RICHMOND break a 13-game losing streak against Geelong, do the extraordinary against GWS before completing the fairytale.
Look back over finals.
QUALIFYING FINAL
Richmond 13.13 (91) d Geelong 5.10 (40)
Friday, September 8 at MCG
Summary:
This game was all about pressure. The Tigers were under it going into it — having not won a final since 2001 — and brought it against the Cats who crumbled under it. Richmond recorded its highest pressure rating of the year to break a 13-game losing streak against Geelong, with midfield trio Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia all electric.
Goals
Richmond: Caddy 2, Townsend 2, Butler, Prestia, Castagna, Riewoldt, Lambert, Vlastuin, Edwards, Grigg, Cotchin.
Cats: Taylor, Parsons, Dangerfield, Motlop, Hawkins.
Best
Richmond: Martin, Prestia, Caddy, Cotchin, Rance, Lambert, Vlastuin, Edwards.
Cats: Duncan, Tuohy, S. Selwood, Dangerfield, Hawkins
Crowd: 95,028
Flag odds: $3.25
It’s not often you get to make it to a preliminary final and play in front of massive crowds like we do, so enjoy it, once you get to work then switch on and let’s get the job done. We’re really confident we can do both. It’s a good time to be happy — Damien Hardwick
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Richmond 15.13 (103) d GWS Giants 9.13 (67)
Saturday, September 23 at MCG
Summary
Vying for their first grand final berth since 1982, Richmond produced a ruthless second half in front of an enormous home crowd to inflict a second preliminary final loss on Greater Western Sydney in as many years. The Giants led by eight points midway through the second quarter but Richmond stormed home with a 10-goal-to-four second half. Captain Trent Cotchin was again super while Daniel Rioli kicked four goals and everything Dustin Martin touched turned to gold.
Goals
Richmond: Rioli 4, Martin 3, Butler 2, Caddy, Castagna, Riewoldt, Townsend, Lambert, Edwards.
Giants: Himmelberg 4, Ward 3, Kelly, Patton.
Best
Richmond: Cotchin, Martin, Rioli, Rance, Lambert, Grimes, Prestia, Houli.
Giants: Ward, Kelly, Williams, Davis, Scully, Tomlinson.
Crowd: 94,258
Flag odds: $2.10
I was just rapt for the players, they’ve put in a power of work and to see them lift the intensity in that third quarter and then continue with the assault in the last, it was really pleasing. Trent (Cotchin) and his leaders stood up and took charge of the game and it was a really good result for our footy club — Damien Hardwick
AFL GRAND FINAL
Richmond 16.12 (108) d Adelaide 8.12 (60)
Saturday September 30 at MCG
Summary
In the end it was 48 points. It was unbelievable. It was extraordinary. It was so good. It was also exactly what Richmond had been doing all year. Adelaide came in as the best scoring team in the competition who smacked GWS and Geelong on their home deck through the finals. But they’d never faced anything like the Richmond pressure. We’d seen it all year from the Tigers so why was it that so many thought they couldn’t bring it when it mattered most. None of what had transpired was surprising.
Goals:
Richmond: J Graham 3 D Martin 2 J Riewoldt 2 J Townsend 2 B Houli D Butler D Prestia J Caddy J Castagna K Lambert S Grigg.
Adelaide: R Sloane 2 T Walker 2 B Crouch C Cameron E Betts H Greenwood.
Best:
Richmond: B Houli A Rance D Martin T Cotchin J Riewoldt S Edwards J Graham.
Adelaide: M Crouch R Laird S Jacobs R Sloane B Crouch.
Crowd: 100,021
To see some of the young kids get the reward for an incredible season was a credit to our whole football club, our coaching staff … it’s just a great day. If you’d said we’d be up here collecting medals ... I’d say you’re kidding yourself. You don’t want it to end — you’d be happy to play next week. They’ve inspired me with the way they go about their business. All of them have given me something — Damien Hardwick
- 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 build 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
Add your comment to this story
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout
Why your trade outrage means nothing to Gold Coast
The footy world is bewildered at the Suns paying top dollar – in this case at least pick 6 – for Daniel Rioli. However, CALLUM DICK writes, the Suns’ priorities are different to most clubs.
The reason Dockers won’t fold on Tigers’ Bolton demands
Richmond wants picks 10 and 11 for Shai Bolton. The Dockers only want to give up one of those alongside pick 18. ELIZA REILLY unpacks why the Dockers won’t cave to the Tigers’ demands.