AFL round 18: Richmond v GWS Giants, news, analysis and SuperCoach scores

Fewer than 20,000 fans showed up to watch Richmond take on GWS at the MCG on Sunday - the Tigers’ worst non-Covid crowd at their home ground since 2004.

Richmond's Shai Bolton during the Round 12 AFL match between the GWS Giants and Richmond Tigers at Giants Stadium on June 4, 2023. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only – **NO ON SALES** – ©Phil Hillyard )

Richmond’s supporters have seen enough.

Having watched their team produce what will likely be their worst season in almost two decades this year, they voted with their feet on Sunday.

Only 19,040 spectators turned up to watch the Tigers lose to Greater Western Sydney by 24 points, which was Richmond’s worst MCG crowd since 2004 (not including the Covid years).

It’s been a rough year for the powerhouse club, making their worst ever start to a season (1-11) and dropping to 18th spot on the ladder for the first time last week, to ensure a baptism of fire for rookie coach Adem Yze.

But Yze wasn’t about to criticise his fan base, and was understanding of why such a low crowd attended their clash with the Giants.

Some of the paltry crowd that watched the Tigers and Giants at the MCG. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I can’t fault our supporters,” Yze said post-match.

“It’s obviously in the middle of winter and we’re last on ladder.

“But they’ve stuck with us all season. I can understand. We’re playing an interstate team today.

“For all our fans that obviously got out there today in the cold, we really thank them for that.”

The few who did turn up would’ve seen a spirited effort from the underdog Tigers who had a real crack, as they comfortably won the clearances (39-30), contested possessions (126-119) and inside 50s (53-36). But the Giants were far slicker and more efficient with their ball use.

“Their polish and their execution obviously was as good as we’ve played against,” Yze said of GWS.

“To keep a team to 36 inside 50s but allow them to score 100 points is just not good enough.

“They’re at the top end of their game, and on the flip side we’re just not getting reward for effort.”

Compounding the result for the Tigers was a concussion suffered by star midfielder Tim Taranto, meaning he will be unavailable for their clash against the Power next week at Adelaide Oval.

Tim Taranto is unavailable to face Port next week after entering concussion protocols. Picture: Mark Stewart

But Yze was hopeful that superstar Dustin Martin would return for that match as he continues his recovery from a back complaint.

“We’ll see how he trains this week,” Yze said.

“We’ve got a six-day break so he obviously hasn’t played so he’ll be fresh.

“It’s just all around his fitness. So if his back’s OK ... we’ll get a clearer picture of that later in the week.”

And Yze was keen to bring injury prone star key forward Tom Lynch back into the team before the end of the season, rather than put him out to pasture and get him ready for 2025.

Hamstring injuries have restricted the 31-year-old to just four games this year for a total of eight since 2022.

“We’ve set a plan that we’ll try and get him back for at least the last month,” Yze said.

“I think the confidence he’ll get from stringing four games together before the end of the season is going to hold him in good stead for pre-season and moving forward.

“We owe it to our fans that when our players are fit we want them out there playing.”

ORANGE TSUNAMI DROWNS OUT TIGER RESISTANCE

The orange tsunami continued to wreak havoc on Sunday as Greater Western Sydney torched bottom-placed Richmond with their transition game to run out 24-point winners at the MCG.

After blitzing Carlton in similar fashion last week, the one-time premiership favourite Giants caned the Tigers on the counter-attack.

Late in the third quarter, GWS had scored 7.3 (45) from the back half to Richmond’s 0.0 (0) as they powered home to a comfortable 17.6 (108) to 12.12 (84) win in front of 19,040 fans – the Tigers’ lowest MCG crowd in 20 years (excluding the Covid seasons).

After losing seven of 10 games at one stage, Greater Western Sydney look like they’ve hit their straps at the right time of the year. They’ve now strung back-to-back wins together for the first time in three months.

But they will still probably need three more wins to qualify for the finals, and with Gold Coast, Melbourne, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs to play in their run home, they will certainly be made to earn a top-eight spot.

Meanwhile, Richmond remain rooted to last spot on the ladder having now lost 15 of 17 games this year.

But the win came at a cost for the Giants with former captain Stephen Coniglio subbed out at three-quarter time due to left shoulder soreness. He looked visibly disappointed when he made his way to the back row of the bench.

Tim Taranto left the field after a heavy collision. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Stephen Coniglio was subbed out. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

And Toby Bedford will come under MRO scrutiny for a tackle he applied to Tim Taranto in the final quarter that saw Bedford pin both of the Tiger’s arms before the latter’s head bounced heavily into the turf. Taranto had to depart the game, and didn’t return. He was later diagnosed with a concussion, shrinking Bedford’s chances of avoiding suspension.

The Tigers’ endeavour couldn’t be faulted, and they comfortably won the clearances (39-30), contested possessions (126-119) and inside 50s (53-36). But the Giants were far slicker and more efficient with their ball use, especially in the forward half, as they scored goals from 47 per cent of their entries compared to Richmond’s 23 per cent.

Tom Green was magnificent in the middle of the ground, finishing with 37 disposals (17 contested) and seven tackles while captain Toby Greene was influential with 17 touches and four goals. His partner-in-crime Jesse Hogan also dobbed four majors and Lachie Whitfield (35 possessions) ran amok.

Both sides went goal for goal 35 minutes of playing time in the first half, before Greene broke the pattern just before time on in the second term when he kicked his third major before the visitors opened up a 22-point lead at the 23-minute mark.

Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward and Harvey Thomas of the Giants celebrate a goal. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Richmond got back within eight points early in the third period, but GWS had all the answers, and with six of the next seven goals, they kicked 37 points clear early in the final quarter.

The Tigers made a late run with the next three majors, including two to third-gamer Steely Green, who finished with three, but they left it too late.

HOGAN’S SUPER SNAP

Hogan kicked the goal of the day early in the third quarter when he defied his big frame to exhibit all the attributes of a fleet-footed crumber by collecting the loose ball, evading Tom Brown, breaking the Ben Miller tackle and then snapping truly from 20m out.

Jesse Hogan of the Giants celebrates a goal against Richmond. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

RIOLI RUES KICK

The Tigers were trailing by just five points early in the second term, and were right in the contest. But the usually reliable Daniel Rioli made a shocking error when he kicked it to the corridor, and straight to Giants youngster Toby McMullin, who booted it long and found Harvey Thomas who took a strong, contested chest mark in the goalsquare. The latter made no mistake from point-blank range to make Rioli pay the maximum price.

WARD SHUTS THE GATE

Another costly Richmond kick across goal late in the game snuffed out any hope they had of an unlikely comeback. With the Tigers down by 19 points, ruckman Toby Nankervis tried to spot up Jayden Short in the back pocket, but GWS veteran Callan Ward intercepted before snapping truly from a sharp angle.

Originally published as AFL round 18: Richmond v GWS Giants, news, analysis and SuperCoach scores