Australian Football

Match Report

It was a case of heartbreak once more for Tiger fans and relief again for the GWS Giants once more on Saturday as the Giants pipped Richmond by three points at the Sydney Showground. For the second week in a row, GWS escaped with a three-point win courtesy of a last-minute goal, while the Tigers lost their third consecutive match by under a goal, the last two after seemingly having the match in their keeping. 

GWS was pressing late in the final term but the Tigers looked to have finally put the match to rest with a minute and a half left on the clock when debutant Shai Bolton snapped what appeared to be a match-winning goal. Bolton's shot would have put Richmond eight points clear but a video review revealed his kick had been touched. From the resultant kick-out the Giants went end to end in a flash and Jeremy Cameron goaled from the 50-metre arc to give them a three-point lead, which they managed to protect for the game's final seconds, thus inflicting a hat-trick of heartbreak on the Tigers.

Richmond got off to a stunning start, clearing the ball straight out of the opening bounce, with Trent Cotchin scoring the opening goal after just 13 seconds. Shaun Grigg followed up with a second goal only a minute later and a miss from Jack Riewoldt had the Tigers 13 points ahead after only three minutes. Cameron got the Giants on the board with his first goal after a mark, but another four in a row from Richmond via Riewoldt, Cotchin and Jason Castagna twice suddenly saw the visitors out to a 29-point lead. They had a chance to go further ahead, but Grigg and Daniel Rioli both missed chances. Nevertheless, the Tigers took a commanding 31-point lead into quarter time.

Being the good side that they are, the Giants were inevitably going to mount a comeback, and it began a minute into the second quarter when Cameron marked and goaled to reduce the margin to 25 points. Richmond had the chance to reply when Grigg marked unopposed inside 50 but his shot missed and soon after Scully kicked the Giants' second major of the term to cut the margin to 20 points. The Tigers had two more chances but Rioli and Toby Nankervis again missed, and when Rory Lobb goaled at the 16-minute mark, GWS was within 15 points. Connor Menadue provided relief for Richmond with his first goal and each side added two more behinds before the half-time siren, the Tigers ahead by 21 at the long break.

The start of the third quarter saw the Giants take their turn at squandering opportunities, with Toby Greene and Shane Mumford both missing shots in the first two minutes. Richmond took full advantage when Sam Lloyd goaled at the four-minute mark, extending Richmond's lead to 25 points. Sam Reid cut the margin back to 20 with his first goal but further majors to Menadue and Riewoldt saw the Tigers ahead by 31 points and seemingly headed for victory as the term entered time on. Zac Wiliams scored a late goal for GWS but Richmond looked in control as it turned for home with a 25-point lead. 

Castagna and Dustin Martin both had chances to extend Richmond's lead early in the final term, but each of them missed gettable shots and the inevitable GWS comeback began at the six-minute mark when Greene goaled to cut the margin to 21. The Giants then missed opportunities, kicking three behinds in a row, but they kept coming, and goals to Reid and Tim Taranto had them within a goal early in time on.

Riewoldt had a shot and missed for Richmond, increasing the Tigers' lead top seven, but a mark and goal to Matt de Boer saw the Giants within a point after 24 minutes. Sam Lloyd had a chance to 'ice' the game but his shot missed but the Tigers looked home when Bolton's kick was signalled as a major by the goal umpire at the 31-minute mark. But a video review saw the goal overturned and Cameron's goal soon after saw GWS home in dramatic circumstances. 

Alex Rance (19 possessions, five marks) was a pillar of strength in defence for the Tigers, while Josh Kelly (32 disposals, five marks) had another great game for GWS.

The Giants' two lucky escapes now see them sitting in second place on the ladder, with a match against fourth-placed West Coast at Subiaco to come on Sunday. For Richmond, which remains in the top eight despite four losses on end, a match against Essendon (10th) awaits on Saturday night at this year's Dreamtime at the 'G fixture.

GOALS
GWS: Cameron 3; Reid 2, Scully, Lobb, Williams, Greene, Taranto, de Boer
Richmond: Riewoldt, Menadue, Cotchin, Castagna 2; Grigg, Lloyd

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Kelly, Shiel, Wilson, Whitfield, Scully, Davis
Richmond: Rance, Martin, Grigg, Nankervis, Cotchin, Houli

BEST - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
GWS: Whitfield, Cameron, Kelly, Wilson, Scully, de Boer
Richmond: Rance, Martin, Cotchin, Nankervis, Grimes, Grigg

INJURIES
GWS: Nil
Richmond: Nil

UMPIRES: Fisher, Schmitt, Findlay 

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Jonathan Brown, Cameron Mooney