Game Detail

Round: 8   Venue: Football Park   Date: Sat, 19-05-2012 7:45 pm   Attendance: 80,900
Essendon	6.2.38	12.7.79	16.9.105	19.14.128	C:
Richmond	4.2.26	6.8.44	11.16.82	15.19.109	C:
	ES by 12	ES by 35	ES by 23	ES by 19

Weather

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Match Report

It was one of the biggest build-ups to a Dreamtime match since its inception in 2005, and it didn’t disappoint. With Essendon and Richmond coming off morale boosting wins over West Coast and Sydney respectively, it made for an enticing match-up. The 6-1 Bombers looked to have the edge over Richmond all night, but an inspired burst early in the last quarter dramatically changed the course of the match. Four straight goals had the Tigers in front with less than 10 minutes to go, and seemed to have all the momentum. But the gutsy Bombers were able to pull back the lead and runaway with a 19-point win. Paddy Ryder was terrific for Essendon during Indigenous Round, kicking four goals. But Richmond star Brett Deledio was awarded the Yiooken Award as the best player on the ground, finishing with 35 possessions. The only downside for the Bombers was a groin injury to veteran full-back Dustin Fletcher. Richmond didn’t escape without injury either, as defender Dylan Grimes hobbled off with a hamstring strain.



GOALS

Essendon: Ryder 4, Stanton 3, Monfries 3, Watson, Jetta, Davey 2, Crameri, Howlett, Lovett-Murray

Richmond: Cotchin, Edwards 3, Grigg, Martin 2, Deledio, Jackson, Miller, Nahas, Riewoldt

BEST - AFL.COM.AU



Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Crameri, Ryder, Jetta, Bellchambers, Heppell, Zaharakis

Richmond: Deledio, Cotchin, Grigg, Foley, Maric, Tuck, Jackson

BEST - THE AGE
Essendon: Watson, Stanton, Ryder, Hurley, Zaharakis, Fletcher
Richmond: Deledio, Maric, Cotchin, Grigg, Edwards, Tuck

James Hird (Ess): We're going to look back at that game and think there's a lot we didn't do right in the second half, but I think the pleasing thing is the way the guys just fought back. I think everyone in the ground thought that we were gone when Richmond hit the lead, [but] the boys didn't die.

Damien Hardwick (Rich): When you come from that far back … it's always going to be an enormous struggle. To hit the front in the last quarter you're always going to expend a certain amount of energy to try and get over the top and we just ran out of legs in the end. Essendon played it very well that's whey they're up where they are.

Umpires: Rosebury, Stewart, Bannister


Player Stats