Tigers vs Lions media articles

[one-eyed]

Tigers open account
10:13:05 PM Sat 22 April, 2006
Simon White
Exclusive to afl.com.au

Richmond has travelled to the Gabba and come up with a win for the second year in a row, accounting for the Brisbane Lions by 14 points to register its first win of 2006 on Saturday night.

In a game in which goals were at a premium, the Tigers tore the contest open in the third quarter with six majors to the Lions' one. As the hosts struggled to piece together an effective passage of play, Richmond took a 31-point advantage into three-quarter-time, having had the last nine scoring shots.

Richmond had no shortage of contributors, with 14 Tigers picking up 15 or more possessions. Greg Tivendale and Mark Coughlan led the list with 25 and 24 apiece, while Brett Deledio (18 disposals) caught the eye with his pace and poise. Four goals from Matthew Richardson and three from Greg Stafford were important.

For the Lions, Jonathan Brown continued his excellent start to the season with 19 possessions, 11 marks and two goals. Luke Power had a quiet start but never stopped trying and had 12 of his 27 disposals in the third quarter when the chips were down. Simon Black (20 touches) was another Lion to do his reputation no harm.

The Lions registered the first goal of the second half just three minutes into term three when Daniel Bradshaw got on the end of a precise Black foot pass. But it was all Tigers for the rest of the quarter and Richardson's effort to force a contest against Michael Voss - a piece of play that led to Stafford's second goal of the game - was indicative of the way Richmond surged ahead.

Even then the Tigers had to weather a last-quarter Lions storm, as the home side kicked the first four goals after three-quarter-time. Richmond, however, was able to counter, with two goals from Richardson - the second a great slot from the boundary line after a costly turnover by Jared Brennan at the opposite end - proving particularly crucial.

Further goals to Greg Stafford, his third of a solid evening, and Kane Johnson put the seal on a 14.12 (96) to 11.16 (82) victory.

Earlier, the Lions had taken a one-point lead into the long break after a first half that showcased some of the best and worst that AFL football has to offer on a perfect Brisbane night in front of 30,266 fans.

There were high points - Lions defender Chris Johnson's first quarter screamer and a bone-crushing and spectacular collision between Mal Michael and Richmond skipper Johnson - but they were offset by ordinary conversion from both sides.

Between them the two sides kicked a combined 8.17 to half-time and, at one stage midway through term two, 11 set shots at goal had netted a meagre 2.9.

The Lions looked perhaps the more dangerous of the two sides but, just as was the case against Essendon at the Gabba a fortnight ago, struggled to translate inside-50s into goals. Thankfully for the home side, Richmond didn't display the same finishing instincts as the Bombers did, ensuring the game remained a tight affair.

The Lions scored the first goal of the contest, Jonathan Brown avoiding a collision with captain Michael Voss to mark and split the big sticks from close range. Richmond fans may well have found themselves wondering how two of the Lions' biggest names found themselves 25m in the clear in front of goal.

But the Tigers hit back almost immediately when Stafford - a late inclusion to replace pre-game withdrawal Nathan Brown - worked into good front position and marked Ray Hall's tumbling punt into the forward line.

From that point, neither team managed another goal for more than half an hour, with Bradshaw eventually breaking the drought with a set shot six minutes into term two.

The game sprang into life, quite literally, midway through term two when Michael leapt high to mark while at the same time smashing into the oncoming Johnson. Brennan stood on an opponent's head while attempting to mark and Daniel Merrett provided the Lions' third goal after an excellent tackle induced a throw from the Richmond defence.

A goal from Matthew Moody - the Lions' late replacement for Clark Keating - gave the home side a fourth major and a third for the second quarter but Richmond refused to go away and was rewarded late on when Richardson kicked truly to reduce the half-time deficit to a single point.

BRISBANE LIONS: 1.6 4.9 5.10 11.16 (82)
RICHMOND: 1.4 4.8 10.11 14.12 (96)

GOALS - Brisbane Lions: Bradshaw 2, Brown 2, Power 2, Attard, Hooper, Merrett, Moody, Sherman
Richmond: Richardson 4, Stafford 3, P.Bowden, Jackson, Johnson, Pettifer, Simmonds, Tambling, Tuck

BEST - Brisbane Lions: Power, Brown, Charman, Sherman
Richmond: Richardson, Simmonds, Coughlan, Tuck, Stafford, Tivendale, Bowden

INJURIES - Brisbane Lions:
Richmond:

CHANGES - Brisbane Lions: Keating (foot) replaced in selected side by Moody
Richmond: Brown (leg soreness) and Krakouer (TBC) replaced in selected side by Stafford and Foley

REPORTS -
UMPIRES - Donlon, Rosebury, Wenn
CROWD - 30,266 at Gabba

http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=259851

[one-eyed]

Ravaged Tigers crash Gabba fortress
23 April 2006   
Sunday Herald Sun
Jackie Epstein

THE Gabba fortress has been knocked down by a rejuvenated Tigers outfit that breathed life back into their season last night.
 
Ravaged by a growing injury toll, Richmond recorded one of its bravest and most important victories as it stared at a 0-4 start to the season.

The scrappy and, at times, ugly 14-point win against the odds could prove to be a defining moment under the reign of coach Terry Wallace.

Having only won two quarters in three matches, the Tigers blew the game apart with a six-goal third quarter that was eventually enough for them to hold on.

The Lions had become a rabble as the young team fumbled and missed targets in a display that shocked the home crowd.

But the Lions regrouped in the final quarter to conjure the first four goals to get within seven points.

It looked like the Tigers might be swamped and left heartbroken, but they managed to steady through the brilliance of Matthew Richardson and the endless running of their midfield.

Sweetening victory for the Tigers was the fact they were so depleted.

Already without Trent Knobel, Darren Gaspar, Will Thursfield, Mark Chaffey, Jay Schulz and Tom Roach, the Tigers also lost Nathan Brown and Andrew Krakouer before the game.

Brown was touch and go, but after gathering only two possessions last week, it was decided yesterday morning to rest the star playmaker.

The team was also coming off a trip to Perth, compared to the Lions' nine-day break after losing to St Kilda at the start of the Easter round.

Full credit has to go to the never-say-die Tigers, who left no doubt about the importance of the win with their celebrations when the siren sounded.

Richardson was inspiring, as were the efforts of Mark Coughlan, ruckman Troy Simmonds and Greg Tivendale. Stafford was an important inclusion, giving the Tigers another option inside 50 and testing the Lions' inexperienced defence.

It took three quarters for the Tigers to finally piece their game together.

Earlier inaccuracy blighted the game with both teams guilty of missing simple shots on a warm night. The Tigers had more of the ball and were winning the hard contests.

If they had used it better by hand and foot they could have forged a healthy lead. The Lions' ability to hit a target was the difference in the first half against a side, which struggled with its kicking, but the exciting Richard Tambling came on and made a difference.

The Tigers hit the front at the 17-minute mark of the second quarter when Richardson goaled. But the Lions answered back until "Richo" chimed in again with a long bomb just before half-time.

With only a point separating the teams at the main break it looked like anyone's game.

But a moment of brilliance by Richardson, when he dived on the ball and outpointed Michael Voss, inspired his teammates and gave them momentum for the third term burst.

It resulted in a goal to Stafford, but in keeping with recent trends we saw the best and worst of Richo when he failed to convert a free kick in front. But it mattered little because his teammates were lifting their intensity.

The match-ups were also starting to become a worry. Joel Bowden must have been wondering what he did to deserve a night on the hungry Jonathan Brown. He was giving away 7cm and 11kg and often ended up in no man's land.

With Clark Keating a late withdrawal, Daniel Merrett was used as a back-up ruckman to Jamie Charman.

But Simmonds stretched the pair with his athleticism and constant running into space in attack.

It all started to unravel for the Lions, with Charman frustrated and fighting off the ball with Stafford, and Jason Akermanis giving away a 50m penalty for mouthing off at the umpire.

It was hard to find a solid four-quarter contributor for the Lions, except for Luke Power, Brown and Simon Black.

Captain Kane Johnson summed it up best after the game when he said: "It's been a very frustrating start for us and to come up here and beat Brisbane has given the side a lot of confidence and character.

"We've played good footy, but just little lapses in confidence cost us."

With only one win on the board the pressure will mount on the Lions, while the Tigers can enjoy a week's rest from the spotlight.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18900105%255E20322,00.html

[one-eyed]

Richo leads Tigers to win
By Andrew Stafford, Brisbane
The Age
April 23, 2006

A Matthew Richardson-inspired Richmond showed spirit and stamina for its first win of the season last night, rolling the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba for the second successive time.

In a fast, physical clash, the Tigers overcame the pre-match loss of Nathan Brown - and a draw that saw them travel from Perth to Brisbane inside six days - to win by 14 points, 14.12 (96) to 11.16 (82). The Lions were again left to rue their inaccuracy after just one goal from seven scoring shots by quarter-time. But they were spared by the Tigers, who were as culpable with four behinds.

Jonathan Brown looked as if he might be the difference between the sides early on, taking eight marks in the first-half and crashing through packs.

Richmond captain Kane Johnson was lucky to escape with only a dislocated finger after a heavy collision with Mal Michael in the second quarter.

But after an even contest, the third quarter was all Richmond. An early goal to Daniel Bradshaw put the Lions a goal up, and then they went to sleep. Richmond seized control, and a running goal from Shane Tuck kicked off six unanswered majors.

Instrumental in the Tigers' charge was Richardson, whose influence began to mirror Brown's earlier efforts. When he ran down the ball and Michael Voss, regaining his feet to set up Stafford for a goal, the Tigers were a goal up. Richardson followed up by duffing a shot from 25 out, but when Troy Simmonds made amends minutes later, the Tigers had a firm grip.

The Lions, however, were not lying down, even when 31 points down. Michael was shifted onto Richardson, replacing Wayde Mills. Justin Sherman goaled, and Luke Power nailed a snap from the boundary line. It was 13 points when Jayden Attard was on the end of a throw from Jamie Charman, and the Tigers looked to be wilting when Brown kicked another. But it was Richardson who steadied for the Tigers. Opposed to Michael, Richardson drilled his third.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/04/22/1145344321555.html

[one-eyed]

All not what it seems at Gabba
24 April 2006   Herald Sun

PERCEPTIONS. They deceive us year after year.

Perception 1: The Brisbane Lions will win because they're playing at the Gabba.
 
That is a perception not reality these days.

Perception 2: Richmond is no good because it lost its first three games.

That was a perception born of knee-jerk conclusions.

Midway through Round 4, Richmond's formline suddenly looks much healthier.

It has a win over Brisbane at the Gabba, and the Bulldogs, St Kilda and West Coast, its first three opponents, have won 10 of a possible 11 games between them.

There can't have been a tougher start to 2006 than the Bulldogs and the Saints at Telstra Dome and West Coast in Perth, although Adelaide might argue the point after playing in Melbourne, on the Gold Coast, and in Perth in 19 days.

Now to realities, and it is beyond question the Brisbane era has closed.

The Lions have one win from four games, a mere 45 goals and a percentage of 74.5.

That's a bleak situation that will darken further next Saturday night when they face the West Coast at Subiaco Oval.

They are rebuilding, a process started by necessity last year when there were so many injuries.

They have seven players who had their first taste at senior level in 2005, and have introduced another five this year.

Three others who were tried for the first time last year departed between seasons.

That's 15 debutants in 26 rounds; that is a changing of the guard by anyone's definition.

It is an inevitable consequence of the magnificent run from 1999-2004, when the Lions played finals every year and won three premierships from four Grand Finals.

Every empire crumbles at some point. Brisbane's decline is indisputable after 11 wins and 15 losses in 2005-06.

The latest loss came in circumstances that would have been fanciful two years ago. The Lions were storming home after an unprecedented public rev from Leigh Matthews at three-quarter time, they cut the margin from 31 points to seven, and got done by 14.

The fire in the belly, the hard running, the belief was dressed in black and yellow this time.

Appropriately, the hero was Matthew Richardson, who has seen Brisbane climb and fall. He kicked two late goals and four for the match.

So, the Tigers finally are up and running.

They play Carlton at the MCG on Friday night and, just to illustrate how quickly things can change, could be outside the eight on percentage if they win.

Consider this scenario: Richmond beats Carlton and Sydney beats Geelong; Richmond and Geelong share the same number of premiership points after five rounds.

That's the thing about teams coached by Terry Wallace, they can bounce back from seemingly hopeless situations.

Spin or not, he can convince his players they're capable of doing things even they might have thought beyond them.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18905687%255E20123,00.html

[one-eyed]

Round four ponderings
7:31:07 PM Sun 23 April, 2006
Paul Gough
Exclusive to afl.com.au

Coach of the week:

TERRY WALLACE (Richmond) - The Tigers had endured a difficult start to the season with three straight losses but Wallace kept a cool head throughout, something that hasn't always been apparent at Punt Road when the pressure has been on over the past two decades.

As Wallace had pointed out the Tigers - in losing to the Bulldogs, St Kilda and West Coast in the opening three matches - had only been beaten by teams that had also beaten them last year so it wasn't as if his team had suddenly slipped backwards after last year's improvement from 16th to 12th.

And Wallace's vindication in his players proved well-founded on Saturday night when they upset Brisbane at the Gabba - for the second year running - to record their first win of the season.

There were plenty of promising signs for the Tigers with Greg Tivendale and Mark Coughlan showing a big improvement in form while the return of Greg Stafford (three goals) gave the Tigers' attack much more potency and helped take the pressure off Matthew Richardson, who was back to his brilliant best with four goals, while Troy Simmonds looks a much better player in the ruck compared to the one which struggled last year as a key forward.

And with matches against last year's wooden spooners Carlton and an Essendon side that will struggle to replace the injured Matthew Lloyd in the next two weeks - both at the MCG - the Tigers season suddenly looks a lot brighter than it did just a week ago.

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=259976