Richmond run past Werribee in battle of the TigersBy Connor Burns
RFC website
26 July 2025The Richmond VFL side has beaten Werribee by 40 points at Avalon Airport Oval, thanks largely to an electric first-half which saw the side kick nine goals during that period.
Richmond came into the round sitting in ninth place on the VFL ladder, looking for a win to create some breathing room on their fellow finals aspirants.
It was Werribee who got off to the perfect start with a fast end-to-end play finished off by spearhead Hudson Garoni.
But youngster Tom Ferguson responded for Richmond with his first VFL goal via a classy dribbler from the boundary, and that was followed by a goal to Lachy Wilson, who capitalised on his teammates' wonderful forward pressure.
That goal sparked a flurry of goals for Richmond as it kicked the last six goals of the quarter, which included two goals to promising AFL-listed talent Harry Armstrong, who was on return from a serious hamstring injury suffered earlier this year.
The late run gave the team from Punt Road a 34-point lead at quarter-time.
The rain started to come down at Avalon Airport Oval but it didn’t dampen Richmond’s spirits as second-gamer Reuben Hanson kicked a goal early in the second term to keep the Tigers' momentum rolling on.
Werribee ruckman Sam Conway then kicked a much-needed goal for his side, before Jack Riding also found the big sticks, but Richmond forward Nicholas ‘Bob’ Girolami answered back soon after to halt Werribee’s mini stuff.
Sam Toner also kicked a late goal as Richmond extended its lead out to 38 points at the main break.
Out of the main break you would’ve expected a strong response from Werribee on its home deck, and it got one almost immediately through Harry Miller and Garoni.
That cut the margin back to 25 points as Werribee tested Richmond as much as it had all day long.
Minutes later, Ferguson came flying through off the stoppage and kicked truly on the run to extend the margin back beyond five goals.
But a late goal to Garoni, his third of the afternoon, gave Werribee a pulse at three-quarter time, down by just 25 points.
Richmond was looking for an early last-quarter goal to take the sting out of the game, and it got one through Joshua Pollocks, who was awarded a free kick inside-50 and kicked truly.
Mohammed Yassine then got in on the action with his first goal of the game, pushing the margin out to six goals midway through the quarter.
Key-defender Josh Gibcus was then the beneficiary of a 50-metre penalty that brought him within goalscoring range. He went back and slotted it, marking his first goal in the yellow and black since returning from an ACL injury earlier this year.
Werribee kicked a late goal but it was Richmond who would reign supreme in the battle of the Tigers, cruising to a 46-point victory.
Harry Scott continued his scintillating form with 25 disposals and six clearances, while captain Lachlan Street led from the front with 20 disposals and 11 clearances.
Jacob Blight also continued his purple patch of form with 21 disposals, 24 hit-outs and five marks, spreading his time between defence and in the ruck.
Richmond will be looking to continue its momentum next week when it heads to People First Stadium on the Gold Coast to take on the Suns.
Richmond 6.5 9.6 10.8 15.9 (99)
Werribee 1.1 3.4 6.7 7.11 (53)
Goals: Yassine 2, Pollocks 2, Ferguson 2, Girolami 2, Armstrong 2, Wilson, Toner, Raso, Hanson, Gibcus
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1841943/richmond-run-past-werribee-in-battle-of-the-tigers
