Richmond reclaimed its wildcard position with a gritty 21-point come-from-behind win over Port Melbourne at the Swinburne Centre, the final score reading 10.12 (72) to 7.9 (51).
The side's focus coming into it’s do-or-die clash with Port Melbourne was to harness the power of teamwork, to find strength in unity.
“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.” - H.E. Luccock
The Tigers took it to the nth degree, after all seventeen players on the field helped Tyler Sonsie stretch his right calf and hamstring after the silky midfielder slotted the sealing goal in the final term.
Showers rolled in just prior to the opening bounce, which meant goals were a premium and field position vital.
The Tigers were able to play the game in their half for large portions of the opening term, with the nous of Brad Melville leading to the first major.
Bigoa Nyuon was shifted to a key defensive post after his deployment further afield and assumed his customary repelling role with ease.
Hugo Ralphsmith and Tom Brown provided the dynamic rebound from behind the ball, both showcasing sure hands and a clear mind in a frantic first quarter.
Mohammed Yassine took to the sodden conditions like a duck to water, building on his good form from weeks prior.
Yassine’s speed and quick thinking ahead of the ball led to forays forward and had Port Melbourne defenders constantly looking over their shoulder.
Both sides registered a solitary major in the first quarter, with Richmond taking a two-point lead into quarter time.
The Borough had the better of the territory and the scoring in the second term, slotting four goals to one.
Richmond struggled to get flow into its ball movement and thus was left to defend in its back-half for longer than it wanted.
Port Melbourne made the most of its chances and took a 16-point lead into the main break.
Tigers’ senior coach, Steve Morris put the onus on his chargers at halftime, imploring the young men in the yellow and black to up their work rate and their want to work for each other.
Richmond’s midfield brigade was asked sternly to up the ante and Mykelti Lefau and Maurice Rioli answered the call.
The brutish nature in which Lefau plays the game ignited his side, with Rioli sparking life into the Tigers both with and without the ball.
Rioli was clean and composed when surging from the centre bounce, and mounted pressure on anyone that was wearing royal blue and red.
It was a warming performance by Rioli on a gloomy, wintery afternoon.
Cam Olden would have experienced very similar conditions on Saturdays in Leongatha, and showed his wares in the third quarter with a trio of majors that turned the tide for Richmond.
Sam Banks also showed that he cut his teeth on the soggy grounds of Tasmania, guiding through a right-foot set-shot that extended Richmond’s lead.
The second half of the third quarter was some of the best football Richmond played for the year, a response that was welcomed by Morris and his lieutenants.
Richmond converted a 16-point deficit into a 15-point lead by the final change.
After a special third quarter, Austin Johnson added to the highlight reel, with a right-foot snap in front of the Jack Dyer Stand that led to a mobbing from his brethren.
The Borough was plucky in the last quarter, which raised the anxiety levels of the drenched Tiger faithful.
Richmond showed maturity and growth by locking the game down and then Lefau remained engaged inside 50, causing a turnover and then soccering through a goal that would make the Matildas proud.
Sonsie’s goal sealed a meritorious win that kept the hope flickering for a finals berth.
RICH 1.5 2.8 7.10 10.12 (72)
PORT 1.3 5.6 5.7 7.9 (51)
Goal Kickers:
Richmond: Olden (3), Lefau (2), Sonsie, Melville, Johnson, Bradtke, Banks
Best Players:
Richmond: Rioli, Sonsie, Lefau, Nyuon, Teal, Olden
