The Power gave the Tigers a big head start at the MCG and were never able to close the gap
Port Adelaide’s 2019 AFL finals hopes took another hit with a 38-point loss to the Tigers at the MCG on Saturday. Recap with quarter-by-quarter updates.
Port Adelaide has fallen to consecutive losses for the first time since Round 8 with a 38-point defeat by Richmond at the MCG.
The Power was slow out of the blocks and, despite a rally early in the third quarter, was no match for the in-form Tigers, who won their fourth game in a row.
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER UPDATES
FIRST QUARTER
Tigers 5.4 (34)
Power 2.4 (16)
Port Adelaide made another slow start, and a red-hot Richmond outfit made the Power pay kicking three-goals straight to race out of the blocks.
The Tigers cut through the Power from the very first bounce, and Jason Castagna perhaps should have made Port pay but his kick was inaccurate.
But Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch and Dustin Martin weren’t so forgiving, all taking their chances to punish yet another slow start from the Power.
Just when the game looked like it could get away from Port, youngster Zak Butters stood up to kick two quick goals to show some fight but a contentious 50m penalty conceded by Justin Westhoff with just seconds to go let Jack Graham extend Richmond’s lead to 18-points at the first break.
SECOND QUARTER
Tigers 8.5 (53)
Power 4.6 (30)
Charlie Dixon was dangerous at times in the first quarter but in the second Port’s big man really clicked into gear.
A great mark just two minutes in wasn’t backed up by an accurate kick but after Jack Riewoldt kicked his second six minutes in to the quarter Dixon replied one minute later with one of his own, and a lovely turn to set up Karl Amon to reduce Richmond’s lead to 12.
But the Tigers found their roar again, and after Mabior Chol kicked a settler Riewoldt registered his third with just over five minutes left to help Richmond to a healthy half-time lead.
THIRD QUARTER
Tigers 12.7 (79)
Power 7.7 (49)
Returning to the side after being dropped youngster Xavier Duursma got his bow and arrow out at the MCG after reducing the margin to 16 midway through the quarter, giving Port a sniff.
But turnovers once again hurt Port when Sydney Stack caught a flat footed Scott Lycett and set up Brandon Ellis for a momentum-killing goal.
Castagna kicked his second of the day after the 21st minute mark, and Ivan Soldo kicked the Tigers third in a row to give them a comfortable lead at three-quarter time despite a late Amon goal.
FOURTH QUARTER
Tigers 15.11 (101)
Power 9.9 (63)
Lynch continued his fine day out, kicking his third with a ripping effort after the ball unfortunately bounced through Tom Clurey’s hands, compounding a tough day for the Port defender.
With the game all but lost Port suffered another blow when Dan Houston hit his head hard when flung to the turf by a Graham tackle.
The Power competed all day but were just outclassed by a Richmond outfit now looming as a serious Premiership threat.
RICHMOND V PORT ADELAIDE
Saturday, 1:15pm, MCG
Weather: Mostly sunny, windy, max 17C
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy (live)
Radio: FIVEaa, TripleM, ABC891
Live stream: Kayosports.com.au
TIGERS
B: Astbury, Broad, Grimes
HB: Houli, Vlastuin, Edwards
C: Short, Prestia, Bolton
HF: Rioli, Castagna, Lambert
F: Riewoldt, Stack, Lynch
FOLL: Soldo, Cotchin, Martin
I/C: Graham, Baker, Ellis, Chol
EMG: Coleman-Jones, Butler, Caddy, McIntosh
IN: Graham, Baker
OUT: McIntosh, Eggmolesse-Smith
POWER
B: Houston, Clurey, Bonner
HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones
C: Duursma, Rockliff, Amon
HF: R. Gray, Howard, Motlop
F: Westhoff, Dixon, Rozee
FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Papper, Boak
I/C: Broadbent, Butters, S. Gray, Sutcliffe
EMG: Drew, Garner, Marshall, Ryder
IN: Houston, Duursma, Broadbent
OUT: Burton, Ebert, Wines