Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond remains well and truly in the hunt for a place in the top four after the Tigers withstood a last-quarter rush from St Kilda to defeat the Saints by 16 points at Docklands in Sunday's twilight game. The win was the Tigers' 10th for the season and leaves them just one game percentage away from the top four. With big games against Fremantle and Hawthorn to come over the next two weeks, they will have a chance to strengthen their claims over the next fortnight.

Luke Dustan got the Saints off to a perfect start with a goal at the three-minute mark of the match but Nick Vlastuin responded for the Tigers a minute later to tie the scores. Richmond then had a small period of domination which yielded 1.2, the goal going to Brett Deledio, to give it an eight-point lead but St Kilda made the running for the remainder of the quarter. The net result for the Saints, however, was only 1.5, with Maverick Weller kicking the goal. That was enough to given them a two-point quarter-time lead.

The Tigers made a decisive break in the first six minutes of the second quarter, with goals to Shaun Grigg, Ben Lennon and Chris Newman giving the Tigers a 16-point buffer. Maverick Weller cut the difference back to 10 with his first at the 10-minute mark, but Richmond controlled general play for much of the remainder of the quarter, with goals to Jack Riewoldt giving the Tigers a comfortable 28-point lead at the half.

Ben Lennon extended that margin to 34 with the first goal of the second half at the two-minute mark of the third term, and when Ivan Maric added another seven minutes later, Richmond's lead was out to 40 points. David Ermitage pulled one back for the Saints, but majors to Lennon, Riewoldt and Deledio saw Richmond turned for home in a commanding position and with a lead of 52 points.

The Tigers were expected to cruise to victory in the last turn but their minds may have been in fact stuck in cruise control as St Kilda charged home in the final quarter. Nick Riewoldt got the Saints rolling with a goal in the first minute and Shane Savage followed up a minute later. There was a lull in scoring after that but when Leigh Montagna and Paddy McCartin goaled at the 11 and 13-minute marks, St Kilda was suddenly within 26 points. Not long after, after further majors to Josh Bruce and Weller, it was down to 15 points and the Tigers looked visibly panicky on the field. But the six goals had fatigued the Saints, and the couldn't muster another, Richmond holding on for a slightly shaky but nevertheless important win.

Best for the Tigers included Deledio (28 possessions, three goals) and Dustin Martin (29 touches and five marks), while Weller (three goals, 20 disposals) and Armitage (27 possessions and six tackles). 

The Tigers have a big fortnight ahead, with matches against Fremantle and Hawthorn at the MCG, while St Kilda will take on Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday.

GOALS
St Kilda: Weller 3; Savage, Riewoldt, Montagna, McCartin, Dunstan, Bruce, Armitage
Richmond: Lennon, Deledio 3; Riewoldt 2; Vlastuin, Newman, Maric, Lambert, Grigg

BEST - THEAGE.COM.AU
St Kilda: Steven, Armitage, Weller, Savage, Riewoldt, Dunstan, Montagna, Gilbert
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Grigg, Maric, Lennon, Cotchin, Miles, Rance

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
St Kilda: Weller, Steven, Armitage, Roberton, Dempster, Savage
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Lennon, Rance, Grigg, Riewoldt

INJURIES
St Kilda: Longer (nose)
Richmond: Martin (head)

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jack Sinclair replaced Jack Lonie at three-quarter time
Richmond: Nathan Gordon replaced Matt McDonough in the fourth quarter

UMPIRES: O'Gorman, Findlay, Mollison 

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Eddie McGuire, Sandy Roberts, Gerard Healy, Jonathan Brown, David King