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Richmond secures opening round win against Carlton, but now faces a nervous wait on Alex Rance
It was pleasure for Richmond at one end, and considerable pain at the other. While Tom Lynch looked to be every bit as good as advertised, Alex Rance’s injury means this could be the most costly four points of the season.
It was pleasure for Richmond at one end, and considerable pain at the other.
The Tigers produced brilliant first and fourth quarters to open their season with a hard-fought 33-point win over an encouraging Carlton at the MCG.
But for all the joy and promise in Tom Lynch’s three-goal debut in yellow and black, Alex Rance’s serious-looking knee injury has the potential to be devastating for Richmond.
TEAMS: LYNCH ONE OF NINE NEW FACES FOR BLUES V TIGERS
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ROUND 1: SEE WHO THE EXPERTS ARE TIPPING
The superstar defender hobbled off in the third term and will hope scans clear him of any damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.
But in attack, a forward line which has relied so heavily on speed and tackle pressure to score its goals from ground level, now looks like one of the most potent aerial forces in the AFL.
Lynch kicked the opening goal of the night from a strong mark to send Tiger fans into a frenzy as part of a five-goal opening term onslaught.
The breathtaking footy they played in the first 30 minutes was a signal to the rest of the competition Richmond was ready to assert itself as the best team in the league again in 2019.
This season, however, they will have considerably more marking power, thanks to the arrival of Lynch, the man Dermott Brereton and Jon Brown said three years ago could be the No. 1 player in the comp.
And after almost a full year out with a knee injury, the signs were encouraging. And Jack Higgins and Toby Nankervis added three majors each as Trent Cotchin picked up 31 possessions and Dustin Martin collected 30 to help steady the Tigers late.
They may have gone to sleep and surrendered control of the clearances in Carlton’s second and third-term fight back but there was considerable merit in the way Richmond responded in the last term, especially without Rance.
Hardwick will now have to rejig a back line which has hinged on Rance’s superb reading on the ball but David Astbury and Dylan Grimes are capable of taking the reins while Rance recovers.
But the other big story from this absorbing season-opener was Carlton’s comeback, because we saw more than Brendon Bolton’s “green shoots”.
We saw real growth and indeed, a bright future.
After a first-quarter pummeling from a rampaging Richmond, you wondered whether the white flag was going up from the Blues early in the second term.
But what happened next over the next hour may go down as a watershed night for the Carlton Football Club, after a decade of disappointment.
We’ve heard so much about all the young talent on Carlton’s books, all those first-round draft picks etc.
But what we saw Thursday night as they clawed back from a 40-point deficit and pushed Richmond right into the last term, getting within two goals at one point, told us more than ever before about the character, determination and ticker within Brendon Bolton’s group.
Unsurprisingly, Patrick Cripps said “follow me” and Sam Walsh shone in his first game, racking up 24 disposals.
Cripps, the co-captain and herculean onballer, turned the tide in the second term as Carlton took the upper hand around the clearances and slammed home eight of the next 12 goals.
David Cuningham showed some zest around the contests, veteran Dale Thomas sprung to life, Will Setterfield got creative with his hands and new goal kickers Alex Fasolo and Mitch McGovern nailed their first majors for the club.
Carlton welcomed six new faces last night and dashing half back Nic Newman stepped in for Sam Docherty, helping steer the Blues from defence with 26 possessions.
And the great white hope of Carlton's forward line, Harry McKay turned it on in the second half, taking a gutsy mark running back with the flight to underline his considerable promise. He also showed some fancy feet for a big man, stepping around two opponents. Importantly, he looks ready to establish himself as the focal point of the new-look forward line.
VOTES
3 Patrick Cripps
2 Trent Cotchin
1 Nic Newman
Cripps, Newman, Fisher, Cuningham, Murphy, Thomas, McKay, Weitering
Cotchin, Nankervis, Higgins, Grimes, Houli, Martin, Graham, Lambert,
Updates
Balme: 'There is a possibility that it’s an ACL'
Neil Balme has given an update on Alex Rance, saying the club thinks it is possibly an ACL.
“We don’t know as yet but it doesn’t look good. There is a possibility that it’s an ACL. We won’t know until we know.”
This is what Alex Rance had to say after the match.
"I will find out the severity. The initial signs don’t look too good. But I’m in a great team, we’ve got a great culture and I don’t have too much to be sad about."
FT: Blues 64 v Tigers 97
‘Signs don’t look too good’: Rance on knee
This is what Alex Rance had to say after the match.
"I will find out the severity. The initial signs don’t look too good. But I’m in a great team, we’ve got a great culture and I don’t have too much to be sad about."
Injury update: Alex Rance
Alex Rance is up on the Tigers bench with ice strapped to his knee. He is limping heavily.
Tigers ramp up defensive pressure on Blues
They might be without Alex Rance but the Tigers haven’t let things get out of hand here.
Six minutes into the final term they have given Carlton just one inside 50. That is elite defensive pressure.
The margin is out to 21 points and for Richmond, it feels like they are one goal off being able to nurse this lead for the rest of the night.
Look for Patrick Cripps and Dustin Martin to stamp their imprint on the midfield battle in the next five minutes.
Match in the minute: How the Blues fought!
Russell Gould returns with his take on the third term.
“Again Richmond opened the scoring as Toby Nankervis crumbed a second for the night but again the Blues then decided to flip the script and made their own scoreboard surge. Harry McKay kicked a goal from the boundary after outmarking Alex Rance, then Charlie Curnow got his first 30 seconds later after a Patrick Cripps centre clearance. The Blues were running on top of the ground and Tiger counter-attacks weren’t coming off. A Marc Murphy snap in game 250 was epic and sideline goal from Nic Newman ensured this one was going down to the wire as the Blues got to within 13 points.”
3QT: Blues 56 v Tigers 69
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