AFL 2022: All the news, analysis from Brisbane Lions v Richmond elimination final
Noah Balta, Toby Nankervis, Robbie Tarrant, Nick Vlastuin and Jack Riewoldt were all right there. So how did Joe Daniher get the ball on his boot to sink the Tigers?
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Damien Hardwick was right about one thing - the AFL MUST invest more money on getting a more reliable score review system.
But he was wrong about one point - we can’t go back to relying solely on goal umpires. We’ve gone too far for that to ever happen, and we’ve seen some howlers correctly overruled in the process.
That doesn’t mean the AFL’s score review system couldn’t - and shouldn’t - be overhauled. It simply must be better.
It’s a shame that the biggest talking point from one of the great finals in modern memory will be a controversial overruled ARC decision that will be debated forever.
Tom Lynch’s late shot on Thursday night was ruled a ‘goal’ by the goal umpire’s soft call but subsequently overturned by the ARC.
On the balance of probabilities, it was probably a behind, judging on the pixilated slow-mo vision offered up to the public and Lynch’s initial reaction (which should never count as hard evidence).
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But on the evidence we have seen publicly, we will never know for certain.
It looked hardly beyond the reasonable doubt we are meant to have to overturn a decision, particularly one so crucial that it effectively ended one team’s season and saved another’s.
If there was more evidence or different angles available in the ARC bunker that we didn’t see, why not release them.
In a post-game statement, the AFL said: “The ARC reviewed all the camera angles and it is viewed as a definitive behind. The correct call was made.”
How was that definitive?
Didn’t the goal umpire have a completely different version to that?
Who knows when the ball actually crossed the line?
This is a multi-billion-dollar industry where outcomes can make or break careers just as much as they can break fans’ hearts.
So it is embarrassing we haven’t done more to produce a more reliable outcome for goal reviews … better camera angles on the goal-line and from above, an extra goal umpire at either end, taller posts, and maybe the ball-tracking devices Eddie McGuire has been proposing where a microchip would be inserted in the Sherrins to track whether it has crossed the goal line
It’s time to open the purse strings and ensure cutting-edge technology is sourced and used.
Yes, it will cost more money, but for credibility’s sake, it will cost a lot more not to do it.
WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO LOCK DOWN ON LACHIE?
It was one of the great individual finals performances, but why did it take so long for Richmond to lock down hard on the extraordinary influence of Lachie Neale.
Neale’s performance against the Tigers was off the charts, made all the more remarkable in that he played out the entire second half, as well as the last 15 minutes of the second term.
He had a few players shadow him in the first three quarters, including Jayden Short, but it wasn’t a hard tag before Marlion Pickett tightened the screws in the frantic final quarter.
Neale had 39 disposals and if it hadn’t been for Pickett’s efforts in the last term, the Brisbane midfielder might also have the record for the most clearances in a final.
He finished with 15 clearances, equal with Brett Ratten (1999 Grand Final) as the second most in a final, and just one behind Josh Kennedy’s 16 in the 2012 Grand Final.
His 21 contested possessions were the fourth most of any player this season, his 18 groundball gets were the second most and his seven centre clearances shaped the game.
Pickett had nine last-term disposals which included four contested possessions, four inside 50s and three score involvements.
But much of the damage had been done.
A tighter tag might have seen Richmond lock this game away sooner instead of having it wrenched out of their hands within the last minute.
And how about that Neale tackle on Shai Bolton in the dying seconds …
DONE, BUT NOT DUSTED
Former Essendon great Gary O’Donnell threw out a cheeky late night tweet urging his former teammate Damien Hardwick that it was “time to come home Dimma”.
While Essendon will - and some suggest has - sounded out the contracted Hardwick for its vacant coaching role, it seems implausible that the three-time premiership coach would consider cutting and running from Punt Road.
We don’t know yet whether the Tigers’ dynasty is over, but there is enough evidence to suggest Richmond can contend again next year with a few tweaks to their game style and with some list changes.
Kane Lambert and Shane Edwards (how about that farewell late rundown tackle on Thursday night) have retired after great careers.
Trent Cotchin, 32, had a very productive season and will almost certainly win a new one-year deal to play on again in 2023.
Jack Riewoldt will be 34 next season. A decision will have to be made on his future soon, though his two last-quarter goals (and three for the game) almost tilted the scales in his favour to play on again.
Then, there is Dustin Martin. Surely that can’t be our last memory of him in a Richmond jumper - sitting on the bench through important stages of the last term.
Was playing an “80 per cent match fit” Martin - as Hardwick called him pre-game - worth the risk? Given his past finals record, the coach was in no doubt.
But Kane Cornes questioned that on Friday morning on SEN, saying: “(It was) a mistake clearly to play Dustin Martin I thought ... (they) Richmond didn’t want him on the ground in the vital moments.”
Hardwick was emphatic after the match that Martin hadn’t played his last game in yellow and black, despite murmuring he would like to escape the footy goldfish bowl of Melbourne.
There are two complicating factors in any possible move. Firstly, there is the $2.6 million that sits with the final two years of his contract with the Tigers. Then, there is also the current AFL investigation into the leaked video of Martin that dates back to 2015.
Internally, the Tigers believe Dusty is as deeply engaged as ever in what is happening at Punt Rd, and can get his body back for a full season again after a lengthy break over the summer months.
If the hunger still burns for Martin, and if his body holds up, he can play a key role again in 2023.
GOAL-SQUARE CHAOS SUMS UP TIGERS’ NEAR-MISS SEASON
So close and yet so far.
That’s the way Richmond’s 2022 season will be remembered, and Joe Daniher’s game-winning goal in the square summed it up.
As the dying embers of this classic final were being stoked, a Zac Bailey kick into the goal square seemed certain to be repelled by a bevy of Tigers defenders as Richmond clung to a four-point lead.
Noah Balta, Toby Nankervis and Jack Riewoldt all flew for the ball and effectively spoiled each other before it spilled loose to Daniher, who edged past Robbie Tarrant to snap a goal.
Just moments earlier Daniher had given away a free kick which had cost his team a certain goal; then he went from zero to the hero.
But it should never have happened. The Tigers had enough defensive numbers to neutralise the contest, but couldn’t stop him.
In a season of so many near misses that thrust Richmond into the finals without a safety net, they lost five games by under a goal for the season as well as a draw.
Defensively, they struggled all season, conceding 82 points per game, ranked ninth, and so it turned out against the Lions who scored 106.
Getting better defensively must be a priority for the Tigers in the pre-season.
GENERATION NEXT
One thing that would give Hardwick some comfort as he plots another finals assault next season is the growth of the Tigers’ young players.
Maurice Rioli Jr. has the pedigree, the pressure and the footy smarts to become a serious player of the future.
Jack Ross is on the improve as evidenced by his performance in his first final.
Tyler Sonsie, Noah Cumberland, Josh Gibcus and Ben Miller have all had their moments this season and look to have good futures.
Add to that the Tigers’ pitch to GWS midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, who are on the move, and it shows that Hardwick will still have plenty to work with in 2023 and beyond.
Taranto seems the most gettable option and he will provide some extra support in the midfield.
Dion Prestia is one of the club’s most important players, but has had a battle with his body in recent seasons.
He played 19 games this year, after only 18 in the previous two, but his hamstring injury in the elimination final was a costly blow for the Tigers.
WHY THE PIES HAD A WIN WITHOUT PLAYING
Baring an almighty change of heart, Brisbane’s Dan McStay will be wearing black and white next season.
But that hasn’t stopped Pies fans questioning for months the merits of Collingwood’s pursuit of McStay.
Not anymore.
McStay saved his best game of the season for when the Lions needed it most, stepping into the makeshift ruck role after Oscar McInerney was subbed out due to concussion.
The 27-year-old had a fascinating duel with Richmond captain Toby Nankervis which was almost as compelling as the match itself, whetting the appetite for Collingwood fans.
McStay played 75 per cent ruck time for his 23 disposals - both career highs - and his nine scoring involvements were the second most of his AFL career.
Nankervis was important, but McStay’s ability to halve the contest was a win for the Lions.
McStay is primarily being recruited by the Magpies to play in attack with the prospect of some cover in defence.
But he showed his versatility on Friday night that he can provide a chop-out in the ruck when required, which would have pleased Magpies coach Craig McRae and footy boss Graeme Wright.
THE HAPPIEST MAN IN BRISBANE
Anyone still questioning whether Chris Fagan was the right man to lead the Lions into the future needs to think again.
You only needed to look at the Brisbane coach’s interaction with the players post-siren on Thursday night to know what he means to them.
No one went into this elimination final under more pressure than Fagan, who had tried all week to defend the Lions’ 1-5 finals record since 2019.
He also had to deal with suspensions to key players in Cam Rayner and Noah Answerth, an injury to Jarryd Lyons and the loss of Oscar McInerney in the first two minutes of play.
Somehow against the odds the Lions emerged with one of their gutsiest finals wins and Fagan’s post-siren joy summed up a very good night at the office for him.
He boldly introduced a finals debutant Darcy Wilmot - who seems a serious player for the future - and he got his match-ups right, including Brandon Starcevich on Shai Bolton.
Now he needs to plot on the Lions’ next challenge - on the road and away from the Gabba.
TIGER KILLER: DIMMA BLOWS UP OVER GOAL REVIEW ‘FAIL’
Rebecca Williams
Damien Hardwick has called for the AFL to scrap its goal review system after a controversial call in the final minutes of Richmond’s devastating elimination final loss to Brisbane.
The Lions have kept their premiership hopes alive after a thrilling two-point elimination final win to bring Richmond’s September campaign to an end at the Gabba.
The Lions will now play the loser of Friday night’s qualifying final between reigning premier Melbourne and Sydney at the MCG.
In a sudden-death shootout, the Lions regained the lead with a minute to go after a mid-air snap from Joe Daniher in the goalsquare and were able to hang on for their second finals win under coach Chris Fagan.
The result came amid controversy after Tom Lynch’s goal was controversially overturned on video review at the other end a minute earlier.
Lynch marked only metres out and his banana shot was sent to the ARC with the umpire’s original call a goal, which would have put the Tigers over a goal up with two minutes left. But the reviewers deemed the skied kick had pass over the top of the goalpost.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I just feel the technology is not good enough. It hasn’t been for a long period of time,” Hardwick said post-match.
“I think we put a lot of money into it and clearly it is indecisive.
“We’ve got goal umpires. Pick which way you want to go .. the whole thing is that the technology is not to the level it needs to be, so either get it better or don’t have it.”
The score review they’ll talk about for a loooooong time. No-one on the planet could confidently assess where ball crossed except the score review guy… #AFLFinalspic.twitter.com/LxPiME2V8i
— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) September 1, 2022
Are we sure the Arc had enough evidence to overturn that call? Like finals deciding sure? #AFLFinals
— Drew Jones (@DrewJonesFOX) September 1, 2022
Big pair of balls on the man in the Arc.
— Cath Durkin (@CDurkinFOX) September 1, 2022
Former Lion Luke Hodge said he was surprised the Lynch goal was overturned. “For something that has to be 100 per cent accurate. I am sitting back and looking at that and you hear that the umpire had called a goal, I was thinking, ‘They can’t overrule that’,” Hodge said on Channel 7.
Tigers great Matthew Richardson said there was no doubt the call would become a big discussion point.
“It will be discussed. You have to. This is an elimination final. It is a cut-throat game. It is high stakes. It will be discussed because it was called a goal,” he said.
The AFL moved quickly to issue a statement on the decision, backing its review system: “The ARC reviewed all the camera angles and it is viewed as a definitive behind. The correct call was made.”
Hardwick also bristled when he was quizzed about the future of Dustin Martin.
“It’s pretty simple to me, if you guys (the media) keep talking about it, it creates speculation. I’m telling you he’s got two more years of his contract. He’s not going anywhere.”
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan hailed the way his team had stood up under pressure after losing their ruckman early in the match.
“I can’t believe that. What a game of football that was,” Fagan said.
“Fair dinkum. Our blokes stuck at it all night, didn’t they. They wouldn’t go away.
“You think about it, we lose our ruckman in the first two minutes and we found a way.
“I am so pleased for this group because we have been under a lot of pressure about our finals record and we were really brave tonight and we can hold our heads up high as can Richmond, it was a super day.”
That ARC decision could be one of the biggest stories of the year… How on earth was the evidence definitive enough to overturn? #AFLLionsTigers#AFLFinals
— Callum Ferguson (@calferguson12) September 1, 2022
Lions captain Dayne Zorko said the Lions knew what they had to do to get the job done against the Tigers.
“We knew we would be up against it,” Zorko said.
“Richmond was coming in, in hot form. We were playing inconsistent, but it came down to good quarters. We look back at our finals against them in the past and we really went to score on them and we knew it would be a pound the rock game all night.
“Joe Daniher, what a signing.”
Zorko said the thrilling finals win would enhance the Lions’ belief ahead of their semi-final match-up.
“Tonight will help with that. Obviously, a bit has been written about us not performing in finals,” Zorko said.
“Everyone played their role and did their job. That is the blueprint for us. Finals is a different ball game and a new season. We will take a lot from that tonight, both positives and negatives and look forward to playing next week.”
Lions midfielder Lachie Neale turned in a finals performance for the ages with 39 disposals, 21 contested possession and 15 clearances as Brisbane kicked the finals monkey off their backs after a nerve-wracking final term.
The shootout had 17 lead changes and the final one came when Daniher grubbered the ball through traffic with 64 seconds left in the match.
Daniher only kicked one goal in Brisbane’s two finals losses in 2021 but he booted two majors in the final term when the Lions needed him to stand up.
Jack Riewoldt kicked two long-range goals from a tight angle in the last term as Richmond’s extensive record of finals success appeared to hold the Tigers in good stead.
Richmond extended its cushion to 16 points in the third term after Lynch’s third goal for the night but Brisbane was able to drag itself back into the match through goals to Charlie Cameron and Deven Robertson to reduce the margin to five points by the last change.
Richmond took a six-point buffer into halftime after a fast and furious and opening two quarters that featured eight lead changes, 17 goals and 65 inside-50 entries.
It came at a cost for both teams with Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney (concussion) and Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia (hamstring) both being subbed out of the game before the main break.
The Tigers feasted on turnovers for most of the first half and were able to find ample space up forward without always being able to capitalise.
In contrast, the Lions had to scrap and scrape for their majors as they stayed in the match on the back on their contest work with Lachie Neale leading the way with 20 possessions, 12 contested possessions and nine clearances at halftime.
Two late goals to Eric Hipwood levelled the scores at quarter-time after the Tigers jumped to an early advantage with a Dustin Martin goal part of the initial onslaught.
Richmond produced three goals from just six kicks midway through the second term to edge away from the home side but the dogged Lions pegged them back again.
DIMMA’S BRUTAL ASSESSMENT
Hardwick said the result summed up Richmond’s 2022 campaign, which was ultimately “disappointing”.
“We were in the fight every game, but the fact of the matter is that the things that haunted throughout the year, haunted us tonight. The fundamentals of the game just weren’t good enough, for long enough,’’
“That’s as harsh a lesson that the game will teach us. We’ve just got to be good enough for a sustained period, and we weren’t tonight.
“We had some opportunities where if we were a little bit cleaner, we would have been OK.’’
Hardwick is bullish about 2023.
“We think we’ve got a really, really good squad of players that will forge forward. We are not looking to rebuild, we are looking to regenerate,’’ he said.
“We’ve got some young kids where we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.
“It’s a disappointing season, I’m not going to lie, I feel we are better.
“Getting beaten by what you know, really hurts. The players are hurting, our club is hurting
and our fans will certainly be hurting.
“The brightest thing about Richmond is its future.”
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