Australian Football

Match Report

The possibility of Richmond participating in the 2014 finals series has gone from remote to very real after the Tigers recorded a hard-fought three goal win over Essendon at the MCG on Friday night. Overcoming a slow start, Richmond finished the game strongly to record its sixth consecutive win too move within a game of the top eight.

A goal from Brett Deledio within the first two minutes of the match gave Richmond a six-point lead but the Bombers defence held firm for the rest of the opening term as Paul Chapman, Jake Carlisle and Cory Dell'Olio kicked majors to give Essendon a two-goal lead at quarter time. The two sides traded goals in the first 10 minutes of the second term but the Tigers then took control of the match, kicking three of the remaining for goals of the quarter (via Jack Riewoldt, Deledio, Bachar Houli and Trent Cotchin) as Richmond took an even one-goal lead into the long break.

Essendon opened the second half the stronger, goals to Carlisle and Zac Merrett returning the lead to the Bombers before a major to Tiger Nathan Gordon saw the scores level at half-way point of the term. The last half of the quarter saw only one goal scored as the defences got on top, to Dustin Martin at the 23-miunute mark, giving Richmond a seven-point advantage at the final change of ends. Richmond broke the back of the match with goals to Shane Edwards and Gordon within the first four minutes. Consecutive goals to Essendon via Dyson Heppell and Jake Melksham did bring the difference back to six points at the 17-minute mark but the Tigers held firm, Edwards and Ivan Maric closing out the match with goals to give Richmond a highly meritorious 18-point win. 

Anthony Miles (28 possessions and six marks) was outstanding for the victors, with Brandon Ellis (28 disposals and eight marks) and Trent Cotchin (22 touches and seven marks) also played fine games. For Essendon, Dyson Heppell (32 possessions, six marks), David Zaharakis (32 disposals, four tackles) and Paul Chapman (eight marks and 23 touches) were all very good.

The win takes Richmond to within a game of the eighth-placed Bombers, with games against Adelaide, St Kilda and Sydney to come. Essendon's last three games will be against West Coast, Gold Coast and Carlton.

GOALS
Richmond: Deledio, Gordon, Riewoldt, Edwards 2; Ellis, Griffiths, Houli, Cotchin, Martin, Maric
Essendon: Chapman, Carlisle, Melksham 2; Dell'olio, Goddard, Z.Merrett, Windlerlich, Heppell

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Richmond: Miles, Ellis, Rance, Cotchin, Edwards, Deledio
Essendon: Heppell, Zaharakis, Hooker, Goddard, Chapman

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Miles, Ellis, Edwards, Rance, Chaplin, Maric, Cotchin, Martin
Essendon: Heppell, Zaharakis, Chapman, Hooker

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Essendon: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Nick Vlastuin replaced Matt Thomas in the third term
Essendon: Elliott Kavanagh replaced Orazio Fantasia at three-quarter time.

UMPIRES: Nicholls, McInerney, Mitchell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Leigh Matthews, Tom Harley, Matthew Richardson, Wayne Carey