Australian Football

Match Report

More Friday Night Mayhem at the City Mazda Stadium in Richmond where the Bloods hosted the Roosters. From the last 11 encounters, the Roosters have won seven to West's five. The Bloods were sitting on the wrong end of a hat-trick of losses to the Roosters near the end of the 2012 minor round, the Roosters proving to be a massive thorn in their side from late 2011 through to Round 18 last year. But when they faced off in the preliminary final, the Bloods snapped the streak as they won through to the Grand Final by 21 points.

Over 3000 people turned out for this one proving that night footy at Richmond is still a winner, the Bloods starting things off with a 3.2 to 1.2 first quarter to take a two-goal lead at the first change. North started to stir a bit in the second quarter, but horrid shooting for goal stopped the Roosters from reeling the Bloods back in. Their 1.5 to the home team's 2.2 would have the Bloods ahead by 15 points at the long break. North would return to the field with some renewed vigour in goal as their accuracy went on the improve when play resumed. The Roosters would restrict the Bloods to 1.2 in the third quarter whilst adding 4.3 to their own tally, at three quarter-time the visitors were now ahead by four points. The Bloods unbeaten start to 2013 was under serious threat, but the inaccuracy bug once again got under the feathers of the Roosters as they repeated their second quarter funk of 1.5 as the Bloods scraped home with their 2.4 to win by one point.

League newcomer Brad Mangan was voted best on ground for the Bloods, while North voted Nathan Gordon as their best.