Media articles & stats: Tigers get win over improved Eagles

[one-eyed]

Tigers get the win but hamstring downs Dusty

Howard Kimber
AAP
3 July 2022

RICHMOND       4.2    11.4    15.5     20.8 (128)
WEST COAST    2.4     5.6     11.11    13.15 (93)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Baker 2, Bolton 2, Edwards 2, Lynch 2, McIntosh 2, Pickett 2, Castagna, Gibcus, Martin, M.Rioli, D.Rioli
West Coast: Cripps 3, Kelly 2, Darling, Naitanui, Petruccelle, Rioli, Ryan, Trew, Waterman, West

BEST
Richmond: D.Rioli, Pickett, Baker, Broad, Short, Vlastuin
West Coast: Kelly, Naitanui, Cripps, Shuey, Barass, Redden

INJURIES
Richmond: Martin (hamstring)
West Coast: Yeo (hamstring)

MEDICAL SUBS
Richmond: Kane Lambert, replaced Dustin Martin in the third quarter
West Coast: Sam Petrevski-Seton, replaced Elliot Yeo in the third quarter

ATTENDANCE
39,391 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

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RICHMOND has overcome the loss of superstar Dustin Martin to a hamstring injury in an important 35-point win over West Coast.

The Tigers moved back into the top-eight after riding a third-quarter challenge to prevail 20.8 (128) to 13.15 (93) at the MCG on Sunday.

Daniel Rioli (28 disposals), Jayden Short (21) and Marlion Pickett (25) were strong contributors for Richmond, who leapfrogged Sydney and St Kilda into seventh spot on percentage.

Martin looked slick with 17 disposals, eight score involvements, four clearances and 359 metres gained before leaving the field during the third term.

He failed a fitness test on the boundary line and was substituted out with what the club described as "hamstring awareness".

Both sides were a man down when West Coast lost injury-plagued utility Elliot Yeo to a more serious hamstring issue at about the same stage of the match.

The lowly Eagles got a lift out of Nic Naitanui's return from a knee injury, with Tim Kelly (40 disposals, nine clearances) and Luke Shuey (26, 11) busy at the ruck star's feet.

Naitanui was influential at stoppages, finishing with 19 disposals, 26 hit-outs and six clearances as the Eagles won the clearance battle 45-31.

Kelly capped a superb individual display with two goals and Jamie Cripps kicked three.

Richmond had more firepower in attack, sharing the scoring load and making the most of its chances.

Jack Riewoldt kicked three goals while Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards, Tom Lynch, Kamdyn McIntosh, Liam Baker and Pickett slotted two each.

It was a scrappy opening, plagued with a series of skill errors by foot from both sides.

Martin and Daniel Rioli were exceptions as their slick ball use helped the Tigers kick the final four goals of the first half to lead by 34 points at the main break.

They increased the advantage to as much as 39 points before the Eagles enjoyed a brief period of dominance after Martin and Yeo went off.

The visitors kicked 6.5 to 4.1 for the third quarter and an upset was on the cards when debutant Zane Trew calmly converted a free kick to cut the margin to 11 points.

But Richmond steadied through Liam Baker after Naitanui's tangle with Ivan Soldo off the ball resulted in Shannon Hurn's defensive mark being turned into a Richmond free kick close to goal.

Eagles forward Jack Darling out-muscled Josh Gibcus to kick an early goal but was kept fairly quiet in his 250th game.

Just when everything looked back on track

Richmond's return to form has been done with minimum input from superstar Dustin Martin, but if the Tigers are going to be a threat in September they need their finals specialist back at his best. Dusty impressed from the outset on Sunday and finished the first half with 17 disposals and eight score involvements. Then everything went awry, with the three-time Norm Smith medalist being subbed out early in the third quarter with 'hamstring awareness'. Damien Hardwick and 100,000 Richmond fans will be hoping it's nothing more than that.

It's marvelous what a difference Nic Nat makes

As many stars as the Eagles have had on the sidelines this year, there's no doubt Nic Naitanui's absence has hurt them the most. With the athletic big man back and dominating in the ruck, West Coast comfortably won the clearances 45-31 against Richmond and only benefitted further from the other magical moments he brings, like the long snap off the wrong boot in the first quarter that got his teammates up and about. Nic Nat and the Eagles may yet cause plenty of pain to finals aspirants over the next seven rounds.

Old Eagle just might have made the difference

West Coast had more inside 50s and more scoring shots than Richmond, but failed to make the most of its forward forays, leaving fans to question the wisdom of 'managing' 33-year-old Josh Kennedy to spare him the four-hour flight. It's standard practice to rest veterans in the modern game, but with Jack Riewoldt, also 33, slotting three goals at the other end of the ground there is a strong argument to suggest a club should simply put its best side on the park every week. Kennedy's cool head and accurate boot might have made a big difference as the Eagles surged in the third quarter.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/792217/tigers-get-the-win-but-hamstring-downs-dusty

[one-eyed]

Dustin Martin hamstrung in Tigers’ key win over Eagles

Damien Ractliffe
The Age
July 4, 2022

Richmond have shaken off a spirited West Coast at the MCG on Sunday, but star midfielder Dustin Martin was sidelined in the win, subbed out after half-time with a hamstring complaint.

The club said Martin, who was the most prolific player on the ground in the first half, had “hamstring awareness” at the main break.

He was subbed out midway through the third term for Kane Lambert, and his omission appeared to change the game, with West Coast winning eight of 11 centre clearances in the third term to cut a 39-point deficit to as close as 11 points.

But the Tigers found a way to hold the Eagles at arm’s length.

Jack Riewoldt kicked his third goal early in the final quarter, and although the Eagles responded via Jack Petrucelle, the Tigers found further answers through Liam Baker and Tom Lynch midway through the fourth term to put an upset win for the Eagles out of reach.

Elliot Yeo was also sidelined in the third term with a hamstring strain, adding to his injury-plagued season. He missed the first month of the season with a calf injury, and has also been sidelined with concussion and under the COVID-19 protocols.

Nic Naitanui made a positive return to the Eagles’ side, however. He led the hitouts and kicked a superb goal in the second term. More importantly, Tim Kelly played his best game of the season, seemingly thriving with Naitanui service.

He finished with 40 disposals, nine clearances and 10 score involvements, and was best afield in a losing side. The Eagles did miss Josh Kennedy, however, who was managed out of the side.

Dusty on full display for a half

While the likes of Clayton Oliver, Lachie Neale, Christian Petracca, and Patrick Cripps get lauded as the best players in the competition, Martin reminded footy fans why he is arguably still the league’s No.1.

He had a clinical first half with 17 disposals - including 12 kicks, four clearances, five inside-50s, eight score involvements and a goal - showing his nous to pinpoint kicks to teammates a number of times.

But he pulled up with a tight hamstring in the early stages of the third quarter, with medical sub Kane Lambert coming on to the field midway through the term.

The Tigers meet the Suns next week in a clash that will define Gold Coast’s season.

Tigers’ new mosquito fleet

In their premiership years, the ability of Richmond’s small forwards to pressure and hit the scoreboard was arguably their greatest asset.

That was back on display on Sunday, with Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt relatively quiet in comparison in the opening half.

Dan Rioli (running off half-back), Shai Bolton and Marlion Pickett kicked three consecutive goals early in the second term to give the Tigers a bit of breathing space.

Jamie Cripps got one back for the Eagles after Shannon Hurn took an intercept mark at half-back, but Bolton got his second shortly after when he caught Jamaine Jones holding the ball.

Maurice Rioli jnr got one of his own a bit later, while winger Kamdyn McIntosh and defender Josh Gibcus also hit the board just before half-time, capitalising on forward-half turnovers.

Riewoldt and Lynch got their lick of the ice-cream in the second half, finishing with five goals between them.

Rule watch

The AFL altered its 50-metre protected area rule this weekend, waving play on when players split behind the kicker, rather than penalising the wrong-footed defender.

But the protected area remains protected, and Liam Ryan found out the hard way in the first quarter against the Tigers.

Jack Riewoldt had marked about 60 metres out for goal, when running defender Daniel Rioli ran past with Ryan on his tail. But Ryan shaped to smother Riewoldt, who looked to be playing on, but the umpire penalised Ryan and took Riewoldt to the top of the goal square for a certain goal.

Jayden Short was then penalised late in the second term for running too close to Jack Petrucelle.

RICHMOND 4.2 11.4 15.5 20.8 (128)
WEST COAST 2.4 5.6 11.11 13.15 (93)

Goals
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Baker 2, Bolton 2, Edwards 2, Lynch 2, McIntosh 2, Pickett 2, Castagna, Gibcus, Martin, M.Rioli, D.Rioli.
West Coast: Cripps 3, Kelly 2, Darling, Naitanui, Petruccelle, Rioli, Ryan, Trew, Waterman, West.

Best
Richmond: Broad, D.Rioli, Pickett, Martin, McIntosh, Vlastuin.
West Coast: Kelly, Hurn, Cripps, Naitanui, Redden.

Votes
Tim Kelly (West Coast) 8
Nathan Broad (Richmond) 7
Daniel Rioli (Richmond) 7
Marlion Pickett (Richmond) 7
Shannon Hurn (West Coast) 7

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-superstar-hamstrung-dustin-martin-subbed-out-of-eagles-clash-20220703-p5ayoq.html

[Gracie]

We made Hurn look good kicking straight to him and MRJ. Hurn marks everytime. If we are going to bail out kick to MRJ we need to kick over their heads and let MRJ's speed go to work