‘Poor kid’: Tigers-Dockers play out draw after final second brain snap
The AFL has been left stunned by a pair of monumental mistakes which has cost the Tigers dearly in the race for the top eight.
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Richmond and Fremantle will both rue missed opportunities after the sides played out a 7.10 (52) to 7.10 (52) draw on Friday night.
The second win in the history of Fremantle leaves the Dockers in danger of dropping out of the top four with Brisbane and Collingwood able to move ahead by the end of the round, while the Tigers are barely clinging to the top eight as the Bulldogs and Saints could overtake Richmond with a win.
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Although it was a close match, it struggled to reach any great heights but the final two minute delivered two massive moments which the Tigers could live to regret with the finals around the corner.
The Tigers had the best chances to snatch the victory as Noah Balta and Noah Cumberland each had chances to win in the final two minutes.
With just under two minutes remaining, Fremantle’s Andy Brayshaw dropped a mark and the Tigers pounced as Liam Baker set Balta up just inside the 50.
But Balta took his 30 seconds and was ordered to play on, as his shot was smothered by Michael Frederick who sprinted in from nowhere to make the play of the game.
“Unbelievable,” James Brayshaw said on Channel 7.
Brian Taylor added: “Correct call. Unbelievable, all he needed was a score. Have they blown it the Tiges?”
The ball didn’t leave the Tigers’ end however and it allowed Richmond to have one more chance.
When Marlion Pickett got the ball, he chipped it to Cumberland, who in his third game had the chance to be a hero.
But it was unclear how much time was on the clock or if he had the distance with his kick, instead playing on, only for the siren to sound as he played on.
Veteran forward Jack Riewoldt had desperately told the youngster to take his time but he instead buried his face in his hands and slumped to his haunches as his teammates surrounded him.
“Goodness gracious Cumberland,” Taylor said.
“And BT, he has a thumping left boot too Cumberland, he had the range no doubt about it,” Brayshaw added. “Can you believe that? They get to the young man, he though t he was doing the right thing.”
Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge said: “Without a doubt he had the range but I guess he knew there was a lot of space behind him so he’s rolled thinking to hit to a teammate but you feel for the young fella, you can see the pain on his face.”
That’s… one way of summing up Richmond’s season to this point. The hell did we just watch?! #AFLTigersFreo
— Russell Bennett (@rgbennett) July 22, 2022
Woweee... Played on.. poor kid.
— Higgo (@Higgo74) July 22, 2022
What a game. #AFLTigersFreo
Wowsers. Richmond and playing on when you shouldn't... Oh dear. #AFLTigersFreo
— Akash Fotedar (@akashfotedar5) July 22, 2022
Balta was devastated after the match and revealed he didn’t hear the umpire call play on.
“I just saw a couple of the Freo boys running at me,” Balta told Seven. “Unfortunately … What do you do? That’s the game of footy. It’s why we love the game, we like to play in close games like this and unlucky it’s a draw but who cares.”
Balta said Riewoldt had said to take his 30 and then all of a sudden the Dockers stars were running at him.
ESPN’s Matt Walsh responded to Balta’s “what do you do?” comment, writing: “Noah Balta, look at the screen, my man.”
Fox commentator Brenton Speed tweeted: “Balta who can kick it 70 … milking the clock ridiculously so. Well done umpire!!!”
After the match, Riewoldt told ABC Sport he would help Cumberland move on from the result.
“He won’t be defined by tonight … it’s the role of the leaders to get around him and make sure the sun comes up tomorrow for him,” Riewoldt said.
Fremantle were also guilty of wasting opportunities in the final quarter as well. They started the fourth period by doing all the attacking, and had more run, but their forward delivery continued to be a huge issue as it had been for most of the night.
Shots on goal from Caleb Serong, Michael Walters and Will Brodie all failed to score while Griffin Logue missed a set shot from 45m out in front.
It was a tough night for the Dockers after Nat Fyfe appeared to re-injure his hamstring.
Richmond defended grimly and after Fremantle drew level, the Tigers got a goal against the run of play via Shai Bolton. Shortly after, Bailey Banfield responded with what would ultimately be the match-tying goal.
If the Bulldogs beat Melbourne or, more realistically, St Kilda beat West Coast, then the Tigers will find themselves outside the top eight.
Meanwhile, Fremantle will slip out of the top four this weekend if Sydney defeat Adelaide.
Fyfe hurt himself in the third quarter, putting the remainder of his home-and-away season under a cloud, although the Dockers will back themselves to cover his loss given they were 9-3 before he played his first game this year.
With Ronny Lerner, NCA Newswire
Originally published as ‘Poor kid’: Tigers-Dockers play out draw after final second brain snap
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