Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has held on to defeat Collingwood by five points in a pulsating match at the MCG in front of 59,034 fans on Sunday afternoon. Goals were scored in waves and the lead changed nine times throughout the match. In the end, it was the Tigers with their noses in front when the final siren sounded, as they recorded their third win of the season to stay within striking distance of a place in the top eight.

Collingwood got off to a flying start, dominating the the first 20 or so minutes, with goals kicked by Travis Cloke, Jordan de Goey, Tim Broomhead and Jamie Elliott in that period, giving the Magpies a 25-point lead and setting alarm bells ringing in the Richmond camp. But the Tigers managed to stem the flow late in the term, and a goal by Ty Vickery just before quarter time saw the lead cut back to 20 points at the first break.

The momentum shifted a full 180 degrees when the second quarter began, the Tigers assuming control in all areas and punishing Collingwood on the scoreboard. Within the first 10 minutes of the term, Shaun Grigg, Kamdyn McIntosh, Brandon Ellis, Ivan Maric and Trent Cotchin all kicked majors and Richmond suddenly found itself 10 points ahead. The Magpies then took their turn to take control and Jesse White, Cloke and Jamie Elliott registered goals to restore an eight-point lead before the tide turned again and Richmond kicked three in a row through Jack Riewoldt (two) and Vickery. At the half, it was Richmond by an even two goals.

Richmond's momentum was not broken by the long break and the Tigers kicked the first two goals of the third term to lead by 24 points. As it had done all afternoon, the tide then turned once more, with Dane Swan, Jack Crisp, Cloke and Crisp again all kicking majors as the Magpies took a two-point lead at the 22-minute mark. Cotchin kicked his second goal a minute later to restore Richmond's advantage but Swan added another just before the three-quarter time siren to give Collingwood a one-point lead at there last change of ends.

The first seven minutes of the last quarter were dour, with both teams trading behinds before Tiger Brett Deledio bobbed up to kick two goals in two minutes and give Richmond an 11-point lead 10 minutes into the term. Collingwood came again and regained the lead with a brace of goals through White and Jarryd Blair. The Pies still lead as the quarter entered time on but two majors in two minutes from Riewoldt saw the Tigers regain the lead and extend it to 10 points at the 23-minute mark. A Brandon Ellis behind extended that to 11 before Jarrod Witts gave Collingwood hope with a goal at the 30-minute mark. The Tigers managed to defend grimly over the last two minutes of the match and hold on to a thrilling five-point win.

Cotchin (32 disposals, six marks) was fantastic for the Tigers, as were Deledio (13 marks, 30 possessions) and Riewoldt (17 touches and four goals), while Collingwood had great players in Swan (32 possessions, two goals), Cloke (10 marks, three goals) and Crisp (20 touches and two goals).

With a 3-4 record and in 10th place, the Tigers will travel to the Adelaide Oval next Sunday to take on Port Adelaide, who thrashed them at the venue in last year's Elimination Final. Collingwood (seventh, 4-3) will meet Gold Coast at Carrara in next Saturday's twilight match.

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4; Vickery 3; Grigg, Cotchin, Deledio 2; McIntosh, Morris, Maric,
Collingwood: Cloke 3; Elliott, Crisp, Swan, White 2; De Goey, Broomhead, Blair, Witts

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Riewoldt, Grigg, Rance, Ellis
Collingwood: Swan, Cloke, Adams, Crisp, Williams, Pendlebury

BEST - THE AGE
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Grigg, Riewoldt, Vickery, Maric, B Ellis
Collingwood: Swan, Crisp, Cloke, Grundy, Pendlebury, Adams, Goldsack, Blair.

INJURIES
Richmond: Houli (shoulder)
Collingwood: Toovey (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Connor Menadue replaced Liam McBean at three-quarter time
Collingwood: Patrick Karnezis replaced Alan Toovey (knee) in the second quarter

UMPIRES: Farmer, Stephens, Schmi

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Dennis Cometti, Hamish McLachlan, Leigh Matthews, Nick Maxwell