Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has maintained its place in the top eight with a hard-fought win over Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night. The Tigers made it three wins on the trot in the annual "Dreamtime at the 'G" match, outscoring the Bombers in three out of the four quarters, to win by 14 points. The game never attained any great heights, but the Tigers demonstrated they can prevail in dour, low-scoring affairs, an important attribute come September should Richmond make it that far. For the Bombers, it was a bitterly disappointing result. The team would have hoped to celebrate Dustin Fletcher's 400th AFL match with a better performance. Fletcher is just the third player in league history to reach that mark, behind Kevin Bartlett and Michael Tuck.

After Jake Melksham opened up the match with a behind for the Dons, Tigers Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin made the first significant impact on the scoreboard with goals at the five and nine-minute marks. Carlisle responded with a behind and then a goal, but the next 15 minutes saw dour football produce just two behinds to each team, before Cotchin closed out the quarter with his first goal, giving Richmond a 10-point lead at the first break. 

Defence was again the order of the day in the first 20 minutes of the second term. Both Richmond and Essendon managed just three behinds, with Carlisle missing his second gettable shot of the night. Dustin Martin finally broke the goal drought with a major as the quarter entered time on, and when Ben Griffiths added another two minutes later, the Tigers had jumped out to a 22-point lead. Essendon's forward line finally became product late in the first half, and goals to Jackson Merrett and Joe Daniher saw the Bombers within 11 points and well in touch at the half. 

Shaun Grigg took Richmond's lead back out to 17 points with a goal inside the first two minutes of the second half, but the Dons then had their best period of the match over the next 20 minutes. Skipper Jobe Watson, Travis Colyer and Daniher all kicked goals, while the Tigers could add only three behinds in that period, and led by just one point as the quarter entered time on. However, a crucial late goal to Kamdyn McIntosh gave Richmond an eight-point lead and some valuable breathing space as the teams changed ends for the last time.

The vital first goal of the final quarter net Richmond's way, with Grigg kicking his second just 24 seconds into the term. Colyer responded with his second three minutes later to cut the difference back to eight points and keep the Bombers in touch but consecutive goals to Steven Morris and Corey Ellis saw the Tigers stretch the margin to 20 points. The Dons attacked for a period after that but another gettable shot by Carlisle sailed wide. Paul Chapman goaled at the 17-minute mark to bring Essendon back within two goals but the Tigers defence stood firm after that. Shane Edwards and Riewoldt added behinds to take the lead to beyond two goals and the Tigers held on for a solid 13-point win.

Brandon Ellis played a great game for the Tigers, with 33 disposals and eight marks, while Edwards (25 touches) and Brett Deledio (27 possessions, nine marks) were also very good. For the Bombers, Brendon Goddard (10 marks, 27 touches), Dyson Heppell (25 possessions, five tackles) and Travis Colyer (19 disposals, two goals) all flew the flag.

In eighth place with five wins, the Tigers face a tough task next Friday night. They will take on the undefeated Fremantle at Subiaco before having a bye in round 11. Essence will host Geelong at Docklands and play West Coast at Subiaco before the Bombers have their break in round 12.

GOALS
Richmond: Cotchin, Grigg 2; C.Ellis, Griffiths, Martin, McIntosh, Morris, Riewoldt
Essendon: Colyer, Daniher 2; Carlisle, Chapman, Merrett, Watson

BEST - AFL.COM..AU
Richmond: B.Ellis, Martin, Cotchin, Edwards, Deledio, Grigg
Essendon: Goddard, Heppell, Hibberd, Carlisle, Colyer, Z.Merrett

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
Richmond: Edwards, Ellis, Deledio, Cotchin, Martin, Grigg
Essendon: Heppell, Goddard, Z. Merrett, Colyer, Melksham

INJURIES 
Richmond: Nil
Essendon: Fletcher (quad)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Corey Ellis replaced Liam McBean at three-quarter time
Adelaide: Marty Gleeson replaced Dustin Fletcher in the fourth term

UMPIRES: Margetts, Rosebury, Jeffery

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

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