Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has bounced back from an unexpected loss to the Western Bulldogs in round two to trounce the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night. The Tigers won all four quarters to send the hapless Lions crashing to a third consecutive defeat and bottom place on the ladder.

The Tigers got away to a fast start, with goals to Ben Griffiths and Kamdyn McIntosh within the first three minutes. Daniel McStay and Allen Christensen responded for Brisbane and scores were level at the 10-minute mark. But Richmond reasserted its authority with goals to Steve Morris and Trent Cotchin but Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko kicked a major just before the quarter-time siren to reduce the margin to a manageable nine points.

Marco Paparone kicked the first of the second term and the Brisnbane Lions looked like they had “come to play”, trailing by just two points. Sadly, though, that was to be more or less the last yelp the Lions gave. In the next 25 minutes, Chris Knights, Dustin Martin, Chris Newman and Jack Riewoldt all kicked goals and the Tigers led by 24 points at the long break.

When play resumed after half time, that run continued, with Riewoldt adding two more goals and Nathan Gordon one and Richmond had opened up a 41-point lead half way through the third quarter. The two sides traded majors in the second half of the term, and the Tigers took and even seven-goal lead into the last “orange break”.

The last quarter was virtually all one-way traffic Richmond’s way. The Tigers kicked eight goals for the term – kicked by eight different players – and that run was punctuated only by two goals to Brisbane at the eight and 10-minute marks. When the siren rang to end the match, Richmond was 79 points to the good of the Lions and back in the top eight.

Best for the victors included Trent Cotchin (37 disposals, four marks), Ben Griffiths (10 marks, 19 possessions) and Bachar Houli (32 touches) while the two Daynes, Beams (32 possessions, seven tackles) and Zorko (27 disposals and six marks) worked tirelessly for the Lions throughout the night.

Richmond will look to make it three wins from four matches against Melbourne on Friday night at the MCG, while Brisbane will host the West Coast Eagles next Sunday at the Gabba, in search of its first win of 2015.

GOALS
Brisbane: Zorko 2; Andrews, McStay, Green, Christensen, Paparone, Aish 
Richmond: Riewoldt 4; Newman, McIntosh, Martin, Grigg, Griffiths, Gordon 2; Morris, Lloyd, Knights, Edwards, Cotchin 

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Brisbane: D.Beams, Zorko, Rich, Martin, Redden 
Richmond: Cotchin, Houli, Riewoldt, Miles, Griffiths, Gordon 

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Richmond: Knights (leg) 

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Lewy Taylor replaced Darcy Gardiner in the third quarter 
Richmond: Sam Lloyd replaced Chris Knights in the second quarter 

REPORTS: Nil Umpires: Stevic, Hay, Pannel

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Matthew Campbell, Dermott Brereton, Jonathan Brown, Cameron Mooney