Jack Riewoldt stars with six goals as Richmond fights back to defeat Melbourne
RICHMOND superstar Jack Riewoldt marked himself a hero as he ripped Melbourne to shreds with six goals at a packed MCG, which witnessed one of the greatest sounds our great game can produce.
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THE football gods have one mission to achieve in the next five years — get Jack Riewoldt to Grand Final day.
As the Richmond superstar ripped Melbourne to shreds with six goals on Monday night, the 85,657 at a packed MCG witnessed one of the greatest sounds our great game can produce.
On these two club’s biggest home-and-away stage, Riewoldt marked himself a hero.
It began in breathtaking fashion. From two rare forward entries, Riewoldt curled through a pair of goals — first snapping on his right boot and then the left.
The sound was spine-tingling. But it had nothing on the game-changer.
As Riewoldt lined up from the boundary at the city end and threaded the winner, the Tiger Army roared. It’s an iconic sound which has been grossly underplayed for the last 30 years.
And it was one you couldn’t help but want to hear replicated on a sunny September afternoon.
After a 5-0 start, a deep Tiger September surge has never looked more likely.
Suddenly Richmond only needs to win seven of 17 remaining games to return to September.
This was an epic, and you hope there are some meat pies left for Essendon and Collingwood on Tuesday after the record crowd between the clubs.
An Alex Rance rushed behind put Melbourne back in front before a Dustin Martin shot on the run returned it to equal footing seconds later.
Then it was Riewoldt’s turn to command the spotlight when he marked in the pocket.
The last quarter was dominated by a Tigers side full of run.
After a build-up which included Jesse Hogan’s smoking photo, his Demons were out of puff.
A ridiculous 75 per cent of the final quarter was played at Richmond’s end.
It was an exact reversal of the first half, where the Tigers played a Pagan’s Paddock-style game plan.
The Melbourne fade-out was a byproduct of ill health in front of the club’s biggest crowd since the 2000 Grand Final.
With Max Gawn on the comeback trail from hamstring surgery, they lost back-up ruckman Jake Spencer (shoulder).
They’d already lost Tim Smith (suspected punctured lung) to hospital and had Christian Petracca (knee) on one leg from the opening few minutes.
The reshuffle forced Jack Watts and Sam Frost into the ruck and Petracca largely forward with only two on the bench.
The Demons are 2-3 yet would feel they could be 5-0.
Every loss this season has been triggered by one poor quarter. It was the fourth quarter against Geelong, third against Fremantle and fourth against the Tigers.
Last week Jayden Hunt took himself to Luna Park for some cheering up after the Dockers defeat.
He might now need to book tickets to Disneyland. The Demons were 23 points clear in the third quarter and seemingly home.
Clayton Oliver won five clearances from 12 disposals in the third quarter and Hunt took another step towards becoming one of the game’s most watchable stars.
Michael Hibberd was clearly the best player in his club debut while kids Christian Salem, Alex Neale-Bullen and James Harmes were all impressing.
But the transformation from awesome to invisible occurred in a flash. Halfway through the last quarter 15 Demons had combined for eight disposals with just two fit players on the bench.
Coach Simon Goodwin often writes “Fearless” on his whiteboard.
Yet again that applied for only three quarters.
RICHMOND 3.1 6.6 7.11 12.16 (88)
MELBOURNE 3.4 7.6 11.7 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Tigers: Riewoldt 6, Castagna, Butler, Grigg, Rioli, Martin, Astbury
Demons: Hogan 3, Garlett 2, McDonald, Watts, Petracca, Salem, Hibberd, Hunt
BEST
Tigers: Riewoldt, Martin, Nankervis, Caddy, Houli, Grigg, Rance
Demons: Hibberd, Oliver, Hunt, Jones, Viney, Neale-Bullen
INJURIES
Tigers: TBC
Demons: Petracca (left knee), Spencer (right shoulder/right knee), Smith (ribs), Viney (right knee)
Reports: Nil
Official crowd: 85,657 at the MCG
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