Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has arrested a three-game losing slump and jumped back into the top eight an impressive 41-point win over top four side Port Adelaide at Football Park on Saturday. The Tigers set up the win with an eight-goal first quarter burst and survived several attempted comebacks from the Power to improve their win-loss record to 4-3.

Early goals to Jack Riewoldt (two) and Shane Tuck indicated that the Tigers were on song from the start, although a goal each to Robbie Gray and Jay Schulz had Port Adelaide within six points of Richmond at the 18-minute mark of the opening term. But Richmond exploded in time on and goals to Robin Nahas, Nick Vlastuin, Jack King, Riewoldt and Chris Newman saw the Tigers suddenly holding a commanding 37-point lead at the first break.

The match tightened up in the second term, with neither side scoring a major in the first ten minutes. Riewoldt broke the arm-wrestle with a goal for the Tigers but the Power's Angus Monfries answered shortly after and then Andrew Moore made it two in a row for Port to cut the margin to 29 points. Chris Knights then pegged one back for the Tigers but sadly he dislocated his knee as kicked the ball, sustaining a season-ending injury. After a break in play (while Knights was stretchered off), Dustin Martin scored another for the Tigers from the goal square and Richmond's half time lead was 42 points.

Port Adelaide dominated the early proceedings of the third quarter, and were rewarded with two goals to Jay Schulz, with the margin again being cut back to 29. But Richmond steadied once more through goals to King, Shaun Grigg (two) and Luke McGuane and the Tigers' lead at the final change was a massive 50 points.

The Power mounted yet another challenge when the final term began, with consecutive goals to Kane Mitchell, Chad Wingard and Matthew Broadbent cutting the margin back to 31 points, making Richmond players and fans alike very nervous. But the Tigers displayed a maturity not seen in recent seasons and steadied the ship via goals to Newman, Riewoldt and King, to run out convincing winners in the end.

Brett Deledio, who filled in as captain in the absence of the injured Trent Cotchin, played an inspiring 32-possession match, while Dustin Martin's game (33 touches and a goal) demonstrated that he too has matured considerably in the last 12 months. For Port Adelaide, captain Travis Boak continued his fine season, while Jay Schulz and Chad Wingard were also very good.

The Tigers have a chance to consolidate their top eight position when they play 17th-placed Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday, while Port Adelaide, who have now lost two in a row, have a tough match against Carlton at Docklands on the same day.

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Schulz 3; Mitchell 2; Gray, Monfries, Moore, Wingard, Broadbent
Richmond: Riewoldt 5; King 3; Grigg , Newman 2; Tuck, Nahas, Vlaustin, Knights, Martin , McGuane

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Schulz, Wingard, Mitchell, Carlile Redden
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Riewoldt, Stephenson, Ellis, Newman

BEST - THE AGE
Port Adelaide: Cornes, Schulz, Wingard, Brad Ebert, Wines, Boak.
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Riewoldt, Vlastuin, Newman, Ellis, Houli

COACHES' COMMENTS
Ken Hinkley (Port): [Slow starts to games] are clearly becoming an issue. Put yourself too far behind and and you just can't keep coming back from that far back. There was a lack of polish and composure but you've got to give credit to the side we were playing. The Tigers put us under enormous pressure.

Damien Hardwick (Rich): We're a side that's certainly on the right path. We've just got to make sure we win the games. Obviously we're competing against the sides like Port, there's 12 or 13 sides competing for a spot in that eight. We've just got to make sure we win the games that we can and try and steal some against those high quality opposition sides that we are trying to become.

INJURIES
Richmond: Knights (knee) 2nd quarter, Tuck (shoulder) 3rd quarter
Port Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Nathan Foley replaced Chris Knights in the second quarter
Port Adelaide: Kane Mitchell replaced Campbell Heath at half time

UMPIRES: Farmer, Findlay, Pannell