Australian Football

Match Report

Fremantle has defeated Richmond in a thriller at the MCG on Saturday to maintain a hold on top place on the ladder. In a tight contest, the margin was never more than 13 points at any stage and Richmond appeared headed for victory late in the last term as it held a narrow lead and was keeping the ball in its forward line. But a rare foray forward for Fremantle saw the Dockers kick a point, after which the Tigers needed only maintain possession to win the game. But Bachar Houli chose to go directly up the middle of the ground with his kick-in, and the ball failed to hit his target. The Dockers took possession and David Mundy marked and goaled to give Fremantle lead. Richmond was unable to force a score in the remaining few seconds and the Dockers held on for a four-point win, bring jubilation to Freo fans and despair to the Tigers.

In a dour first quarter, both defences dominated as each side struggled to find the goals. Richmond's Chris Newman found them first with a major at the seven-minute mark. Another nine minutes elapsed before the match's second goal was scored. It went the way of the Dockers after Matthew Pavlich grabbed the ball in a stoppage and kicked truly. Both sides traded behinds after that and scores were level at 1.4 apiece at the first turn. 

The game opened up in the second term and the goals began to flow. Kamdyn McIntosh gave the Tigers a seven-point lead with a major at the five-minute mark and when Ivan Maric followed up with another two minutes later, Richmond's lead was out to 13 points. That appeared to spark Fremantle into action and the next three goals went the way of the Dockers to Pavlich, Chris Mayne and Hayden Crozier to give them a four-point lead. Richmond hit back with the next two goals via Maric and Jack Riewoldt but a last-gasp major to Matthew Taberner brought Fremantle back within two points at the long break. 

Brett Deledio extended Richmond's lead to nine with the first goal of the third term but Tom Sheridan responded for the Dockers soon after to reduce the margin to under a goal once more. A free kick for a push in the back saw Ben Lennon goal and the Tigers lead by 12 points but a major to Nat Fyfe at the 18-minute mark saw Fremantle back within five points. After a behind to Newman, the Dockers squared the match with a mark and goal to Stephen Hill after 23 minutes but Newman's second a couple of minutes later saw Richmond lead by five points going into 'orange time'.

A goal-square mark to Sam Lloyd two minutes into the last quarter was successfully converted but the next two goals went the way of Fremantle to Pavlich and Michael Barlow and the Dockers were back within a point at the 10-minute mark. Ben Lennon marked and goaled at the 12-minute mark but a reply soon after from Crozier saw the Dockers back within two points after 15 minutes. The next 10 minutes saw the ball spend the majority of its time in the Richmond forward line, but the Tigers could not land a killer blow. When the Dockers finally won control, a behind and Houli's costly kick-out saw Mundy kick the match-winning goal and Fremantle fall over the line to hold top spot on the ladder.

Barlow was a fine player for the Dockers, with 26 disposals and five marks, while Mundy (28 possessions, six tackles) and Nat Fyfe (10 tackles, 25 touches) were also very good. The Tigers best included Troy Chaplin (23 touches in his 200th game), Trent Cotchin (24 possessions) and Brandon Ellis (31 disposals, 10 marks).

The loss leaves Richmond a game away from the top four, with a tough match to come against the rampaging Hawks on Friday night. The Dockers will host GWS at Subiaco next Sunday. 

GOALS 
Richmond: Maric, Newman, Lennon 2; McIntosh, Riewoldt, Deledio, Lloyd 
Fremantle: Pavlich 3; Crozier 2; Mayne, Taberner, Sheridan, Fyfe, Hill, Barlow, Mundy 

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
Richmond: Chaplin, Ellis, Cotchin, Grigg, Lambert, Hunt
Fremantle: Mundy, Barlow, Fyfe, Hill, Pavlich, Ibbotson

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Cotchin, Ellis, Chaplin, Rance, Maric, Miles 
Fremantle: Barlow, Pearce, Fyfe, Mundy, Hill, Sheridan 

INJURIES 
Richmond: Hampson (ankle) 
Fremantle: Clancee Pearce (shoulder) 

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Sam Lloyd replaced Shaun Hampson at half-time.
Fremantle: Matt DeBoer replaced Matt Taberner in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: Meredith, McInerney, Mitchell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Eddie McGuire, Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Mark Thompson, David King