The simplicity of Richmond’s gameplan wore Adelaide into the ground, writes Mick Malthouse

THE seeds of Adelaide’s Grand Final failure were sowed in the coaches box, writes Mick Malthouse. Several glaring mistakes cruelled any hope the Crows had.

BEFORE the match I thought the simplicity of Richmond’s game structure would beat Adelaide’s tendency to overuse the ball. Just.

While the Crows dominated the possession rate early, the Tigers went more direct and made the most of every touch.

What stood out was that Adelaide had gone in with too many talls, which made its forward line predictable and cramped. They swapped through the middle but it didn’t help. The Crows forwards looked slow and inactive.

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Adelaide kicked two quick goals in the first term due to Richmond’s lack of technique at stoppages in the Crows forward 50m leaving Adelaide players on the outer free and the goal square unprotected.

In the second quarter Don Pyke loaded up his backline to have seven, at times eight, behind the ball, but he really needed to have six in the forward line.

With Adelaide forwards Josh Jenkins, Taylor Walker, Andy Otten, Charlie Cameron and Eddie Betts quiet, Betts in particular should have been moved up the ground to get into the game.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and captain Trent Cotchin hold the cup aloft. Picture: Michael Klein

Dustin Martin tips Gatorade on Damien Hardwick after the game.

The Tigers didn’t panic, sticking to a game plan that worked so well all year. As they started to reap the rewards, Pyke moved Kyle Hartigan on to Jack Riewoldt and Betts played as a high half forward on the wing, briefly. Too briefly.

But by then, Adelaide’s system was totally out of whack.

Richmond dominated the ruck. Instead of smashing the ball clear, Sam Jacobs tapped it to ground and the Crows minds were swamped.

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The most glaring Adelaide mistake was immediately after Jack Graham’s first goal.

There’s 30 seconds between the kick and the centre bounce and Damian Hardwick moved Dustin Martin to full forward, where his young opponent Luke Brown was out of his depth. Martin took an easy mark and goaled.

Hartigan was on the bench, but the Crows should have been ready for the move as it happened. Instead they were caught out.

Matthew Richardson presents the cup to Damien Hardwick.

Don Pyke looks on after the Grand Final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

In the second half, it was obvious Adelaide had to rotate talls Walker, Jenkins and Otten off the bench just to give them a chance to present and get a touch.

But the Tigers have been the third quarter specialists all season and Saturday was no exception.

With an even performance across the ground, Richmond wore the Crows down with manic tackling and by making a contest at every lose ball, until Adelaide appeared slow, uncompetitive and unwilling to create opportunities for teammates.

Even with extra players behind the ball, Adelaide turned it over in an awkward attempt to switch in Richmond’s forward 50m. A steal by Martin and a Jason Castagna goal was the result, and suddenly it looked ugly for the Crows.

In the final term Adelaide needed a game changer and perhaps Betts could have been the man, had he been moved back up the ground instead of remaining cold in the forward line.

In the end, Richmond’s game defence beat Adelaide’s offensive game.

It was a dominant, disciplined performance and presenting the Jock McHale Medal to Hardwick in front of the Tiger Army was an absolute pleasure. A yellow and black honour.