Richmond v West Coast: All the news and updates from Optus Stadium
Seventeenth playing 18th was never going to be a blockbuster, but Tigers fans would have been buoyed to see their first-year rebuild fly past the Eagles’ fifth year trying to bounce back to the top.
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We should never be surprised when someone carrying the Rioli name sparks an AFL win.
It was a couple of moments of magic from Maurice Rioli at Optus Oval on Saturday night that set Richmond on its way to a 49-point win over West Coast.
While Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto and Nick Vlastuin saw plenty of the ball, Rioli provided the big moments that turned the tide in the Tigers way.
His teammates reacted and they dominated the third quarter to set up their fifth win for the season, 16.9 (105) to 8.8 (56).
That’s the Tigers biggest score for the season and the first time they have broken the ton.
It’s also the first time Richmond has won consecutive games since winning three between rounds 17 to 19 in 2023. Current West Coast coach Andrew McQualter was interim charge of the Tigers then, sitting in the chair after Damien Hardwick vacated it.
Saturday’s result all but guarantees that McQualter’s new team will claim the wooden spoon in his first season in charge.
MAURICE RIOLI WHAT A TACKLE 🌟#AFLEaglesTigerspic.twitter.com/KEwd5LSsOv
— AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2025
RIOLI PROVIDES THE SPARK
Richmond started slowly and needed someone to provide a special moment to spark them into action.
Rioli provided that moment with five minutes left in the first term, with a brilliant chase-down tackle.
West Coast’s Brady Hough took the ball at half-back and had no one in front of him, so off he went.
Rioli took off after him, starting 10m behind. He caught up as the Eagles defender was taking his third bounce, and won the free kick.
Less than 20 seconds later, Taranto kicked the first of his two goals to finish the quarter and the Tigers led by five points at the break.
If you missed it, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to see Rioli’s chase on highlight reels during end-of-season celebrations.
AND THEN AGAIN
Rioli provided another moment of brilliance midway through the second quarter, that resulted in another Tigers goal.
Eagles defender Harry Edwards was trying to clear the ball from his defence, and had support from teammate Jack Hutchinson, who was standing by himself at half-back.
The only person who could stop West Coast from running the ball out of defence was Rioli.
And he did.
Seeing the opportunity was one thing, closing in on Edwards to smother the kick, was another.
But Rioli wasn’t done. He also recovered better than the Eagle and found Toby Nankervis by himself in the goal square, who kicked the Tigers fifth goal and gave them a 16-point lead.
LOCK DOWN ON REID
Lock down on Reid
At half-time Harley Reid was heading to a career-best game, albeit in only his second season.
His best is not even close to being seen yet.
He had 20 possessions at the main break, after picking up 12 in an impressive second quarter. The Eagles trailed by nine points, due mainly to turnovers.
Jack Ross went on him at the restart and Reid added just four more possessions in the third term.
Richmond cashed in, kicking 8.4 to 1.2 for the quarter. The game was done. Reid finished with 27 possessions and two goals.
In his previous 37 games, 29 disposals is his best, against Fremantle in round 20 last season.
He is now growing into the potential everyone knows he has.
Reid has now had more than 25 possessions in four of his past five games, including 27 and 24 against Port Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney in the two weeks before this one.
He’s been criticised for giving away free kicks, 52 this season before Saturday night.
He improved that against the Tigers too, giving away just two, while being awarded four of his own.
Originally published as Richmond v West Coast: All the news and updates from Optus Stadium
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