The previous biggest winning margin by the Hardwick-coached Tigers was 49 points, which they achieved twice - against West Coast at the MCG in Round 12, 2010 (19.12 to 11.11) and against Fremantle at the ‘G’ in Round 7, 2011 (23.10 to 14.15).
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That victory over the Dockers in Round 7 last year was the only other time Richmond has scored 20 goals or more in a match under ‘Dimma’.
Last Saturday’s result also was the Tigers’ biggest win anywhere, anytime, since the final home-and-away round of the 2008 season when they demolished Melbourne by 80 points - 18.13 (121) to 6.5 (41).
The Tigers’ nine-goal third-term blitz against the Demons last Saturday was their best return for a quarter since Round 15, 2008 against West Coast at Subiaco when they slammed on 11 goals (11.1 to 1.2) in the second quarter on their way to a 77-point victory - 24.8 (152) to 11.9 (75).
Richmond’s 13 individual goalkickers on Saturday was its most since Round 4, 1999 against Collingwood at the MCG when 14 players kicked goals in the 22.14 (146) to 14.12 (96) win.
The Tigers also had 13 individual goalkickers in their Round 15, 2008 victory over the Eagles.
The AFL’s official Champion Data stats revealed that Richmond had 35 more inside-50 entries than Melbourne (65 to 30), which is the greatest differential the Tigers have ever recorded.
In the third quarter alone, Richmond amassed an incredible 25 inside-50s, to Melbourne’s four.
The Tigers also had 138 more uncontested possessions than the Demons, which was their best-ever differential against any opposition in that category.
Tiger midfielder Shaun Grigg racked up a career-high 37 possessions against Melbourne last Saturday (19 kicks, 18 handballs, along with 12 marks and one goal).
It was the second week in-a-row he’d gathered 30-plus possessions, after having 30 touches in the Round 2 clash with Collingwood.
Grigg, who turns 24 on Thursday, has had 20 possessions or more 17 times in 24 games for Richmond since joining the Club from Carlton.
While on the subject of Tiger ball-magnets . . .
Shane Tuck was right back to his ‘leather-hoarding’ best in last Saturday’s encounter, with 30 possessions (15 kicks, 15 handballs), including 16 contested ones, 12 clearances, 16 pressure acts, 11 tackles, 11 scoring involvements, six marks and one goal.
Shaun Grigg, a guest on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, described the 30-year-old Tuck as the “Benjamin Button” of Tigerland - seemingly getting younger each season.
Nice touch by the Richmond cheer squad to dedicate their run-through on Saturday to Brad Miller, who was playing his 150th league game, but just his 17th with the Tigers.
“Congratulations Brad Miller 150 games. One hell of a Tiger” were the words on the banner, along with a big caricature of the ex-Demon.
Nice touch, in return, by Brad to thank the cheer squad via twitter post-match.
“Thank you to everyone involved in making this. I was humbled and grateful”, he tweeted.
Steven Morris has clearly inherited the on-field bravery and toughness of his father, dual Richmond premiership player Kevin Morris.
The 23-year-old throws himself into each contest as if his life depends on it.
He’s already developed a cult following among the Tiger faithful, who love the way he goes about his football.
You can’t keep an injured, feisty small man down . . .
Jake King was in the Richmond rooms at half-time last Saturday, getting among the players to offer advice and urge them on.
In inimitable style, he was taking credit afterwards for the Tigers’ stunning third-quarter burst.
A glass half-full view of Richmond’s season to date is the fact that key forwards Jack Riewoldt and Ty Vickery have managed just seven goals between them in the three games so far.
In the 2011 season, Riewoldt (62) and Vickery (36) scored more goals between them than any other big forward combination in the competition.
The team undoubtedly has scope for significant improvement when the pair hit their straps in 2012.blog comments powered by Disqus
