No premiership hangover for Richmond in 2018 after dominant 70-point win over North Melbourne

THE footy world can throw any thoughts of a premiership hangover for Richmond out the window, with the reigning premiers in red-hot form after a commanding 70-point win over North Melbourne in their final tune-up before Round 1.

The Tigers applied huge pressure on North Melbourne. Picture: Getty

RICHMOND has sent a message to the rest of the competition with another thumping JLT Series win ahead of Round 1 after disposing of North Melbourne by 70 points at Ikon Park on Wednesday night.

The Tigers brought immense pressure against the Kangaroos, who despite a good first half, were blown away by the reigning premiers after the main break.

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SAM EDMUND looks at the takeaways for both Richmond and North Melbourne following their final tune-up before Round 1.

RICHMOND

NO TIGER HANGOVER

THE word hangover can probably be forgotten now.

Yes it’s the JLT series and yes, this was a belting of a rebuilding North Melbourne. But throw it on top of last week’s dismantling of Essendon and most importantly, the manner in which they’re playing, and ominous is a more appropriate term.

They are just belting teams, dating back to Round 22 last year.

On Wednesday night it was a nine-goal run across the second and third quarters that knocked the stuffing out of the Roos before the wound was salted with the last six unanswered.

The Tigers applied huge pressure on North Melbourne. Picture: Getty

For a time, the Tigers’ pressure was so suffocating North couldn’t get the ball past half way.

Toby Nankervis continues to prove the shrewd bargain acquisition, Kane Lambert’s 2017 was no fluke and likewise for Dan Butler. Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Jacob Townsend, Jack Graham and Josh Caddy are still the uber aggressive ball-hunters who float seamlessly between midfield and forward.

Coach Damien Hardwick said his team’s pre-season had been “OK” despite the big win.

“There’s obviously areas we’d like to improve. Our ball use inside 50, I know we kicked a fair few goals tonight, but I thought it was a bit scratchy at various stages,” Hardwick said.

“I think the scoreboard will indicate we’re going OK. We’re not quite going as well as we’d like.”

LOCK BOLTON IN

OUT Daniel Rioli, in Shai Bolton.

How blessed is Richmond coach Damien Hardwick that he can replace one high promising small forward with another potential star of the future?

Rioli was the only major injury casualty from last year’s euphoric Grand Final, breaking his foot.

But waiting in the wings is another young man dripping in X-factor, with Bolton’s growing bag of tricks about to be seen more regularly on the big stage.

The teenager works hard, tackles, has sped to burn and as we saw last night, can thread set shots from the boundary line.

Jacob Townsend, Kane Lambert and Dustin Martin celebrate a goal.

“His pressure last week was very good. This week wasn’t quite to the level of last week but he kicked 1.3,” Hardwick said.

“He’s very lively and one of those players who, trust me as a back, I wouldn’t like to play on because you’re never quite sure if he’s going to jump on your head or get you at ground level.”

TOWNSEND FAIRYTALE CONTINUES

THERE’S just something about Jacob Townsend.

The 2017 bolter, whose only five games of the season came in the last five of Richmond’s, has that unpredictable danger about him.

The numbers weren’t great on paper on Wednesday night, but Townsend is one of those players who doesn’t need a lot of ball to catch the eye.

He doesn’t blink either. Stationed forward, he took a chest mark on the lead at full-tilt and in the process smashed Kayne Turner, who was coming the other way.

Neither player took their eye off the ball, but Townsend came out of the clash with it.

NORTH MELBOURNE

RETURN OF THE TAGGER

BEN Jacobs was one of the game’s most influential taggers in 2015 and the first eight weeks of 2016 before foot injuries rendered him the Roos’ forgotten man.

Well, Jacobs went back to the future on Wednesday night, latching onto prime movers Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin at Ikon Park.

It wasn’t exactly a repeat of the 2015 elimination final that saw him keep Cotchin to nine disposals in a match-defining performance, but it was an encouraging display.

Todd Goldstein only played one half against Richmond on Wednesday night.

Martin and Cotchin still got their share of possession, but Jacobs’ grunt and defensive intent at the stoppage can only help North.

The club’s first draft pick Luke Davies-Uniacke continued his senior football education by spending time on the same pair.

ROO RUCK DILEMMA OVER?

THE names Todd Goldstein and Braydon Preuss on the same team sheet prompts intrigue.

Could they play together? Do they rest forward? Is there symmetry?

Our fascination ended abruptly, however, when coach Brad Scott played Goldstein in the first half and swapped him for Preuss in the second.

Yet perhaps it was that decision that tells us as much as anything about the likelihood of these two playing together — buckley’s.

Shaun Higgins was the Kangaroos’ best player on the night.

For the record Goldstein looked good in the first half and had an influence around the ground that included a silky candy sell and goal.

Preuss brought some muscle and defensive pressure, but there was hands on knees a bit!

HIGGINS’ LONE HAND

SHAUN Higgins is going to carry a big load for North this season.

One of the few Roos midfielders with a line-breaking zest and skills to match, he shone brightly in the Ikon Park gloom on Wednesday night.

Exquisite on both feet, a sound decision-maker under pressure and with a burst from the contest, he is the dynamic presence in an honest, but X-factor-light onball division.

He had 31 touches and six tackles to go with a goal and was clearly his side’s best player.

RICHMOND 3.4 8.6 13.10 19.14 (128)

NORTH MELBOURNE 3.3 4.7 7.8 8.10 (58)

GOALS: Richmond: Lambert 4, Moore 2, Butler 2, Caddy 2, Riewoldt 2, Castagna, Townsend, McIntosh, Bolton, Grigg, Lloyd, Cotchin.

North Melbourne: Waite 2, Brown, Turner, Hrovat, Higgins, Garner, Goldstein.

BEST: Richmond: Lambert, Edwards, Nankervis, Short, Caddy, Martin

North Melbourne: Higgins, Cunnington, Ziebell, Macmillan

Crowd: 4,197 at Ikon Park.