Media articles & stats: Dusty back with a bang, Lynch boots 6 in win over Pies

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Dusty back with a bang, Lynch boots six in big win over Pies

Richmond was too strong for a young Collingwood team at the MCG

By Josh Gabelich
afl.com.au
7 May 2022

RICHMOND              3.3       9.7     13.10    17.11 (113)
COLLINGWOOD        2.3      5.7       8.11     12.14 (86)

GOALS 
Richmond: Lynch 6, Martin 2, Riewoldt 2, Bolton 2, Castagna, Cotchin, Lambert, Pickett
Collingwood:  Ginnivan 3, Mihocek 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Henry 2, Crisp, Adams, McCreery

BEST   
Richmond: Lynch, Short, Graham, Cotchin, Bolton, Nankervis, Balta, Martin
Collingwood:  Crisp, Adams, Lipinski, N. Daicos, Cameron, Pendlebury, Ginnivan

INJURIES 
Richmond: Nil   
Collingwood: Quaynor (finger)

SUBSTITUTES 
Richmond: Sydney Stack (unused)
Collingwood: Jack Madgen (unused)

Crowd: 64,481 at the MCG

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DUSTIN Martin is back in business, Tom Lynch is back to his dominant best and Richmond is back in the eight after a blue-collar performance against Collingwood at the MCG reminded the competition of the sleeping giant lurking in the shadows.

The Tigers lost two of their most important players – Dion Prestia and Nick Vlastuin – to illness on Friday afternoon, but were rarely challenged in the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot between two traditional rivals.

Damien Hardwick's side has now levelled the ledger at 4-4 after brushing aside a disappointing black and white outfit to record a 17.11 (113) to 12.14 (86) win.

The Magpies only remained within striking distance in the first half due to Richmond's wastefulness in front of goal, before kicking four goals in a row late in the game after Richmond led by 47 points early in the fourth quarter.

It was all about Martin in the build-up with the superstar midfielder returning for the first time since taking personal leave in round one – and just the second time since suffering a lacerated kidney on the Gold Coast in round 18 last season – but Lynch continued his resurgence to leapfrog Tom Hawkins to lead the Coleman Medal race.

After two injury-interrupted seasons, the Richmond star has re-emerged as one of the premier key forwards in the game across the past fortnight. Lynch booted 7.5 against West Coast in Perth last Friday night – the most scoring shots in a game this season – and then followed it up with another high output performance that could have proven even more damaging, given he missed a few chances.

The 29-year-old booted 63 goals in his first season at Punt Road in 2019, but only managed 67 across two pandemic-affected seasons in 2020 and 2021. Right now, no one has kicked more goals than Lynch, who moved to 27 after booting 6.1 from 25 disposals and 11 marks on Saturday.

Martin gathered his first disposal five minutes in and every time he touched the ball it was met with a loud roar from the Richmond faithful. It took some time for him to get going, but before the end of the first quarter, Martin dished off a signature fend-off and the umpire chose not to spoil the occasion, given it was high.

From there the 2017 Brownlow Medal winner blew out the cobwebs, producing a handful of dazzling displays that reminded the competition of his brilliance. A trademark snap around the body from the pocket in the last quarter put the finishing touches on a strong return, gathering 23 touches and two goals.

Collingwood kicked four goals late to improve the bottom line, but at the end of the day, it was too little, too late for the Magpies.

Big deal, big performance
With the ink still drying on the five-year deal he signed on Friday morning, Jayden Short put a full stop on a momentous week for the gamebreaker. The 26-year-old burst out the blocks at the MCG and celebrated a big week in style, amassing 27 disposals, six inside 50s and 708 metres gained. The 2020 Jack Dyer Medal winner has established himself as one of Richmond's most damaging players across the past 24 months.

Flu-hit trio fight on
Last week it was gastro, this week it was the man flu. Craig McRae has been dealt a tough hand across the past fortnight. Brayden Maynard, Nick Daicos and Taylor Adams entered the game after missing training during the week due to illness. Daicos continued his great start to his career, finishing with 25 disposals and 418 metres gained, while Adams had a crack as always, collecting 29 touches.

Ginnivan in the thick of it again
Not many players have generated as much discussion as Jack Ginnivan across the first two months of the season. From GoPro-gate to the peroxide blond hair, the Anzac Day Medal-winning performance and the aftermath that saw the leadership group remind him of team rules, Ginnivan is a walking headline. The teenager was targeted by Richmond from the opening bounce and struggled to break free in the first three quarters, but still found a way to make an impact, finishing with three majors to cause headaches for the Tigers. Ginnivan now has 17 on the board from seven games, big numbers from a small forward.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/755646/dusty-back-with-a-bang-lynch-boots-six-in-big-win-over-pies

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Lynch destroys Collingwood as Tigers welcome Martin back in style

Peter Ryan
The Age
May 7, 2022 — 4.45pm

Richmond celebrated the return of champion midfielder Dustin Martin with an ominous performance against Collingwood as they introduced a touch of the new to breathe life into the yellow and black outfit that refuses to go out of fashion.

This match was meant to mark the return of Martin but in the first half it appeared as though it would go down in the history as the game that signalled the return of the key forward, as Tom Lynch went berserk to take a lead in the Coleman Medal, putting the game the Tigers eventually won by 27 points beyond reach.

By half-time Lynch had gathered a remarkable 18 disposals, kicked five goals, won nine contested possessions, took eight marks and was involved in 10 score involvements - a display that would have made former Richmond great Royce Hart proud.

Lynch did so matched up against All-Australian defender Darcy Moore, who had no answer for the dual premiership goalkicker once his confidence grew after he was given too much latitude early in the match.

The 29-year-old could have had seven by the long break too after spraying a set shot out on the full from directly in front and missing a snap shot after receiving an early free kick just 10 metres out.

Maurice Rioli was supporting Lynch’s efforts at ground level with two tackles that led to goals and a deft piece of ball control on the boundary, which enabled him to kick to Lynch in the goal square while Trent Cotchin and Jack Graham dominated contested ball.

The Magpies attempted to counter-attack, dispensing of their early method that saw them build up attacks to use the forward handball to devastating effect in a 10-minute patch in the second quarter that brought the margin back to within a kick. Under coach Craig McRae, they can do that, experimenting with their style like a band might introduce a new song midway through a gig. It is heartening for their fans but remains a work in progress.

In that phase Jack Crisp was electric, his hard running creating overlap through the middle that gave the team’s forwards a chance to mark on the lead. But Ollie Henry missed a set shot that would have drawn the Magpies within a kick and from then on, Richmond dominated, kicking the final three goals of the half.

The Magpies had three players, Taylor Adams, Brayden Maynard and Nick Daicos, under a cloud, and they battled to have their usual impact, but Jordan De Goey and Scott Pendlebury were very good.

Martin brought the crowd to life in the first quarter when he handed out his first fend off to Daicos, and then he had the Tiger faithful roaring with a goal in the second quarter.

Unfortunately, the umpire had not read the script, paying Isaac Quaynor a free kick as the ball dribbled through the goal after adjudicating Martin had pushed Quaynor in the back.

Martin, who missed six matches for personal reasons, put his arms out to question the decision in the placid manner he normally displays and incurred, much to his surprise, a 50-metre penalty. It was clear he was as much rusty as Dusty in his first game back.

However, in the second half Martin kicked two goals, with the crowd hailing his return like an old friend, while Will Hoskin-Elliott took a screamer in the dying stages that will be a mark of the year contender.

Maurice Rioli lights up the MCG

Richmond’s supporters have been spoilt since 2017, and they look likely to enjoy the football for a few more years yet watching the career of Rioli junior unfold. The son of Norm Smith medallist and football great, Maurice senior, who died in 2010, is exciting. He set Richmond on the path to victory with two chase-down tackles early in the second quarter that led to goals to teammates. Then he showed his brilliant ball control to set up a Lynch goal late in that quarter, and Jack Riewoldt received silver service late in the match. A lightning pass under pressure to Kane Lambert in the third quarter revealed exquisite kicking skills.

Jack Ginnivan not just seeking but receiving attention

The small forward might have become a public figure at world record pace in 2022, winning an Anzac Day medal and attracting media attention. That doesn’t seem to have impressed the Tigers, with Rhyan Mansell taking a chance to ram his arm into the back of Ginnivan’s head while in a pack just before three-quarter time.

That dyed hair made the target stand out with the incident occurring just minutes after Kamdyn McIntosh laid an old-fashioned coathanger on Ginnivan to give away a free kick and goal. Although quiet, Ginnivan kicked three goals to make the most of his chances.

Goals
Richmond: Lynch 6, Riewoldt 2, Martin 2, Bolton 2, Castagna, Soldo, Cotchin, Lambert, Pickett.
Collingwood: Ginnivan 3, Mihocek 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Henry 2, McCreery, Crisp, Adams.

Best
Richmond: Lynch, Cotchin, Short, Graham, Daniel Rioli, Bolton.
Collingwood: De Goey, Crisp, Pendlebury, Cameron, Adams.

Crowd: 64, 481

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/lynch-destroys-collingwood-as-tigers-welcome-martin-back-in-style-20220507-p5ajcn.html