VFL Tigers tick another boxBrenton Mann
AFL Media
May 5, 2019 6:01PMThe VFL Tigers have broken a 112-year hoodoo after recording a 51-point, “Richmond-like” win over Williamstown on Sunday afternoon.
Richmond was relentless, disciplined and stingy, holding Williamstown goalless in the first and third quarters, eventually prevailing, 12.13 (85) to 4.10 (34).
This was a scalp Richmond had been searching for, after breaking new ground this year with fighting wins over Casey at Casey and Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Richmond set-up the win with a three-goal opening quarter and sealed it with a scintillating five-goal blitz in the third term.
A win at Williamstown is unchartered waters for the Tigers, and the visitors knew the little things were going to matter if they were going to achieve the result.
The stiff Hobsons’ Bay south-westerly welcomed the Tigers and didn’t lend itself to pretty football, however the players embraced the conditions, with broad smiles on their faces.
The smiles were made broader when Jake Aarts roved the ball to perfection off a forward-50 stoppage, scooting in for the opening goal.
The news got better for the Tigers after Dan Butler scrambled on the goalline for his first goal of the game, handing the visitors a 13-point buffer with the breeze.
Emerging dasher, Patrick Naish ensured that Richmond went into quarter-time justly rewarded for its dominance.
Naish happily accepted a 50-metre penalty which drew him within scoring range and pierced through his set-shot from the arc.
If not for errant kicking - 3.7 for the quarter - the Tigers’ lead would have been far greater than 24 points at the first change.
Flint-hard on-ballers Jacob Townsend, Riley Collier-Dawkins and Jacob Ballard flexed their muscle around the stoppages, allowing Richmond to take the ascendency through the midfield.
Collectively, Richmond defended Downer Oval superbly throughout the first quarter, holding Williamstown goalless.
The man who led the rearguard action was imperious defender, Ryan Garthwaite.
Garthwaite continually spoiled, swatted and thwarted Williamstown’s thrusts forward and he was handsomely supported by fellow key backs, Hugh Beasley and Ben Miller.
While the key backs controlled the air, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith swooped on anything that hit the deck and repelled with his penetrating left boot.
Eggmolesse-Smith won’t be rushed into a rash decision or hack kick, and plays with calmness and clarity.
The dashing half-back played his best game for the club the day after turning 21, showing AFL-standard poise and precision.
He and Naish added the flash and dash on the outside, which was invaluable in the tricky conditions.
Williamstown kicked with the breeze in the second term and capitalised immediately.
Ex-Tiger, and Seagulls’ skipper, Adam Marcon walked into an open goal after a defensive mix-up by Richmond in the goalsquare.
The locals found a bit of voice, but the Tigers were unflustered and held firm.
Mabior Chol kicked Richmond’s only goal of the second term after converting his set-shot from 20 meters out, directly in front.
Chol read the flight of the ball superbly, snuck behind his opponent, marked on his chest uncontested, then slotted the set-shot against the breeze.
The Tigers withstood all the Seagulls could muster in the second term, then ignited the blowtorch in the third quarter.
Richmond banged and crashed its way through congestion, surging the ball forward at will and took its chances when they presented.
Aarts was again the igniter, grasping a loose ground ball and snapping his second.
Ballard put in his best performance for the year, utilising his hulking frame to snap truly on his left.
Naish then sent a cruise missile onto the chest of Chol, who coolly slotted his second, extending the Tigers’ lead to 41 points.
Butler then scooted in for his second goal of the day after some brilliant bullocking work from Ivan Soldo in defensive 50.
Blake Grewar capped off a match-winning quarter for the Tigers, after he used his nous and aggression to snap truly on his left.
The margin was 55 points at the final change, which turned out to be insurmountable.
Williamstown drew first blood in the last term, but Aarts hit right back for the Tigers.
He was dynamic and industrious all day, finishing with an equal game-high three goals.
By the time Butler scorched into an open goal, to kick his third, a Richmond victory was cemented after 23 Richmond men played their hearts out from siren-to-siren.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2019-05-05/vfl-tigers-tick-another-box
