Media articles and stats: Tigers storm back into town with win over Hawks

[one-eyed]

Match report: Tigers storm back into town

Ben Collins
afl.com.au
Apr 8, 2018 3:50PM

RICHMOND    5.3    8.7    12.11    15.12 (102)
HAWTHORN    2.4    5.6    7.8    13.11 (89)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Castagna 3, Higgins 2, Grigg, Edwards, Nankervis, Lloyd, McIntosh, Butler
Hawthorn: Roughead 4, Puopolo 3, Breust 3, Rioli, Mitchell, O'Meara

BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Conca, Houli, Vlastuin, Rance, Martin
Hawthorn: Mitchell, McEvoy, Smith, Roughead, Gunston

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Rosebury, Hosking

Official crowd: 70,701 at the MCG

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RICHMOND'S premiership defence is back on track after a hard-fought 13-point win over the previously unbeaten Hawthorn in sweltering conditions at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers led virtually all day, extending their advantage to a game-high 39 points early in the last quarter before Hawthorn closed to within 14 points with just under three minutes left.

After copping a hiding from Adelaide in the Grand Final rematch at the Adelaide Oval, the reigning premier finally held out against another potential premiership contender, winning 15.12 (102) to 13.11 (89) in front of a record crowd for the two clubs of 70,701.

However, the Tigers will sweat on high contact by star defender Alex Rance on Luke Breust late in the game, which saw the Hawks forward dazed.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was disappointed with the way his team played out the game, saying they played it too safe, but was generally happy with the effort.

"Where we had to defend hard and fast, I thought we did that really, really well," Hardwick said post-match.

"Overall, I was pretty happy with our endeavour in and around the contest, which was much improved over last week.

"We've still got a little bit of work to do in that area of our game though, which is another exciting prospect for me to get us better."

Hawthorn counterpart Alastair Clarkson was proud of his players' efforts to come home hard after being well beaten.

"We fell a bit short, particularly early, but we're really pleased that we ran the game out. That should give us a bit of hope," Clarkson said.

On an afternoon when the mercury reached 30 degrees – which highlighted Richmond's 10-day preparation compared to Hawthorn's six – both teams brought their defensive heat.

However, Richmond sustained it for longer and simply had too much run and class, conquering a Hawthorn unit that seems to have mimicked its own high-pressure style based around pacy small men.

After a jittery opening, the Tigers established an early advantage when they rattled on five of six goals either side of the first break to lead by 26 points in the second term.

Just when Richmond threatened to blow the game open, the Hawks fought back, gaining momentum in the latter part of the second term, but their forward entries were too easily picked off by Tiger defenders David Astbury and Alex Rance.

By half-time Hawthorn had dominated the clearances 25-10 – six of them to the ever-prolific Tom Mitchell, who finished with a game-high 42 possessions and 12 clearances – but hadn't achieved enough penetration, trailing in the inside 50s 25-28.

The Hawks were more incisive early in the third term when they twice closed to within 13 points, before the Tigers upped their intensity and piled on the next four goals to lead by a game-high 39 points. Although they conceded five of the last six goals, the four points were as good as theirs.

Richmond's runners were irrepressible, and none were better than dashing defender Bachar Houli, who set up numerous forward thrusts in an accomplished display.

Skipper Trent Cotchin was typically tiger-hearted, Kamdyn McIntosh helped get his team going in the first half and although superstar Dustin Martin wasn't at his absolute best from a Brownlow Medal perspective, at times he seemed to have a hand in everything in a predominantly forward role.

Jack Riewoldt slotted four goals, including a late steadier, in a composed performance.

Richmond's defence was superbly served by Rance, Astbury and the returning Nick Vlastuin.

For Hawthorn, along with Mitchell, ruckman Ben McEvoy had the better of Toby Nankervis, Ben Stratton battled valiantly in defence and Jack Gunston had his moments in a roaming role.

The Hawks sorely missed veteran Shaun Burgoyne (hamstring), who was sidelined for the first time in almost five years, and fellow playmaker James Sicily (suspended).

Another highlight was the debut of diminutive Tiger forward Jack Higgins, who appears certain to become a cult figure, kicking two goals, the second being an instinctive volley out of mid-air.

MEDICAL ROOM

Richmond: The Tigers enjoyed a clean bill of health.

Hawthorn: Tim O'Brien went into the rooms in the second quarter with a right leg issue but soon returned. Luke Breust copped a knock from Alex Rance while marking late in the last quarter and took some time to regain his feet but didn't seem to suffer any ill effects.

NEXT UP
The Tigers return to the MCG next Saturday to host the Brisbane Lions, while the Hawks face Melbourne on the hallowed turf the next day.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-08/match-report-richmond-v-hawthorn

[one-eyed]

Foot down: Tigers' speed too great for Hawks

Jon Pierik
The Age
9 April 2018

This is a Richmond side full of confidence and run. The Hawks dominated the clearances 39-31 but the Tigers' outside run was the difference, whether that be through the middle of the ground or inside attacking 50. They added to their stocks this round when Jack Higgins debuted, and his two exciting goals - the second a stunning mid-air volley, having the read the flight of the ball from a Jason Castagna spoil - showed the Tigers are on to another good thing.

The Hawks did challenge but whenever they made inroads, the Tigers always responded - as the Hawks had so often done during their premiership years.

"I was probably disappointed at stages in the last quarter. We had a 30-point lead at various stages. Sometimes you can probably try and protect the game a little bit too much. It's a good learning curve for us," Hardwick said.

Alex Rance was superb in defence, his ability to intercept crucial. He had a handful of intercept marks in the first half, in part benefiting from the Hawks' willingness to bomb the ball in. However, his late spoil on Luke Breust in the shadows of full-time is likely to be scrutinised by match review officer Michael Christian.

The Hawks began with sharpshooter Jack Gunston in defence, possibly because of James Sicily's absence through suspension. This meant they were weakened inside attacking 50 but it did not prompt a change from Alastair Clarkson, even when the contest began to slip away in the third term.

What had kept the Hawks in the game in the first half was their 25-10 dominance at clearances, with three goals flowing from centre bounces. Yet through their speed and ball movement, the Tigers were able to dash from half-back and then lock the ball inside attacking 50. This allowed small forwards Higgins, Castagna and Dan Butler to get involved, while Jack Riewoldt was also a factor with four goals, having the better of James Frawley.

Dustin Martin had a relatively modest 21 possessions but they were incisive. He had a direct hand in at least five of the Tigers' opening seven goals when the game was on the line and was a threat thereafter.

"It was one of his quieter ones. He still contributes because he is a good player and attracts two or three opponents at various stages," Hardwick said.

While ball magnet Tom Mitchell continued his outstanding start to the season, what the Tigers did well was limit those around him. There was no hard tag on Mitchell, with Trent Cotchin, who had 30 touches of his own, Martin and Shane Edwards having moments through the first half when the Hawk had 21 touches, including six clearances. Jack Graham was given the job after the main break but Mitchell maintained his dominance, finishing with 42 disposals - his third straight week of at least 40 touches -12 clearances and eight tackles.

However, the Hawks needed more from Jaegar O'Meara, Isaac Smith and even Cyril Rioli, for they would have only six goalkickers.

Supporters were left bewildered early in the second term when the goal umpire called for a video review of a point awarded to the Tigers. Replays showed Blake Hardwick had touched the ball ahead of Castagna, so it was a point. Yet when verdict was shown on the big screen, it was declared a goal. Players were stunned. So were the umpires, who appeared to double check, and the decision was reversed.

Play resumed, and the Tigers had plenty to cheer about five minutes later when Higgins drilled his first career goal. And did he celebrate. Having marked a probing pass from Martin in the forward pocket in front of the Tiger Army, Higgins played on and snapped successfully. His exuberant celebrations were a sight to behold, a boy living out his dream.

This extended the Tigers' lead to four goals but the Hawks would not go away and were within striking distance at the main break.

The Tigers were thumped in contested possessions by the Crows but rebounded with a harder edge. That was crucial in the final term when the Hawks again threatened, with Jarryd Roughead leading the charge. However, their fight, which began when they were 39 points behind, was to no avail, although it did please Clarkson.

"We were really pleased that we ran the game out. That should give us a bit of hope. They are a good side. They won the flag last year for a reason," he said.

"We knew that they were really going to serve it up this particular game. Towards the end of the third quarter, the whole crowd, including our coaches box, thought: 'Gee, this could be anything from a two-or-three-goal loss to a 10-goal loss' but, to the credit of our players, we turned it into a two-goal loss, which is a pleasing aspect of the game today."

Votes:
Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn) 9
Alex Rance (Richmond) 8
Trent Cotchin (Richmond) 8
Bachar Houli (Richmond) 7
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) 7

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/foot-down-tigers-speed-too-great-for-hawks-20180408-p4z8e0.html