Richmond vs Hawthorn @ the MCG --- Round 23, 2021

[one-eyed]

Report Card: Round 23

Foxsports
23 August 2021

RICHMOND

It was a performance fitting of Richmond’s season, with a sporadic formline throughout that had glimpses of the high-pressure, high-speed type of game they excel at. Getting as close as they did to the win is impressive given the 31-point deficit they were facing midway through the final term. It’s also worth noting this was a team devoid of a number of walk-up starters. As Damien Hardwick said pre-game, the team are tired after so many shortened pre-seasons and will be better for the rest come 2022.

In the votes

Jayden Short and Jack Ross were prolific, while David Astbury nearly broke his disposal record in his final game! Tom Lynch was great with 3.3 and can hopefully carry that form into next year. Jack Riewoldt’s resurgent season had a fitting conclusion as he kicked the last two goals of the game to create the draw. Riley Collier-Dawkins has shown more than enough in his games this season to suggest he’ll become a fine player.

Room for improvement

As good as the comeback was, giving the Hawks such a big lead was another sign of a side that just isn’t as rock solid as it once was. The Hawks had 79 more uncontested possessions too, which Alastair Clarkson would’ve loved as they picked their way through the Tigers’ defence. Marlion Pickett seems to be in no man’s land at the moment.

Grade

B

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-report-card-round-23-2021-afl-news-analysis-every-club-graded-best-and-worst-players-votes-reaction/news-story/2360ed063f3fb243d24e3ce3d555d6e4

[one-eyed]

ONE POSITIVE AND ONE NEGATIVE FROM YOUR CLUB'S ROUND 23 PERFORMANCE

Andrew Slevison
SEN
23 August 2021

RICHMOND

Positive: Not giving up in dead rubber

The game was shot to bits with less than five minutes remaining.

Richmond trailed Hawthorn by 25 points and with nothing to play for, they could have easily rolled over.

But a young team simply wanted to win and almost pulled off the remarkable by kicking the last five goals resulting in a draw.

Sydney Stack moved forward and had an immediate impact with two goals while Jack Riewoldt bagged his 50th of the season from an acute angle before soccering home the tying goal, just inches from Shaun Burgoyne’s fingertips in his 407th and final game.

Another positive sign was that the centre bounce on-ball unit at one point read: Callum Coleman-Jones, Jack Ross, Will Martyn and Thomson Dow - a combined total of 43 AFL games’ experience.

It shows that Damien Hardwick is willing to hand opportunities to his developing players.

It was great to send David Astbury, who was superb in his final match, and Bachar Houli off in that manner even if it wasn’t with a win.

Negative: Gave up easy goals

The Tigers found themselves in a hole in the third quarter and early in the last, and it mainly came from a lack of desperation and awareness in defence.

That is bound to happen when you have a debutant in Ben Miller playing in a back six that has been unsettled all season due to injuries.

The Hawks kicked some very easy goals, making the most of the disorganised Tigers backline, before the defence tightened up and contributed to the eventual draw.

It is a season the club will be eager to see the back of as they look forward to a lengthy rest before firing up in 2022.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/08/23/one-positive-and-one-negative-from-your-clubs-round-23-performance/

[eliminator]

Extraordinary game. Showed real spirit to come back.

[one-eyed]

Coaches votes (Hardwick & Clarkson)'

Richmond vs Hawthorn

10 Chad Wingard (HAW)
6   Jaeger O'Meara (HAW)
4   Jonathon Ceglar (HAW)
4   Tom J Lynch (RICH)
3   Dylan Grimes (RICH)
2   Jack Ross (RICH)
1   Ben McEvoy (HAW)

https://aflcoaches.com.au/awards/the-aflca-champion-player-of-the-year-award/leaderboard/2021/20210123