Australian Football

Match Report

Fremantle’s last ever game at Subiaco Oval proved to be one of their worst, the club succumbing by 104 points to a rampant Richmond on Sunday (the same margin the Dockers went down to Sydney the previous week). The falling away of a team, which mid-season looked like a finals contender, has been dramatic. Coach Ross Lyon summed up his thoughts at the after-match press conference: “That tipping point of weight of numbers of inexperience, youth and probably quality, that tipping point happens…that's what you're seeing the last couple of weeks."

For Richmond, on the other hand, the percentage boosting win was just what the doctor ordered, as the Tigers try to consolidate their precarious hold on the double chance. But at least their destiny remains in their own hands and can be sealed with a win against St. Kilda next week.

The match began with fireworks, albeit before the first bounce, and the smoke had hardly cleared when play got underway. On a somewhat slippery surface, Freo was first out of the blocks, with dynamo Nat Fyfe drawing first blood with less than one minute gone. The Dockers dominated the first ten minutes, with Fyfe, in particular, the standout player. Nine forward fifty entries to nil told the tale. But Freo failed to convert their chances and as so often happens in such cases, the next entry, the first to Richmond, resulted in a goal to Jacob Townsend, playing his first game for the year.

The next goal also came from a player playing his first game for the year, in fact, his first game for two years, and that was the Dockers Harley Bennell. The gifted Bennell put through a second goal late in the term to put the Dockets back in front at the first change after a second from Townsend and another from Daniel Rioli had given the Tigers the advantage. Fremantle was the better team in the first quarter, and if it hadn’t of been for several relatively easy misses, notably from Matt Taberner, their lead would have been greater than a mere four points.

Fremantle’s solid start made what transpired in the second quarter, and thereafter, all the more puzzling. The Tigers piled on 8.2 to the Dockers solitary behind, and at no stage in the quarter did the former look to be under undue pressure or stress. With the Tigers trademark forward pressure in evidence, Fremantle was floundering, messing about with the ball when they did get it, slipping over and fumbling, while the Tigers were doing everything they needed to do and cruising.

Richmond goals came consistently through the quarter, including three to Kane Lambert, who was having a wonderful game, with singles to Townsend (making it three for the half), Houli, Edwards from a lovely snap from the boundary, McIntosh, and Butler to round out the half. Suddenly the Tigers were up by 45 points and the match all but decided.

Fans expecting Fremantle to come out firing in the third were sadly disappointed, as the Tigers consolidated their dominance, kicking six goals to two. The opener went to Townsend, having the game of his life, before Hayden Crozier finally broke the nine-goal Tiger spree by posting Freo’s third. Any signs of a revival were quickly snuffed out, when Jack Riewoldt put through his first after a Dustin Martin chaos ball lobbed in the goal square, followed soon afterwards by a major from Nankervis, from a mark, and Butler from fine roving. Josh DeLuca got one back for the Dockers but the steamroller that was Richmond moved on. The Tigers finished off the quarter with goals to Martin, Riewoldt, from a clever piece of Gaelic chip kicking, and from the least likely source, Alex Rance, who had moved into the forward line, apparently for a bit of fun!

The lead at the final change stood at 75 points, with the only real interest left in the game being whether, or not, Richmond could crack the ton, margin wise, and repeat Freo’s agony from the Sydney game. Very early on the answer seemed clear—such a margin was there for the taking. At three minutes Martin was on the end of a 'Joe the goose' and two minutes later first gamer, Jack Graham, was awarded a free in front and slotted through his first. Then followed a double from Riewoldt , the first courtesy of strong mark and the second from a bullet pass from Martin. A fifth from the bolter Townsend at the thirteen-minute mark brought up the magical ton margin.

With half a quarter to go, a 20-goal victory seemed attainable for the Tigers, but Freo, perhaps feeling the prospect of consecutive 100-point thrashings too much to bear, slotted through the next two goals, to Ballantyne and Crozier. But alas for the purple men, the Tigers were not done, with the terrific Townsend and his partner up forward Butler putting through the last two of the match to make it 104 points again. The Richmond scoreline of 25.5. 155 was testament to the outstanding efficiency in front of goal, and perhaps also the lack of pressure applied by the opposition.

Best players for Richmond were Dustin Martin, Lambert, Townsend, Vlastin, and Grigg, while for Fremantle Fyfe, Hambling, and Darcy all tried hard.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was empathetic with his opposite number: "I do know what Ross is going through," he said post-match. "We went through a similar thing last year when your boys are really struggling to find something to play for, which is tough..we got belted a couple of times late (last year).

"They're a better side than what they played today - their first quarter's more evident of, when they're up and going, how they can play."

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was philosophical: "We're really disappointed but we just spoke about in the rooms that the weight of numbers is inexperience," he said.

"The season's ending, but they need to be thinking about what their break looks like, of improvement and how they need to return and the hard work that lays in front of us to be a competitive AFL team – which at times this year we've shown.”

GOALS

Fremantle: Bennell 2, Crozier 2, Fyfe, Deluca, Ballantyne
Richmond: Townsend 6; Riewoldt 4; Lambert, Butler 3; Martin 2; Rioli, Houli, Edwards, McIntosh, Nankervis, Rance, Graham

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Fremantle: Fyfe, Hamling, S.Hill, Mundy
Richmond: Martin, Grigg, Townsend, Ellis, Lambert, Houli

BEST - WATODAY.COM.AU
Fremantle: Fyfe, Darcy, Mundy, Sutcliffe, Hill, Hamling
Richmond: Grigg, Martin, Ellis, Townsend, Lambert, Nankervis

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Richmond: Nil

REPORTS: Sean Darcy (Fremantle) for striking Nick Vlastuin (Richmond) in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: Fisher, Dalgleish, Hosking

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Brad Johnson, Matthew Pavlich, Ben Dixon