Australian Football

Match Report

Richmond came into this game as firm favourites, notwithstanding the interstate factor. The Tigers hadn’t won at Carrara since 1991 in the days of the Brisbane Bears, although it should be noted they’ve played Gold Coast only once at the venue—a ‘notorious’ match as far as their fans were concerned, that saw Karmichael Hunt kick a goal after the siren to win the game. All other Queensland matches between these two combatants had been played at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns.

Richmond was without Jack Riewoldt and Dion Prestia, both with minor injuries (both would probably have played if it were a final!), while Gold Coast was harder hit by the late withdrawal of Gary Ablett and Steven May.

The game was played on a Saturday night in good conditions although heavy dew on the ground made handling tricky and fumbles were in evidence throughout. From the first bounce, Gold Coast grabbed the early initiative when Touk Miller finished off a nice run with a goal at the 17-second mark, probably the quickest of the season. Less than two minutes later, Matt Rosa struck again with a snap from 30 metres out, leaving Tiger fans wondering about their team’s defensive application.

The open nature of the game continued, or loose defence as it may equally be argued, as Daniel Rioli replied for the Tigers after a strong running mark, closely followed by a goal to the Sun’s Peter Wright after a mark. Another Rioli goal on the run from close range meant that five goals had come inside the first twelve minutes.

The respective backlines started to settle thereafter and scoring became a bit more difficult, although it was the Tigers that started to gain the territorial ascendancy. A third goal from Rioli, a career best for him, evened up the scoreboard, the final assist coming from Shaun Edwards playing his 200^th game for the club. Suns captain, Tom Lynch, hitherto blanketed by Alex Rance, snapped a late one for the Suns, and they led by four points at the first change. The Tigers had had more the ball, but it was the Sun’s kicking efficiency, at 74 per cent versus the Tigers’ 53 per cent, that was the difference.

The second quarter started in much the same way as the first, several quick goals from open play, but this time it was Richmond making the running. Within a minute of the resumption, Shaun Grigg received a pass from the ever dangerous Rioli and goaled, closely followed by a snap off the ground from resting ruckman Toby Nankervis after a Suns turnover in front of the sticks. Anthony Miles, the type of in and under player fans love, was dominating in the centre and providing plenty of drive, as were Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin. Within five minutes, Nankervis found himself on the end of a wonderful chain of passes from the half back line and slotted his second, followed closely by Josh Caddy, playing against his old side. A long range goal to Adam Saad after a 50-metre penalty was matched soon after by a third from Nankervis, and the Tigers went to the main break 23 points to the good.

The Suns opened the third quarter strongly, winning the clearances and contested possession, and were rewarded with goals to Brayden Fiorini and Jack Martin. David Swallow and Aaron Hall were particularly prominent, while the Richmond engine room was looking lethargic. But tragedy struck for the Suns when Ben Ainsworth was forced from the ground with a leg injury at the eleven-minute mark. He was the third Sun to have their night ended prematurely, following Callum Ah Chee half way through the second term and Alex Sexton latter in the same quarter. From this point on, with restricted bench rotations, the Suns simply lacked the fresh manpower to keep the pressure on the Tigers, who responded intelligently by increasing their running and handball pressure. In the end, it was a credit to the Gold Coast that they were able to stay as close as they did.

A goal to Cotchin, after a soft free kick, was matched by Lynch at the other end when he was able to gain some space from Rance, but the Tigers were gradually wearing the Suns down and forcing errors. One of those, a turnover, resulted in a late goal to Dustin Martin after a strong mark, and another, right on the siren, to Jason Castagna from a banana snap close the boundary line. It increased the margin to 25 points at the last break. Few gave the Suns any chance from here.

The final term opened very scrappily but what was evident was the Suns were not throwing in the towel. It took until the 10-minute mark for a goal to be scored, to late inclusion Jesse Lonergan, but the Suns simply couldn’t follow up. Goals to Castagna, and Cory Ellis, after a splendid pack mark, effectively sealed the result. A consolation to Lynch was neutralized by a third to Castagna on the bell, and the Tigers were happy to leave the arena with a 33-point victory.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick summed up thoughts thus: "We probably didn't capitalise as much as we would have liked...we probably weren't quite at our best today but still got the job done, which good sides win sometimes when they're not playing at their absolute best.

"We were disappointed with our finishing on goals today, probably butchered a couple of opportunities as well, which we'll go through the tape...I think overall our guys were trying to do the right thing and bring teammates into the game, but probably got ourselves in trouble a little bit at various stages."

Gold Coast coach, Rodney Eade was positive: "It was extremely brave, I was very proud of their effort, I thought it was terrific”.."We played quite smart as well, kept ourselves in the game...We probably had eight or nine missing from our best team, so to be able to do what they did, I was extremely proud of them."

Next up, the Tigers take on a resurgent Hawthorn next Sunday at the M.C.G, a match the latter has to win to maintain any chance of a finals berth. Gold Coast make the long trip to Perth to take on Fremantle, who were unlucky to lose to GWS. 

GOALS
Gold Coast: Lynch 3; Miller, Rosa, Wright, Saad, Fiorini, Martin, Lonergan
Richmond: Rioli, Nankervis, Castagna 3; Grigg, Caddy, Cotchin, Martin, C. Ellis

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Gold Coast: Hanley, Hall, Swallow, Martin, Fiorini, Witts
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Rance, Rioli, B. Ellis, Miles

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Ah Chee (shoulder), Sexton (jaw), Ainsworth (knee)
Richmond: Nil

UMPIRES: Donlon, Gavine, Fleer 

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COMMENTATORS: Brenton Speed, Jason Dunstall, Alastair Lynch, Cameron Mooney