AFL news 2024: St Kilda too strong for depleted Richmond

In the first game of its post-Dusty era, Richmond showed some spark, but a Rowan Marshall-led St Kilda proved too strong for the Tigers.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUG 11: Rowan Marshall of the Saints celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 22 match between the Richmond Tigers and the St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium on August 11, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Richmond started life after Dustin Martin with a 48-point loss to St Kilda in a lacklustre affair in front of the lowest ever crowd in a game between the two sides at Marvel Stadium.

The Saints celebrated Ross Lyon’s 350th game as an AFL coach with their ninth win of the season, while the Tigers continued their march towards their first wooden spoon since 2007 with an eighth straight loss.

Richmond were up for the fight for much of the afternoon but failed to capitalise when they had the early momentum.

The Tigers had four more Inside 50s in the first term but trailed by a goal at quarter time, and they fought back when the Saints looked likely to run away with the match in the second quarter with the last two goals of the term to reduce the half time margin to 14 points.

Shai Bolton nailed the first goal of the second half – his second – and the game sparked to life.

But a horror turnover deep in defence less than two minutes later – when Mason Wood cut in front of Toby Nankervis to bring Nick Vlaustin’s kick to ground which Tim Membrey duly mopped up for his third goal – swung the momentum back in St Kilda’s favour.

The Tigers never seriously threatened from that point on as sloppy ball use – which has regularly reared its head this season – undid any good work while St Kilda were clinical by foot.

The Saints were patient with their ball use when they won the ball back in defence but flicked a switch to go fast once in their forward half, and their talls benefited greatly.

Rowan Marshall celebrates one of three goals on Sunday. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Rowan Marshall was superb in his ruck battle with Tigers skipper Nankveris as he pushed forward to kick an equal career-high three goals while amassing 23 disposals and 25 hit-outs.

Marshall and his fellow talls Tim Membrey, Cooper Sharman, Mitch Owens and Anthony Caminiti combined for ten goals – nine of which came from set shots – and as a team they took 16 marks Inside 50.

Jack Sinclair – 29 disposals at 93% efficiency – and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – 23 disposals at 83% efficiency – did as they pleased across half back while Josh Battle was superb defensively with an equal game-high ten intercept possessions among his 28 disposals.

It was a day for the rebounding defenders with Daniel Rioli racking up a career-high 35 disposals while slipping through several attempted tacklers to burst into open space on multiple occasions.

The battle at the stoppages was held predominantly between Tigers duo Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto, and Saints skipper Jack Steele along with the returning Hunter Clark, and it was an arm wrestle all day with the clearances halved at 28 apiece.

Cooper Sharman takes the ball on the lead. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

CROWD LOW

Damien Hardwick snapped his Marvel Stadium hoodoo on Saturday night but Richmond remain winless at Docklands since Hardwick’s infamous comments about hating the venue in 2021.

The three-time premiership coach said “Richmond people don’t come here” and they showed that on Sunday with only 21,375 fans in attendance.

It was the lowest crowd at a Richmond-St Kilda game at Docklands – eclipsing the previous record of 26,374 in 2000 – and the least amount of people at a Richmond game against another Victorian side at the venue.

Hugo Ralphsmith celebrates a goal. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

PADDY CLAIMS BRAGGING RIGHTS

Paddy Dow sidestepped his brother, Thomson, and kicked a classy drop-punt goal from deep in the forward pocket early in the second quarter to kickstart the Saints’ momentum and gain bragging rights at the next Dow family function.

The older of the Dow brothers was a late inclusion to the St Kilda line-up for Mattaes Phillipou (illness) and he responded with not only the goal for the highlight reel but one of his best performances since crossing from Carlton.

The midfielder had 22 disposals at 82% efficiency with five clearances and six score involvements that included a neat kick to set up Tim Membrey’s second goal.

TARANTO NOTCHES 150

Tim Taranto was one of the Tigers best in his 150th game with 25 disposals including a game-high six clearances – five of which came at centre bounces – and seven score involvements.

Sunday’s contest was the midfielder’s 36th game for Richmond after starting his career with Greater Western Sydney.