Media articles & stats: Tigers' season alive after thrilling win over the Lions

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Not done yet! Tigers' season alive after a thriller against Lions

An absolute classic plays out at the G as Richmond stays in the finals hunt

By Trent Masenhelder
afl.com.au
31 July 2022

RICHMOND                        2.3          5.6          11.10     15.14 (104)
BRISBANE                            7.2          11.6        13.9        14.13 (97)

GOALS
Richmond: Cumberland 5, Lynch 4, Bolton 2, Riewoldt 2, Rioli, Short
Brisbane: Hipwood 4, Daniher 3, Cameron 2, McCarthy 2, McCluggage, Rayner, Robinson

BEST
Richmond: Bolton, Lynch, Cumberland, Nankervis, Prestia, D.Rioli
Brisbane: Coleman, Neale, McCluggage, Hipwood, Cameron, Zorko

INJURIES
Richmond: Dylan Grimes (hamstring)
Brisbane: Zac Bailey (chest)

LATE CHANGES
Richmond: Nil
Brisbane: Nakia Cockatoo (replaced Brandon Starcevich in selected side)

MEDICAL SUBS
Richmond: Maurice Rioli Jnr (replaced Dylan Grimes in the third quarter)
Brisbane: Darcy Fort (replaced Zac Bailey during the second quarter)

Crowd: 30,056 at the MCG (ed. Scoreboard said 39,056)

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RICHMOND’S season is still alive after the Tigers pulled off a miraculous seven-point come-from-behind victory against Brisbane at the MCG on Sunday.

The Lions led by as many as 42 points during the second quarter and never trailed until midway through the fourth quarter.

The trademark of the Tigers’ three premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020 was pressure and that was the cornerstone of their Round 20 heroics.

With its season on the line, Richmond started the second half 36 points behind, before outscoring their opponents 10 goals to three in the 15.14 (104) to 14.13 (97) triumph.

Shai Bolton (24 touches, two goals, 12 score involvements) and Tom Lynch (four goals) were outstanding for the winners, who are in ninth, just two points behind eighth-placed St Kilda.

The Lions have now lost 11 games in succession at the MCG, with their most recent win at the venue occurring in Round 21, 2014, when they thrashed Collingwood by 67 points. Rest assured, speculation will continue to mount as to whether the Lions can win at the home of the Grand Final.

The first quarter was played at breakneck speed and yielded nine goals. Brisbane burst out of the blocks and kicked the first six goals (Joe Daniher booted three of them) to open up a 34-point lead, before Noah Cumberland sparked Richmond into action with two majors in 30 seconds. Charlie Cameron swooped on a loose ball late in the term and registered his first goal of the afternoon, and when the quarter-time sire sounded, the visitors were 29 points to the good.

After a nine-goal first quarter, the second was much of the same, with a further seven added to the scoreboard. Brisbane booted four goals, while Richmond kicked three.

The Lions continued on their merry way soon after quarter-time, with Lincoln McCarthy joining the goalkicking party after outpointing Jayden Short in a one-on-one marking contest. Cumberland was playing a lone hand up forward and his third, a snap on the left foot, was all class. Such was his effectiveness, the fifth-gamer was at times isolated as the Tigers’ deepest forward.

Already without reliable defender Brandon Starcevich, who withdrew late due to quad tightness, the Lions were dealt a further blow when Zac Bailey was subbed out midway through the second quarter after copping a knock to the chest. After coughing up blood, Bailey was taken to hospital for scans.

Keidean Coleman was wreaking havoc across half-back for Brisbane and had a game-high 20 disposals to his name at the main break, while Eric Hipwood and Daniher each had three goals.

The Tigers made the perfect start to the second half, with Cumberland adding his fourth from his fourth kick to reduce the deficit to 30 points.

Star Richmond defender Dylan Grimes played just two minutes of the second half; he was subbed out due to a hamstring problem.

The Tigers threw caution to the wind after half-time, playing with a lot more dash and dare, and their willingness to take the game on saw them close to within 11 points at the final change.

Richmond piled on six goals in the third term (three to Tom Lynch) to set up a grandstand finish.

Hugh McCluggage kicked the opening goal of the fourth quarter to give the Lions some respite, but it was fleeting, with Riewoldt kicking his second, before Cumberland slotted his fifth.

The Tigers were relentless in the final term with Bolton and Lynch leading the charging. Bolton was seemingly in everything, while Lynch led Harris Andrews a merry dance.

A running Daniel Rioli goal from the stroke of 50 handed Richmond its first lead of the game with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Brisbane had a McCarthy goal, which would have put them back in front, disallowed soon after. The goal umpire called for a score review and the video showed the ball had crossed the line before being touched, but the field umpire then paid a free kick for a push against Oscar McInerney.

Within moments of that decision, the Lions had a further two opportunities to recapture the lead, but Daniher and Robinson fluffed their lines.

Richmond went ahead by a point when Bolton missed a tough shot from the pocket, before Cameron missed a very gettable chance.

With less than a minute remaining Darcy Gardiner took a mark deep in defence and, with his side trailing by a point, he tried to force the issue. Gardiner’s kick went straight to Trent Cotchin, who found Lynch, and, fittingly, he iced the game.

Shane Edwards - 'Titch' no more
It was a memorable milestone for Shane Edwards, who became the 98th player and first Indigenous player at Richmond to reach 300 games. Edwards is the eighth Indigenous player in VFL/AFL history to play 300 games, joining Shaun Burgoyne, Adam Goodes, Eddie Betts, Andrew McLeod, Lance Franklin, Michael O’Loughlin, and Gavin Wanganeen. Edwards’ honour roll is incredibly impressive; he is a three-time premiership player, All Australian (2018) and captained the club for six games in 2019, leading Richmond to five wins.

In a big-cat battle, back the Tigers
Much has been made of Brisbane’s inability to win at the MCG, but it also seems to have a problem beating Richmond. Incredibly, the Tigers have won 17 of the past 19 encounters between the two sides, and at one point, strung together 15 victories on the bounce.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/810450/not-done-yet-tigers-season-alive-after-a-thriller-against-lions

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Tigers roar back to down the Lions in thriller

Sam McClure
The Age
July 31, 2022 — 6.34pm

Richmond have come from the clouds to keep their finals chances alive, defeating Brisbane on a dramatic afternoon at the MCG.

Five goals from fifth-gamer Noah Cumberland and four from powerhouse forward Tom Lynch helped Richmond to a much-needed victory, albeit another heart-stopping result for their fans.

The Tigers – who were obliterated in the first half – came from six goals down at the main change to beat the Lions by seven points.

Late in the game, it looked like Richmond could be involved in their second draw in successive weeks, but a late mistake by Darcy Gardiner gifted the Tigers an easy goal.

The result leaves Richmond two points outside the top eight, with games against Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and Essendon remaining.

For the Lions, it’s their 11th straight loss at the MCG and will further dent their confidence heading towards September.

Chris Fagan’s side is now outside the top four, behind Sydney on percentage and faces another stern test next Sunday when it hosts Carlton at the Gabba.

Two goals and 24 disposals from playmaker Shai Bolton were crucial in the Tigers’ comeback, while Dion Prestia was once again influential.

Tigers co-captain Dylan Grimes was subbed out halfway through the match with a suspected hamstring injury, which made the come-from-behind win even more impressive.

SCORE REVIEW!

It’s the sound that no fan wants to hear late in a nail-biter; the call for a score review. But as Lincoln McCarthy attempted to put the Lions back in front late in the game and the ball sailed through the goal posts, the process began.

The review had been called to see if the ball had crossed the line before it was punched back into play. It had and GOAL went onto the ground’s large replay screens. The only problem was, the field umpire had already called a push on Tiger Noah Balta against Lion ruckman Oscar McInerny.

In retrospect, the right decision was made but it caused significant confusion at the ground.

LIONS WITH EXTRA SNARL UP FORWARD

Earlier, Brisbane totally dominated the first half. The Lions kicked the opening six goals of the game, with the tall timber of Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood wreaking havoc on the Tigers’ defence.

The duo kicked five goals between them in the first half and the Lions took a six-goal lead into the main break.

On top of that, Charlie Cameron was up to his usual tricks. The small forward, who was being manned by Daniel Rioli, is always a viable threat inside forward 50 and will once again be essential to the Lions’ hopes deep in September. He booted two goals in the first half and was then well held by Rioli, who has been outstanding in his new role this season.

RICHMOND 2.3 5.6 11.10 15.14 (104)
BRIS LIONS 7.2 11.6 13.9 14.13 (97)

GOALS
Richmond: Cumberland 5, Lynch 4, Bolton 2, Riewoldt 2, Rioli, Short.
Bris Lions: Hipwood 4, Daniher 3, Cameron 2, McCarthy 2, McCluggage, Rayner, Robinson.
BEST
Richmond: Cumberland, Bolton, Lynch, Prestia, D Rioli.
Bris Lions: Coleman, McCluggage, Zorko, Hipwood, Daniher.
INJURIES
Richmond: Grimes (hamstring).
Bris Lions: Bailey (chest).
CROWD 39,056 at the MCG.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-roar-back-to-down-the-lions-20220731-p5b62j.html

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BARRETT: 'Pure heart' on show as Tigers bring finals into focus

No one will want to face Richmond in the finals, and Sunday's brilliant win puts September back in the picture, writes Damian Barrett

By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
1 August 2022

FINDING ways to lose – or maybe more precisely discovering paths to not win, given there has been a draw in the mix – had been Richmond's storyline of 2022.

But finding a way to win in round 20 at the MCG against Brisbane will go down as a great Richmond win, as tough and courageous as any since its three-premiership streak began in 2017.

There is always intrigue attached to the back-end of a multiple premiership-winning team. The pride and belief is always still there. On the best days it is still unbeatable. But there is a vulnerability which opponents gleefully seize upon. That is Richmond this year.

Sunday for the Tigers was pure heart. Brisbane's big forwards Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood were unstoppable early. Forty-two points down in the second quarter. Dylan Grimes out of the game with injury in the third quarter. The now-common inaccuracy in front of goal.

Somehow, they found a way. The new rock star Shai Bolton, in the now too-often absence of the old one, Dustin Martin, was brilliant. Even his goal-misses are exciting. Trent Cotchin is just about done. But his courage to keep running and creating options in his 283rd match was epic. Tom Lynch was the match-winner, with four goals and an authority of play in the second half that was mesmerising. Dion Prestia, as always, never stopped trying. Daniel Rioli is must-watch every match, particularly so when given the responsibility of playing on Charlie Cameron. His seize-the-moment long-bomb goal was the actual match-winning act.

Sydney in round 11 should have been a Tigers win. It wasn't. Three goals up in the last quarter, six point loss. Similar storyline against Geelong in round 15. Forty points up versus Gold Coast in round 17, an after-siren near-heartbreaking loss. A scoreline of 11.22 in losing, somehow, to the woeful North Melbourne, resulted in a four-point loss. And then the double-Noah (Balta and Cumberland) disaster against Fremantle, where goal chances were missed in the final moments.

Cumberland finished the Dockers game in an emotional state, after choosing to play on as the final siren sounded. That he kicked five goals from six kicks against Brisbane was one of the great stories of the season.

Noah Cumberland celebrates one of his five goals in Richmond's win over Brisbane in round 20, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
The Tigers finished round 20 a half-game outside the top eight. Their courage to find a way to win against the Lions when a loss seemed inevitable now has them well placed. Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Hawthorn (MCG) and Essendon (MCG) all loom as very winnable, now that order has been restored.

As has been my view all season, if they somehow find a way to qualify for September, there is not one team that will want to face them.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/811612