Scratchy Tigers set straight by Dimma spray
Just when it looked like Richmond was purring again, it almost hit a surprise speed bump.
Just when it looked like Richmond was purring again, it almost hit a surprise speed bump.
The reigning premiers played poorly for long periods of the game against a plucky, 14th-placed Fremantle but did enough to prevail by 27 points at Metricon Stadium on Wednesday night.
In many ways, the Dockers deserved to win and they had plenty of chances to cause one of the upsets of the season. The final margin was harsh on Fremantle.
The Dockers won the clearances 38-19 and contested possessions 112-108, dominated large chunks of the second and third terms, and were within seven points with nine minutes to go.
But the Dockers could not make the most of their chances.
They were brave to cut a 19-point half-time margin to six at the last break and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick clearly was not happy with what he had seen, looking animated in the three-quarter time huddle and challenging his side for a response.
Hardwick said his team looked jaded after four matches in 16 days and did not play anywhere near its best but managed to tough out a “frustrating game”. He gave his side an uncharacteristic spray to try to spark his side at three-quarter time. It worked, as Richmond powered home in the last quarter.
“It was a frustrating game and it was tough,” Hardwick said.
“Freo play a style of game that’s very safe with the ball offensively, which makes it a slow game.
“We’ve played four games in 16 days and I thought our boys looked a little jaded. We got belted around the ball. We sort of asked for a lift at three-quarter time and they responded.
“I was yelling and it’s not something that we like to do but we just needed a little bit of a spark and we didn’t have the energy or zest we normally do, so I needed to provide a little bit of that.
It took a goal after a mark from Jack Riewoldt then another from Jack Higgins to give Richmond the breathing space it needed to get over the line and make it six wins from its past seven matches.
The scoreboard suggested this was a match dominated by Richmond, particularly the second quarter, when Fremantle was kept goalless.
But the Dockers led the inside 50 count 10-7 for the term, dominated general play straight after the break and should have kicked at least a couple of majors.
Instead, Matt Taberner booted a behind and one kick out on the full and, as good as Nat Fyfe was all night, the Fremantle skipper was also guilty of inaccuracy.
Richmond took its chances through Kamdyn McIntosh and Tom Lynch to extend the lead.
Ex-Tiger Reece Conca was able to curtail his former teammate Dustin Martin, restricting him to just 11 touches – his lowest number since Round 21, 2013.
Martin played forward for long periods but was thrown in to the midfield when Fremantle cut the margin to seven points after consecutive goals during the third term. He remained quiet but was not only the star Tiger muzzled with Shai Bolton (12) also having little influence on the contest.
On a day when Queensland was announced the grand final host this year, Richmond grinded its way to a 14th straight win in the sunshine state. They remain unbeaten in Queensland since losing to Gold Coast in Round 1, 2014.
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