Australian Football

Match Report

Just as the majority of footy fans had decided that Hawthorn was marching inexorably towards a third consecutive premiership, Richmond has bobbed to throw a spanner in the premiership favouritism works with a highly meritorious win over the Hawks at the MCG on Friday night. As well as casting a least a smidgin of doubt of Hawthorn's premiership credentials, Richmond has now thrown itself up as a legitimate flag prospect. The Tigers kept the Hawks goalless for two quarters and to a total score of just 53 - no mean feat given Hawthorn came into the match averaging 116 per match - to win a titanic struggle by 18 points.

Defences were on top in the first five minutes, neither side registering so much as a behind in the first five minutes. The first goal of the match finally came at the six-minute mark, courtesy of free kick to Brett Deledio after he caught James Frawley with the ball. Both sides traded behinds for the next 10 minutes, before Deledio bobbed up to kick his second on the run from about 50 metres out. Six minutes later, he made it three from three, when advantage was paid after Ty Vickery free kick and he strolled into an open goal. By quarter time, the Tigers led by three goals, having held the Hawks goalless for the term. 

The first five minutes of the second term replicated the first, with neither side managing a score in the first five minutes. Jack Riewoldt broke the drought with his first at the six-minuter mark and the Tigers were four goals clear. But the sleeping giant finally awoke at the seven-minute mark, when Ryan Schoenmakers kicked Hawthorn's first, and the Hawks began to roll from there. Jack Gunston followed up with his first four minutes later, and when Paul Puopolo and Gunston added another two at the 17 and 20-minute marks, Hawthorn was suddenly in front. Kamdyn McIntosh restore the lead for the Tigers with his first at the 22-minute mark but after 10 more scoreless minutes, Cyril Rioli chimed in with a last-minute goal that put the Hawks two points in front at half time. 

As with terms one and two, the third was notable for a goalless first five minutes. Once again it was Richmond that kicked the first of the quarter, the time at the seven-minute mark through Vickery, and the Tigers regained the lead. The next 15 minutes saw only behinds registered, amazingly all five of them rushed, three to the Tigers and two to the Hawks. Late goals to Tigers Bachar Houli and Kane Lambert saw Richmond three goals ahead at the last change.

Once again the fourth quarter followed the script of the first three - no goals came in the first five minutes and when one finally did, it was to Richmond, with Deledio getting his fourth after a handball exchange with Ben Lennon. Hawthorn held sway in general play over the next 10 minutes, and goals to Gunston and Puopolo brought the Hawks to within 13 points at the 16-minute mark. But a snap from Sam Lloyd as he was being tackled sailed through the big sticks to put the Tigers 13 points clear. Hawthorn pressed hard in the last 10 minutes but the Tigers defence held firm, holding on to win by 18 points.

Deledio (four goals, 18 disposals), Anthony Miles (30 possessions) and Dustin Martin (27 touches) were outstanding for the victors, while Hawthorn's best included Jordan Lewis (34 possessions, four marks) and Luke Hodge (28 touches, five tackles).

Despite the great win, Richmond actually slipped from fifth to sixth on the ladder, after the Western Bulldogs leapfrogged them courtesy of an 87-point win over Essendon. The Tigers will take on Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval this Friday night, while Hawthorn will meet second-placed West Coast, the Eagles having surprisingly drawn with the Suns on Saturday night.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 3; Puopolo 2; Schoenmakers, Rioli
Richmond: Deledio 4; Riewoldt, McIntosh, Vickery, Houli, Lambert, Lloyd

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Lewis, Mitchell, Birchall, Hodge, Burgoyne
Richmond: Miles, Deledio, Martin, Maric, Ellis, Cotchin

BEST - THE AGE
Hawthorn: Lewis, Hodge, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Gunston, Smith, Rioli
Richmond: Deledio, Miles, Martin, Rance, Chaplin, Cotchin, Grigg, B Ellis

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES 
Hawthorn: David Hale replaced by Billy Hartung in the third quarter.
Richmond: Ben Lennon replaced by Sam Lloyd in the fourth quarter.

REPORTS: James Frawley (Hawthorn) for rough conduct against Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) in the second quarter.

UMPIRES: Dalgleish, Stevic, Chamberlain

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Wayne Carey, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson