How Richmond beat Geelong and shook off AFL finals demons

A CLUB ridiculed for finishing ninth, mocked for three consecutive final disasters, winless in finals since 2001 and without a flag since 1980, is finally back. And isn’t it sweet for Tiger fans.

Sam Edmund

3 min read

September 8, 2017 - 11:43PM

Trent Cotchin stood up and led the Tigers by example. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond

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BUCKLE up folks, the Tiger train has left the station.

Next stop, a home preliminary final.

A club ridiculed for finishing ninth, mocked for three consecutive elimination final disasters, winless at the business end since 2001 and without a flag since 1980, is finally back.

Only months after an embarrassing board challenge and with Damien Hardwick nearly sacked, Richmond is one win away from a Grand Final.

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Trent Cotchin stood up and led the Tigers by example. Picture: Michael Klein

Inspired by a rampaging Dustin Martin, the Tigers jumped, withstood and then surged spectacularly clear of Geelong to win this qualifying final by 51 points in front 95,208 fans.

The Tigers slammed on five consecutive goals in 11 manic last quarter minutes to turn a tentative 13-point three-quarter time lead into a romp.

Footy fairytales are now dressed in yellow and black.

This perennially fragile outfit was hard, resilient and committed — roared on by the Tiger army that marched on the MCG like the Game of Thrones White Walkers.

Geelong was booed onto the field for it’s “home” game and then hit right between the eyes by a Richmond side relentless in its hunt of the man and ball.

Goals were like diamonds, but gee it was absorbing.

This was a gritty, grinding slog enveloped by pressure so severe it’s hard to justify in the written word.

Tigers players slammed into contests like crash test dummies. A side ranked a distant 18th for tackles only a year ago, tackled the Cats to a standstill.

Incredibly, Geelong’s first goal didn’t come until the 26 minute mark of the second quarter, but Richmond’s dominance was matched by a first half wastefulness that had them 3.7 at the main break.

Josh Caddy, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Dylan Grimes celebrate in the rooms after beating Geelong. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

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That shonky finishing was a factor in a first three quarters in which little separated these sides.

Geelong’s challenge came early in the third quarter and it had levelled the scores by half way through the term.

A quarter and a half later, they had lost by nearly 10 goals.

Set shot goals to Nick Vlastiun and Shane Edwards later in the third term weren’t only of the steadying variety, they lit a fire under Richmond that Martin poured the petrol on.

The Brownlow Medal favourite had 10 last quarter touches of enormous influence. He broke tackles at will, he surged clear and he laid it on a platter for goalscoring teammates.

Without a tag, he finished with 28 possessions, 12 score involvements and nine inside 50s. He was awesome.

Alex Rance got revenge on Harry Taylor in convincing fashion, Dion Prestia (31 touches) showed why he was brought to the club and Kane Lambert and Josh Caddy revelled in the conditions.

Captain Trent Cotchin, the subject of so much cricitism during his tenure, was pure guts. Cotchin, who had been held to nine and 16 touches in his last two finals, had 20 to go with nine tackles and seven clearances.

Trent Cotchin celebrates with fans after the win. Picture: Mark Stewart

It was a dirty night for Geelong. The forward line was as blunt as a rolling pin and, held to only five goals for the match, the decision to drop Daniel Menzel (38.14 this year) will come under scrutiny.

Cameron Guthrie strained a calf and could be out for the rest of the season, while Jake Kolodjashnij’s night also ended early.

Joel Selwood, playing an unprecedented 35 days after ankle syndesmosis surgery, couldn’t exert his usual influence.

Patrick Dangerfield (31 touches) battled bravely and tried to lift his side with an incredible mark running back with the flight in the third quarter. But he too, was slightly off, kicking the ball out on the full three times.

Richmond will play either Greater Western Sydney, Port Adelaide or West Coast in a preliminary final in two weeks’ time.

Imagine the hype. Maybe this time it really is Tiger Time.

GEELONG 0.4 2.4 4.9 5.10 (40)

RICHMOND 2.4 3.7 6.10 13.13 (91)

GOALS

Geelong: Motlop, Dangerfield, Parsons, Hawkins, Taylor

Richmond: Townsend 2, Caddy 2, Butler, Vlastuin, Edwards, Prestia, Grigg, Lambert, Castagna, Cotchin, Riewoldt

INJURIES

Geelong: C.Guthrie (calf)

Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, McInerney