Media articles and stats: Tigers downed by 10 goals

[one-eyed]

Tigers downed by 10 goals
richmondfc.com.au
By Matt Burgan
Sat 02 August, 2008

Geelong       2.6   8.8   15.13    20.14  (134)
Richmond    2.2   4.6     6.9      10.11  (71)

GOALS
Geelong: Lonergan 3, Gamble 3, Bartel 2, Mackie 2, Mooney 2, Stokes 2, Johnson, Milburn, Selwood, Rooke, Ling, Kelly.
Richmond: Richardson 3, White 2, Bowden 2, Morton, Schulz, Riewoldt.

BEST
Geelong: Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Milburn, Ling, Stokes, Harley.
Richmond: Tuck, Deledio, Newman, Tambling, Bowden, Richardson

INJURIES
Geelong: None. Richmond: Edwards (head knock)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Stewart, Wenn

Official crowd: 42,238 at Telstra Dome

---------------------------
AFTER winning five of its past six matches, Richmond has been given a reality check by reigning premiers Geelong, falling to  a 63-point defeat at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

The Tigers 10.11 (71) went down to the Cats 20.14 (134) to put a dent in their finals hopes, although they remain just two points outside of the top eight.

Richmond now has matches against Adelaide (AAMI Stadium), Hawthorn (MCG), Fremantle (MCG) and Melbourne (MCG) respectively, with a maximum of 12 wins its best possible result.

Although Richmond entered the round as one of the league's in-form teams, the top-of-the-table Geelong showed it was still the league's benchmark. 

Early on, Richmond looked right in the contest, having led throughout the first term until Geelong claimed the quarter time lead on the siren. From that point, the Cats never surrendered their advantage.

And after Geelong booted 13 goals to four in the second and third terms the Tigers were never in the hunt.

Richmond entered the match without in-form forward Nathan Brown, who was replaced by Jake King, and knocks and niggles to Matthew Richardson, Shane Edwards, Adam Pattison and Chris Newman didn't help the Tigers' cause. 

Shane Tuck worked tirelessly, winning a team-high 31 disposals, with Tiger vice-captain Newman another who battled hard all night before he copped a knock late in the game.

Shane Edwards was a fine contributor early on, with 16 disposals in the first half, yet his game was limited from that point after he was on the receiving end of a heavy tackle from Darren Milburn, who crunched the youngster into the turf. 

For Geelong, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Joel Corey combined for 95 disposals, as Ryan Gamble and Tom Lonergan, with three goals each, headed up the Cats' goalkickers. Skipper Tom Harley was outstanding down back.

Richmond started in fine style, booting the opening two goals of the match through Mitch Morton and Jack Riewoldt.

It took Geelong 21 minutes to register its first, courtesy of James Kelly, but when Lonergan kicked the Cats' third on the quarter-time siren, the reigning premiers hit the front for the first time, gaining a four-point buffer.

Geelong broke away to a 24-point lead early in the second term, after kicking the first three of the quarter. 

Adding to Richmond's frustrations during this period was an injury scare to Richardson, who hobbled from the field favouring his right knee. Despite looking in trouble, the big man was back out in the thick of the action before half time.

Just as the Cats looked set to skip away, the Tigers hit back with two in two minutes through Matt White and Joel Bowden, closing the gap to 11 points.

But when Geelong answered with three in succession, including two in time-on from Bartel, who kicked his second after the half time siren, the Cats were out to a 26-point break.

White became Richmond's first multiple goalkicker when he landed the first goal of the second half, cutting the margin to 20 points. But aside from a classical mark by Richardson over Geelong defender Darren Milburn  just before time-on, there was little to cheer about for the yellow and black as Geelong dominated the third term.

A seven goals to two quarter blew the deficit out to 58 points at three-quarter time.

The Tigers showed some grit early in the final quarter and even threatened to outscore the Cats, but it didn't eventuate. However another outstanding Richardson mark over Harry Taylor was a highlight.   

The loss continued Richmond's poor recent record over Geelong, with the Cats having lost just once from 12 contests since round nine of 2001.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/6301/Default.aspx?newsId=64671

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Disposals:      352 - 408
Efficiency%:     71 - 79
Kicks:            201 - 214
Handballs:     151 - 194
Con. Marks:       8 - 9
Uncon. Marks: 109 - 107
Tackles:            65 - 56
Clearances:       31 - 33
Clangers:          69 - 36 
Frees:               18 - 30
Con. Possies:   111 - 108 
Uncon. Possies: 247 - 301
Inside 50s:         40 - 59
Assists:              12 - 26
Hitouts:              15 - 45  (Simmonds 11, Patto 2, Tuck 2 // Blake 26, Ottens 17) 

Individual Stats

player           D EFF% K H G B CM UM T CL C
   
Tuck             31 84 14 17 0 0 0 6 7 6 2
Deledio         25 60 18   7 0 1 1 9 2 1 3
Tambling      24 58 13 11 0 0 1 5 3 2 8
Newman       23 78 13 10 0 1 0 5 3 2 1
Jackson        21 57 10 11 0 0 0 4 6 5 4
McMahon      20 75 11   9 0 0 1 7 0 2 3
Johnson        19 79   8 11 0 0 0 6 2 0 2
Bowden        18 67 13   5 2 2 0 7 4 0 5
Edwards       18 83   8 10 0 1 0 4 2 1 2
Foley            17 88   6 11 0 0 0 1 4 6 3
Simmonds    16 69 10   6 0 0 0 6 0 2 5
McGuane      13 69   7   6 0 0 0 5 6 0 4
Schulz         13 85  11   2 1 1 0 7 2 0 3
Cotchin        12 67   8   4 0 1 1 5 2 1 3
Richardson   12 67   9   3 3 2 3 4 0 0 2
Moore          11 73  10  1 0 0 0 7 1 0 1
Morton         11 91   7  4 1 0 0 4 3 1 1
White          11 64   8   3 2 0 1 5 2 1 5
Thursfield    10 80   2   8 0 0 0 3 3 0 5
King             9 56   5   4 0 1 0 2 5 0 2
Pattison        9 67   2   7 0 0 0 0 6 1 3
Riewoldt       9 33   8   1 1 1 0 7 2 0 2

player FF FA CP UP I50 A   
   
Tuck            2 2 12 19 6 1   
Deledio        0 2   6 19 7 2   
Tambling     1 3 11 14 1 0   
Newman      0 0   9 14 1 2   
Jackson       0 0   7 14 2 0   
McMahon     0 1   4 16 2 1   
Johnson       0 0  2 17 3 0   
Bowden       1 2  5 13 1 0   
Edwards      1 1  4 15 3 0   
Foley           3 3  9   8 0 1   
Simmonds   2 2  4 13 0 0   
McGuane     1 2  6   7 1 0   
Schulz        2 1   3 11 1 1   
Cotchin       0 0   2 10 2 0   
Richardson  2 2   7   6 1 1   
Moore         0 1   2   9 1 0   
Morton        0 1   3   8 3 1   
White         0 2   3   8 3 1   
Thursfield   0 2   2   8 0 0   
King           2 2   5   5 0 0   
Pattison      1 1   4   5 0 1   
Riewoldt     0 0   1   8 2 0

http://superstats.heraldsun.com.au/gamestatslive/5015528.html
http://livescores.afl.com.au/livestats-10221804.html

[one-eyed]

Cats brush off Tigers
AAP | August 02, 2008 10:06pm

GEELONG continued its imperious form, brushing aside Richmond to prevail by 63 points at Telstra Dome tonight.

The Tigers, who had come into the game with five wins from their previous six matches, started brightly with two goals in the first eight minutes.

But from then on, the game was dominated by the Cats, who strangled the life out of the Tigers, hitting the front by quarter time then outscoring Richmond 13 goals to four during the middle two quarters.

While the Cats put on 18 goals after quarter time, it was their defensive intensity over the length of the field that was most impressive and made life simple for their attack.

Richmond struggled to move the ball with fluency at any stage of the game, with many of the Cats' goals easy finishes as a result of turnovers further up the field.

Geelong's inaccuracy at stages of the match proved almost a curse for the Tigers, given the difficulty they had moving the ball out of defence.

Several times, the ball was stuck in Richmond's defensive half for long periods as the Cats kicked successive behinds, with the pressure only relieved when Geelong scored a goal.

Geelong defensive stalwarts Tom Harley, Darren Milburn and Scarlett were all superb, with Harley and Milburn in particular giving their side a huge amount of rebound and dominating the Richmond attack.

The Cats were also tenacious in the centre of the ground, led by gun midfielders Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey and youngster Joel Selwood, with their attack on the ball and their opponents superb.

Bartel also kicked two crucial goals to end the first half and send Geelong to the long break with a 26-point buffer.

Tagger Cameron Ling, returning after missing two games with a cheekbone fracture, was straight back to his restrictive best.

He kept Richmond ball-winner Nathan Foley from having any great effect, while winning a decent amount of the ball himself.

In attack, the Cats did not have a forward who dominated, but it did not matter, with the spoils shared between 12 goal-kickers, with three-goal hauls to Tom Lonergan and Ryan Gamble the biggest.

For Richmond, defender Chris Newman was probably his side's best player, keeping star forward Steve Johnson goal-less until late in the final term, while providing some rebound.

Brett Deledio showed his class through the midfield, while youngster Shane Edwards showed some dash in the centre, before leaving the ground dazed after his head crashed to the ground in a Milburn tackle midway through the third quarter.

Tigers star forward Matthew Richardson gave his side a scare when he limped to the bench after hurting his right knee while attempting to mark early in the second quarter.

But he returned late in the half and fought hard to score three goals in the second half, two of them from impressive marks.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24119184-5015528,00.html

[Francois Jackson]

clangers!!!

who is in control of the development in this area.
How field kicking has not improved in 10 years.

even when we win its terrible.

tambling fell into his own little clanger bubble tonight. But he had many friends.

when there is not a geelong player in sight i expect a player to hit a target especially players of the calibre of newman.

terrible game. no positives

once again lets hear how we dont need a ruckman to replace Patto. Poor kid has gotta go. He provides nothing IMO

[jackstar]

clangers!!!

who is in control of the development in this area.
How field kicking has not improved in 10 years.

even when we win its terrible.

tambling fell into his own little clanger bubble tonight. But he had many friends.

when there is not a geelong player in sight i expect a player to hit a target especially players of the calibre of newman.

terrible game. no positives

once again lets hear how we dont need a ruckman to replace Patto. Poor kid has gotta go. He provides nothing IMO

Patto, not up to AFL standard.
There was one instance tonight when he pushed forward on the play and we didnt have the ball. Geelong had clear possesion of the ball with Ottens running down the ground, Patto was running away in case there was a turnover/ HOPELESS

[one-eyed]

Cats deliver reality check to Tigers
Chloe Saltau | August 3, 2008

AS REALITY checks go, this one was brutal. Geelong showed emerging Richmond just how much more it must improve to challenge the best sides with an emphatic 63-point victory at Telstra Dome last night.

The Tigers have prided themselves on resilience this season, and knew they would need to hang tough to have any hope of toppling the premier. Still, they came into the game on a three-match roll, having shown true grit in each of those victories, and amid whispers that the upset of the season was not beyond the realms of possibility.

To their credit, the Tigers were not blown away as they have been in recent encounters with the Cats, but in the end the serious resistance lasted not much more than a quarter.

An already tall order became overwhelming when classy Nathan Brown succumbed to a virus before the game, Cameron Ling came back from his fractured cheekbone and didn't miss a beat in closing down Nathan Foley at the stoppages and Matthew Richardson was forced to stay close to goal after appearing to badly jar his knee as he slid into a marking attempt early in the second term.

Richmond made a promising start when Mitch Morton capitalised on a rare Darren Milburn turnover and Jack Riewoldt slotted a set shot. The young defence held off the Cats admirably, and it took 21 minutes for the top side to boot its first goal — a James Kelly snap roved from the perfect hit-out.

Already, though, the gap in class and maturity was evident. Richard Tambling took a couple of bounces and ran into a wall of Cats in the middle of the ground, Foley was kept to three touches and the Tigers found themselves two points behind at the first break.

Richmond coach Terry Wallace said before the game he believed his emerging side could match Geelong for contested ball, and he was right. What the Tigers couldn't equal was the Cats' skill, their furious tempo linking up through handball and their enviable variety of scoring options.

Richmond's defence battled hard — Chris Newman won some tough individual contests and contained the mercurial Steve Johnson, whose first and only goal came from a free kick deep in the last quarter, and young defenders Luke McGuane and Kelvin Moore continued to impress.

But when Geelong stepped on the gas early in the second term, it was all the Tigers could manage not to eat the Cats' dust.

The elusive Mathew Stokes attacked the ball and was cleaned up by Foley, and converted the free kick, and a couple of minutes later gobbled up a goal that was a direct result of Will Thursfield booting the ball out on the full, part of a mounting Richmond clanger count.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, Geelong's goal spree coincided with the injury to Richardson. While he came back on the field he couldn't cover his usual ground and had to inspire the Tigers from full-forward, where he took a couple of great grabs — one a crashing mark from the side of the pack — and kicked three second-half goals but had Matthew Scarlett for constant company.

The Geelong engine room continued to function superbly without Gary Ablett, with Joel Selwood playing another blinder with 32 touches, and Jimmy Bartel, who had just as many possessions, showing his finishing ability with a goal roosted from 50 metres out on the run.

The margin was a respectable 26 points at half-time, but from that point on the Cats were in cruise control.

Mark Blake was given an extended run in the ruck, and not only dominated the hit-outs but a couple of times was allowed to lope away with the ball. Milburn, having missed a game with a stomach bug, was his uncompromising self, riding Shane Edwards into the ground and displaying his marking strength at both ends of the ground.

For Richmond, Foley still finished up with plenty of the ball but did not have his usual influence, while his opponent Ling grew stronger as the game went on and underlined his impact by thumping through a left-footed goal in the final term.

As hard as the Richmond defenders battled to keep the high-profile forwards under control, goals came from unexpected places.

Not only did emerging forwards Ryan Gamble and Tom Lonergan chip in for three goals each, but Andrew Mackie snuck forward twice in the third quarter, and had some neat delivery first from Travis Varcoe and then from Scarlett surging creatively out of defence.

The Tigers were not disgraced, and have come a long way this season. Judging by last night's performance, however, they still have a long way to go.


BEST
Geelong: Selwood, Ling, Bartel, Milburn, Corey, Scarlett.
Richmond: Newman, Deledio, Tuck, McGuane, Tambling.

THE UPSHOT
It's back to the drawing board for the Tigers before they face Adelaide next week, but Geelong will go into its match against Melbourne with a spring in its step. However, the Cats may have to play without full-back Matthew Scarlett who will come under scrutiny for flattening Chris Newman with a shirt-front. The shepherd was in play but the contact appeared to take Newman high and left the Tiger seeing stars.

TALKING POINT
Richo's right knee. The big fella landed awkwardly in the second term and drove his knee heavily into the turf. He limped off the ground and headed straight to the changerooms. He returned to the forward line and despite some spectacular overhead marks was clearly proppy and may have damaged his posterior cruciate ligament.

HOT AND COLD
As if anyone really needed an example of what separates Geelong from the rest, but Richmond's turnovers were it. The Tigers got their hands on the ball enough but gifted possession to the Cats so often with appalling skill errors people lost count. And as is their want, more often than not the Cats in turn raced the ball flawlessly and effortlessly to goal.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfmatchreport/cats-deliver-reality-check-to-tigers/2008/08/03/1217097625340.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[one-eyed]

Richmond left to focus on a bright future
Martin Blake | August 3, 2008

THIS was men versus boys, and we all know what happens when football is played like that.

Richmond has hope and optimism and youth and excitement to cling to. The Tigers played three teenagers last night, all of them bursting with talent. But they don't have the hard bodies and clinical efficiency of Geelong and that was that, in terms of the present.

In the Vietnam war movie Platoon, Tom Berenger as a hard-bitten sergeant tells his squadron: "I am reality." Geelong delivered a dose of it right down the throats of Terry Wallace's team, and for Berenger, read Darren Milburn.

When the 21-year-old Matt White ran into an open goal in the second quarter he took exception to the treatment Milburn meted out as he kicked. Milburn bumped him back, doubly hard, and leered, as if to say: "Grow up, sonny."

He was far from done with. In the third, the 19-year-old Shane Edwards, a waif of a boy who had caused problems for Geelong with his ability to run and carry the football, was tackled on the wing by Milburn, who hurled the 71-kilogram Edwards head-first into the turf (and may have a case to answer this week for rough play).

Edwards, who was in the course of playing a watershed game for himself, was jelly-legged as he tried to get to his feet, and could not continue. When he returned later, he was a shell of the hard runner he had been before. As a symbolic moment in the game, that would do.

Richmond kicked the first two goals, revealing pretensions to a finals spot. Geelong spluttered and coughed up the football, uncharacteristically scratchy. But it was a mirage. The Cats' multi-faceted midfield swung into action, Matthew Richardson hurt a knee and spent time off the field, and it was a no-contest from about half-time.

Once again the Richmond supporters were left to talk about the future, for theirs is a stock worth watching. Edwards was impressive with his athleticism and poise. Luke McGuane, 21, tackled with intensity and defended with aplomb down back. Midfielders Brett Deledio and Richard Tambling, both 21, were among their club's best players, despite Tambling's bad habit of turning the ball over.

Jack Riewoldt, 19, presented with authority across half-forward and Trent Cotchin, the 18-year-old wunderkind, spent time running with Geelong's more-advanced version, Joel Selwood.

But it was Geelong's night. Richmond made too many fatal errors and Geelong was too professional, with the likes of Matthew Scarlett, playing his 200th game, sweeping across the back and playing flawlessly, and Cameron Ling throwing his infamous wet blanket upon poor Nathan Foley.

Thompson said he had implored his players to win for Scarlett, whom he rates as the best full-back he has seen. "I'm biased, because I've coached him, seen him play, seen him develop," said the coach.

Only one concern remains about the premiership favourites. It is all very well and admirable for Cam Mooney and Steve Johnson to have a little side bet between themselves about how many "goal assists" they can have this season. But at times, it gets awfully close to mickey-taking, and history tells us that footy teams who don't respect their opposition eventually get caught.

Maybe they're just a little bored, these Cats. Another night, another 10-goal win and 15 coaches would love to have Thompson's troubles.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/richmond-left-to-focus-on-a-bright-future/2008/08/03/1217097625347.html

[julzqld]

clangers!!!

who is in control of the development in this area.
How field kicking has not improved in 10 years.

even when we win its terrible.

tambling fell into his own little clanger bubble tonight. But he had many friends.

when there is not a geelong player in sight i expect a player to hit a target especially players of the calibre of newman.

terrible game. no positives

once again lets hear how we dont need a ruckman to replace Patto. Poor kid has gotta go. He provides nothing IMO

I agree.  What about Johnson just standing alongside Schultz, when Schultz gets tackled from behind?  Surely the guy could have warned him!  Tambling and Sanchez turning over all the time hurt us.  Hope Richo's knee is ok.  They reckon Scarlett could be in trouble for his hit on Newman.  What about Milburn's on Edwards?

[jackstar]

Julzqld. Difference between a good footballer and a dud. A good footballer would sense in that instance when Schulz had the ball and has was going to get tackled, he has no idea and in that passage of play  got caught.
He has ran into a open goal 35 metres out amd missed everything. BACK TO COBURG!
Simply Schulz /Patterson /King/ arent up to AFL standards. well certainly not of ateam that wants to play or threaten to make finals, They are just making up the numbers

[Francois Jackson]

Julzqld. Difference between a good footballer and a dud. A good footballer would sense in that instance when Schulz had the ball and has was going to get tackled, he has no idea and in that passage of play  got caught.
He has ran into a open goal 35 metres out amd missed everything. BACK TO COBURG!
Simply Schulz /Patterson /King/ arent up to AFL standards. well certainly not of ateam that wants to play or threaten to make finals, They are just making up the numbers

you know  i have been a big fan of kingy buy after last night im starting to question his worth to our team.

Patto/Schulz/Sugar well everyone knows my stance on those 3. Pathetic.
All three are bringing this team down. Our captain i dare say would not even be the first picked in most afl teams and Patto for crying out loud looked scared tonight.
Every time he goes near the ball i close my eyes because more times than not he will stuff it up or looks like his going to poo his pants

Bottom line is we have a lot of guys who really try hard in our team, but enough is enough we have to stop carrying these guys and send them to Coburg for good. We have to try another ruckman before the season's out. We need to know who can play and who cant.

[shannon]

Julzqld. Difference between a good footballer and a dud. A good footballer would sense in that instance when Schulz had the ball and has was going to get tackled, he has no idea and in that passage of play  got caught.
He has ran into a open goal 35 metres out amd missed everything. BACK TO COBURG!
Simply Schulz /Patterson /King/ arent up to AFL standards. well certainly not of ateam that wants to play or threaten to make finals, They are just making up the numbers

you know  i have been a big fan of kingy buy after last night im starting to question his worth to our team.

   i noticed your signature has changed, kingy no longer your jewell 

we should all band as one and have a signature thats says " deledio for captain ASAP"

[Francois Jackson]

Julzqld. Difference between a good footballer and a dud. A good footballer would sense in that instance when Schulz had the ball and has was going to get tackled, he has no idea and in that passage of play  got caught.
He has ran into a open goal 35 metres out amd missed everything. BACK TO COBURG!
Simply Schulz /Patterson /King/ arent up to AFL standards. well certainly not of ateam that wants to play or threaten to make finals, They are just making up the numbers

you know  i have been a big fan of kingy buy after last night im starting to question his worth to our team.

   i noticed your signature has changed, kingy no longer your jewell 

we should all band as one and have a signature thats says " deledio for captain ASAP"

agreed.
Lids should be our captain no question about that.

[Stripes]

I agree on King and Patto but not Schulz. Just because Schulz was run down or missed a goal doesn't make him a Coburg player. He has been great in defense this year and kicked the odd goal too. If you want to point the finger at his run down point it at our captain who should have warned him.

I was disappaointed last night that Meyer wasn't included instead of King. I thought he may have been a better asset.

Commentators and opposition supporters are starting to laugh at Patto as he lumbers around the ground. He is just too small for the ruck, too slow and skill-less for a KPP. he really helped us out last year but I can't see him lasting more than another couple of years because of our ruck problems but once Putt or Graham step up or we secure Warnock, he will be moved on.

Stripes

[jackstar]

Patto way too slow for AFL standards