ALEX Rance blanketing Lance Franklin, Bachar Houli’s strike on Jed Lamb and one of the most unbelievable nights of the season.
ROUND 13
Sydney 12.8 (80) d Richmond 10.11 (71)
Saturday, June 17 at the MCG
Summary:
Richmond flew out of the blocks sparked by fourth-gamer Shai Bolton, who booted two Goals in the Tigers’ five-goal to nil opening term. But the Swans got on top around the contest and ground the Tigers down despite Alex Rance blanketing Lance Franklin, with Gary Rohan putting the exclamation mark on a come-from-behind win.
Goals
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Martin 2, Bolton 2, Cotchin, Castagna, Edwards, Lloyd
Sydney: Reid 2, Franklin, Hewett, Lloyd, Heeney, Parker, Hayward, Papley, Kennedy, K.Jack, Rohan
Best
Richmond: Rance, Houli, Cotchin, B.Ellis, Astbury, Martin
Sydney: Lloyd, Newman, Heeney, Kennedy, Jones, Mills, Hannebery
Crowd:58,721
Ladder position: 6th
Flag odds: $26
We had a really strong focus on controlling their scores from stoppages, a strength of theirs, and they kicked four [Goals from stoppages] in the last quarter. We just couldn’t get that part of our game right, which is disappointing. – Damien Hardwick
ROUND 14
Richmond 11.18 (84) d Carlton 8.10 (58)
Sunday, June 25 at the MCG
Summary:
Not many copies of this DVD would have shipped from the warehouse. A dour struggle but the result was never really in doubt. The big talking point was Bachar Houli’s uncharacteristic strike on Jed Lamb.
Goals
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Butler 2, Castagna 2, Ellis, Lambert, Bolton, Nankervis
Carlton: Casboult 2, Kreuzer 2, Wright, Thomas, C.Curnow, Cripps
Best
Richmond: Rance, Houli, Martin, Lambert, Castagna, Riewoldt
Carlton: Kreuzer, Cripps, Docherty, Gibbs, Casboult, Jones
Crowd: 64,448
Ladder position: 6th
Flag odds: $21
It was a frustrating game, there’s no doubt. What did we have? Nearly 30 scoring shots and just couldn’t quite get the scoreboard reward I thought we deserved. We’ve played better games but lost, if that makes sense, so it was good to bank the four points and move on – Damien Hardwick
ROUND 15
Richmond 11.10 (76) d Port Adelaide 8.15 (63)
Saturday, Junly 1 at Adelaide Oval
Summary:
Port Adelaide controlled the play in a low-scoring first half and wasted chances to be further in front than the 15-point margin. A complete reversal in the second half stunned the Adelaide Oval crowd, with Dan Rioli then Dustin Martin drilling Goals on the run to spark a huge interstate win.
Goals
Port Adelaide: Powell-Pepper 2, Ebert, R.Gray, S.Gray, Trengove, Neade, Dixon
Richmond: Butler 3, Stengle 2, Cotchin, Rioli, Martin, Riewoldt, Lloyd, Short
Best
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Ryder, Wines, Westhoff, JonasRichmond: Martin, Ellis, Lambert, Butler, Rance, Grig
Crowd:39,979
Ladder position: 4th
Flag odds: $11
He (Trent Cotchin) is the best captain in the comp. He’s really matured into his role and I love that he’s answered all those critics that have been so hard on his back over the last couple of years. He was just super today. I love playing for him. – Alex Rance
ROUND 16
St Kilda 21.12 (138) d Richmond 10.11 (71)
Saturday, July 8 at Etihad Stadium
Summary
What the? One of the most unbelievable nights of the most unpredictable season ever. The Saints played out of their skins and were almost 100 points in front in the third quarter before some late Richmond Goals made the scoreline slightly less embarrassing.
Goals
Richmond: Castagna 2, Cotchin, Caddy, Grigg, Martin, Butler, Lloyd, Ellis, Riewoldt
St Kilda: Membrey 5, Riewoldt 3, Bruce 2, Stevens 2, Gresham 2, Montagna 2, Ross, Billings, Longer, Steven, McKenzie
Best
Richmond: Lambert, Grigg, Ellis, Edwards, Astbury
St Kilda: Ross, Steven,Riewoldt, Montagna, Stevens, Steele, Membrey, Sinclair, Longer
Crowd:47,514
Ladder position: 6th
Flag odds: $26
It was incredibly disappointing. We set ourselves up for a big game, but they outplayed us in all areas tonight. – Damien Hardwick
ROUND 17
Richmond 16.16 (112) d Brisbane Lions 12.9 (81)
Sunday, July 16 at Etihad Stadium
Summary:
Richmond bounced back from last week’s drubbing with a solid if not entirely convincing win, which only became a certainty in the last quarter. Dustin Martin once again led the charge but had to deal with constant niggling from Nick Robertson who was also reported for headbutting Trent Cotchin.
Goals
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Butler 3, Martin 2, Castagna 2, Edwards, Cotchin, Prestia, Rioli, B Ellis
Brisbane Lions: Keays 2, Schache 2, Hipwood 2, Cutler, Zorko, Bastinac, Mathieson, Walker, McCluggage
Best
Richmond: Martin, Prestia, Cotchin, Riewoldt, Butler, Short, Miles
Brisbane Lions: Witherden, Andrews, Taylor, McStay, Rich
Crowd: 21,188
Ladder position: 5th
Flag odds: $26
We played a pretty attacking style of footy at stages, but some of those errors we were committing across our half-forward line really hurt us on the scoreboard going the other way. We can get better in that area. – Damien Hardwick
ROUND 18
Richmond 9.10 (64) d GWS Giants 6.9 (45)
Sunday, July 23 at MCG
Summary:
The Giants got the jump in a three goal to nil first term, then Dustin Martin ripped the game away in a monster second term as Toby Greene went into the umpire’s book for striking Alex Rance. The skies opened after halftime and Richmond pushed out to a five-goal lead then hung on for one of its Best wins of the year.
Goals
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Martin, McIntosh, Lambert, Castagna, Rioli, Caddy, Nankervis
Greater Western Sydney: Haynes, Patton, Greene, Whitfield, Kelly, Ward
Best
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Vlastuin, B.Ellis, Rance, Lambert
Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Davis, Shiel, Wilson, Williams
Crowd: 33,467
Ladder position: 4th
Flag odds: $15
It was certainly not a game we’ll go and get back out of the archives, but from an intensity and effort [point of view] I thought it was terrific – Damien Hardwick
READ THE FULL ROUND 18 MATCH REPORT
- Chapter 1: Richmond’s dream comes true
- Chapter 2: Rounds 1-6
- Chapter 3: Rounds 7-12
- Chapter 4: Rounds 13-18
- Chapter 5: Rounds 19-23
- Chapter 6: Finals
- Chapter 7: How Tigers built a winning team
- Chapter 8: The coach: how Dimma guided Richmond
- Chapter 9: Cotchin: The truth about Dusty
- Chapter 10: Jack lifts the lid on success
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