Tigers rush to leave brave Bombers behind
Rohan Connolly | The Age | July 20, 2008
THIS game ended as it began, less than gloriously. There was a goal the difference with 28 seconds to play when Richmond veteran Joel Bowden went to take a kick-in from Brent Stanton's point.
Quite legitimately, he played on, then rushed the ball behind the line to concede a point. Five points now, 10 seconds left. By the time Bowden repeated the previous step, it was four points, but only two seconds, and victory now assured. It was anti-climactic stuff, but, for Richmond, such tactics were perfectly understandable.
This was a good win for the Tigers, but, perversely, had they not got over the line, it would have been considered a terrible loss, having given up at one stage a 29-point lead against a side which, from the early stages of the final quarter, had just one fit player left on the interchange bench.
Which, just as perversely, was around the same time a lethargic and sloppy-looking Essendon had finally clicked into gear.
Richmond had dominated the first half on the scoreboard because of its cleaner and sharper use of the ball, and for having a winning key forward.
Last week, it was Jack Riewoldt who bobbed up. Yesterday, it was Mitch Morton, the former Eagle having booted 4.2 of his eventual 4.3 in the first two terms with a combination of good leading and marking, and some smart ground-level play.
The Tigers also had a real class act around goal and in the middle in Brett Deledio, who'd kicked three to the same stage and led his Bomber opponents a merry dance.
Richmond hasn't had a great tradition of skilful ball use these past couple of decades, but it shone early yesterday compared to its opponent, which won the ball in close well, but proceeded to butcher it once in possession.
That was happening right from the start, when Leroy Jetta ran into an open goal. He could have shot but popped a handball over the top to Scott Lucas, who promptly fumbled the chance.
There was a similar, but even worse clanger later in the first quarter when Jetta again exploded into an open goal but appeared to want to walk the ball all the way through, eventually nailed by Richmond's Luke McGuane.
Essendon pegged back a couple of goals through Brent Stanton close to the long break, but it didn't look much of a chance as it trudged from the field knowing that, already without two key runners in Mark McVeigh and Andrew Lovett, it had now lost two more injured in Angus Monfries and highly successful run-with man Andrew Welsh.
It would soon lose key forward Jay Neagle as well. But the Essendon which returned to the MCG after half-time was a different proposition altogether, and had within about 10 minutes turned this game on its head.
The Bombers now won the centre breaks and actually used them to advantage with quick, direct movement of the ball, which gave its forwards and crumbers a genuine chance.
Jetta pegged one back within two minutes. Then Sam Lonergan, then Kyle Reimers, who was continually pumping the ball long into the forward line.
Then Scott Lucas. Henry Slattery. And when Lucas booted what will be close to the goal of the year — an amazing but calculated mid-air hack from near the boundary line — Essendon, incredibly, held an 11-point lead. For the Tigers, disaster loomed.
Fortunately for coach Terry Wallace's debilitated condition — having suffered a chest infection in the lead-up — some coolness and class in the end prevailed as Essendon's burst and its inability to find sufficient midfield rotations took their toll. The Bombers had led the clearances 30-18 at the last change. But Richmond took over the stoppages in the final term 12-4, and its best players stood up.
Like Nathan Foley, who racked up 12 disposals and four clearances in the hectic final-term traffic.
Like Nathan Brown, good enough in the first three quarters, but a matchwinner when it mattered with three last-quarter goals, the first two being clever snaps which put the Tigers in front, the last of which just about sealed victory.
And like Troy Simmonds, who took some important marks and also kicked a critical late goal.
The Dons had great triers, too, ruckman David Hille superb again. Jobe Watson his usual prolific self and tremendous in the clinches, and livewire Reimers an inspiration when the Bombers made their big play in the third term. But lack of manpower hurt. So did the final-term wastefulness of Jason Laycock and Stanton.
If you kick points in the dying seconds, you give the opposition the ball. And, in the hands of a canny customer like Bowden, the chance to wind down the clock.
BESTRichmond: Foley, Brown, Deledio, Simmonds, Tuck, Moore, McGuane.
THE UPSHOTThe Tigers stayed in finals contention with their seventh win, but it was hardly convincing enough to fill them with confidence for next Saturday night's clash with the Brisbane Lions. The Bombers' injuries cut deep, but so did their inaccuracy. They have 26 players to choose from against a wobbly Collingwood next week.
TALKING POINTScott Lucas performed a convincing impersonation of Ronaldo with a goal booted out of fresh air, around his body, from about 25 metres out on a tight angle. It was either sublime or ridiculous, depending on your allegiance.
HOT AND COLD Leroy Jetta plays on instinct, so he should trust it. He had two chances to kick goals in the first quarter, but paid for erring on the side of unselfishness. Showed his brilliance later by conjuring a goal from the clutches of tackler Chris Newman, then with a snap from the boundary line. In future, Matthew Knights wants him to "pull the trigger".
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