Australian Football

Match Report

In a game that was far more entertaining than many would have expected and certainly far closer than Tiger fans would have hoped, Richmond has pipped a plucky Gold Coast Suns outfit by 17 points at the MCG. The lead changed many times during the match, with the Tigers having the better of the early stages but the Suns having good periods in both the second and third term which saw them lead at the last change. In the end, a late burst of Richmond goals saw the Tigers home by just under three goals.

After a couple of early rushed behinds from the Suns, Richmond took control of the first 10 minutes of the match, with goals to Ben Griffiths and Brett Deledio giving the Tigers an 11-point lead. After that, Peter Wright got Gold Coast on the board with a strong grab and goal and Sam Day followed up by doing the same and giving the Suns a one-point lead at the 14-minute mark. Richmond responded immediately via Sam Lloyd and then Shane Edwards took the Tigers leaseback out to two goals with a long, running goal early in time on. May chimed in with his second just before quarter time and Richmond's lead was back to an even goal at the first break.

Tom Lynch levelled the scores with his first goal a minute into the second term, and when Alex Sexton kicked his first eight minutes later, the Suns led by five points. Ryan Davis another for the Suns a couple of minutes later, and the Tigers looked to be in trouble. But they settled and began to hit the scoreboard, via behinds at first, to Edwards and Jake Batchelor, and then goals, to Dustin Martin - playing a fine game - and skipper Trent Cotchin. After 23 minutes, Richmond was back in front by four points. The Tigers did not stop there and further majors to Brett Deledio and Ty Vickery had them ahead by 16 points and seemingly in control at half time.

The long break came at the wrong time for Richmond but the right time for Gold Coast as the Suns came out in the third quarter and dominated the first 20 minutes. The Tigers did not score in that period while Gold Coast peppered the big sticks, and goals to Jarrod Harbrow, Day, Gary Ablett, David and Wright had the Suns ahead by 11 going into time on. Richmond managed to more or less halve the last 10 minutes of the term, each side scoring a goal and it was Gold Coast by 10 at the final end-change.

After a hurried snap from Richmond's Conca missed, Lynch's third goal had the Suns out to a 15-point lead after three minutes and the Tigers were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat. Edwards clawed one back for them and then Deledio followed up with another but a fourth to Lynch and another goal to Matt Rosa had Gold Coast again ahead by 15 points after 12 minutes and things were not looking good for Richmond.

But the Tigers found a way. A nice roving goal to Kane Lambert turned the tide and follow-up goals to Edwards and Shaun Hampson had Richmond back ahead at the 18-minute mark. Tom Nicholls marked and goaled to regain the lead for the Suns early in time on but when Lloyd marked and goaled at the 23-minute mark, he gave the Tigers a lead that they would not surrender again. Dustin Martin goaled from a free kick three minutes later to seal the deal and Jack Riewoldt put the final nail in the Suns' coffin with his first goal late in the final term as the Tigers eked out a 17-point win to keep their slim finals chances alive.

Martin played possible the best of his 143 AFL games, inspiring his teammates with 38 possessions and two goals, while Ablett put in a typically solid game for the Suns, gleaning 24 possessions and laying 12 tackles.

The win leaves Richmond with five wins from 12 matches, two games out of the eight. The Tigers will have a bye in round 13 before hosting lowly Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday week, in what will be a big chance to improve their record to 6-7 and boost their percentage. For the Suns, the loss was their ninth in a row after they started the season with three wins. They too have a bye in round 13, before they take on the might of Hawthorn at York Park in Launceston on Sunday week.

GOALS
Richmond: Edwards, Deledio 3; Martin, Lloyd, Griffiths 2; Vickery, Lambert, Hampson, Cotchin, Riewoldt
Gold Coast: Lynch 4; Wright, Davis 2; Sexton, Day, Rosa, Nicholls, May, Harbrow, Ablett

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Martin, Rance, Grigg, Edwards, Deledio, Griffiths
Gold Coast: Ablett, Lynch, Rosa, Rischitelli, Nicholls, May

BEST - HERALD SUN
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Edwards, Griffiths, Deledio, Grigg, Rance
Gold Coast: Lynch, Ablett, Rischitelli, Day, May, Harbrow

INJURIES
Richmond: Astbury (left ankle)
Gold Coast: Kolodjashnij (concussion)

UMPIRES: Margetts, Deboy, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Dennis Cometti, Basil Zempilas, Leigh Matthews, Nick Maxwell