WHAT THEY GOT RIGHT AND WRONG: EACH CLUB’S WINS AND WOES FROM ROUND 5Andrew Slevison
SEN
16 April 2024
What they got right
Started very wellRichmond looked like they were set to inflict more pain on West Coast with the way the team started in Perth.
The Tigers kicked the first four goals inside 16 minutes before inexplicably trading places with the Eagles.
From a positivity point of view, that was about it, apart from the performance of a developing forward in just his fourth game.
Lefau shoneMykelti Lefau was a shining light for the Tigers.
The New Zealander finished with three goals (two behinds) and could have easily booted five. He took eight marks and had six score involvements in an accomplished showing.
His pressure at ground level was also stellar, laying five tackles including three inside 50. Some of his ‘don’t argues’ were frightening.
Lefau did all of this against quality key defenders in Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass in a performance that is certain to fill him with confidence.
What they got wrongYet more lapsesOn numerous occasions already this season, the Tigers have given up runs of goals to their opposition.
From the 25-minute mark of the first quarter to the five-minute mark of the second, they conceded five goals. Then from the 13-minute mark of the second to the 22nd-minute mark they conceded four on the trot.
It got worse. The Eagles helped themselves to six straight majors from late in the second and through the third.
These lapses are killing Adem Yze’s side, but it’s somewhat to be expected from a team that is missing nine of their best 22 and had an average games played of 86 (less than West Coast’s 92.8 ).
Midfield copped a shellackingIt’s going to happen when three of your best midfielders (Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia and Jacob Hopper) are absent, but the Tigers copped an almighty shellacking in the middle.
The Tigers lost clearances 48-25, which is comprehensive, were beaten 33-17 in stoppage clearances and 15-8 in centre clearances.
Contested possessions were even worse with the Eagles prevailing 144-106.
Thomson Dow was eviscerated by Elliot Yeo in close, while Jack Graham and Liam Baker battled hard but were no match for Tim Kelly and Harley Reid.
Shai Bolton can hold his head high with 21 touches, five clearances and three goals.
In his second AFL game, Kane McAuliffe had a few opportunities in at centre bounce which hopefully hold him in good stead.
Conceded a career day to WatermanTaking nothing away from Jake Waterman, but the Richmond defence allowed him a career day.
Granted there was plenty of quality ball coming inside 50 but prior to Sunday, Waterman’s career-best goal haul had been four.
He helped himself to 6.2 while also pulling in a career-best marks haul of 13, including a remarkable eight contested.
Ben Miller and Tylar Young had eight contested defensive one on ones, and won just two between them. Nathan Broad lost two of three.
Allowed the Eagles to dictateWest Coast poured on their best first-half score since 2021 and kicked over 100 points for the first time since Round 2 last year.
They did that by avalanching the ball inside 50 on 61 occasions to Richmond’s 40.
The Tigers looked tired, as Yze alluded to, but they were pretty much pedestrian after quarter-time.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/04/15/what-they-got-right-and-wrong-each-clubs-wins-and-woes-from-round-5/
