Richmond has suffered a second straight defeat, going down to Adelaide by 36 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The game started well enough for the Tigers with Shaun Grigg goaling from long range following a ruck infringement to open proceedings, with the tackle pressure and intent at the contest looking on.
But from the ten-minute mark of the first quarter onward, the game was predominantly played on the Crows’ terms.
Trailing by 39 points late in the second term, Richmond looked to have dragged its way back into the contest with three goals in four minutes, kicking at 100 per cent efficiency across the ground in that period.
Jack Riewoldt marked strongly inside 50 and had a chance to cut the margin to 15 points on the stroke of half time. His set-shot hit the woodwork, and from the ensuing kick out, Adelaide went the length of the field and answered back via Josh Jenkins in the goalsquare.
As was the case throughout most of the game, every Richmond challenge on the scoreboard was returned with interest going the other way. This Tiger burst was no exception, as the Crows came out strongly again in the second half booting four of the opening five goals of the third quarter, as the hosts couldn’t find a way to consistently break out of defensive 50.
The Tigers fought back late to kick four of the last five goals of the game, but the damage had been done in conceding the most points against since the 2014 elimination final loss.
Sam Lloyd provided the Tiger highlight of the day as he flew high above a pack in the third term to mark deep in attack and snap the second of his three goals. Daniel Rioli then kicked his first senior goal for Richmond and followed up with another in the final quarter.
Captain Trent Cotchin (32 disposals) led Richmond in contested possesions with 14, tackles with six, and was equal-best with Grigg in clearances on six.
Shaun Hampson had a fierce battle against fellow former Carlton ruckman Sam Jacobs, edging out the Crow with 34 hitouts to 28 and finished with his first goal since Round 14, 2014.
Brandon Ellis (39) and Bachar Houli (36) were the highest possession-gatherers for Richmond, while Lloyd’s three goals were the best for the hosts, with Rioli and Ty Vickery the only other multiple avenues to goal.
Conversely, at the other end, Adelaide managed multiple goals through skipper Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts, Richard Douglas (all with three each), Rory Sloane, Scott Thompson, Jarryd Lyons and Brodie Smith (each with two majors).
Although Richmond finished behind on the clearance count 32-39, they were able to outscore the Crows by four goals (8.4 52 to 4.4 28) from that source. Turnovers going forward hurt, however, with Adelaide finishing 43 points up from errant Tiger possessions (5.9 39 to 12.10 82).
A six-day break and a trip to Perth to take on last year's grand finallists, West Coast, awaits Richmond next week as they look to square the win-loss ledger at two.
Richmond 2.3 7.5 9.10 13.14 92
Adelaide 4.4 11.6 17.9 19.14 128
Goals
Richmond – Lloyd 3, Vickery 2, Rioli 2, Grigg, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Lambert, Hampson, Edwards
Adelaide – Walker 3, Betts 3, Douglas 3, Lyons 2, Sloane 2, Thompson 2, Smith 2, McGovern, Jenkins
Injuries
Richmond: Nil
Adelaide: Seedsman (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Dalgleish, Schmitt
Official crowd: 29,951 at Etihad Stadium
