Australian Football

Match Report

With Brisbane and Richmond both coming off respective hidings the previous week, a lot was riding on this game. More so for Richmond, whose top eight position remains under immediate threat in what is turning out to be a very even season where one slip up may cause a considerable tumble down the ladder. Four team changes for the Tigers, and three for the Lions, was an indication that a new attitude was in order.

The game was played at Docklands stadium—the scene of last week’s shocker for the Tigers—with the roof open and in bright sunlight on early Sunday afternoon. From the outset, it was apparent that Richmond was intent on atoning for the late debacle, and looked sharp and switched on. A goal to Jason Castagna after 30 seconds was a testament to that. The Lions hit back soon after via Rhys Mathieson, only to be followed by a major from Jack Riewoldt, a gift from Shane Edwards who was keen to make up for several unforced errors in the opening minutes.

Richmond controlled the play for the rest of the quarter but a series of relatively easy misses meant that their 19-point lead at the first break was not a true reflection of their dominance. Goals to Dan Butler and Shane Edwards—after an extraordinary feat of ‘basketball’ handling by Trent Cotchin—were interspersed with turn overs, near misses, and generally sloppy play. Brisbane was able to maintain just enough pressure on the Tigers to prevent them running away with the game.

An early second quarter goal to Riewoldt, after a strong mark, could have led to an avalanche. The fact that it didn’t was due to the Lions' fighting spirit and the Tigers lack of finesse and disposal efficiency. Second quarters have been a problem all year for Richmond, and this one was no exception. The Lions kept plugging away and were rewarded with three goals in succession, from Josh Walker, Josh Schache (into the team this week after an extended sojourn in the NEAFL), and the great Zorko, struggling to break free from his shadow, Dion Prestia. We could surmise that Prestia, a.k.a, the ‘human meatball’ (as per Brian Taylor’s sobriquet) had been given the job on Brisbane’s outstanding player as a challenge to redeem himself for the substandard effort he put in last week. The move worked, and by game’s end, Prestia had played his best game in yellow and black. 

At half time the margin was a slim eight points. It had been a lacklustre affair, and the second half promised more of the same. But then onto the stage stepped Dustin Martin. Solid early without having a huge impact, he exploded in the third quarter and put his stamp on the game, notwithstanding some heavy physical counter measures employed by Nick Robertson. The feisty red head was reported for headbutting Cotchin and was probably fortunate not to get booked again for the roughing up of Martin.

An early goal by Riewoldt, who missed several sitters either side of the major, set the scene, and despite a reply from Ryan Bastinac, it was the Tigers, and Dusty, that dominated. Not that that was reflected on the scoreboard, as chances went begging and the Lions keep battling. Further goals to Riewoldt and Butler upped the ante but Keays hit back for the Lions. A late Dusty goal, from dubious free kick against the hapless Robertson, put the Tigers 23 points up at the last change and the scene looked set for a comfortable Richmond victory.

The game opened up in the final term, and although the Tigers did, eventually, cruise to a comfortable victory—by 31 points thanks to a last gasp goal from Castagna—the fact that it was six goals apiece to that stage demonstrates that Brisbane never threw in the towel and fought valiantly to the end. It was goal for goal, until the 10-minute mark when a Daniel Rioli snap stretched the Tiger lead to over 30 points and there it remained until several late Lion goals evened up the quarter.

Dustin Martin continued to lead the way in the last term, in the end racking up an impressive 14 centre clearances and recording forty possessions for the game. He was best afield based on his second half display, although it was Cotchin that was consistently outstanding over the four quarters. Prestia played well, blanketing Zorko and picking up a lot of kicks himself, and so did Riewoldt and Edwards, while on the Lions side, defenders Harris Andrews and Daniel McStay continue to impress. So too, the silky kicking skills of Alex Witherden.

For Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, the game was “a little bit frustrating…we played a pretty attacking style of footy at stages, but some of those errors we were committing across our half-forward line really hurt us on the scoreboard going the other way.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan remained upbeat; “We were still in the game at three-quarter time … [and] the last quarter was six goals to seven, so our blokes kept fighting on, which I was really pleased about. We got smashed out of the centre bounces (20-4) – it was probably obvious for everyone to see – which got the game played in their half.

"I thought our defenders did a great job to defend that many inside-50s actually and keep them to 32 shots”.

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4; Butler 3; Martin, Castagna 2; Edwards, Cotchin, Prestia, Rioli, B Ellis
Brisbane: Keays, Schache, Hipwood 2; Cutler, Zorko, Bastinac, Mathieson, Walker, McCluggage

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Butler, Short, Miles
Brisbane: Witherden, Andrews, Taylor, McStay, Rich

BEST - THE AGE
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Lambert, Ellis, Edwards, Prestia, Butler
Brisbane: Witherden, Taylor, Andrews, Mayes, Rich

INJURIES
Richmond: Soldo (nose)
Brisbane: Nil

REPORTS: Nick Robertson (Bris) for headbutting Trent Cotchin (Rich)

UMPIRES: Fisher, Deboy, Hosking

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Dermott Brereton, Cameron Mooney