'Arrogant' Tigers punished
Cornes said the Tigers were arrogant by not tagging Neale and for playing a not fully fit Dusty.
Also said McInerney going down and McStay going into the ruck left us too tall down back.
From 14:15 min mark: https://www.afl.com.au/video/835978/finals-thrillers-pie-s-strange-call-arrogant-tigers-punished
‘ARROGANT’ TIGERS’ ‘COSTLY’ MISTAKEDual All-Australian Kane Cornes has lamented Richmond’s “arrogant” and “costly” decision not to put more attention into Lions star Lachie Neale in Thursday night’s elimination final.
Neale was best-on-ground in the Gabba clash in a colossal performance, racking up 39 disposals, 21 contested possessions, a career-best 15 clearances — the second-most ever in a final – and nine score involvements in 95 per cent time on ground.
The 2020 Brownlow medallist’s masterclass helped will his side to a big win over the Tigers and in the process end their season.
Speaking on AFL Media’s The Round So Far, Cornes believes Richmond coach Damien Hardwick would be regretting his decision to not tag Neale after clubs have had success in shutting him down in recent weeks.
“I want you to notice how little body contact there is around the game’s best clearance player at these stoppages,” Cornes said while highlighting vision of Neale’s dominance.
“It’s an arrogant performance from a Richmond midfield who backs their own structure in, and didn’t realise or want to know that if you nullify Lachie Neale, you pretty much win the game — that’s been the evidence of this year.
“They needed to study the tape of St Kilda’s (Marcus) Windhager, who kept him to 16 disposals, (James) Harmes and (Angus) Brayshaw (tagging him) the week before (against Melbourne) — he got a lot of the footy but not any sort of damage like he’s doing here.
“Phenomenal individual performance, but how you can have 44 list spots and not have one dedicated to a tagger continues to blow my mind. Essentially that cost Richmond as much as a goal review cost them.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2022-week-one-of-finals-highlights-analysis-talking-points-best-ever-weekend-reactions-tim-taranto-richmond-tigers-deal-craig-mcrae-umpiring-lachie-neale-not-tagged/news-story/7497bd60fbaf2885d87178bb94caec3c