Richmond VFL 14.19-103 def North Ballarat 8.13-61

A Jack Graham-inspired VFL Tigers rallied to win their ninth match of the season on Sunday, running out 42-point winners against North Ballarat at Mars Stadium.

Graham recorded a match-high 33 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, in an industrious display on his return from an ankle injury.

His efforts were compounded by that of Tyson Stengle and Ben Lennon (three goals each), as well as Jayden Short (27 disposals), who shone as the Tigers climbed in to the VFL’s tightly contested top four.

Richmond development coach Ryan Ferguson said the side showed plenty of determination and grit against one of the competition’s most improved sides.

“I thought we embraced the struggle, embraced the fight,” Ferguson said.

“They play the ground well, and are a much improved team compared to thew last time we faced them.

“They got their first win last week, and pushed Box Hill in a tough game as well, so we knew what they would bring.

“But when we played our game, and got our tackles up in that last quarter, we were able to overwhelm them."

Facing the Roosters for the second time this season after their strong Round 1 victory, it was clear from early in the fixture that the home side would not be defeated quite so easily on its home turf.

The Roosters brought intensity and drive to each contest, pushing the midfield engine of Graham, Jacob Townsend and Jacob Ballard to dominate the contested ball count and give their forward counterparts quality service.

Lennon reaped the benefits of their work, nailing two of his eventual three goals in the first quarter, while Ryan Bathie also nailed a solitary major as the VFL Tigers looked for the early break.

However, inaccuracy would prove costly as the Roosters pegged two goals back to trail by 12 points at the first break.

Sitting pretty on nine disposals at quarter time, Graham continued his tireless work out of the middle, doubling his disposal count by the main break.

While the forwards took some time to get firing at the start of the term, a Shaun Mannagh special provided some timely relief, before Ivan Maric followed suit with a perfectly executed snap from a tight angle.

North Ballarat continued to be a thorn in Craig McRae’s side, but a Tyson Stengle goal on the half-time siren opened up a four goal lead, one which would prove vital in the result.

With windy conditions beginning to pick up in the state’s north-west, the second half proved to be a scrappy affair, with both sides struggling to control possession and tempo.

Short opened his account with a thumping effort from long-range, before vice-captain Ballard marked courageously and finished calmly to give the VFL Tigers a much-needed buffer.

Yet, even with all the momentum in their favour, two late goals to the Roosters had the Tigers sitting in a precarious position at the final change, with only 15 points separating the sides in an enthralling contest.

With all to play for in the final term, both sides' experienced heads proved the difference, as the Tigers nailed six goals to put clear daylight between themselves and the Roosters.

Stengle’s second came within seconds of the restart, and the VFL Tigers took complete control of the contest, with Todd Elton scoring his first goal for the day moments after.

Jake Batchelor went forward to good effect, launching a monstrous 55-metre effort to register his third goal for the year at VFL level, before Lennon crumbed and snapped cleverly to bring up his third.

Stengle’s third also came shortly after, before a crafty Brandon Wood finish put the exclamation point on a dominant fourth quarter performance.

Graham and Townsend continued to dominate the midfield battle, while the one-on-one work of Oleg Markov provided the perfect springboard for the Tigers relentless attack right until a much-welcomed final siren.

The VFL Tigers can now enjoy a well-earned week off, before returning in two weeks time to face Geelong in a bumper clash at Simonds Stadium on Saturday, August 12.