Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has recorded one of its best wins in recent times with a come-from-behind victory over second-placed Sydney at the SCG. The Swans were all over the Tigers in the first half but Richmond turned things around completely in the second half, led from the front by Trent Cotchin, to turn a 32-point half-time deficit into a thrilling 18-point win. Not since the 1973 Preliminary Final have the Tigers been as far behind at the long break and gone on to win.

The first quarter of the match wasn't a particularly high-scoring affair, with just five goals kicked for the term. Jack Riewoldt got the Tigers off to a good start with a goal at the four-minute mark, but Luke Parker evened the ledger with his first four minutes later. Chris Newman kicked Richmond's second at the 17-minute mark but the Swans closed out the term with majors to Gary Rohan and Lance Franklin to lead by an even goal at the first change. 

It was virtually all one-way traffic in the direction of the Swans in the second quarter. They bolted out of the blocks with goals to ex-Tiger Tom Derickx, Franklin and Rohan within the first eight minutes, and Richmond was on the back foot for the remainder of the half. Riewoldt pulled one back with his second at the 10-minute mark, but that was to be the Tigers' only major of the second term, and further Swans goals to Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy take a 32-point lead and complete control into the long break.

What came in the third quarter could not have been forecast by anyone from outside of the Richmond huddle. The Tigers of the third term bore virtually no resemblance to their first-half selves. Cotchin was brilliant around the ball, and his teammates lifted around him. The Swans managed no more than a solitary behind in the first 20 minutes, while the Tigers piled on 4.2 with goals to Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Ty Vickery and Brandon Ellis, to move to with seven points. Sydney surged briefly with goals to Tom Mitchell and Parker, but the Tigers regained control and a major to Nathan Gordon and two to Riewoldt saw them turn for home with a two-point lead.

The all-important first goal of the final term went Richmond's way to Riewoldt, giving the Tigers an eight-point lead at the two-minute mark. The next 17 minutes saw both defences on top. Between them the two sides merged just four behinds, three Sydney's way and one to the Tigers. Kurt Tippett broke the drought for the Swans, levelling the scores at 77-apiece as the term entered time on. With the match on the line, it was the Tigers who prevailed, breaking the arm-wrestle with the last three goals via Riewoldt, Ivan Maric and Anthony Miles to record a win for the ages, by 18 points.

Riewoldt (six goals, nine marks) and Cotchin (27 disposals, nine marks), along with Miles (29 possessions, seven tackles) were all outstanding in victory, while the Swans were well-served by Kennedy (28 touches, six tackles), Parker (24 disposals, seven tackles) and Hannebery (29 possessions and a goal). 

Now up to sixth on the ladder, with a 7-5 record, the Tigers will face GWS at the MCG next, while Sydney (third, 9-3) will host Port Adelaide at the SCG on Thursday night.

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin, Parker, Rohan 2; Derickx, Hannebery, Kennedy, Mitchell, Tippett
Richmond: Riewoldt 6; Newman, Cotchin, Deledio, Vickery, Ellis, Gordon, Maric, Miles

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: Kennedy, Parker, Hannebery, Rohan, Jack
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cotchin, Rance, Miles, Deledio 

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Kennedy, Parker, McVeigh, Hannebery, Rohan, Grundy
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cotchin, Miles, Rance, Ellis, Maric

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Tom Mitchell replaced by Zak Jones at three quarter-time
Adelaide: Kane Lambert replaced by Kamdyn McIntosh in the last quarter

REPORTS: Lance Franklin reported for engaging in rough conduct on Shane Edwards in the second quarter. Kurt Tippett reported for striking Dylan Grimes in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Schmitt, Chamberlain, Meredith 

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Wayne Carey, Cameron Ling, Jude Bolton