Richmond and Sydney put on finals preview at Etihad Stadium
IT MAY have been Melbourne’s coldest June day in 25 years, but Richmond used it to remind us its pursuit of back-to-back flags remains as hot as ever with a stunning final-quarter burst to see off Sydney.
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IT MAY have been Melbourne’s coldest June day in 25 years, but Richmond used it to remind us its pursuit of back-to-back flags remains as hot as ever.
On a different home ground, against a Sydney side on a six-match winning streak and with their charmed injury run fraying at the seams, this was a victory for the Tiger Tough files.
The premier started slowly, but five consecutive first-quarter goals saw them establish a lead they would never surrender. They led by 13 points at half-time and by 22 at the 23-minute mark of the third term.
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A customary fourth quarter Swans charge was then met with a customary Tigers one and Damien Hardwick’s men, who go harder and longer than any rival, won by 26 points to remain atop the AFL ladder.
This was finals in June. Sydney (51) and Richmond (49) combined for 100 tackles in the first half when the AFL average is 65 per side - for a game.
For a time, the physicality threatened to pull Richmond apart.
Reece Conca was stretchered off in the first quarter with a broken lower leg in his 100th game. At the same time Trent Cotchin was off the ground for 13 minutes with a sore left knee that needed strapping.
Then Jack Graham went into the rooms with a wrist problem and Josh Caddy came off in pain with a hip issue. For a brief period the Tigers only had one fit player on the bench.
But they refused to accept the script wasn’t going their way and they rolled the sleeves up to answer every question
No one led the way more than Jack Riewoldt, who was nothing short of outstanding. Exuding confidence and authority, Jack looked like marking the ball every time it was in his area.
He saw off Heath Grundy to finish with a career-high 16 marks - seven contested - to go with 23 disposals and three goals.
He’s been admirably selfless, Riewoldt, but this was a vintage forward’s game.
At the other end of the ground, the highly-anticipated “Lance Rance Dance” between Lance Franklin and Alex Rance was just as captivating.
While he also had Nathan Broad and David Astbury at times, it was Franklin’s match-up with Rance that was full of flashpoints.
Franklin kicked four goals, but had a few uncharacteristically clumsy moments, including a costly free-kick for an open-hand strike to Rance’s throat when Callum Sinclair was lining up on goal.
But Rance, brilliant at times, also gave away a 50m penalty when his smother of Franklin’s third quarter set shot was deemed illegal. They went at it, these two, physically and verbally.
But it was Richmond’s long list of contributors and the even nature of their performance that again saw them wear down their opposition.
Kane Lambert (27 touches, three goals), Cotchin (26, six clearances) and Dion Prestia, in his first AFL game since Round 7, were all a factor.
Toby Nankervis (18 disposals, 42 hitouts) beat Callum Sinclair and Astbury, Grimes and Broad were all solid.
Nick Vlastuin’s excellent game was soured by what will almost certainly be a suspension for a crude elbow to the face of Luke Parker.
Josh Kennedy and Jake Lloyd did everything to propel the Swans, finishing with 70 possessions between them, Kennedy with a whopping 23 contested.
But Gary Rohan and Isaac Heeney had shockers, the latter finishing early due to concussion. Rohan was the only Swans player not to lay a tackle in their tally of 83.
RICHMOND 6.1 7.2 11.5 14.9 (93)
SYDNEY 3.1 5.1 10.1 11.1 (67)
EDMUND’S BEST
Tigers: Riewoldt, Lambert, Vlastuin, Short, Nankervis, Astbury, Cotchin
Swans: Kennedy, Parker, Hewett, Lloyd, Franklin
GOALS
Tigers: Riewoldt 3, Lambert 3, Short 2, Butler 2, Rioli, Vlastuin, Caddy, Edwards.
Swans: Franklin 4, Ronke 2, Florent 2, Parker 2, Hayward.
INJURIES
Tigers: Conca (ankle).
Swans: Heeney (concussion).
UMPIRES
Stevic, Chamberlain, Findlay
CROWD
43,159 at Etihad Stadium
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