VFL Tigers storm home against SouthportRichmond VFL booted seven of the final eight goals to win a seesawing encounter against Southport on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
By Richmond Media
15 July 2023Richmond VFL have bounced back from last week's surprise loss to Sydney with an impressive away victory in Southport on Saturday afternoon.
With the scoring timeline having peaks and troughs not too dissimilar to tonight's high alpine stage in the Tour De France, it was the Tigers who broke away from late in the third quarter to claim the seesawing encounter.
After conceding the opening seven goals of the third quarter to Southport, the Tigers responded with seven of the final eight goals of the game to record a 13-point win, with final scores reading 15.8 (98) to 12.13 (85).
Rhyan Mansell returned from suspension with a 25-disposal, five-tackle performance, as well as kicking two classy goals at crucial times. He was just behind second-year players Tyler Sonsie (27 disposals, six clearance, three tackles, one goal) and Tom Brown (26 touches, two clearances) as the Tigers' leading ball-winners.
Kaelan Bradtke made the most of the opportunities he created in front of goal with strong marking and bodywork, kicking three goals straight, while Noah Cumberland was again lively, booting two goals and being involved in setting up others to Brad Melville and Moey Yassine.
Bigoa Nyuon was the dominant player on the ground in the second quarter. In the absence of Ivan Soldo and Samson Ryan, his partnership with Sonsie and Thomson Dow in the middle saw the Tigers accelerate towards the half-time break. As the siren sounded for the long change, Nyuon marked and kicked truly to give the visitors a 21-point lead, and finished the game with 18 disposals, ten marks and six inside 50s.
Former Gold Coast Sun big man Brayden Crossley must have taken that personally, though, as he led the Sharks to a near-unassailable lead in the third term. Crossley was imperious in the ruck and around the ground with a goal, Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock won plenty of the ball, but it was Jake McQueen (three goals) and Fraser Thurlow (two goals) who were proving to be difficult to stop from capitalising on the scoreboard.
As Thurlow suffered an injury late in the third quarter, the Tigers showed what they had in their previous interstate trips this season - they will fight until the end.
Cumberland, Mansell and Dow provided the spark with three quick, well-taken goals on the verge of the final break.
Jack Sexton opened the scoring in the final term as Southport re-established a ten-point lead, before Yassine, Matt Coulthard, Bradtke and Judson Clarke piled on four goals in less than eight minutes to seal an incredible win for the Tigers.
The only sour note of the match for Richmond was a leg injury to Garrett McDonagh in the final stages of the last quarter, that saw the 27-year-old on crutches post-game.
The VFL Tigers host Box Hill at the Swinburne Centre next Saturday morning in what shapes as a crucial clash for both sides as they approach the final month of the season.
RICH 3.2 8.4 11.5 15.8 (98)
SOU 2.5 4.7 11.9 12.13 (85)
Goal Kickers:
Richmond: Bradtke 3, Mansell 2, Cumberland 2, Yassine, Sonsie, Nyuon, Melville, Dow, Coulthard, Clarke, Bravo
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1379910/vfl-tigers-storm-home-against-southport
