Author Topic: Media articles & stats: Tigers edge past Power in tough slog  (Read 622 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Tigers edge past Power in tough slog

By Ben Somerford
AFL Media
9 June 2022


RICHMOND         5.2   6.4   8.5   11.11 (77)
PORT ADELAIDE  2.1   5.2   8.4    10.5 (65)

GOALS
Richmond: Clarke 2, Martin 2, Graham, D.Rioli, McIntosh, Riewoldt, Balta, Gibcus, Baker
Port Adelaide: Marshall 3, Amon, Dixon, Wines, Finlayson, Farrell, Powell-Pepper, Rozee

BEST
Richmond: Prestia, Baker, Cotchin, Vlastuin, Graham, Nankervis
Port Adelaide: Boak, Marshall, Houston, Amon, Wines, Burton

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Port Adelaide: Dumont (ankle), Jonas (head), Butters (head)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Kane Lambert (unused)
Port Adelaide: Martin Frederick (replaced Dumont in the third quarter)

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Richmond has moved into the top eight after edging past Port Adelaide by 12 points in a tough slog at the MCG on Thursday night.

The Tigers burst out of the blocks to open a 19-point lead at the first change, thanks largely to debutant Judson Clarke who booted two goals with his first two kicks in the AFL.

The Tigers, who surrendered a 33-point lead in their last game against Sydney, led by as much as 26 points in the second term, yet the Power got their noses ahead after Sam Powell-Pepper's goal early in a see-sawing final quarter.

After Josh Gibcus had restored Richmond's lead and Shai Bolton missed a handful of golden opportunities to give the Tigers a two-kick cushion, Connor Rozee put through a running goal to close again within three points.

But Richmond's ruck superiority ultimately told as Toby Nankervis palmed down expertly for Liam Baker to kick the winning goal in the dying minutes.

Bolton, who finished with no goals, five behinds and one out on the full, remarkably missed the sealer running into an open goal, but it didn’t matter as Richmond won 11.11 (77) to 10.5 (65).

Baker was unrelenting with a team-high 26 disposals, while Dion Prestia was tough throughout with 25 disposals including six clearances and 12 contested possessions. Debutant Judson Clarke kicked two first-quarter goals for the Tigers with his first two kicks, while Dustin Martin finished with two majors as well.

Port's methodical style meant it dominated the possession count (378-345), with Karl Amon (29 disposals), Dan Houston (26 disposals) and Ollie Wines (26 disposals) among the chief ball-winners.

Todd Marshall was outstanding for Port with three first-half goals, while Travis Boak was gallant with a game-high nine clearances and 12 contested possessions among his 25 touches. The result leaves Port with a 5-7 record and 12th on the ladder.

In a first half full of momentum swings, Port got the early jump on the Tigers with goals to Amon and Marshall, before the home side responded with the next five majors before quarter-time, with Martin getting their first with a clinical snap, before setting up Clarke's second with a pinpoint pass.

The Tigers opened up a 26-point lead early in the second with another from Kamdyn McIntosh, before the Power responded with the next three before half-time including another two from Marshall who was causing Gibcus issues.

Richmond appeared to steady after goals from Jack Riewoldt and Noah Balta to start the third but Port wouldn’t go away, kicking the next three to close within one point at the final change after Kane Farrell's long-range shot after a Hugo Ralphsmith 50m penalty, before the final-term drama.

Port pair Zak Butters and Tom Jonas had a sickening head clash late in the final term with the game up for grabs, forcing them off the field, yet returned ahead of the final siren.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1145943/tigers-edge-past-power-in-tough-slog

Offline one-eyed

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Re: Media articles & stats: Tigers edge past Power in tough slog
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2022, 04:17:36 AM »
Tigers down Port with final flourish, Power’s season in the balance

Andrew Wu
The Age
June 10, 2022


Richmond set up a blockbuster Thursday night clash against Carlton next week after holding off Port Adelaide to storm into the eight and leave the Power’s finals prospects hanging by a thread.

After giving up a 31-point lead in Sydney two weeks ago, the Tigers again failed to put their opponent away, watching a 26-point advantage evaporate before finding a final flourish to prevail by two goals.

Only 21,757 braved a chilly night at the MCG, but there will be more than double that when they take on fierce rivals Carlton in a game that is shaping to have big ramifications on the eight.

In much-loved backman Dylan Grimes’ 200th game, the Tigers won in a manner befitting their triple-premiership milestone man. Nothing came easy as they were forced to scrap hard by a Power team that kept coming despite appearing beaten several times.

Damien Hardwick’s men are not the team they were a few years ago, but equally no team will enjoy facing them. In big moments, their key players stepped up. Dustin Martin kicked a vital goal in the last quarter, keeping his feet after his opponent fell.

Port blew their chance to reach parity and, at 5-7, face an uphill task to book another finals campaign.

Their key moment came when they lost two men and gave up a goal in the last term to Martin. Tom Jonas and Zak Butters clashed heads trying to tackle Liam Baker, spending important minutes off the field while the game was on the line.

There will likely be scrutiny from the AFL given the pair returned to the field and concussion protocols were not enacted.

Richmond’s early dominance was built on their trademark pressure around the ball. It did not matter that they were being beaten for clearances and contested ball. All five of their goals in the first quarter came from turnovers.

Such was the heat put on Port, panicked Power players regularly dumped long kicks inside 50, playing into the hands of the Tigers’ numbers behind the ball.

It was not until red time in the second quarter when Ken Hinkley’s men belatedly cracked the Tigers’ code, deploying a more thoughtful and patient approach to goal. They had the smarts by switching play to widen the Tigers’ zone and the skill to find players leading into the pockets of space created.

Richmond’s era was not built on stoppage work but Port’s contested numbers, of plus-17, and plus-70 possession count painted a worrying picture. In Marshall, who kicked three goals in the first half, Port had a forward capable of taking the game from them if they did not lift around the ball.

RUCK VALUE?
How important is a ruckman? If this game is a guide, perhaps not very. Port went into the game without a specialist ruckman, content for forwards Jeremy Finlayson and Charlie Dixon to shape up against Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo. As expected, the Tigers dominated the hitouts, but this did not translate to the clearances, which Port won 39-30. Finlayson and Dixon kicked two goals between them but Nankervis and Soldo took key marks behind the play, so arguably honours were even.

CLARKE’S DREAM START

Whatever Judson Clarke does in his career, he’s got something over Lance Franklin, Tony Lockett and Gary Ablett. Actually, make that all six members of the game’s 1000-goal club. The Tiger teen had a dream start to his debut, booting goals with his first two kicks. Only 31 players have achieved this rare feat – a list that does not include some of the game’s greatest goalkickers. Lockett, Doug Wade, Jason Dunstall and Gordon Coventry are among the 302 documented players (before this season) to have scored a goal with their first kick at senior level. Such was Clarke’s confidence, he even had the audacity to ignore Martin flying by for a handball.

Richmond set up a blockbuster Thursday night clash against Carlton next week after holding off Port Adelaide to storm into the eight and leave the Power’s finals prospects hanging by a thread.

RICHMOND 5.2 6.4 8.5 11.11 (77)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 5.2 8.4 10.5 (65)

GOALS
Richmond: Clarke 2, Martin 2, Gibcus, Rioli, Baker, McIntosh, Balta, Riewoldt, Graham
Port Adelaide: Marshall 3, Powell-Pepper, Dixon, Rozee, Amon, Finlayson, Wines, Farrell

BEST
Richmond: Prestia, Baker, Vlastuin, Short, Broad, Rioli
Port Adelaide: Marshall, Boak, Byrne-Jones, Burton, Houston

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-down-port-with-final-flourish-power-s-season-in-the-balance-20220609-p5asgc.html