How Richmond lost to Fremantle with 21 seconds left in the game

AFTER hitting the lead with 21 seconds left, Richmond should not have lost to Fremantle. But the Tigers blew it and we reveal how they threw another match away.

Brandon Ellis can’t believe the Tigers lost as Fremantle players celebrate in the background. Picture: AAP

RICHMOND had three players start as forwards for Sunday’s crucial final centre bounce as the Tigers blew a chance to consolidate a top-four spot against Fremantle.

Brandon Ellis kicked a goal which put Richmond four points up with 21 seconds left and called for teammates to flood back into defence.

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But not all of them did, with behind-the-goals vision showing three players started forward of the centre square while Daniel Rioli was alone on one wing.

The Dockers had two extra defenders back on Richmond’s three forwards while not bothering to man up Rioli on the wing.

No Richmond players line up at the back of the centre square for the final centre bounce. Highlighted is David Mundy on Dylan Grimes. Picture: afl.com.au

It was man-on-man across the rest of the ground except for the Tigers having Alex Rance as a deep loose defender.

As Dockers midfielder Lachie Neale won the centre clearance and kicked to a leading David Mundy in the forward pocket, just eight Richmond players were inside defensive 50.

Alex Rance is the loose man at the top of the goalsquare. To his right, Mundy is about to start his lead. Everywhere else it’s one-on-one. Picture: afl.com.au

Mundy marked 30m out on a tight angle and went back and goaled after the siren to see the Dockers to a two-point win.

Mundy on the lead before his mark and matchwinning goal. Picture: afl.com.au

Richmond legend and former coach Kevin Bartlett said on SEN radio this morning he would have had 14 defenders flooding Fremantle’s defensive 50, not allowing Mundy the space he was afforded.

“How come the Tigers couldn’t defend a four-point lead with 21 seconds to go from a centre bounce? Aren’t we told clubs train for such situations and circumstances?” Bartlett said.

Former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said he was surprised by Richmond’s set up.

“The back of the square, usually you’d see someone charging in to come up at Lachie Neale. There was not one Richmond player doing that,” Lloyd told the AFL website.

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Tigers coach Damien Hardwick declined to expand on what went wrong in the final seconds in his post-match press conference, saying only: “They marked it”.

The situation brought flashbacks of Karmichael Hunt’s after-the-siren goal in 2012 for Richmond supporters.

The Tigers led Gold Coast by four points when the ball was bounced in the middle with 25 seconds left on the clock in that match, only to lose.

Richmond — which has now lost three straight games after starting the season 5-0 — takes on Greater Western Sydney (6-2) at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Since Hardwick took over in 2010, Richmond has played in 19 games decided less than a goal for five wins, 14 losses and two draws.

SEEN IT ALL BEFORE

Round 2, 2016: Led Collingwood by 11 points and had possession with 2:16 remaining. Lost by one point after a Brodie Grundy goal with four seconds to go.

Round 17, 2015: Led Fremantle by two points and had a kick-out with 82 seconds to play. Lost by four points after a David Mundy goal with 31 seconds remaining.

Round 5, 2013: Led Fremantle by five points until a Hayden Ballantyne goal with 84 seconds to play resulted in a one-point defeat.

Round 23, 2012: Led Port Adelaide by seven points and had possession with under two minutes to go. Recorded a draw.

Round 18, 2012: Led Carlton by five points until a Brock McLean goal with 42 seconds remaining saw the Blues secure a one-point win.

Round 16, 2012: Led Gold Coast by 10 points and had possession with 63 seconds to go. Lost by two points after a Karmichael Hunt goal after the siren.