up and going, how they can play."

Superstar Dockers skipper Nat Fyfe (30 disposals, one goal) could at least hold his head high on a dismal day, while Harley Bennell (six, two) seemingly got through unscathed on Dockers debut – his first game for two years after ongoing calf issues.

Five minutes into the term, the Dockers were boosted by the huge roar when Bennell ran onto the field for the first time in purple, 722 days after his last AFL game for Gold Coast.

He was immediately into the action, firing off a handball on the wing, and the Dockers celebrated like Lotto winners after the ex-Sun booted his first goal from a holding the ball free-kick.

But that was about where any semblance of positives ended – along with a competitive opening term.

Souring the day further for Fremantle was a report to young ruckman Sean Darcy after he elbowed Nick Vlastuin in the third quarter which could put him in doubt for next round's trip to face Essendon.

The result didn't stop loyal Dockers fans staying to recognise the team's efforts at Domain Stadium over the years, but they deserved better as Freo signed off with its 113th loss at the venue.

After the match, Lyon highlighted that the Dockers' large number of young players needed to step up and shoulder more of the load next season.

"We're really disappointed but we just spoke about in the rooms that the weight of numbers is inexperience," Lyon said.

"The season's ending, but they need to be thinking about what their break looks like, of improvement and how they need to return and the hard work that lays in front of us to be a competitive AFL team – which at times this year we've shown.

"That tipping point of weight of numbers of inexperience, youth and probably quality, that tipping point happens.

"That's what you're seeing the last couple of weeks."

MEDICAL ROOM

Fremantle: Bradley Hill hurt his ankle but played out the game. Harley Bennell got through unscathed in his comeback from two years battling calf issues.

Richmond: Shaun Grigg copped a shoulder stinger in the final term but returned to action and should be fine.

NEXT UP

The Tigers return home to the MCG on Sunday with a top-four spot on the line against St Kilda, who will be keen to send-off champion Nick Riewoldt in style. The Dockers will be aiming to bounce back at Etihad Stadium against an Essendon outfit that needs to win to play finals.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-20/match-report-ruthless-tigers-hammer-flat-freo

[one-eyed]

Richmond underline finals and top four credentials with 104 point demolition of Fremantle

BRADEN QUARTERMAINE in Perth,
Herald Sun
20 August 2017

RICHMOND did what it had to, and probably a bit more, and in doing so the Tigers looked like a top-four team.

Whether Richmond does indeed finish there for the first time since 2001 will come down to Sunday’s moment of truth against St Kilda at the MCG.

Listless Fremantle might be hanging out for Mad Monday, but this was a slick, confident and hungry performance from the Tigers in the face of a stern challenge for a top-four finish after Sydney and Port Adelaide had thrown down the gauntlet.

Richmond’s 104-point demolition of the Dockers, 25.5 (155) to 7.9 (51), was brutally efficient. It was their highest score of the season and it was set up in the first half without major contributions from stars Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin.

Riewoldt had just three touches before halftime, while Cotchin was well held by Cam Sutcliffe.

Instead, Richmond showed off some of its depth as forgotten Greater Western Sydney recruit Jacob Townsend kicked six goals in a stunning first outing for the Tigers in 14 months.

Riewoldt fought on to finish with four, while Kane Lambert and Dan Butler each got three. There was a goal for debutant Jack Graham and defender Alex Rance even got on the scoresheet.

Irrepressible Dustin Martin imposed himself the longer the game went, finishing with 36 touches, seven clearances and two goals. Importantly, he appeared to keep out of trouble as well.

For Fremantle, everything after quarter-time was ugly and coach Ross Lyon equalled the biggest defeat of his proud coaching career after copping the same triple-figure margin in consecutive weeks.

The Tigers had a cherished double-chance in the finals to play for and the Dockers nothing, apart from the chance to farewell their Subiaco home ground on a winning note.

Sparked by an early cameo from the returning Harley Bennell, Fremantle looked up for the fight in the early going and held the visitors to just six inside 50s in the opening term.

Bennell had waited 722 days for this game after making his last AFL appearance for Gold Coast in the corresponding round in 2015.

But the gifted 24-year-old had to wait just 13 minutes to put his stamp on his comeback match, slotting his set shot after earning a free kick for holding the ball.

He snapped another to have two by quarter time, and in just half an hour Lyon’s endless patience with his troubled star had begun to pay dividends.

The Tigers weren’t having it all their own way, but the opening term would provide the only moments of stress in Damien Hardwick’s coaching box.

Classy Richmond was both efficient and accurate as it pulled clear in the second term, with Lambert getting three goals for the quarter as the Tigers piled on 8.2 to one behind to end the game as a contest.

When Shane Edwards snapped a goal from outside the boundary line 11 minutes into the second quarter, dangerous Richmond had kicked 7.0 from just 11 inside 50 entries.

Hayden Crozier ended a run of nine consecutive goals for the Tigers when he marked and kicked truly 10 minutes into the third term.

However a relentless Richmond kept the foot down, piling on 14 goals to four in the second half.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-underline-finals-and-top-four-credentials-with-104point-demolition-of-fremantle/news-story/d35cbedfd95c79d18c299febeaf1831e

[one-eyed]

Tigers roar to big win in the west

Brad Elborough
The Age
20 August 2017

RICHMOND
3.0  11.2  18.5  25.5 (155)
FREMANTLE
3.4   3.5    5.8   7.9    (51)

GOALS -
Richmond:  Townsend 6, Riewoldt 4, Butler 3, Lambert 3, Martin 2, Rance, Houli, Rioli, Graham, McIntosh, Edwards, Nankervis.
Fremantle: Bennell 2, Crozier 2, Ballantyne, Deluca, Fyfe.

BEST -
Richmond: Grigg, Martin, Ellis, Townsend, Lambert, Nankervis.
Fremantle: Fyfe,  Darcy, Mundy, Sutcliffe, Hill, Hamling.

UMPIRES: Dalgleish, Hosking, Fisher.
CROWD: 34,204 at Domain Stadium.

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The stars may just be aligning at the right time for Richmond. The Tigers' 104-point win over Fremantle at Domain Stadium leaves them one win away from a top-four finish for the first time since 2001.

If they can beat St Kilda next week, they'll finish the season with 15 victories and in either third or fourth spot on the ladder – with a double chance.

And Damien Hardwick has an almost full contingent of players to pick from, providing Shaun Grigg's left shoulder is OK.

Grigg left the ground midway through the final term with 33 possessions next to his name. He returned and picked up another three.

The win is the biggest Richmond has ever scored over the Dockers and equalled Ross Lyon's worst defeat as coach (104 points achieved last week at the hands of Sydney).

The only Tiger who found it tough to get his hands on the ball was Trent Cotchin, who wore a tag from Cam Sutcliffe for most of the game, but he still had the ball 18 times.

Former GWS Giant Jacob Townsend made the most of his first chance at the top level this season, kicking six goals. He booted two of his side's three in the opening term; and then one in each of the second and third terms. He added two more in the last.

He'd kicked only four goals in total in 32 previous games at the top level.

The Dockers led by four points at quarter-time on the back of a long-awaited return to AFL by Harley Bennell (more on him in a minute). But when Townsend kicked his fourth, four minutes into the second half, the margin was 50 points.

After quarter-time, the Tigers booted 22 goals. Debutant Jack Graham kicked one; even Alex Rance hit the scoreboard. The Dockers managed just four in the same time.

Richmond stayed in the game early by being accurate in front of goals. They had 6.0 from nine entries into their forward line. Fremantle had 3.5 from more than 20 forays into attack.

From quarter-time though, Richmond kicked nine goals without Fremantle adding another.

In that time Kane Lambert also kicked three. Jack Riewoldt didn't convert any, but added four after half-time.

It was Fremantle's last ever game at Domain Stadium and not one of their finest.

They played 266 games at the venue for 152 wins; 235 as the home side for 137 victories.

The form of Nat Fyfe is also something that would have Dockers fans hopeful of a return to form in 2018. In the absence of Michael Walters and Lachie Neale, a lot was left to Fyfe  and he didn't disappoint, with 30 possessions.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/richmond-v-fremantle-tigers-roar-to-big-win-in-the-west-20170820-gy0ejv.html