Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond has shrugged off last week's poor performance against Adelaide to record a percentage-boosting win over the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG on Sunday. The Tigers started the match with a bang, had a slight lull in the second term, and then went into overdrive in the third and final quarters to run away with the game, winning by 83 points. The margin was sufficient to see Richmond leapfrog North into sixth place on the ladder. 

The first 25 minutes of this match distinguished itself from many others this seasons by featuring goals without a behind being scored. Quite a few other matches in 2015 have started with a string of behinds. The first goal was kicked by Richmond's Jack Riewoldt and, after Tom Lynch replied for Richmond, the Tigers strung together four in a row via Ty Vickery, Kane Lambert, Brett Deledio and Shaun Grigg to jump out to a 24-point lead. Aaron Hal pulled one back for the Suns but Vickery's second saw Richmond in front by 25 at the first break. 

Gold Coast manage to lock down the match to a large extent in the second term and goals became hard to come by. The only score in the first 10 minutes was a behind to Sun Hall. Tiger Sam Lloyd finally broke the drought at the 11-minute mark, his goal putting Richmond five goals clear. Luke Russell's first brought back to four goals with his first soon after but Vickery's third again put the Tigers 30 points ahead. Two late goals to Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch saw the gap narrowed to 17 at half time.

Whatever coach Damien Hardwick said to his charges at half time, it worked, The Tigers came out full of running in the third term and had three goals on the board within six minutes via Dustin Martin, Chris Newman and Sam Lloyd. Over the next 15 minutes they added three more, keeping the Suns scoreless all along to blow the game apart and stretch the margin to 54 points. Lynch and Jarrod Garlett scored two late goals for the Suns, but the difference was still 44 at the last turn.

The Tigers ensured there would be no last-quarter comeback, with Lambert and Matt Thomas goaling inside the first seven minutes. Andrew Boston responded with one for Gold Coast but Richmond went into overdrive after that, kicking the last six goals of the game to canter to an 83-point victory.

Martin was outstanding for the Tigers, with 29 disposals and three goals, while Lambert (two goals, 27 touches) and Bachar Houli (10 marks, 29 possessions) were also very good. For the Suns, Hall (29 possessions, six marks) and Steven May (18 touches, three marks) played fine games.

Richmond's next assignment Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday, while the Suns will take on the beleaguered Essendon at Carrara on the same day.

GOALS
Richmond: Vickery 4; Lloyd, Deledio, Martin 3; Lambert, Riewoldt 2; Grigg, Newman, Maric, Thomas, Ellis
Gold Coast: Lynch 3; Hall, Russell, Dixon, Garlett, Boston

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Martin, Lambert, Houli, Rance, Ellis, Maric, Vickery
Gold Coast: Hall, Lynch, Kolodjashnij, Richchitelli, May, Lonergan

BEST - THE AGE
Richmond: Lambert, Martin, Rance, Cotchin, Ellis, Vickery
Gold Coast: May, Hall, Lynch, Kolodjashnij, Richchitelli

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Gold Coast: Nicholls (knee), Dixon (ankle), Martin (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh replaced Anthony Miles in the fourth quarter.
Gold Coast: Jarrod Garlett replaced Tom Nicholls at half-time.

UMPIRES: Stevic, Brown, Mollison

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Eddie McGuire, Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Danny Frawley