Premier Cricket 2024-25: Richmond takes top spot with rout of Essendon

The skipper says there’s no secret to his side’s success this season following Richmond’s rise to the top of the Premier Cricket ladder. But there’s no shortage of contributors ...

Brendan Rose is enjoying a big summer with the ball. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Tigers are on top.

Richmond’s nine-wicket rout of Essendon on Saturday rocketed it three points clear into first spot – spearheaded by a host of stars picking up where they left off prior to Christmas.

The Tigers’ bowling attack made light work of the Bombers’ batting order, knocking them over for 132.

Paceman Brendan Rose continued his sizzling summer, collecting 3-19 off 8.5 overs, UK import and off-spinner Matt Montgomery fired with 3-21 off nine, while Jonathan D’Rozario collected 2-12.

Opener Dan Scholz (58 runs off 54 balls), Footscray recruit James Doherty (61* off 74) and keeper Scott Edwards (13*) finished the job, lifting the Tigers to 1-134 in reply.

Scholz sits fifth for runs scored in the comp with 469 at 52.11, while Rose’s bowling efforts has him in the top four with 21 wickets at 14.19.

D’Rozario rounds out the top 10 run-scorers with 402 at 57.43.

Richmond captain Sam Mills said there was no secret to his side’s rich vein of form, with the Tigers winning their past five matches.

“There’s been a lot of contributions pretty evenly all round – ‘Rosey’ has been great with the ball up top, he gets it done every year it seems,” he said.

“‘Jono’ (D’Rozario) and ‘Scholzy’ with the bat – they’re both in the top ten run-scorers in the comp so that’s made a big difference.

“I don’t think we’ve flicked a switch – I think guys have got a bit more experience, a bit more comfortable at the level and we’re just gelling as a team really well, we’re really clear on what we want to do each week and playing with a lot of positivity and freedom.”

The Tigers boast nine wins ahead of a run home which includes bouts with Ringwood (sixth), Carlton (second), Dandenong (fourth) and Melbourne (11th).

“We’ve been up there for a while, second (on Saturday) and jumped to first (and) we’ve got four pretty big two-dayers to come, so a lot can change before the end of the year, but hopefully we keep playing good cricket, finish top two and get a home final,” Mills said.

Mills added his side was healthy at the business end of the season – but state and Big Bash young gun Mitch Perry could be a significant inclusion.

“If he’s around at the back end of the year that’ll strengthen us as well, but apart from that, we’re pretty much full strength at the moment.”