Richmond Tigers keep AFL finals hopes alive with comeback victory

The Richmond Tigers have kept their finals hopes alive with a win over the fast-starting North Melbourne Kangaroos at the MCG.

Richmond fought back from a 20-point halftime deficit to claim a crucial win. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Richmond has kept its season alive with a come-from-behind 33-point win over a gallant North Melbourne outfit at the MCG.

After falling behind by as much as 26 points late in the second term, the Tigers bounced back after a slow start by rediscovering their famed pressure footy and surged ahead with a sensational second half – booting 11 goals to three after halftime.

Jack Graham (36 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles) and Dion Prestia (29 disposals) helped turn the tide while Nick Vlaustin (30 disposals, 14 marks) set things up brilliantly from half-back.

The win puts the Tigers into ninth place and within two points of eighth placed GWS, who they face next weekend in a virtual ‘elimination final’.

After getting the early bounce, North Melbourne ran out of gas after halftime as their run-and-gun attacking brand of football waned after halftime – with the result all but sealing the wooden spoon.

Luke Davies-Uniacke (38 disposals) was immense for the Kangaroos while Aaron Hall (37 disposals) and Cameron Zurhaar (four goals) were equally impressive.

Richmond failed to find its much-needed response in the opening-term as the side was held goalless by its buoyant opponents.

North Melbourne pinned holes in the Tigers defence, stretching them with their daring and rapid ball movement through the corridor – resulting in the Kangaroos booting the first three goals of the contest.

David Noble’s side continued to dominate the contest after quarter time and Zurhaar was the main benefactor, kicking three first-half goals.

However, wastefulness in front of goal kept Richmond in the contest and Jack Riewoldt’s goal on the halftime siren cut the margin back to 20 points.

After halftime, the Tigers finally got into their groove, rediscovering their famed pressure and putting the inexperienced Kangaroos to the sword with a seven-goal third term – to open a ten-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

A Jack Mahony goal straight after three-quarter time got North Melbourne back within a kick but a late avalanche of Tigers goals put the result beyond doubt.

Despite losing six of their last seven, the Tigers came into the match with their finals hopes alive. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Rioli Jr debut

After weeks of biding his time in the VFL, Maurice Rioli Jr was finally unleashed on the big stage.

Rioli, who is the son of late-great Maurice Snr, got his opportunity in the side after putting together a solid run of form in the VFL while also joining nephew, Daniel in the line-up.

After a quiet start, Rioli had an impact in the second half, kicking his first career goal at a crucial juncture to get the Tigers back within a single point in the third term.

Hall breakout season

Aaron Hall may be one of the most underrated players in the entire AFL.

Since arriving at Arden St from the Gold Coast, it has taken time for Hall to find his feet at the Kangaroos but since moving to half-back under coach David Noble, he has fit like a glove in North’s attacking game-plan, ranking elite in disposals, kicks and metres gained.

Hall continued his fine season, backing up his 36 disposal effort last week with 37 against the Tigers and a whopping 717 metres gained.

North finally return to ‘G

After 853 days, North Melbourne finally returned to the MCG.

Despite being based only kilometres away, the coronavirus-affected fixture of the past two seasons has meant the Kangaroos have had to wait since Round 3 of 2019 to return to the home of football.

In the period since North last graced the hallowed MCG turf, Richmond had featured a whopping 24 times.

Hall is edging closer to 150 AFL games. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Roos rue fadeout

North Melbourne coach David Noble has lamented his side’s second-half fade-away after falling against a fast-finishing Richmond by 33 points.

The Kangaroos burst out of the blocks with a scintillating opening half and had the Tigers on the ropes as they held a 26 point lead late in the first half.

However, North Melbourne would go on to concede nine goals to three after half-time as Richmond amped up the pressure, causing Noble’s side to lose its stranglehold in possession — in particular its dominance in uncontested disposal.

Noble believes his side’s inability to match the Tigers’ response after half time proved costly but said they’ll still be able to take positives from “some elements” of the game.

“I’m not overly happy with the second half,” Noble said post-game.

“We had some really good controlled periods and got the game on our terms and then conceded way too many shots on goal from the opposition in the second half.

“Our defence didn’t do as well in the second half as the first half, our pressure around the ball wasn’t as strong so there’s some really good learnings that have come out of it.

“There were some elements out of that that we will take away and tick and there will be some elements that we will pull apart in the second half in particular.

“For our fans out there to see our young mids continue to improve and continue to control the game in different portions that’s the result of some really sound work in there.”

Since their slow start to the season, the Kangaroos have significantly improved in most areas of the game with their loss against Richmond their first back-to-back loss since Round 11.

With his side staring down the barrel of winning its first wooden spoon since 1972, Noble said there are plenty of positives his side can take out of its post-bye run of form.

“I think our effort when we’ve come to the game has been a tick,” Noble said.

“I think there’s been some growth in the execution and the understanding of our game plan on what it looks like, how it feels and our ability to wrestle the game at times and get into some real arm wrestles and fight around where the game looks.

“We’ve been really encouraged by our offence and our ability to score.”

After numerous fixture changes over the past two seasons, the Kangaroos finally played on the MCG for the first time since Round 3 2019.

Despite the loss, Noble said having had the opportunity to play at the home of football will put them in good stead for the future having faced a side who made the ground a fortress for the best part of four seasons.

“We talked to the group after the game, it’s a great experience for us to play on the ‘G,” Noble said.

“It’s where finals are played and we want to sort of have a look at our style and see how it’s set up against the ground as well as a pretty tough opponent... that plays the ground really well.

“The ‘G’ is a great spot to play, it certainly is a great place to test yourself there is no doubt about that.”

Noble said he was unsure of when and where their contest with Sydney will happen next week but “assumes” they’ll play on Saturday at Marvel Stadium.

TIGERS: 0.3, 2.4, 9.6, 13.11 (89)

ROOS: 3.4, 5.6, 7.8, 8.8 (56)

D’URBANO’S BEST

TIGERS: Graham, Prestia, Vlaustin, Nankervis, Edwards, Parker

ROOS: Davies-Uniacke, Hall, Simpkin, Zurhaar, Anderson, Ziebell

GOALS

TIGERS: Edwards 2, Coleman-Jones 2, Riewoldt 2, Baker 2, Bolton, Rioli Jr, Parker, Ralphsmith, Prestia

ROOS: Zurhaar 4, Larkey, Scott, Taylor, Mahony

INJURIES

TIGERS: McIntosh (late withdrawal) replaced by Dow

ROOS: Walker (head)

UMPIRES:

Gavine, Broadbent, Meredith

VENUE: MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

3: Jack Graham (Richmond)

2: Nick Vlaustin (Richmond)

1: Aaron Hall (North Melbourne)

Originally published as Richmond Tigers keep AFL finals hopes alive with comeback victory