Match Summary:On Monday Richmond coach Jeff Gieschen resigned, but it was fairly clear he was pushed. Gieschen announced at his press conference that "I reviewed my position when I heard the club had contacted Kevin Sheedy", causing club manager Jim Malone to wrestle the mic away from Giesch and deny it. Later in the week Sheedy himself confirmed the Richmond offer, believed to be $3 million over 5 years. Gieschen's 2-and-a-bit-year record was almost identical to that of his predecessor Robert Walls, missing the finals on percentage in his first season before a poorer second season. He leaves with a winning record (25-24).
Blue supporters direct a tiresome volley of sledging towards the Tiges. They're guilty of what shrinks call "projection" - accusing others of faults clear in one's self. For while Richmond 99 have been vin ordinaire, it's been obvious for some time that the corresponding Carlton vintage is scarcely better. In this game Richmond did what they've done the past couple of weeks - tried hard, made lots of mistakes. Yet they were victorious because the opposition was barely half as good as the previous fortnight. In selection the Tiges lost Sampson with a shoulder injury and dropped Funcke and Hilton. In came Torney, Plapp and debutant Ray Hall, a ruckman the Tiges have used as a key defender in the twos. He's from Newcastle Central Coast originally. Carlton were weakened, they lost Camporeale with an ankle injury and Brown was a late withdrawal with a hamstring, De Iulio, Pearce and Vance were axed. Oldies Christou and Matthew Hogg were recalled, Hoggy for his last game as he's retiring. Franchina returned after a long spell with a broken foot, Backwell and White were picked too. Andrew McKay played his 150th game for the Blues and David Parkin participated in a big league game for the 700th time as a player or coach. Not a bad effort.
The start was delayed half an hour as the main MCG scoreboard caught fire. No wispy smoke, this was a full-on, flames leaping into the night sky jobby. Chunks of flaming screen drifted down onto (thankfully) almost empty top deck of the Ponsford Stand and acrid smoke filled the lower levels. Some lads around us had installed the fire equipment. USE THE EFFING HOSE IN B23, they yelled and stabbed at their mobiles. It was put out and the Ponsford Stand patrons transferred to the AFL Members, although the Blue cheer squad was allowed back later. Once the game started, Carlton looked remarkably disinterested. Richmond bored in, Knights and Tivendale doing well in the middle and Daffy running from a back pocket. Bowden kicked the first goal, a freakish rebound from Bradley's soccered kick, then Tivendale walloped a lovely kick from 50m after Evans passed backwards to him. Holland and Gale majored courtesy free kicks and a 50m penalty too in Gale's case. The only Tiger blemishes were some poor misses, from Ottens, Rogers and Bowden. The only Blue doing anything was ruckman Allan, he booted their first goal after a ruck free at a throw-in. Indeed, he took the only marks in their forward line in the first half. Second quarter was much the same, a dull game with the Tiges working harder. Carlton sent Silvagni to full-forward but Tiger Evans snapped the first goal. Later the Blues managed a bit of a spurt, Hamill booted a nice goal and a long Whitnall pot-shot was shepherded through by Scragvagni. But Richmond answered, Daffy's wobbly kick flopped into the arms of Andy Kellaway of all people, he goaled for the first time in his career. From the next bounce the Tiges went forward, Plapp clutched a good mark and converted.
The third quarter was much the same, scrappy, pack-bound footy with lots of errors from both sides. Tivendale speared a nice goal to open the quarter, much struggle before the classy Allan marked strongly and booted his third goal. Moments later Whitnall and Silvagni almost messed things up before Whitnall's hurried snap bounced through. But the Tiges managed to respond again, Moore with a goal and Duncan Kellaway soccered a sausage. When Ottens hit the post after a very soft free just 10m out, the Tigers were exactly double Carlton's score. Early in the final stanza Bradley was run down clearing Carlton's backline, Ratten dropped his pass and Knights pounced to create a goal for Harrison. That put the Tiges a seemingly unassailable 41 points up. Now the Blues, so very poor all night, suddenly awoke. Bradley, Ratten and Murphy began to chase the ball and do something with it. Backwell snapped a bouncing left-foot goal from a tight angle and Ratten found space to blast one through, Nelson roved a pack perfectly to slot on the run and the Bloos were 21 points behind. Richmond's second attack of the quarter saw a goalmouth scramble where Holland's soccer dribbled through. But on came the Bluies, Bradley kicked nicely for Whitnall to lead, mark and goal. Silvagni snapped accurately from the pocket as Turner slipped. Hogg picked out Whitnall with a pass, his goal cut the margin to 6 points. We'd baited the Blue fans all night, but we weren't so cocky now. Beaumont's hurried shot slewed through for a point, 5 points the diff. Turner's kick-in went to Campbell, his long kick to the wing was well-marked by Holland. Carlton's Justin Murphy did a Jim Stynes and jogged blithely between Holland and the man-on-the-mark. An automatic 50m penalty. Blue fans were out of their tiny minds with rage as Holland stuttered in and punted truly. It was enough. The umpires were met with a barrage of missiles and Blue abuse as they departed, Murphy was reported for his verbal assault while we got to sing the Tiger song after a five-week lean spell.
Tiger captain Knights worked very hard, made a few mistakes but still played well for 24 disposals. Rombotis, a man of limited ability, threw himself at Ratten and the ball for 21 touches and young Tivendale continues to show promise, he had 18 disposals and 2 goals. The defence did well, Turner held Silvagni and the brothers Kellaway both played strongly and kicked a goal each, Duncan had 22 disposals. Daffy had 25 disposals, starting in the back pocket and later moving into the centre. Holland kicked 3 goals from 11 kicks. For the Blues Allan stood tall, despite tiring towards the finish he had 22 disposals, 6 marks and 2 goals. Bradley had 13 touches in the last quarter to finish with 30, but his missed shots on goal proved costly. Murphy had 29 disposals, half in the last term and Ratten shook off Rombo for 11 final-quarter touches, 22 altogether. Franchina tagged Campbell out of it and Sexton played well at CHB with 7 marks. Whitnall kicked 4 goals from 5 marks, 13 kicks although Gaspar played alright. Parkin was so upset with the Bloos' very ordinary effort that he refused to speak to the meedya. The departing Gieschen said "That was typical of Richmond's season, to be able to show that type of form but it was disappointing not being able to put them away...but it was a relief to have a win like that in your last game. I've only been here three years but you grow attached to the place." Another hefty helping of mediocrity from the Tigers this year, despite vintage seasons from Richardson and Campbell, no injuries to speak of and a dream fixture with 17 at the 'G. Dragicevic emerged as good youngster, Holland, Ottens and Tivendale improved. Giesch's tactics and selection were a bit strange, Torney played well in this game but spent nearly all year in the twos as did David Bourke while modest talents like Funcke had extended runs in the firsts. But Giesch is the symptom of deeper problems.
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