Tigers transform title defence with brilliant attack
Damien Hardwick’s side is well on track to win a third grand final in four seasons, having disposed of fellow flag fancy West Coast by 27 points.
Exactly two months ago there were question marks about Richmond’s premiership defence when the Tigers fell to a 26-point loss to St Kilda on June 27.
Now Damien Hardwick’s side is well on track to win a third grand final in four seasons, having disposed of fellow flag fancy West Coast by 27 points at Metricon Stadium on Thursday night, making it eight victories from Richmond’s past 10 matches.
In a clash between fourth and fifth, and the past two grand final winners, both sides brought fierce tackling pressure from the outset and only a goal separated them at half-time.
But Richmond broke the game open during the second quarter with four consecutive goals, highlighted by moments of brilliance from Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt, who assisted a Jason Castanga major.
West Coast answered, thanks to three goals from Jack Darling, including one after the three-quarter time siren, which cut the lead to 14 points and gave the Eagles a sniff.
Once Tom Lynch and Noah Balta, who shone again at full-back, kicked the first two majors of the last quarter, the result was sealed. The loss ended West Coast’s eight-game winning streak.
Richmond was able to blunt West Coast’s aerial game, only coughing up two contested marks and grabbing 10.
A week after he had five contested marks in the Eagles’ win over GWS, Jeremy McGovern had none against the Tigers.
Both clubs had to deal with injuries to key players.
West Coast lost spearhead Josh Kennedy to concussion midway through the first quarter after he copped an accidental knee to the face from Balta during a marking contest, while the Tigers were without defender Dylan Grimes from the second term due to a hamstring injury.
The Eagles moved Liam Ryan deep into attack, where he played for WAFL club Subiaco before being drafted, to support Jack Darling. Ryan’s speed and aerial threat made him a focal point, and he booted two goals and almost took a mark-of-the-year contender in the third term.
But it’s Richmond’s cavalry that is returning. Last week it was Bachar Houli, this time it was Toby Nankervis who returned to the Tigers’ line-up after an extended absence.
Nankervis had not played since Round 5 due to an ankle injury but was brought back at Mabior Chol’s expense to help combat Nic Naitanui.
Fellow premiership players David Astbury (knee) and Dion Prestia (ankle) are both two to four weeks away from their comebacks, while Shane Edwards, who has been in Melbourne for the birth of his child, will fly to the Gold Coast hub on September 1, and then faces a fortnight in quarantine before playing in the final minor round.
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