Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has reclaimed a place in the top eight with an upset win over a surprisingly lacklustre West Coast at Subiaco on Monday evening. The game was played on a Monday to coincide with Western Australia's Foundation Day but there were few West Australians celebrating after the Tigers overcame a slow start to put the Eagles to the sword after quarter time.

The popular pre-game script of this match would have seen the two teams play out an even first quarter with West Coast asserting their authority on the match as it wore on. While the Eagles and Tigers followed that to a tee until the first change of ends, Damien Hardwick's men tore the script up and threw the shreds of it out the window after quarter time, kicking six goals to nil in the second quarter and then another six goals to two in the third to take a commanding 50-point lead into the last change. Goals to Jack Riewoldt and ex-Eagle and Kangaroo Aaron Edwards took the margin beyond 60 points at the 10-minute mark of the last quarter before the Eagles scored three consolation goals in the latter part of the last term to give the loss some semblance of respectability.

In truth, though, West Coast were outplayed in almost facets of the game after quarter time, which would have been of great concern to coach John Worsfold. The one exception to this was in the hit-out department, which was dominated by Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox. But the Eagles were unable to convert that dominance into clearances, and the Tigers emerged clear victors in that area.

Brett Deledio was excellent for the Tigers as was Trent Cotchin. The pair had 25 disposals each, as did running defender Bachar Houli. First-year player Nick Vlastuin was also a key contributor for the Tigers, with three goals and 16 disposals. The Eagles, meanwhile, were well served by Scott Selwood (31 disposals and a goal) and Luke Shuey (27 possessions).

The Tigers will take a well-earned rest this week with a round 11 bye, before they meet Adelaide at the MCG, while West Coast will try and reignite its season when it takes on St Kilda at Docklands this Sunday.

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 3; Hill 2; Darling, Kerr, S. Selwood
Richmond: Vlastuin 3; S Edwards, Newman, Vickery, Riewoldt 2; Jackson, King, Martin, White, A Edwards

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
West Coast: S Selwood, Naitanui, Kennedy, Shuey, Masten, Priddis
Richmond: Deledio, Jackson, Cotchin, White, Foley, Vlastuin, Martin

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
West Coast: S. Selwood, Kerr, Shuey, Masten, Hill
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Vlastuin, Rance, Jackson, Martin

COACHES' COMMENTS
John Worsfold (WCo): Even the first quarter we weren't that impressed with. We had it on our terms but we still didn't look sharp. The issue is - why didn't we look sharp tonight? I don't really know the answer to that.

Damien Hardwick (Rich): It's good to beat a good side. We've probably struggled a little bit over the last couple of weeks to come up with that performance. The first quarter was a bit of an arm-wrestle. To the key forwards' credit - Aaron [Edwards], Jack Riewoldt and Tyrone Vickery - they managed to halve those contests after quarter time and certainly got the ball going in our direction, which was pleasing.

INJURIES
West Coast: Brown (eye)
Richmond: S Edwards (eye)

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Andrew Embley replaced Mitch Brown during the third quarter
Richmond: Sam Lonergan replaced Shane Edwards during the third quarter

UMPIRES: Bannister, Margetts, Stevic