VFL Tigers overrun by ZebrasBy Brenton Mann
AFL media
27 June 2021Richmond made the trip down Beach Road to Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday keen to repeat its Round 1 performance against Sandringham.
The Tigers had the game on their terms in the first quarter, kicking four goals to two, however, Sandringham upped the ante around the contest, running out 30-point winners.
The Tigers scrapped and fought but could only manage six-goals-to-12 after quarter-time, with the final score reading, 14.12 (96) to 10.6 (66).
Members of the Richmond hierarchy were in attendance, casting a keen eye over the host of young talent on display.
The rule was also being run over the deployment of Daniel Rioli into his new role at half-back, and the coaching staff would have liked what they saw in the opening term.
Rioli picked up his role in positioning behind the ball seamlessly, getting involved in front-half turnovers and transforming defence in dynamic attack and pumping the ball inside 50.
The triple premiership forward’s propensity to tackle, combination of speed and endurance, and strong ability in the air are desirable traits for a dynamic half-back.
Rioli displayed a defend-first mindset which will allow him to grow into the role in the coming weeks.
With Mabior Chol, Callum Coleman-Jones and Samson Ryan suiting up at AFL level the night before, Richmond was forced to be quite abstract with its ruckmen.
Ryan Garthwaite took the opening centre bounce and split duties around the ground with the versatile Lachlan Street.
Once he contested the centre bounce, Garthwaite then took his place in the key defensive post alongside Ben Miller.
Street was one of Richmond’s best across the four quarters, kicking two goals from the ruck and providing great drive between the arcs.
Riley Collier-Dawkins built on his recent block of form with a commanding opening term that highlighted his ever-growing sense of standing in the competition.
Collier-Dawkins kicked two goals for the quarter and had a direct hand in another, which meant he’d assisted in three out of the Tigers’ four goals for the quarter.
The emerging onballer drove with his legs through the contest and brought his teammates into the game.
Given its lack of height in its line-up, Richmond attempted to bring the ball to ground at all costs and snapped up four goals in the first quarter, leading by two goals at quarter-time.
Sandringham flipped the script in the second quarter, slamming on five-goals-to-two and taking a one-goal lead into the main break.
The south-westerly blowing off Port Phillip Bay meant that the ball spent a vast majority of time on the Beach Road wing and made transitioning the ball by foot tough at times.
Makeshift ruckman, Street, slotted an early second-term goal for the Tigers before the Zebras fired back with back-to-back goals.
Thomson Dow capped off one of the purer pieces of play for the half, after timing his crumb to perfection and snapping truly over his left shoulder for his first goal of the game.
Jack Ross intercepted the ball at half-back turned to the outer wing and put the ball into the path of a surging Hugo Ralphsmith who carried the ball and then drove it inside 50.
Ross is another who has been shifted into a new role down back, and he seems well equipped to flourish.
The bullocking Tiger’s ability to be robust in the contest and calm with ball in hand allows him to win the ball back for his team and then make good decisions exiting the defensive half.
The Richmond forwards forced the ball to ground and Dow did the rest.
The Zebras ended the second quarter with a pair of goals which set up an intriguing second half.
Sandringham then entered the second half full of vigour, slamming on three goals relatively quickly to push its lead to 26 points.
Richmond was striving to get some flow into the game, but freekicks and turnovers meant it struggled to transition the ball from back-half.
The Tigers were searching for a spark and Brad Melville acted as the flint.
At a forward-50 stoppage, Melville showcased his class by exiting congesting and snapping truly from the boundary igniting a small flurry of goals.
Street launched the ball deep inside 50 from 60 metres out, with the ball clearing the pack on the breeze and dribbling through for his second goal.
Patrick Naish then kicked a trademark Richmond goal, his second of the game and the Tigers were starting to find their roar.
Richmond trailed by just nine points at the final change, however, Sandringham had the wind in the last quarter.
The Zebras again slammed on goals in quick succession, extending their lead to 29 points.
Josh Caddy provided a glimmer after snapping a goal from congestion, cutting the margin to 22 points and Richmond’s intensity lifted off the back of it.
Daniel Rioli was shifted forward as Richmond toiled to find a target inside 50.
Rioli presented tirelessly but was constantly outnumbered by two or three defenders in the air.
Will Martyn showed his wares at the coalface, ripping the ball from congestion and providing drive in Richmond’s attacking chains.
Ben Miller continued to press his claims for an AFL debut after another resolute performance down back. The 21-year-old anchors the Tigers’ defensive unit and is developing the attacking nous to kickstart forays forward.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/965400/vfl-tigers-overrun-by-zebras
