Melbourne v Richmond Deep Dive: Sam Landsberger looks at the major talking points after the Dees’ upset win
Once again Richmond’s ill-discipline is on the agenda after the Tigers gave away four goals from free kicks and missed a host of chances themselves.
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Two hidden moments have been missed in Melbourne’s grand arrival as a flag force.
Everybody knows the Demons are 6-0 for the first time since 1965, and everybody knows they completed a clever pick swap with North Melbourne to secure Kysaiah Pickett.
But Melbourne began building into this all-conquering, pressure-swarming force long before its grinding Round 1 win against Fremantle.
It was Round 10 last year – following a spiritless loss to Port Adelaide, which outraged then-president Glen Bartlett – when the penny dropped.
Since July last year, coach Simon Goodwin’s team is 12-3.
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The Demons have, perhaps for the first time in a generation, become trustworthy.
If you wipe five catastrophic days in Cairns, where the Dees dropped back-to-back games in almost cyclonic conditions, they are 12-1.
That is a serious stretch of form. Only recent runs by Port Adelaide (14-3) and the ladder-leading Western Bulldogs (11-2) compare.
“Internally, we knew we were building in the back half of last year,” Goodwin said.
“We won six of nine on the way home and we had a horrible five days in Cairns.
“The last two games we had to win to keep ourselves alive, and we were able to do that under pressure.
“We took a lot of growth out of that, and on the back of that the players have come back with a steely focus to get better and they’ve made some subtle changes.
“It has been in progress for a little while. A lot of people don’t see that. It’s been changing for a while.”
Trust is the buzz word at Melbourne.
Max Gawn says he “trusts” Luke Jackson to relieve him in the ruck or at full-forward.
Goodwin says Christian Petracca has become “a player we can trust”.
The coach can even feel the faith filtering into the stands.
“The way we’re playing is inspiring our crowd,” Goodwin said.
“I haven’t seen the MCG like that before. I think they’re starting to trust the way we’re playing.”
The second undersold moment came six days before the 2019 draft.
Having acquired pick No.8 from the Kangaroos, and confident the Cyril Rioli-esque Pickett would last beyond that selection, the Demons split their ace into a queen and a jack.
They traded No.8 to Fremantle for No.10 and No.28, plus a future pick.
Well, Pickett was there at No.10 (which became No.12 on draft night), and Trent Rivers was there at 28 (No.32 on draft night), and in Rivers, a rebounding defender with a thumping kick, the Demons have a beauty.
Rivers might evolve into a midfielder, but right now he is settled in a backline which absorbed 60 Tiger entries and conceded just six goals.
Adam Tomlinson has become a safer version of Oscar McDonald, Steven May is in All-Australian form and Jake Lever marks so many opposition balls it is almost as if he isn’t wearing a Melbourne jumper.
When you roll in No.3 pick Jackson, a 198cm midfielder masquerading as a ruckman and with a dose of aggression, the Demons filled three holes in their starting 22 with their only three picks.
Three terrific teens from a draft where most are yet to make their mark.
And here is the kicker – Jackson and Rivers were drafted as best mates from East Fremantle, and that friendship factor helped the West Australians settle in at Casey Fields.
“That draft is shaping up as a really good one for us. Those three players have been outstanding,” Goodwin said.
“They’ve played a lot of footy in a year and a half. That diving spoil (from Rivers) was pretty inspirational, and that’s what we’re starting to get from Trent. He’s a reliable player that’s getting better each week.”
Melbourne spent the best part of a decade making a mockery of prized picks.
Just ask 300-gamer Nathan Jones, who watched Cale Morton (No.4 in 2007), Sam Blease (No.17 in 2008), James Strauss (No.19 in 2008), Jordan Gysberts (No.11 in 2009), Luke Tapscott (No.18 in 2009), Lucas Cook (No.12 in 2010), Jimmy Toumpas (No.4 in 2012) all go bust, not to mention the Dees overlooking Dustin Martin twice in 2009.
But since Toumpas the Demons have a golden first-round record, jagging Christian Salem (No.9 in 2013), Christian Petracca (No.2 in 2014), Angus Brayshaw (No.3 in 2014), Clayton Oliver (No.4 in 2015), Sam Weideman (No.9 in 2015), Jackson and Pickett.
Salem, Petracca and Oliver were probably the best three on Anzac eve, while Jackson is symbolic of the new Melbourne.
The rough-and-ready big fella has played in 10 wins from 12 games (83.3 per cent), whereas Jones (33 per cent) is still chasing his 100th victory.
“He (Jackson) bobs up all the time,” Goodwin said.
“Whether it’s in the air or on the ground or in a ruck contest, he’s just a unique player.
“He doesn’t need a lot of possessions to impact the game. That’s the type of ruckman and forward he is.”
Dimma’s frustration
Damien Hardwick put Richmond’s ill-discipline on the agenda after costly 50m penalties in last year’s qualifying final loss to Brisbane Lions.
Once again, he was left frustrated as Melbourne booted 4.1 (25) to 0.1 (1) from free kicks.
Marlion Pickett and Rhyan Mansell each gave away three free kicks, with a Pickett transgression in the ruck gifting Tom McDonald a goal in the second term.
“We gave away some undisciplined free kicks, four goals from free kicks, and it’s been a constant,” Hardwick said.
“It frustrates me and it frustrates us as a team, so we’re just going to have to get that part of our game better.”
The Tigers were also sloppy in front of goal.
Their 1.6 (12) from set-shots was blown away by Melbourne’s 8.2 (50), however it was the “10 missed shots” which irked Dimma the most.
“We left four goals on the goalline where we had guys that were open,” Hardwick said.
“We had ample opportunity to kick a winning score – we just didn’t.”
Move over, Fev
Ben Brown might be Casey’s best recruit since the VFL club signed Brendan Fevola in 2011.
Brown and Sam Weideman have combined for 17 goals in two VFL rounds while Max Gawn said fellow Majak Daw, another ex-Roo, was best-afield against Richmond’s VFL team.
But Goodwin confirmed there was no room in his forward line for the spearheads.
That’s because Bailey Fritsch is dominating out of the goalsquare, the rejuvenated Tom McDonald (3.0) and his sticky hands are kicking straight and Jackson’s rate of improvement is almost scary to watch.
Brown was due to face his old team in Round 7, but instead that will come in Thursday night’s Casey-North Melbourne VFL game at Marvel Stadium.
“There will be a point where we look at the balance of our forwards. Can we play another tall?” Goodwin said.
“When that time comes those guys have got to be ready to play. But at the moment we’re happy with the balance of the team.”
Tigerish buzz to Dees smalls
Richmond took the AFL by storm in 2017 as the league’s pressure kings.
It was born out of the front half, where Dan Butler, Dan Rioli and Jason Castagna harassed, chased and tackled, and were ultimately judged on pressure more so than their scoreboard impact.
In 2021 it is the Demons ranked No.1 for pressure and a similar story is unfolding in front of the ball.
Charlie Spargo, Kysaiah Pickett and Alex Neal-Bullen are Goodwin’s version of those Tiger terriers.
Spargo’s run-down tackle on Bachar Houli was Melbourne’s first sign of life against Richmond, while Pickett nabbing Rioli set up the Dees’ first goal.
“I thought when the ball went inside 50m tonight our small forwards once again were brilliant,” Goodwin said.
“Even our talls are really joining in that phase of the game.”
Pickett charging at Mansell after his last-quarter goal said plenty for his confidence.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick told his players in the MCG rooms after the game they didn’t handle perceived pressure well either.
As former Tiger Brett Deledio said: “This is Melbourne’s ability to hunt, chase, tackle (and) to pressure. They’re playing Richmond’s game against them”.
Dusty silver lining
Dustin Martin’s concussion could help him regain a touch of explosiveness.
Coach Damien Hardwick revealed that Martin has been carrying a foot issue, and the AFL’s 12-day mandatory concussion layoff means he must miss the Round 7 clash against Western Bulldogs.
That means Martin can put his feet up, literally, before taking on Geelong in the following week’s Grand Final rematch.
But it was a sour night for the Tigers.
Kane Lambert (calf) will probably miss a few weeks while Dion Prestia was on the cusp of returning from a torn hamstring, only to suffer calf tightness.
“How far that puts him back we’re not sure. But once again he won’t play next week,” Hardwick said.
Nick Vlastuin (knee) will also miss another game and there wasn’t exactly a heap of Tigers putting their hands up in the VFL on Saturday.
DUSTY BLOW COMPOUNDS TIGERS’ NIGHT OF MISERY
Richmond will be without Dustin Martin for next Friday night’s blockbuster against the unbeaten Western Bulldogs after the megastar’s 250th milestone match ended with concussion.
The Tigers — already missing Dion Prestia (hamstring) and Nick Vlastuin (knee) — are also set to lose hard-running midfielder Kane Lambert, who was substituted out of the Anzac Day eve game against Melbourne with a calf injury.
Lambert, 29, was substituted out of the game with a calf injury during the third quarter.
The three-time premiership star immediately put the tracksuit on and took a seat at the back of the interchange bench.
Defensive stalwart Dylan Grimes also went off with injury in the final quarter.
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It was been a frustrating night for Martin, who had Demon Michael Hibberd follow him everywhere except for the changerooms.
Martin’s 250th match was among his least productive, restricted to just eight disposals at the final change.
Martin was escorted down the race by Richmond’s club doctor in the second half after a clash that left him clutching his face.
Star Shane Edwards is also likely to have his bump on Clayton Oliver assessed.
Edwards chose to bump Oliver after he had disposed of the ball.
Oliver fell to the ground and was taken from the ground for treatment. He spoke to coach Simon Goodwin on the bench and appeared to motion towards his throat.
The incident drew a free kick, which led to a Demons goal.
The Demons piled on seven-straight goals as they looked set to storm to 6-0 for the first time since 1965, the last time they were reigning premiers.
MATCH REPORT: DEES ARRIVE AS FRONT RUNNER
Melbourne announced itself as a premiership front runner as Richmond was left to lick its wounds in an Anzac Eve game that lived up to the billing.
The Dees’ 34-point win sees them notch six straight wins to start a season for the first time since 1965.
Once again it was a Demons side in control of the game, underpinned by Steven May and Jake Lever’s dominance in the air.
Richmond, who were only missing Nick Vlastuin and Dion Prestia going into Saturday night’s blockbuster, will have to regroup without Dustin Martin (concussion) and Kane Lambert (calf).
The Tigers are 3-3 and haven’t suffered this many losses to this point in the season since 2016.
Early on it was Richmond’s trademark pressure that had it out to a lead at quarter-time, as Melbourne struggled to click its free-flowing game into gear.
The Tigers had nine of the first 10 inside-50s as the Dees looked flustered by the reigning champions.
But in what was the biggest sign Melbourne is the real deal yet, the Dees wrestled momentum back their way late in the first term before a second-quarter onslaught had fans believing.
Luke Jackson played his best game for the club and was instrumental in the first half, seeming to bob up at all the right moments for Melbourne, while Christian Salem provided the steady hand in defence.
Ed Langdon once again cruised the wing and was the perfect link man for the Dees, while Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney proved too much for a Richmond midfield that uncharacteristically flaked on the big stage.
Christian Petracca picked his moments in the first half and was one of the Dees’ most influential, but a second half eruption from the Brownlow fancy ensured the win was never in doubt.
Christian Petracca.
— AFL (@AFL) April 24, 2021
Do we really need to say more?#AFLDeesTigerspic.twitter.com/W9m6R7PBgo
Handball happy Dees
It was Melbourne’s worst enemy in the first quarter as they struggled to work through Richmond’s finals-like intensity and pressure on the ball.
But late in the first term it clicked for the Dees as they managed to link up in their defensive 50 and started to work their way forward via slick handball.
When the heavens opened at quarter-time it looked like the heavy handball would play into Richmond’s hands, but such is the confidence and nick Melbourne is in it propelled them from a seven-point deficit to a three-goal halftime lead.
The highlight passage was a Jayden Hunt run down the Great Southern Stand side of the ground in the third quarter, linking up with teammates after setting off from the back pocket before working another handball over to Alex Neal-Bullen who won a free kick and kicked a goal.
Hibberd blankets Dusty
The stage was set for a Dusty special – Anzac Eve, game 250 and facing the unbeaten up-and-coming Demons.
But you would have been excused for thinking the Richmond champion and AFL poster boy was a late out in the first half as he parked himself forward and had no impact on the contest.
Michael Hibberd was the man tasked with negating the three-time Norm Smith winner and played the perfect selfless game, sacrificing his trademark run and carry for an old-fashioned blanket role.
Hibberd kept Martin to just six touches in the first half before he suffered concussion early in the third term.
Dustin Martin will take no further part in this game following this incident.#AFLDeesTigerspic.twitter.com/PB6Hl2eo6V
— AFL (@AFL) April 24, 2021
Edwards in trouble
Tiger veteran Shane Edwards will come under match review scrutiny for a late bump on Dees’ midfield bull Oliver.
The out of character moment happened at the 12-minute mark of the second term as Melbourne worked the ball around the member’s wing.
Oliver lofted a handball over the top of a number of players as the Dees looked to attack.
But after giving the handball Oliver was confronted by Edwards who chose to bump once the ball was out of the area, shirtfronting the 23-year-old and appearing to collect him high.
The hit floored Oliver and upon returning to his feet went straight to the bench playing with his jaw.
Pulling the Lever
Jake Lever is loving life playing alongside May and Adam Tomlinson.
The three-headed dragon has become the Great Wall of Melbourne as teams struggle to not only find a way to score but stop the intercepting power of the trio.
Lever had 14 intercepts as May completely shut Tom Lynch out of the game and Tomlinson took care of Jack Riewoldt after the veteran kicked two early goals.
SCOREBOARD
DEES 2.2 6.6 10.8 12.10 82
TIGERS 3.3 3.7 5.8 6.12 48
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST
Dees: Petracca, Salem, Lever, Oliver, Gawn, Langdon, May.
Tigers: Bolton, Nankervis, Edwards, Baker, Short.
GOALS
Dees: McDonald 3, Jackson 2, Fritsch 2, Neal-Bullen 2, Salem, Petracca, Pickett.
Tigers: Riewoldt 2, Edwards 2, Aarts, Bolton.
INJURIES
Dees: nil.
Tigers: Martin (concussion) Lambert (calf).
UMPIRES Stephens, Dalgleish, Williamson.
MCG 56,418
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3 Christian Petracca (MELB)
2 Christian Salem (MELB)
1 Jake Lever (MELB)
Originally published as Melbourne v Richmond Deep Dive: Sam Landsberger looks at the major talking points after the Dees’ upset win
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