Richmond continues late-season surge with easy win over Port Adelaide

Richmond unleashed a fighting fury on Port Adelaide at the MCG, wrecking the inconsistent Power after they produced another performance that was more Jekyll than Hyde.

The Tigers were up and about at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond believes that ‘there’s history here in the making’, after a 38-point win over Port Adelaide left the Tigers bashing down the door of the top four.

In echoes of 2017, the Tigers are hitting ominous form as a collectively selfless performance led to a 15.11 (101) to 9.9 (63) win at the MCG.

The Tigers are 11-6 after 18 rounds, just like 2017 when a win over GSW Giants saw them climb to fourth.

The Tigers were up and about at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

Only percentage will keep the Tigers from climbing higher than fifth, but Collingwood, Brisbane, West Coast and ladder leaders Geelong are on notice — the Tigers have awoken.

The unselfish football that underlined their stunning 2017 success was again on show, highlighted by the brilliant third-quarter passage when Sydney Stack, Jack Riewoldt and Brandon Ellis combined to kick a crucial goal.

TWIN TOWERS

Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch have played little football together in attack this season, but they provided a glimpse into their potential, bagging six goals between them.

Riewoldt was at his intelligent best, kicking three goals and laying off several more, while poor kicking cost Lynch a better return than 3.2.

Lynch triggered arguably the loudest roar of the afternoon when he took advantage of a fortuitous bounce, shrugged a Tom Clurey tackle to snap the opening goal of the last term with his left.

His 40th goal of the season — equal with Tom Hawkins while only Jeremy Cameron and Ben Brown are ahead on the goalkicking table — snuffed Power’s comeback hopes, opening up a six-goal lead.

The twin towers Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch celebrate a goal with captain Trent Cotchin and Jason Castagna. Picture: Getty Images

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COACH KILLERS

Almost 10 years since he was pipped for the Tigers job by Damien Hardwick, Ken Hinkley — who joined Port in 2013 — was the latest to be cursed by the Richmond Kiss of Death.

The Tigers hammered one of the final nails in the coffin of St Kilda’s Alan Richardson, before their mauling of Gold Coast saw the blowtorch applied to the AFL expansion club.

With so much focus on Port’s after last week’s Brisbane debacle, the Power’s effort — particularly early — could not be faulted.

But they came up against a Richmond side hitting ominous form ahead of finals, who will usually trump a wild inconsistent side like Port Adelaide on home turf.

Ken Hinkley and the Power were on the end of a good old fashioned hiding by the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

While much has been made of Richmond’s returning stars in recent weeks, headlined by Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin, some new talents have emerged.

Ivan Soldo and Mabior Chol both chipped in with telling contributions and goals.

Chol continued his impressive record of kicking a goal in each of his five games, including a vital set-shot midway through the second term — enabling the Tigers to finally capitalise on their territorial advantage after having 31 Inside 50s to 21 at halftime.

Dylan Grimes, David Astbury and Nick Vlastuin performed well as they continue to step up in the absence of Alex Rance.

Mabior Chol gives a glimpse into the Tigers’ future. Picture: Michael Klein

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RAZOR VISION

Jack Graham’s goal just before the first break was timely, albeit aided by a contentious 50m penalty when Justin Westhoff was deemed to have wasted time by fisting the ball away as he tried to touch the ball before going out on the full.

Graham’s pinpoint set shot opened up a three-goal lead, just after Port Adelaide had steadied following the Tigers’ blistering start.

WATCH THE DECISION IN THE PLAYER BELOW

It was paid by umpire Ray Chamberlain, who was involved in several more contentious decisions, including an Xavier Duursma mark, which did not appear to travel 15m, but enabled Port to draw within 16 points midway through the third term.

Thereafter Richmond kicked away.

Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson leapt to Westhoff’s defence on Fox Footy.

“He had a case to say that he was going to be able to touch that,” Johnson said.

He wasn’t the only one confused. Essendon star Michael Hurley took to Twitter to try and get answers.

“Can someone please explain what rule Westhoff broke? How was that a 50m penalty?” Hurley wrote.

Footy fans were also left confused by the decision.

SCOREBOARD

RICHMOND 5.4 8.5 12.7 15.11 (101)

d

PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 4.6 7.7 9.9 (63)

GOALS

Tigers: Riewoldt 3, Lynch 3, Prestia, Martin, Graham, Chol, Ellis, Castagna, Soldo, Edwards, Rioli

Power: Butters 2, Amon 2, Dixon, Howard, Duursma, Sutcliffe

BEST

Tigers: Lynch, Grimes, Martin, Astbury, Houli, Prestia, Riewoldt.

Power: Amon, Boak, Rockliff, Byrne-Jones, Lycett, Dixon.

Dustin Martin had another big game for the Tigers. Picture: AAP

DAVID DAVUTOVIC’S VOTES

3 — Tom Lynch (Rich)

2 — Dylan Grimes (Rich)

1 — Dustin Martin (Rich)

INJURIES

Tigers: Nil

Power: Houston (head knock)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O’Gorman, Chamberlain, Findlay

Official crowd: 41,642 at the MCG

Jack Riewoldt was effective working alongside Tom Lynch in the Tigers’ forward line. Picture: Michael Klein

Tom Lynch was the best player on the park. Picture: Michael Klein

TWIN TOWERS READY FOR PIES

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick hailed his “dangerous” twin attacking towers, ahead of Friday’s blockbuster showdown with Collingwood.

Star recruit Tom Lynch and superstar Jack Riewoldt proved a handful for Port Adelaide, kicking six goals between them in just their fourth game together, setting up a 38-point win.

Richmond had 11 goalkickers highlighting their impressive depth, with Josh Caddy and Toby Nankervis, who will play a half in the VFL Sunday, coming into contention for the Magpies.

Having risen from 14th to fifth, the Tigers’ fourth straight win leaves them in a top four logjam ahead of clashes with Collingwood, West Coast and Brisbane Lions in last five rounds.

Hardwick labelled the performance “scratchy” but admitted the gun forwards were among positives.

Dion Prestia found plenty of the footy for the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

“They were both pretty good. They both looked dangerous at various stages,” Hardwick said.

“Once we started to spot them up on the lead they worked really well together. They’re only a couple of games in so they’ll get better along the way, they’ll work in unison a bit more.

“(Sometimes) they’ll jump into each other, but (mostly) they were pretty good, like last week.

“Our forward half wasn’t at the level we’d like. Handball happy — it’s hard to get your forwards to reset.

“The really impressive thing is we’re not relying on two or three players to get the job done. We’ve got a consistent level of performance — the mark of a good side.”

Lynch will relish the extended run on the MCG — the Magpies clash is the third of seven straight games on their hallowed home turf — and admitted he and Riewoldt can only improve.

“It’s good to have Jack back, he takes the pressure off a bit,’’ said Lynch, who could have matched his Tigers best 6.2 if not for wayward kicking.

“He’s a star and he makes our team better when he plays and we’ll continue to grow that relationship.

“I felt like earlier (this season) I might have needed match fitness and build into playing for Richmond — got to learn different styles.

“I reckon I hadn’t even played seven games at the MCG before this year. To play seven in a row is nice. It’s a massive month coming up.”

Tiger Brandon Ellis was in everything as Richmond dug its claws into Port. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale told 3AW that Alex Rance was “ way ahead of where he should be” but “unlikely” to play this season, although Hardwick deemed him a “small possibility, but a possibility”.

Hardwick revealed that they would experiment using Caddy in a slightly different role, as competition for spots intensifies at Punt Road.

“He (Caddy) is important to the way we want to play. We’re trailing something with Josh,’’ Hardwick said.

“We know he can play forward but we want him to improve his flexibility in the role we want him to play. Up forward we felt we pigeonholed him in a way.

“It’ll be an important role when he returns, so he’ll certainly be in consideration next week.”

Richmond is buoyed by a stellar MCG record, having won 33 of 38 games there since the start of 2017.

Friday’s Collingwood clash looms as a top four, and possibly even top two decider.

“Obviously a great club and knocked us off earlier in the year, so a it’s a huge game for us,’’ Lynch said.

“We’re playing teams around us. They’re really important games.”

Hardwick said they learnt from their past losses to Collingwood.

“It’ll big. It’s important. It’s a challenge, they’ve beaten us the last two times in a certain way, so we have a better understanding of that,” he said.