Richmond great Matthew Richardson highlights six key points from the Tigers’ opening round loss to Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium last Saturday night.
- Matt Thomas made an excellent debut for the Tigers.
After winning a promotion from Richmond’s rookie list to the senior list, just a few days before the opening round, the former Port Adelaide tough, inside midfielder had a significant impact in his first match with his new team. Thomas gathered 29 possessions (8 kicks, 21 handballs), with 16 of them being contested, which was a team-high number, and took seven marks. He also had a team-high 10 clearances, a game-high five centre-clearances, and seven tackles. To coin a phrase from Brett Deledio, he’s as “tough as woodpecker lips”, and he’s going to be a great foil in the Tigers’ midfield for the likes of ‘Lids’ and Trent Cotchin. I reckon he’ll help them become even better players.
- Shaun Hampson also was impressive first-up in the Richmond side.
Really liked the way Hampson went about it against the Suns, having taken over the No. 1 ruck role with the Tigers in the absence of the injured Ivan Maric. He was the dominant ruckman on the ground, winning a game-high 37 hit-outs, with quite a few of them being really clear, precise taps to the team’s benefit. Hampson’s ruckwork at the centre bounces, and around the ground, was a key factor in the Tigers having a significant advantage in the total clearances over the course of the match (47 to 30). No doubt, the athletic big bloke will be extremely keen to build on his impressive debut for Richmond, when he confronts his old team Carlton in a Round 2 blockbuster at the MCG.
- Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio worked tirelessly in their endeavours to lift the Tigers.
The talented midfield pair had more than 70 disposals between them (Cotchin 38 and Deledio 33), so they certainly did everything in their power to try and provide the victory spark for the team. I thought that early on, it was Cotchin, who kept the Tigers in the contest and prevented the home team from running right away. The Richmond skipper had 15 touches in the first quarter, as he ran himself ragged to ensure the Tigers stayed in touch. Cotchin finished with a team-high 38 disposals, including an equal game-high six inside-50s. Deledio had 33 disposals, including a game-high eight clearances, and he took a team-high eight marks. I thought he looked dangerous when moved forward late in the game, and that’s a role I’d like to see him play a bit more in future, because I reckon it would really be of benefit for the team.
- Richmond could still have pinched the four points, despite being well below its best.
While I believe Gold Coast deserved its victory, having led nearly all match, and with eight more scoring shots overall, it is to the Tigers’ credit that they hung in there, despite having just a few good players over the four quarters. When Richmond hit the front early in the last quarter, I felt it had the necessary momentum to go on and win, but the Suns, to their great credit, were able to quickly regain control, piling on four unanswered goals. The Tigers refused to concede, however, and if Dustin Martin had been paid a free kick in front of goal, which certainly appeared to be there, they would have been just six points behind, with about 90 seconds left on the clock. In the end, Richmond was left lamenting an inability to maximise its chances. With 58 inside-50s to Gold Coast’s 48, the Tigers really should have placed more scoreboard pressure on the home team. Still, I’m sure Richmond will perform a good deal better, if it can keep having that many inside-50 entries per match.
- The Tiger Army will be hoping there’s not a Gary Ablett the third down the track.
Having watched Gary Ablett junior almost surely pick up three more Brownlow votes for another best-on-ground display against Richmond, I decided to do some homework on the record of ‘Gazza’ and his father, Gary senior, in matches against the Tigers over the years. I vividly recall, as a kid, going to the MCG with my dad and watching Ablett senior produce a stunning 14-goal display to rip Richmond apart (Round 9, 1989). Years later, I played in a game where he kicked 10 goals against us at Kardinia Park. Unbelievably, I reckon Gary junior has now nearly gone past his old man as a player, and a third Brownlow Medal beckons for him. In a combined total of 32 matches, that Gary Ablett senior and junior have played against Richmond throughout the past three decades, they have won 28 and lost just four. That’s an incredible winning strike-rate of 87.5%. For the sake of Tiger fans, let’s hope Gary Ablett junior eventually produces only girls, or any sons he has take up other sports . . .
- Richmond supporters shouldn’t be too downhearted after the Round 1 loss.
The AFL season these days is a marathon, so there’s definitely no need for panic after an opening round defeat. That said, however, Richmond’s Round 2 clash with Carlton shapes as a huge game, particularly given the fact both teams were beaten in Round 1. The Tiger players have all the motivation in the world, after their second-half capitulation to the Blues in last year’s elimination final. It’s going to be a fiercely-fought battle, that’s for sure.
