The toil of a long summer was made all that much sweeter when the VFL Tigers had the reigning premiers gasping for air in the opening seven minutes of their round 1 encounter.
Bursting out of the blocks is an understatement.
Richmond exploded with enormous vigour, urgency and attacking flair to blitz Port Melbourne and march away with a comfortable 65-point win, 21.15 (141) def. 11.10 (76).
Corey Ellis’ strong tackle inside 50 in the first minute of play was rewarded, and the silky left footer eased through the Tigers’ first major of the year.
Cue the bursting of the flood gates.
Patrick Naish showed the ability to sniff out a goal was tattooed to the family genes, when he swooped on a loose ball in congestion, swivelled onto his right and snapped truly.
Shai Bolton may have felt he had a point to prove after his omission from the senior side and the electric goalkicker, set about showcasing his exciting attributes.
Bolton has talent pouring out of him, evidenced by the way he slotted his opening major of the game.
The Tiger goalsneak cruised onto a loose ball inside 50 and snapped on his left with ease.
Outstanding pressure through the midfield led to Bolton’s second goal moments later.
Noah Balta was released from congestion, and used his left boot to find Bolton at the top of the arc.
Bolton’s set shot sailed through much to the delight of the Tiger Army, and his teammates.
Tyson Stengle set up Bolton’s third goal with a superb squaring ball inside, and Bolton did the rest.
Stengle, inspired by Bolton’s herois decided to get in on the act and showcase his wares.
The man they call 'Wombat' snuck into some space inside 50 and snapped two important goals in a minute to halt a mini-charge by Port Melbourne.
The quarter was capped off by a scintillating goal by Mabior Chol, who roved his own tap, burst through traffic and snapped truly on his left.
The free-flowing nature of the opening term didn’t carry over into the second.
The reigning premiers flexed their muscle around the ball and dashed through the corridor, setting up multiple attacking forays forward.
The Tigers slotted the opening two majors through Callum Moore and Stengle, before Port Melbourne hit back.
Port slammed through three majors in a row, narrowing the margin to 33 points, and the travelling faithful began to find their voice.
The Tigers absorbed the pressure however and pulled away once again.
Anthony Miles, in customary fashion, accumulated the ball at will, and was at his reliable best in front of goal.
Jake Aarts found Miles at the top of the 50, and the flint-hard midfielder kicked truly.
Mabior Chol then wowed the crowd as he soared and goaled minutes later, followed by a ripper from Aarts.
Aarts displayed his strength and skill, shrugging off a would-be tackler and snapping through his first of the day.
Callum Moore then provided another Tiger highlight, after shifting his opponent and marking deep in the right forward pocket in the shadows of halftime.
Moore, coolly watched his right-foot checkside sail through, and the Tigers’ opening half of the game, remarkably netted them 15 goals.
Richmond’s VFL senior coach, Crag McRae implored his chargers to “embrace the fight” in the second half, knowing that Port wasn’t going to surrender meekly.
The Borough exited half-time intent on making a dent in the sizeable margin and regaining some respect on the scoreboard.
Port did just that.
Both teams slotted three goals apiece in a tight third term, with the highlight coming from the right boot of Nathan Drummond.
Drummond, hemmed in on the boundary line, on the wrong side for a right footer, watched his set shot sail through, and was swamped by his teammates.
The final term mirrored the struggle of the third, as both sides began to feel the effects of the toasty autumn day and both sides again, slotted three goals apiece.
The second half didn’t have the electricity of the first, but the form of first-year player, Noah Balta would have had the Tiger Army grinning from ear-to-ear.
Balta looks right at home alongside fellow key backs, Ryan Garthwaite and Ben Miller, with the trio thwarting a bevy of Port Melbourne attacking chains.
Corey Ellis was another to shine, as he carved his way through the midfield gathering 32 disposals along with nine tackles in a truly balanced and mature performance.
The Tigers will now have to cool their jets with a bye in round 2 offering a great opportunity to rest, recover and prepare themselves for a stern test against Casey in round 3.
RICHMOND 8.5 15.7 18.11 21.15 (141)
PORT MELB 2.1 5.3 8.6 11.10 (76)
