Media articles and stats: Roar muffled, but Tigers get home over Lions

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Match report: Roar muffled, but Tigers get home

afl.com.au
16 July 2016

RICHMOND superstar Dustin Martin dominated the Brisbane Lions in Sunday afternoon's 31-point win at Etihad Stadium in a performance that could either make or end his Brownlow Medal hopes. 

Martin is likely to have pocketed another three votes after collecting 40 possessions, kicking two goals and winning 14 clearances as the Tigers kicked away to win 16.16 (112) to 12.9 (81).

But as a freakish third quarter wound down he was baited by opponent Nick Robertson, who kneed him in the thigh, and retaliated with a light but closed-fisted clip around the neck area from behind that will be scrutinised by the Match Review Panel.

Robertson, who appeared to go down easily in that clash, was already on report for headbutting Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and gladly made himself enemy No.1 of the Tiger Army.

Martin's tangle with Robertson was the dramatic peak in a performance full of troughs for the Tigers, who hope to finish top four but have failed to perform at that standard in the past fortnight, failing to shake the Lions until late on Sunday.

They led from the opening minute until the final siren, but were only 11 points clear of the 18th-placed Lions halfway through the third quarter as a lack of discipline and killer-instinct took its toll.

When the shackles were released in the final term they kicked seven goals, but the Lions played the game out impressively with six of their own, and the four points are unlikely to satisfy coach Damien Hardwick.   

"It was a little bit frustrating," the coach said after the match.

"We played a pretty attacking style of footy at stages, but some of those errors we were committing across our half-forward line really hurt us on the scoreboard going the other way.

"We can get better in that area. It's probably an area we've been a little bit inconsistent with at various stages, so it'll certainly be an area we'll be looking to work on this week."

Martin was unstoppable in the third quarter, winning 15 possessions and five clearances in that term alone and kicking one goal to continue his magnificent season.

Key forward Jack Riewoldt booted four goals, while small forwards Jason Castagna, Dan Butler and Daniel Rioli combined for six goals.

Dion Prestia was sent to Dayne Zorko in a run-with role and restricted the Lions' star to 11 possessions, while winning 19 himself and kicking a goal in what Hardwick said was his best performance for the club.

Cotchin battled hard with 28 possessions (15 contested), while Anthony Miles was called on for his third game this season and impressed with 24 possessions.

The Lions were led by classy youngster Alex Witherden, who produced the best performance of his debut season to finish with 28 possessions and four inside 50s, using the ball with precision.

The Lions wouldn't have lost any fans in a plucky performance, making it hard for the Tigers to get any momentum through the game but lacking the polish to punish their more experienced opponents.

"We were still in the game at three-quarter time … (and) the last quarter was six goals to seven, so our blokes kept fighting on, which I was really pleased about," coach Chris Fagan said.

"We got smashed out of the centre bounces (20-4) – it was probably obvious for everyone to see – which got the game played in their half.

"I thought our defenders did a great job to defend that many inside-50s actually and keep them to 32 shots."

The Tigers had control of the match early on and kicked away to a 19-point lead at the first change.

After the club's worst loss of the season last week against St Kilda, Hardwick made personnel and structural changes that were working well, but the Tigers seemed to get comfortable with their early lead and mistakes crept into their game.

The Lions of 2017 are not the sort of 18th-placed team that you can afford to relax against, and they reminded the Tigers of that in a three-goal run in the second-quarter that cut the half-time margin to eight points.

Richmond is 4-11 in second quarters this season and Hardwick's men kicked 1.4 in a wasteful term that lacked the discipline and killer-instinct of a leading team.

A re-set was required at half-time and, after kicking 0.3 from the first five inside 50s of the third quarter, Riewoldt looked to spark the Tigers with some magic from the pocket.

The most engrossing battle of the quarter was taking place elsewhere in the forward line, however, as Martin isolated Robertson in a niggly battle that eventually boiled over with Martin's strike.

MEDICAL ROOM

Richmond: Defender Dylan Grimes suffered a nose injury in the second half that required treatment but was able to play out the game. Likewise, big man Ivan Soldo landed on his face in the second half and went off with the blood rule before returning.

Brisbane Lions: The Lions got through the match unscathed.

NEXT UP
The Tigers host Greater Western Sydney at the MCG in a high stakes clash next Sunday that will put their top-four credentials to the test. The Lions are back at the Gabba to host Carlton in the Sunday twilight slot.


RICHMOND                 4.4       5.8       9.13     16.16 (112)
BRISBANE LIONS        1.3       4.6       6.8       12.9 (81)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Butler 3, Martin 2, Castagna 2, Edwards, Cotchin, Prestia, Rioli, B Ellis
Brisbane Lions: Keays 2, Schache 2, Hipwood 2, Cutler, Zorko, Bastinac, Mathieson, Walker, McCluggage

BEST
Richmond: Martin, Prestia, Cotchin, Riewoldt, Butler, Short, Miles
Brisbane Lions: Witherden, Andrews, Taylor, McStay, Rich

INJURIES
Richmond: Soldo (nose)
Brisbane Lions: Nil

Reports: Nick Robertson (Bris) for headbutting Trent Cotchin (Rich)

Umpires: Fisher, Deboy, Hosking

Official crowd: 28,188 at Etihad Stadium

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-16/match-report-roar-muffled-but-tigers-get-home

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Dominant Dustin Martin leads Richmond to victory over Brisbane Lions

Anthony Colangelo
The Age
16 July 2017

RICHMOND 4.4  5.8  9.13  16.16  (112)
BRISBANE LIONS 1.3  4.6  6.8  12.9  (81)

GOALS -
Richmond: Riewoldt 4,  Butler 3,  Martin 2,  Castagna 2, B Ellis,  Prestia,  Rioli,  Edwards, Cotchin.
Brisbane Lions:  Keays 2,  Hipwood 2,  Schache 2,  Zorko,  McCluggage, Walker, Bastinac,  Mathieson, Cutler.

BEST -
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Lambert, Ellis, Edwards, Prestia, Butler.
Brisbane: Witherden, Taylor, Andrews, Mayes, Rich.

UMPIRES - Hosking, Deboy, Fisher
CROWD - 28,188 at Etihad Stadium

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A patchy Richmond were enough to defeat the Brisbane Lions by 31 points on Sunday, with Damien Hardwick's side keeping the young Lions at bay largely on the back of a dominant performance from Dustin Martin.

Richmond kept up their finals hope with a 31 point win over the Brisbane Lions, Dustin Martin racking up 40 possesions in a dominant display.

Martin, the year's most prized free agent who is yet to indicate whether he will stay at Punt Road in 2018 and beyond, was superb at Etihad Stadium, producing a powerful display in the midfield and forward 50.

The Tigers led all day but never really hit their stride in the contest, with the Lions' lapses in the first and third quarters ultimately consigning them to their 13th defeat of the season.

Martin had 15 possessions, five clearances and kicked a goal in a third quarter in which he single-handedly pulled the game away from the Lions, despite receiving some close attention from Brisbane's Nick Robertson.

Martin ended the game with 40 possessions, 14 clearances, two goals and 12 inside-50s in what was surely a three Brownlow Medal-vote performance.

Martin's third-quarter tussle with Robertson involved a scuffle during which Martin made contact with the Lion's face. Robertson went to ground. Minutes earlier, Robertson had been reported for headbutting captain Trent Cotchin as they scrapped in a forward pocket.

"It was annoying, but a bit of fun," Martin said of Robertson.

Dion Prestia was also important for the Tigers. He didn't tag Lions midfield gun Dayne Zorko for the whole game, but when he did run with him he was able to nullify his impact.

Richmond made most of the running in the first term to take a 19-point lead into quarter-time. The Tigers looked best when rushing into an open forward line and were too composed and quick for the Lions' defenders in attack.

Their goals came through Jason Castagna, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards and Dan Butler, while Brisbane's major came via Rhys Mathieson.

Despite the lead, Richmond let the Lions off the hook on a number of occasions, with Daniel Rioli, Castagna, Camdyn McIntosh and Prestia missing good opportunities.

The Lions looked dangerous going forward at stages, particularly through Alex Witherden's precise kicking. But given Zorko didn't get a touch in the quarter and Dayne Beams went without a disposal up until the 22-minute mark, the Lions were mostly toothless.

However Zorko came to life in the second quarter, playing a key part in two of the Lions' three goals. Zorko won a clearance in the midfield which led to Josh Walker's snapped goal and then he scored a goal himself, on the run from 50 metres.

Brisbane's other goal came via Josh Schache – playing his first game since round eight and his first since re-signing with the Lions in June.

Richmond had plenty of opportunity going forward but kicked only one goal for all their second-term toil. Their forward thrust and defensive strength was stifled by the Lions, as Eric Hipwood played deep, dragging his opponent Alex Rance away from dangerous positions. The margin at half-time was eight points.

The Lions then struggled in the third quarter, with Richmond kicking four goals to Brisbane's two. Richmond were by no means perfect but they went forward displaying their most conviction of the afternoon, while their defence of Brisbane in transition was at its tightest.

Riewoldt added two goals in the third term while Butler and Martin kicked the Tigers' other goals. Ben Keays and Ryan Bastinac nabbed majors for the Lions, the margin 23 points at the final change.

The final term was the most open of the contest, with Richmond kicking seven goals to Brisbane's six. Brisbane refused to let their effort dip like it had at crucial stages in the first and third terms and to their credit played out the match.

In the end, Richmond's class, led supremely by Martin, was too much for the Lions, whose biggest challenge throughout the afternoon was getting the ball out of their defensive 50 cleanly.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dominant-dustin-martin-leads-richmond-to-victory-over-brisbane-lions-20170716-gxc565.html

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Richmond defeats Brisbane

Rebecca Williams,
Herald Sun
16 July 2017

AS far as AFL battles go, this match, on paper at least, was one most would have marked down as a comfortable win for Richmond.

Sixth versus last on the ladder and the Tigers desperate to hit back after last week’s savaging from St Kilda to stay in touch with the top four.

There had been tough talk from Punt Rd and Tigers coach Damien Hardwick in the lead-up, demanding a fierce response from his players, who he said had been beaten up around the ball by the Saints in their 67-point loss.

He ordered mouthguards at training as toughening up his team’s contested play became the focus.

Hardwick was equally brutish at the selection table, making four changes for the clash against the Lions.

The only issue with the Tigers is you never quite know what you’re going to get.

One week, they’re being talked up as a flag contender after their stirring win over Port Adelaide, the next they were left shell-shocked in a 14-goal to one opening half capitulation to St Kilda.

Fortunately for the Tigers faithful, this did not turn out to be one of their “Richmondy” moments as they bounced back with a 31-point win over the Lions.

Where they were caught napping in a horror first half against the Saints, the Tigers made a swift and immediate statement against the lowly Lions at Etihad Stadium, putting the first goal on the board through Jason Castagna in the opening minute.

Hardwick had wanted his players to toughen up and the early signs were strong for the Tigers, who won the contested ball count 37-24 in the opening quarter.

The Tigers managed just four goals in three quarters against the Saints, but they matched that in the opening term against the Lions, only being let down by a few wayward shots at goal to keep the margin to just under 20 points.

Just when Richmond looked to be righting its wrongs from last week, the Lions, whose last visit to Etihad Stadium resulted in an upset win over Essendon, scored three goals to one in the second quarter to put the pressure back on the Tigers.

Where their stars were subdued last week, the Tigers’ big names started to make their presence felt after the halftime break. Jack Riewoldt added another two goals to take his tally to four, while midfield general Dustin Martin dominated with a big 15-possession quarter.

After a quieter first half, Martin delivered another Brownlow vote-worthy performance, finishing with 40 possessions, 14 clearances, 18 contested possessions and two goals.

But Martin let the Lions get under his skin at one point and could face MRP scrutiny for a little high contact on antagonist Nick Robertson after a third-quarter tangle.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin was also impressive with 28 disposals for the match, including 15 contested possessions and one goal, while Dion Prestia (19 disposals) shut down Lion Dayne Zorko.

The Tigers finished with nine goal scorers for the match, including four to Riewoldt, and emerged with contested possession tally of 143-113 that should please Hardwick and have the mouthguards left in the lockeroom at training this week.

The question of how the Tigers would respond to the heavy St Kilda loss was answered in the manner that should be expected against the bottom-placed side, but what Richmond turns up next week when the Giants come to town?


RICHMOND 16.16 (112)

d.

BRISBANE 12.9 (81)

GOALS

RICHMOND: Riewoldt 4, Butler 3, Martin 2, Castagna 2, Edwards, Cotchin, Prestia, Rioli, B Ellis

BRISBANE: Keays 2, Schache 2, Hipwood 2, Cutler, Zorko, Bastinac, Mathieson, Walker, McCluggage

BEST

RICHMOND

Martin, Cotchin, Prestia, Riewoldt, Miles, Rance, Lambert, Butler

BRISBANE

Witherden, Taylor, Andrews, Rich, McStay, Beams

BEC WILLIAMS’ VOTES

3. Dustin Martin

2. Trent Cotchin

1. Dion Prestia

INJURIES

Richmond: Soldo (nose)

Brisbane Lions: Nil

REPORTS

Nick Robertson (Bris) for headbutting Trent Cotchin (Rich)

Umpires: Fisher, Deboy, Hosking

Official crowd: 28,188 at Etihad Stadium

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/richmond-defeats-brisbane/news-story/3127c2ab61c38a79e55045bc7596083f