Hawks’ gamble fails as Dusty runs riot for Richmond

Richmond generally comes out on top when Dustin Martin is given the time and space to win the ball and its 29-point win over Hawthorn was no exception.

Richmond’s Dustin Martin tackles Jaeger O'Meara at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images

Richmond generally comes out on top when Dustin Martin is given the time and space to win the footy and hit the scoreboard, and its 29-point win over Hawthorn was no exception.

Martin roamed the great expanses of the MCG with ease, as he did in the season-opener, and was a damaging attacking force yet again.

It was an unselfish outing for Martin, having a handful of score assists, but the role he played for his side was just as pronounced as Richmond’s 11.12 (78) to 7.7 (49) win.

The inexperienced Hawks showed plenty of fight until fading out of the contest, matching the reigning premiers after conceding the first three goals of the match when the result threatened to get ugly.

Richmond’s pressure was relentless throughout and its back-six was impenetrable, providing an attacking springboard after regularly picking off the Hawks’ errant entries.

Ball-magnet Tom Mitchell put in another tireless display, finishing a game-high 37 disposals.

The triumph was an 51-point reversal on the corresponding fixture in Round 3 last year, with the Hawks lining up with 10 different faces in this encounter.

Coming off a best-on-ground display in round one, Hawthorn opted against a lockdown role on the dangerous Dustin Martin and the decision proved costly.

Martin was let off the chain in the first half, tallying a team-high 18 disposals, with his open long bomb goal from 50m in the shadows of halftime typifying the space he was gifted by the Hawks.

He could have easily had another after being left alone following a free kick inside 50, instead deciding to pass it off to ruckman Toby Nankervis.

The three-time Brownlow medallist’s impact forward of centre sparked the Tigers, laying a hand in eight score involvements and driving the ball inside 50 on four occasions in the first half alone.

Tom Mitchell had 20 first half possessions but wasn’t nearly as damaging,

Martin set up another two goals in the final term, putting the icing on the cake of an exceptional performance.

Hawthorn’s youngster gave fans an exciting glimpse of a glimpse of what is to come.

Changkouth Jiath played his best game at the level, tallying 11 intercept possessions and 25 disposals, while Round 1 debutant Tyler Brockman added a goal and gave the Hawks spark in the forward 50.

Young tall Jacob Koschitzke had a couple of nervous moments early but nailed his first AFL goal as the Hawks’ main inside 50 target.

However, promising defender Will Day was subbed out of the clash with an ankle injury before three-quarter time in a cruel blow for the developing Hawks.

The third quarter was the antithesis of the free-flowing footy that fans have been treated to in 2021 so far.

After a 13 goal first half, the two sides labored in the premiership quarter, combining for just two majors as the game morphed into a gritty stalemate.

Players from both sides looked out of gas and the transition play of the first half was virtually non-existent.

Noah Balta is improving at a rate of knots and the athletic tall had a major say at both ends inside the first 10 minutes of the match.

The 194cm defender leapt into the air with confidence to take a contested mark on the last line of defence and minutes later, he pulled in another strong intercept mark up on the wing.

He was then walked inside 50 by Hawk Tim O’Brien, who moved off his mark after the umpire called ‘stand’, with Balta nailing the resulting set shot from 30m to give the Tigers their second goal.

NCA Newswire