Richmond v Western Bulldogs: Deep dive into where both teams are at after Friday’s clash
Shai Bolton’s next deal with Richmond could be worth $500,000. But to a rival club, that number could balloon to $800,000. Should the Tigers be worried?
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If you don’t barrack for Richmond, look away now.
The Tigers currently hold draft picks No.14, 15 and 21, and are eyeing their fourth premiership in five years.
They are flag favourites with a draft hand befitting a battler – winless North Melbourne has picks No.1 and 19.
The Tigers haven’t had a top-10 pick since taking Nick Vlastuin a decade ago.
Experts suspect they could trade towards the top this year.
The AFL’s points index suggests their top three picks could be reshaped into No.3 and 20.
The scary part is Richmond’s recruiters don’t need high picks to hit the bullseye.
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In 2016 they used their Tyrone Vickery compensation pick (No.29) on Shai Bolton and then took Jack Graham at No.53.
Who knows, they might’ve secured their next Dustin Martin and their next captain with those two picks.
Bolton’s impersonation of Martin on Friday night was bewitching. Flair, fast and fun to watch, he is an intoxicating talent.
Like Martin, Bolton is managed by Ralph Carr. Like Martin in 2017, Bolton will be in high demand.
“He knows our players can get paid more somewhere else, there’s no doubt about that,” coach Damien Hardwick said.
“But they sacrifice to stay – that’s what Richmond men do.”
A three-year extension at Punt Rd would take Bolton through to restricted free agency.
The West Australian might be worth $500,000 to the Tigers and as much as $800,000 to, say, the Kangaroos, which would be a sacrifice just shy of $1 million over his next contract.
But Tiger fans shouldn’t fret. As Hardwick hinted, in four golden years they are yet to lose an A-grader.
Brandon Ellis (Gold Coast) and Dan Butler (St Kilda) are the only premiership men to play elsewhere, having fallen either side of the fringe in 2019.
The ‘Bs’ – Bolton, Baker, Broad (who ran 1km more than anyone) and Balta – were all As against Western Bulldogs, although Bolton was A+.
How is this for symmetry?
Last year Martin scooped three Brownlow votes against the Dogs with 26 disposals, eight inside 50s, four clearances and 3.1.
Bolton had 22 disposals, 10 inside 50s, three clearances and 3.1.
Martin’s game trumps Bolton’s because it was shorter quarters.
But Bolton is a game-breaker, and his second half proved exactly that.
Hardwick was lost for words towards the end of his halftime speech.
“I even said to the players, ‘I don’t even know what I’m talking about – just get out and get the job done’,” he said.
Hardwick matured his midfield by inserting Marlion Pickett and Shane Edwards.
It worked, ending a run of three defeats in four games.
Hardwick often says he looks at every loss as a “gift”.
Well, the past month must have felt like Christmas at the Tigers … one where the in-laws have long outstayed their welcome.
But Round 7 delivered the present Tiger fans had requested.
Like a voucher for a day spa, it was one which settled some nerves.
The only downside was the rest and relaxation Trent Cotchin now requires, having strained his hamstring chasing Caleb Daniel in the final term.
“GUILTY” DIMMA HAS MORE TO COME
RICHMOND’S juicy draft hand means it effectively has three presents in yellow and black wrapping paper stored away for November.
But Hardwick remains bullish about the talent beneath the surface this year.
“I can’t get (Callum) Coleman-Jones in the side,” he said.
“I feel guilty actually looking at him half the time, because he’s dominating at VFL level.”
Coleman-Jones registered 145 SuperCoach points against Casey last week while the Tigers are bullish about Thomson Dow.
Then there’s Will Martyn, who got a run in Round 4, Hugo Ralph-Smith and Mabior Chol.
As for Riley Collier-Dawkins, a top-20 pick from 2018 who had to bide his time, three centre clearances on debut foreshadowed a bright future.
Collier-Dawkins is a 191cm onballer with stoppage smarts.
“Some players are OK at the lower level, but when they get picked to play AFL level they become better,” Hardwick said.
“I think he’s one of those guys.”
TIME TO THANK NANK
FOR years Shane Edwards held the mantle as the AFL’s most under-appreciated star.
That’s because so much of Edwards’ brilliance goes unnoticed to the naked eye.
He makes other stars shine brighter through clever moments which require TV replays to appreciate.
For a stretch last season it appeared Shai Bolton was also flying under the radar, although surely the footy world has now awoken to his class.
Undersized ruckman Toby Nankervis might be the latest Tiger who deserves more plaudits.
“He’s had a great year,” Hardwick said.
“He’s probably a little bit underrated outside our four walls but within he’s very, very important to the way we play.”
The big man’s second and third efforts are enormous and the Tigers wouldn’t have reached last year’s Grand Final without his herculean prelim.
On Friday night the only player to win more contested ball than Nankervis was Bulldogs’ heartbeat Tom Liberatore.
‘Dimma’ also singled out rejuvenated full-forward Jack Riewoldt, who kicked one goal from nine disposals against valiant Bulldog Alex Keath.
“Jack Riewoldt had a low-possession game but I thought his impact was enormous,” Hardwick said.
DOGS DEFENCE DIGS IN
TOM Lynch’s contested marking and sloppy set-shot kicking stole the spotlight on Friday night.
But in the shadows of Lynch was a Western Bulldogs’ backline which absorbed 57 inside 50s and gave up only 11 goals.
Publicly, there has been a perception the Dogs’ list is one top-shelf key defender short.
But coach Luke Beveridge said it was a misnomer that the Bulldogs lack backline bite.
“We kept them to 77 points, and they had to defend a lot of threatening balls,” he said.
“I know it’s a theme (backline weakness) that you guys (media) talk about, but will someone get on the right page?
“How good was Alex Keath?
Beveridge has a point. The Dogs boast the No.1 defence in the AFL
Zaine Cordy stood Lynch all night while Keath barely left Jack Riewoldt’s side.
The key pillars did not visit the interchange bench.
First-choice full-back Ryan Gardner and emerging star Bailey Williams are out with shoulder injuries from the AFL’s No.1 ranked backline.
Slot those key men in next to Keath, Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, Easton Wood and Hayden Crozier and it strikes a beautiful balance as a back seven.
There’s the pinpoint passing of Daniel and Dale and the aerial assets of Crozier and Wood, supplemented by the big boys.
“We need to defend well together, and part of that is helping those key defenders,” Beveridge said.
“When they don’t get it we still expect them to be at the peak of their powers and winning and halving one-on-ones.”
Carlton targets Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult await next week after overpowering the Dogs last year.
Beveridge said the Tigers had more “juice” in their turnover game and the landslide in entries proved pivotal.
The Dogs managed just 14 after halftime as the Tigers booted 10 of the final 12 goals.
Both coaches agreed the scoreboard lied at halftime and statistically it would’ve been a false result if the Dogs pinched it.
INCLUSIONS MISS MARK
JOSH Schache’s impact was minimal and Beveridge said the Dogs will try to “lift his spirits” next week.
Rhylee West, too, didn’t have a great night.
But it was probably the inability to cover ultimate team man Josh Dunkley’s workload which hurt the most.
So much was made of marquee man Dustin Martin’s absence, but Dunkley to the Dogs is so much more than what you see on the stats sheet.
“The things you don’t see are the things that he does,” Beveridge said.
“The off the ball stuff.”
Speaking of work-rate, Lachie Hunter again topped the Dogs’ GPS numbers with 14.7km – and that’s despite his relocation from a wing to attack this season.
“Lachie’s a speed and endurance player and he gets up and back,” Beveridge said.
“He’s such an analytical and intelligent player that he helps with the organizing on the field as well. We’ll persist with him as a forward.”
With Mitch Wallis in the VFL and no closer to earning a recall, perhaps it is time to consider giving Hunter back the vice-captaincy.
COTCHIN SET TO MISS WEEKS
Trent Cotchin led from the front in the third quarter with nine disposals to play a pivotal role in the stunning Richmond turnaround.
Conversely, star Bulldogs pair Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore could only manage five touches between them in that period after racking up a combined 32 in the first half.
However, the Tiger skipper finished the game in a tracksuit, telling Channel 7 post-game that his hamstring was “grabbing a little bit there at the end” and that he would have scans.
Coach Damien Hardwick confirmed post-match that he will miss multiple weeks.
TWO GAMES IN A DAY
Umpire Eleni Glouftsis was required to run about 30km in 24 hours after being rushed in to officiate her second game in as many nights.
Glouftsis was at Marvel Stadium on Thursday officiating in the Casey Demons’ 107-point demolition of North Melbourne in the VFL.
She was listed as an emergency for Friday night’s Richmond-Western Bulldogs blockbuster at the MCG.
But field umpire David Harris suffered a suspected calf injury in the first quarter, springing Glouftsis back into action.
It is understood umpires clock around 12-16km in the VFL and slightly more for AFL matches.
One umpiring decision was a talking point in the first quarter at the MCG, with Dylan Grimes allowed to deliberately rush a behind despite no Bulldogs player within about 15m.
Grimes got away with it as he fumbled the ball across the line.
TIGERS 1.4 2.8 7.10 11.11 (77)
BULLDOGS 3.6 5.9 6.10 7.13 (55)
LERNER’S BEST
Tigers: Bolton, Houli, Lynch, Nankervis, Cotchin, Balta, Broad.
Bulldogs: Daniel, Dale, Macrae, Smith, Bontempelli, Naughton.
GOALS
Tigers: Lynch 3, Bolton 3, Aarts, Riewoldt, Graham, Baker, Houli.
Bulldogs: Naughton 3, Scott, Bruce, Smith, Schache.
INJURIES:
Tigers: Cotchin (hamstring)
Bulldogs: Nil
UMPIRES Fisher, Chamberlain, Harris
VENUE MCG
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LERNER’S VOTES
3 S.Bolton (Rich)
2 B.Houli (Rich)
1 T.Lynch (Rich)
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