Australian Football

Match Report

The Richmond juggernaut rolls on after the Tigers moved within percentage of a place in the top eight with a thrilling win against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval in front of another huge crowd. It was Richmond's seventh win in a row. The Tigers took an early lead in the match but some woeful second-half inaccuracy, combined with an improved Adelaide, saw them surrender the lead at the 10-minute mark of the final term before fighting back to snatch victory with late goals from Nathan Gordon and Dustin Martin.

Richmond got off to the best possible start with a clearance in goal to Brett Deledio within the first 17 seconds of the match, and further goals to Gordon at the three-minute mark and Ben Griffiths at the seven-minute mark saw the Tigers jump out to a 17-point lead. The Crows settled soon after that and each side added a further two goals for the term as Richmond took a 16-point lead into the first change.

That seven-goal first quarter proved to the highest-scoring term of the match. Defences got on top and the goals dried up from the second quarter onwards. Adelaide scored the first two of the second term through David Mackay and Eddie Betts but Richmond responded with the last two via Dustin Martin and Shane Edwards to lead by 13 points at the long break.

The third quarter was even again, with just one goal to each team but Richmond squandered several golden opportunities to put the Crows away, missing several easy shots. In the end, the Tigers managed just one goal nine for the term, and Adelaide's 1.3 allowed it to be within 19 points at the last change of ends. 

When the last term began, it was the Crows that seized the initiative, with goals to Taylor Walker and James Podsiadly cutting the margin to just seven points in the first five minutes. After an even few minutes in which the Tigers added yet another behind, Charlie Cameron and Podsiadly put Adelaide five points ahead with goals at the 11 and 12-minute marks. Richmond swept the ball forward several times again after that but were once more rewarded with only behinds, one rushed and one each to Deledio and Cotchin. It was left to Nathan Gordon to finally kick accurately and return the lead to the Tigers at the 26-minute mark, with Martin sealing the win with a major four minutes later.

Cotchin was brilliant for the Tigers, with 10 tackles and 28 disposals, while Deledio (29 touches and two goals) was also outstanding. For the Crows, Sam Jacobs stood out with 46 hitouts and five tackles, with Patrick Dangerfield (24 possessions, seven tackles) also a fine player.

The win leaves Richmond in ninth place, behind Adelaide only on percentage. The Tigers should account for St Kilda next Sunday at the MCG and will the face Sydney at Stadium Australia in round 23. A win against the Swans could see the Tigers sneak into the eight and their second successive finals campaign. For the Crows, two wins will almost certainly see them playing in September, but next week's match against North Melbourne in Hobart will be a very tough ask.

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker, Podsiadly, Betts 2; Jenkins, Mackay, Cameron
Richmond: Deledio, Gordon, Martin 2; Griffiths, Foley, Cotchin, Edwards

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Jacobs, Dangerfield, Talia, Crouch, Wright, Douglas
Richmond: Cotchin, Delidio, Ellis, Grigg, Gordon, Rance

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Jacobs, Dangerfield, Talia, Crouch, Wright, Douglas
Richmond: Cotchin, Delidio, Ellis, Grigg, Gordon, Rance

INJURIES
Adelaide: Mackay (head)
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: David Mackay replaced by Mitch Grigg in the third quarter
Richmond: Jake Batchelor replaced by Ben Lennon in the fourth quarter

UMPIRES: Dalgleish, Stevic, Mitchell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Brian Taylor, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling