Richmond end late-game curse with Dreamtime at the ‘G win over Essendon at the MCG

RECENT history hasn’t been kind to Richmond but it wasn’t to be denied this time, ending the curse of late-game heartbreak against Essendon in a Dreamtime at the ‘G thriller.

Shaun Grigg celebrates on the final siren. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

CALL it a sliding paws moment.

Recent history hasn’t been kind to Richmond. An overturned match-winning goal too just last week.

Scratchy in close games they say.

So they arrived at the MCG facing a scenario which, without being season defining, had significance.

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Edge of the top four with a win, or out of the eight with a loss.

But for 10 points across the past three games, the Tigers could have been on top of the ladder. So out of the eight? No thanks.

If not for bad kicking at goal in the second quarter at the packed MCG, the Tigers could have been well on top of Essendon too.

Jack Riewoldt kicked a crucial goal in the fourth quarter. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The Tigers had 15 shots to the Bombers seven, had lapped them in inside 50s, were cleaner through the middle of the ground, and had more options up forward in a moving, mix-match attacking set up.

But the bad outdid the good, it was 6.9 to 8.1.

Essendon kicked six opening-quarter goals, two to Brendon Goddard who was operating on the wing and in the midfield, a rising Dyson Heppell also getting his hands on the footy.

But the Bombers had a disconnect up forward as the game progressed. If you could still sub someone out mid-game, Cale Hooker could have found himself in a green vest at half-time.

In a game of frequent lead changes, the Tigers looked to have them covered, but only just on the scoreboard, and then it came.

There was seconds remaining before half-time, the momentum with Richmond.

Brendon Goddard started the game on fire for Essendon.

The Bombers burst through the middle of the ground. James Stewart, quiet in a forward line functioning mainly on the efforts of Joe Daniher, found himself in open ground.

He looked up, and no-one was in front of him. It was 70m of vacant MCG grass. So, with teammates getting to top speed at his left and right, Stewart hoofed it.

It went long and straight before checking in the square, spinning back on itself.

Tiger Jayden Short was on to it first. He’d raced after it, with Bomber Josh Green trying to get past him, on his tail the whole way.

Unable to slow down Short went to ground, slid from the top of the square, and sent the ball careering over the goal line.

Short didn’t know Green had stopped chasing hard. Short didn’t know he was the only one in the square.

Jayden Short can’t believe a deliberate rushed behind free kick went against him. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Short didn’t see the umpire standing near the point post to his right, who, as the crowd arched forward, Tiger fans thankful, Bombers otherwise, blew his whistle.

Umpire Curtis Deboy told Short he thought it was deliberate. It was of course, the young Tiger was only ever going to do one thing.

But was this too deliberate?

Green took the free kick, kicked the goal and put the Bombers in front by four points at the main break. A potential momentum shifter in a tight game.

There’s not quite a word to encapsulate the sheer, unadulterated anger that then enveloped the MCG.

It was a Richmond home game, and a crowd of 86,656 was dominated by Tiger fans. You can imagine.

Dustin Martin celebrates a goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

It could have broken the Tigers. Not a-bloody-gain.

But it was only half time. And it didn’t.

Josh Caddy, prominent but wayward, found a goal early in the third term to give his team the lead. Then Dusty Martin, going as he does again, got another, then Branden Ellis.

It was the third lead change of the term, but the Tigers were in front, unbowed by that wicked pre-break hand of fate.

Essendon was never far away, creeping forward time and again, and time and again breaking down, by hand and foot. Quality didn’t match Bomber effort.

But Richmond was in front going in to the final term, the goal from Ellis did it.

Scores were level in the last, it rained, got messy, but the Tigers still looked better.

Then Jack Riewoldt stepped up. He nailed the first goal of the final term when it mattered most.

VOTES

3. Dustin Martin

2. Branden Ellis

1. Dyson Heppell

BEST

Richmond: D.Martin, B.Ellis, T.Cotchin, A.Rance, B.Houli, S.Edwards

Essendon: D.Heppell, B.Goddard, M.Hurley, D.Parish, Z.Merrett, A.McGrath