RICHMOND has had to dig deep to brush off a Carlton comeback, holding on to claim a 33-point victory in Thursday night's season opener in front of 85,016 fans at the MCG, but the victory may have come at a high cost.
One of the Tigers' biggest worries will be the extent of a knee injury to star defender Alex Rance who left the field in the third quarter after landing awkwardly in a marking contest. Rance took no further part in the game.
MEMBERSHIP The Hunt Continues in 2019; join as a member today
It looked like Richmond would have the night on its own terms after kicking the first six goals of the match and holding Carlton to just one point in the opening quarter.
The Tigers were at their ferocious and brilliant best early in the contest, with marquee recruit Tom Lynch finding his feet in the yellow and black strip with two goals in the opening term.
While much of the focus was naturally veered towards how Lynch and reigning Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt would co-exist in the same forward line, Richmond's ability to be clean in congestion and set up effectively behind the footy, with a seventh defender in general play, was a key to its early advantage.
Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin epitomised his side's clean hands around the contest (31 disposals and six clearances), Bachar Houli accumulated 24 disposals without fuss in the back half, and Dustin Martin was solid, yet not spectacular, on his way to 30 touches and seven inside 50s.
Lynch finished with three goals from four kicks (he missed a set-shot in the final term), with Riewoldt booting one and having a hand in two others. Toby Nankervis also snagged three majors and highlighted his mobility around the ground.
Former Magpie Alex Fasolo finally booted Carlton's first goal at the seven-minute mark of the second term, with the Blues noticeably lifting their pressure around the ball and matching Richmond for contested possessions.
Carlton trailled by a game-high 40 points at the start of the second quarter following a pre-season full of promise and a commitment to improve on the two wins it produced last year, and from there the Blues could have easily given up the ghost.
But their fightback, led by gun midfielder Patrick Cripps (32 disposals), No.1 draft pick Sam Walsh (24 disposals) and canny off-season acquisition Nic Newman, underlined their newfound desire to compete and be counted.
Richmond deserved the 14.13 (97) to 9.10 (64) win – its eighth in a row against its rivals - but Carlton coach Brendon Bolton would be buoyed by Thursday night's performance.
NEXT UP
Richmond will return to the home of football for a rematch against last year's preliminary final rival Collingwood.
CARLTON 0.1 4.4 8.8 9.10 (64)
RICHMOND 5.4 7.8 10.9 14.13 (97)
GOALS
Carlton: McKay 2, Fasolo, C.Curnow, McGovern, Murphy, Fisher, Thomas, Newman
Richmond: Higgins 3, Lynch 3, Nankervis 3, Balta, Riewoldt, McIntosh, Butler, Weller
BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Newman, Fisher, Murphy, Thomas, Setterfield, McKay
Richmond: Cotchin, Higgins, Houli, Nankervis, Lambert, Graham, Martin
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Richmond: Rance (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Meredith, Findlay, Fleer
Official crowd: 85,016 at the MCG
