Australian Football

Match Report

Displaying further signs of being a genuine finals contender, Richmond has recorded a comfortable away win against Brisbane at the Gabba in Sunday's twilight game. The Tigers stamped themselves on the match early and won three the game's four quarters to finish 52 points clear of the Lions. When challenged in the third term, the Tigers did what good sides do, responding to three goals in a row from Brisbane with three off their own on either side of three-quarter time to snuff out any last resistance. 

Brisbane had an early chance to hit the scoreboard after Josh Scache marked but his shot missed to the left. The Lions held that one-point lead until the three-minute mark when Dylan Grimes marked a high kick from Kamdyn McIntosh to give Richmond a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the night. A behind to Mitch Robinson followed by a goal to Tom Bell levelled the scores at the eight-minute mark but the Tigers took charge over the next 10 minutes, with goals to Jason Castagna, Daniel Rioli and Jack Riewoldt seeing them out to a 19-point lead. Dayne Zorko pulled one back for the Lions but Toby Nankervis responded almost immediately. Richmond dominated the next few minutes but its reward was only three behinds and a late goal to Eric Hipwood had Brisbane back within 16 points at the first break. 

There was an unusual start to the second term when a long set shot from Richmond's Connor Menadue had to be referred to the video umpire after the goal umpire was flattened by Lion Daniel McStay in his attempt to spoil. Meadue's kick was adjudged to be a goal and that sent the Tigers off on a burst, with Castagna, Trent Cotchin and Shaun Grigg all adding majors. By the eight-minute mark, Richmond was 40 points clear and it looked ominous for Brisbane. The Lions managed to stem the flow thereafter but couldn't make an impact themselves, each side adding a goal before the long break, with the Tigers ahead by 42 at the half.

Richmond looked keen to go on with the job at the beginning of the third quarter but squandered opportunities with Todd Elton missing once and Dustin Martin twice. The Lions took their first chance, with Josh Schache kicking truly at the seven-minute mark but the Tigers answered with majors to Josh Caddy and Rioli, the margin blowing out to 51 points. After five more scoreless minutes, the game took a sudden turn as Lewis Taylor goaled and the Daynes, Zorko and Beames added two more. Richmond suddenly looked shaky and the margin could have been cut significantly, but Zorko's two further shots both missed. As it was, the difference was 31 points and Dan Butler settled the Tigers with a goal just before three-quarter time. 

Butler's goal and the last break brought a halt to Brisbane's run, and Richmond dominated the early stages of the dismal term, adding three behinds and then a brace of goals to Jack Riewoldt. That took the margin out to 53 point and the match was as good as over. Each side added two further goals, with Castagna getting his third and fourth for the Tigers, who finished 52 points to the good.

Jack Riewoldt, with four goals and eight marks, and Trent Cotchin (20 possessions, one goal) played fine games for the Tigers, while Tom Rockliff (33 disposals, 11 tackles) and Mitch Robinson (11 marks, 29 touches) were great contributors for Brisbane.

The Tigers are 4-0 and will be favourites to make it 5-0 when they take on Melbourne next Monday night. A win could see them take top spot, a ladder position they have not occupied since 1995. Brisbane continue to show promising signs despite not having won since round one, but they will face a tough assignment against the reigning premiers, the Western Bulldogs, at Docklands on Saturday. 

GOALS
Brisbane: Hipwood, Zorko, D. Beams 2; Bell, Schache, Taylor, Robinson
Richmond: Riewoldt, Castagna 4; Rioli 2; Grimes, Nankervis, Menadue, Cotchin, Grigg, Caddy, Butler

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Brisbane: Rockliff, Martin, Robinson, Mayes, D. Beams, Gardiner
Richmond: Cotchin, Riewoldt, Grigg, Prestia, Castagna, Rioli

BEST - THE AGE
Brisbane: Robinson, Martin, Rockliff, Rich, D. Beams, Mayes
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cotchin, Grigg, Prestia, Castagna, Rioli

INJURIES
Brisbane: Cutler (hamstring)
Richmond: Nil

UMPIRES: Mollison, B Ryan, S Ryan

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Alastair Lynch, Jonathan Brown, Ben Dixon