Tigers wasted chances against Cats and need a second forward option, writes Mark Robinson
RICHMOND needed two of Dusty. MARK ROBINSON says while the Cats proved they aren’t a two-headed monster, the Tigers couldn’t get it to their main man often enough.
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RICHMOND has the same issue as the Western Bulldogs.
It’s about robbing Peter to pay Paul.
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At the Bulldogs, it’s about playing Marcus Bontempelli as a forward when he’s required in the midfield and vice versa..
At the Tigers, and evidently on Saturday, especially in the final quarter, it’s about Dustin Martin as a forward when he’s required in the midfield and vice-versa.
The Tigers were far from embarrassed, but four points and heading back to Melbourne cockahoop about a top-four finish was the objective.
They depart Geelong with slaps on the back for a solid effort, but it means little when the chasing pack for a top-four spot is still very much breathing and hunting.
Dustin Martin was good.
Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield was enormous.
Martin, the Brownlow Medal favourite and the player challenging Dangerfield as the best player in the competition, if he isn’t already, finished with 21 disposals, 13 contested balls, five clearances and nine score involvements.
Dangerfield was huge in the midfield and he finished with 30 disposals, 21 contested balls, 10 tackles, 11 clearances and eight score involvements. And three votes if the umpires are still giving votes to suspended players.
The Tigers needed Martin in the middle and Martin in the forward line and while the juggling act has produced some withering results in the past, it didn’t work against the Cats.
What's so funny? @dangerfield35 pic.twitter.com/NWOSO8NJOI
— Jay Clark (@ClarkyHeraldSun) August 12, 2017
The Tigers won the clearances 41-35. But they didn’t use the ball well. In the final quarter, when the Cats were calm and methodical and kicked important goals, the Tigers were sloppy and coughed up the ball too much.
Martin was deep in the forward line for the majority of the term, but they couldn’t get it deep enough to him. He was forced up the ground t half-forward such was Geelong’s dominance, where he had to contend with two opponents in the air.
That is Geelong’s one wood: Outnumber at the back, take marks, start attacking.
That Josh Caddy tore a hamstring presented Richmond coach Damien Hardwick with a structural headache in the forward line, which maybe required the coach to use Martin forward more than he wanted to.
Martin played 69 per cent midfield and 31 per cent forward, which was only marginally more than his season average (73-27).
Jack Riewoldt is the key forward, but Caddy’s strong body allows him to be a key forward forward-type target.
All in all, Riewoldt was OK, Caddy was missing, the resting ruck was a non-factor, the mosquito fleet couldn’t kick goals and Martin was the leading goalkicker with just two.
Yes, a second key forward — be from within or recruited externally — is still Richmond’s priority.
The Tigers were beaten by 14 points and had to deal with headaches all match.
One of them was Harry Taylor playing forward opposed to Alex Rance.
It was planned for Taylor to be an “accountable’’ forward and he did that and kicked four goals and arguably was the most influential player on the ground.
Another was Steve Motlop who, unluckily for the Tigers, sliced his way through the forward half of the ground and produced his best after being questioned most of this season.
Another was Lachie Henderson, who took eight marks in defence and was part of Geelong’s aerial dominance.
Another, and perhaps most important, was team contribution from the Cats.
Saturday was supposed to be about Richmond announcing themselves as a top-four certainty, which would’ve put the arousal level of Tigers fans at a 20-year high.
Instead, it was vindication the Cats aren’t a two-headed monster.
No Joel Selwood. No Tom Hawkins. No Mitch Duncan. Well, no worries.
Coach Chris Scott is not into measuring wins against each other, but this would be among his most satisfying in his home and away seasons.
Richmond’s pronounced improvement in pressure and defensive style this season was good but not good enough.
In fact, Geelong’s pressure was superb and it forced the Tigers to make mistakes.
Their kicking for goal was one aspect — Bachar Houli missed two goals from 20m — but sloppy hands and ball use was another.
Little things in the final quarter such Nick Vlastuin finding the opposition from a kick-in from fullback, Dion Prestia missing a teammate and handballing out of bounds, Toby Nankervis marking and playing on by hand, only to turn it over and giving a goal to Motlop and Brandon Ellis kicking out of defensive 50 which was marked by Jed Bews and led to a goal to Dan Menzel.
They were a gazillion mistakes, as there are in all games of footy, but in a game-deciding final quarter, Richmond didn’t deal with the pressure as well as Geelong did.
Of course, it was a learning experience for the Tigers.
As for the Cats, all you can do is tip your hat to them. They deserve it.
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