The Herald-Sun match report:
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ROAR SAYS TIGERS ARE NO LONGER CUBS
By GLENN MCFARLANE
Edition 3 HERALD-SUN 17 SEP 1995, Page 052
THE roar for Richmond was deafening as the Tigers shed their skin of finals immaturity to eliminate an injury-depleted Essendon with a stirring comeback in front of almost 90,000 fans.
Yesterday's second semi-final at the MCG was every bit as tight and as tough as the memorable Round 15 draw between the two teams.
This time, however, the young Tigers turned a five-goal half-time deficit into their first finals win in 13 years.
Richmond kicked eight goals to two in the second half after serious injuries took their toll on Essendon.
The Bombers coasted in the first half. Their forward line was in control and their defence held Richmond to just four goals.
But injuries to Barry Young, Ryan O'Connor and Gary O'Donnell kept the Bombers to a bare minimum players for most of the second half.
Injuries to Dustin Fletcher and David Grenvold further hurt the cause.
But nothing should be taken away from Richmond. Its superior leg-speed and youth outran the game Bombers in the second half.
And credit, too, to Tigers coach John Northey who restructured his forward line a number of times during the game before finally getting the right balance after half-time.
It was truly a match of two halves - the Bombers clearly outpointed Richmond in the first 60 minutes, but were unable to keep up after half time.
Northey shuffled and reshuffled his player magnet board to overcome the sound beatings handed out to his six starting forwards.
Brendon Gale was ineffective, Justin Charles struggled and the crumbers who have lifted the Tigers all year - Nick Daffy and Chris Naish - managed barely a few possessions.
Only centreman Matthew Knights kept the scoreboard ticking for the Tigers in the first half with three goals, including a solo effort on the run after having five bounces.
But the change after half-time was evident as soon as the teams took the field. Richmond threw everything at Essendon early in the third term and some costly misses to Bomber full-forward Paul Salmon left the door ajar for a Richmond comeback.
The surge was led by the likes of Daffy, who had 16 of his 21 possessions after half-time, as did Naish of his 18. Chris Bond again was the embodiment of the Tigers tough and tenacious attitude throughout the match. He crunched through packs without fear.
Matthew Rogers also helped turn the game with two important goals in the final term.
Defender Scott Turner was thrust into attack and managed two goals as well.
Richmond drew on its pride that it has stayed strong team in the third quarter throughout season.
The Tigers applied that confidence and assurety to win out again yesterday.
The fresh legs of Stuart Maxfield and the brilliant defence of Jamie Tape and Duncan Kellaway were also important factors in the fight back.
Essendon had little luck in the second half. Sheedy was forced to switch players everywhere to cover the mounting casuality list.
James Hird was conscripted to defence and did his best to stop the Tiger charge.
Gavin Wanganeen kept the forwards in check in the first half, but found the odds too great when Richmond's forward line began to open up.
The loss of O'Donnell, who was doing a good job on Brownlow Medal favorite Wayne Campbell, was a further blow for the Bombers.
He was stretchered from the field after a heavy knock 21 minutes into the third term.
It was one of many such clashes in the match. Maxfield was involved in another with Grenvold.
Sean Denham, Mark Mercuri and Peter Somerville all tried hard for the Bombers.
Essendon, as predicted, lost Michael Long before the match with an ankle injury and replaced him with Joe Misiti.
The Tigers swung a few surprises with the absence of Paul Bulluss (feet) and Stephen Jurica (ankle). They both withdrew before the match.
The absence of Bulluss cost the Richmond dearly in the opening term as Essendon snatched the first two goals of the match.
Salmon was looking dangerous when his goal seven minutes into the game gave Essendon a 13-point lead.
Knights fought back with two good goals in the opening term to keep the Tigers within striking range.
The Bombers lost Young and O'Connor early in the first term, but still managed to open up a handy break.
Justin Charles kicked a goal after the quarter-time siren to lift the Tigers and they trailed by just one point.
Salmon added another one five minutes into the second term and the Bombers led by 14 points when David Calthorpe scored on the run.
Knights responded with a brilliant reply a minute later, but a controversial free kick to Stephen Alessio in the goal square kept the buffer.
Mercuri was reported after an incident with Nathan Bower, but Essendon charged ahead to lead by five goals at half-time.
The Tigers came out after half-time full of running and kicked five goals in a powerful display.
Importantly they kept the Bombers to just two points in the third quarter while players such as Daffy, Naish and Turner dominated in attack.
The Tigers led by one point at three quarter time but could sense victory.
And when John Northey swung his jacket, a la Kevin Sheedy, as he came out of the coaches box the crowd erupted.
Richmond had kept its fairytale season alive and will now meet Geelong in next week's preliminary final.
