Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has become the first team in season 2015 to beat Fremantle, after stunning the Dockers with an eight-goal first quarter at Subiaco on Friday night. The Dockers have been renowned for their fast starts this year, but it was the Tigers who got the jump on them on Friday, kicking eight of the first nine goals of the match to put Fremantle on the back foot from the very start. Richmond then withstood several comeback attempts from the Dockers, eventually recording a highly meritorious win. It was the Tigers' fourth in a row, and consolidates their place in the top eight as they look to make the finals for a third consecutive season.

That the Tigers were switched on for this contest was evident from the very first bounce. They attacked in waves and the normally rock-solid Fremantle defence seemed to be in shock as Ty Vickery, Ben Griffiths, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin put Richmond four goals ahead within the first 11 minutes of the match. Matthew Taberner finally put the Dockers on the board with a major at the 12-minute mark, only for the Tigers to unleash another four goals, through Griffiths, Vickery, Shaun Grigg and Deledio, giving Richmond a 42-point lead as the term entered time on. Late goals to Fremantle's two Haydens, Ballantyne and Crozier brought the difference back to an even five goals at the first break but it was always going to be a long haul back for the Dockers from there.

Jack Riewoldt took the margin back out to six goals with his first for Richmond at the three-minute mark of the second quarter, but Aaron Sandilands responded for the Dockers four minutes later to cut the margin to 29 points. Not to be denied, the Tigers kicked the next three in a row through Steven Morris, Corey Ellis and Riewoldt to lead by 49 points. A goal just before half time to Fremantle's Nat Fyfe gave Dockers' fans the faintest glimmer of hope as they took a 43-point deficit into the long break. 

Brandon Ellis extended the Tigers' lead to 49 once more with the first goal of the second half before the Dockers' defence finally clicked into gear, restricting Richmond to only one further behind for the entire third quarter. But Fremantle struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard at the other end of the ground. Crozier, Michael Walters and Michael Barlow all kicked goals in the second half of the term, but the Dockers were still five goals in a arrears when the three-quarter time siren sounded.

Needing early majors in the final term, the Dockers had chances but could convert those into behinds only as Pavlich missed twice and Ballantyne once within the first seven minutes. Walters finally managed a goal at the nine-minute mark, cutting the margin to 21, but Shane Edwards replied with a goal at the 12-minute mark. Walters again reduced the difference to under four goals with his third at the 19-minute mark but the Tigers played mature footy from then on, controlling the tempo and defending solidly. Vickery's third at the 28-minute mark settled the score once and for all and Richmond ran out worthy 27-point victors. 

Dustin Martin was outstanding for Richmond, with 34 touches and eight marks, with Ellis (26 disposals, eight marks) and Edwards (25 possessions, six marks) also a vital part of the win. The Dockers' best included Fyfe (26 disposals, six tackles), Lachie Neale (28 possessions, three tackles) and Barlow (20 touches and five tackles).

The Tigers will have a bye in round 11 before hosting the Eagles at the MCG on Friday week, while Fremantle will look to get back on the winners list against Gold Coast at Carrara next Saturday before having its bye in round 12.

GOALS
Fremantle: Walters 3; Crozier 2; Taberner, Ballantyne, Sandilands, Fyfe, Barlow
Richmond: Vickery 3; Griffiths, Deledio, Riewoldt 2; Martin, Grigg, Morris, C. Ellis, B. Ellis, Edwards

BEST - WATODAY.COM.AU
Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Barlow, Sandilands, Hill, Walters
Richmond: Martin, B. Ellis, Rance, Edwards, Cotchin, Houli

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Barlow, Sandilands, Walters, Mundy
Richmond: Martin, B. Ellis, Edwards, Cotchin, Rance, Houli, Grigg

INJURIES
Fremantle: Spurr (corked thigh) replaced in selected side by Crozier, Johnson (hamstring)
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES 
Fremantle: Michael Johnson replaced by Hayden Crozier in the first quarter
Richmond: Corey Ellis replaced by Connor Menadue in the final quarter

UMPIRES: Margetts, Rosebury, Mollison

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Dennis Cometti, Basil Zempilas, Wayne Carey, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson