Tigers comfortably defeat Swans
10:39:33 PM Sat 11 March, 2006
Andrew Browne at Carrara
Exclusive to afl.com.au
Richmond has continued its positive build-up to the premiership season by easily defeating the Sydney Swans by 40 points in their NAB Challenge match at Carrara on Saturday night.
Following a slow and inaccurate start, the Tigers - through their tall and more effective forward line - eventually overcame a slightly disappointing performance by the reigning premiers to triumph 13.11.(89) to 7.7.(49) with spearhead Matthew Richardson booting four goals and big man Greg Stafford two.
The Swans remain winless during the 2006 pre-season and remarkably have now lost 13 pre-season matches under Paul Roos since he took over the coaching job in 2002.
The Tigers established a 16-point lead by half-time courtesy of two quick goals to Richardson - who proved a handful for former Essendon player Ted Richards - at the top of the quarter and then late goals to Kayne Pettifer and Nathan Brown gave them the momentum at the main break.
An even third term saw both teams score three goals apiece before the Tigers broke away to a six-goal lead at the start of the final quarter with three goals in as many minutes to Coughlan, Stafford and Richardson to put the game beyond the Swans' reach.
Brown would be pleased with his form in his second game back since breaking his leg last season with coach Terry Wallace confident enough to give him a bit of time on the ball as well as around the goals underneath the taller forwards Richardson, Stafford and young improver Daniel Jackson.
Besides Richardson and Stafford up front, the Tigers were well served by players such as Kayne Pettifer, Shane Tuck and Richard Tambling who were amongst 25 players and an interchange bench used like a revolving door by Wallace in the confidence-boosting hit-out.
The Swans had few players who stood out, especially after half-time but Luke Ablett, Ryan O'Keefe and defender Craig Bolton could hold their heads high.
Michael O'Loughlin, playing his first game since last year's grand final, was given a solid work out by Roos by spending all but a few minutes of each quarter on the field. He at times ventured away from the goal square where he picked several touches up the field and will no doubt benefit from the run.
Besides the Tigers' poor kicking for goal, the opening term was marred by a sickening collision between Swans utility Nic Fosdike and Tiger young gun Brett Deledio on Richmond's half-forward line just prior to the break.
Both players showed tremendous courage as a high ball was kicked from a centre bounce after second-year player Adam Pattison had finally shown his more experienced Tiger teammates how to kick straight following six behinds - all from set shots.
Fosdike ran in from the wing with pace and Deledio from the forward line when the players met heavily. The Swans player was momentarily knocked out and with blood streaming from a broken nose, was carried off on a stretcher and took no further part in the game.
Deledio showed no ill effects from the clash to stay on the ground and be useful contributor along with fellow youngsters Brent Hartigan and Nathan Foley who displayed plenty of dash and Andrew Raines, who no doubt enjoyed kicking a goal in the final term in his return to the Gold Coast in front of family and friends.
For their final tune-ups before the premiership season, the Swans will attempt to regain some winning form against St Kilda in Newcastle next Saturday while the Tigers meet Essendon in Mildura on Friday night.
While the crowd of 6277 did not match the figure from the opening NAB Cup game between the Brisbane Lions and Essendon for the second match scheduled at Carrara in 2006, Gold Coasters will receive a bonus next week with confirmation the Lions will play Collingwood in an NAB Challenge match at the venue next Saturday night.
SYDNEY: 2.1, 3.3, 6.4, 7.7 (49)
RICHMOND: 1.6, 5.7, 8.10, 13.11 (89)
GOALS -
Sydney: Hall 3, O'Keefe, Ablett, Malceski, Davis
Richmond: Richardson 4 Stafford 2, Brown, Pattison, Pettifer, Hyde, Coughlan, Tuck, Raines
BEST -
Sydney : O'Keefe, Ablett, Hall, C.Bolton
Richmond: Richardson, Pettifer, Tuck, Tivendale, Hartigan
INJURIES -
Sydney: Fosdike (broken nose and corked thigh) Barry (bruised shoulder)
Richmond: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: McLaren, McKenzie, Davis, Jeffery
CROWD: 6277 at Carrara
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