Richmond’s VFL team suffered another substantial loss on Saturday, going down to Collingwood by 73 points at Victoria Park.
A slow start cost the Tigers early, and despite closing the margin to just three goals midway through the second quarter, the margin blew out after half time.
Despite the efforts of Liam McBean, who ended the game with five goals, the Tigers struggled to find an avenue to goal when it mattered.
VFL coach Tim Clarke said the team was simply outplayed by the Magpies.
“When it boils down to it, they’re a top four team, we’re a bottom two or three side, and when you look at the standard of performance they consistently executed what they needed to around the footy,” he said.
“Every time we got the ball, unfortunately it landed in the hands of someone who couldn’t make a good decision. It consistently hurt us last week and it consistently hurt us today.
Clarke said the players would have to heavily reflect on their individual performances if the side is to bounce back against Essendon next week.
“The boys need to have a really good look at where they broke down today and train as well as they can this week to compete, because today they didn’t compete well enough in and around the contest,” he said.
“For starters, we need to win the footy. If we get Matt Thomas and Jaryd Cachia back it helps already in that area because they win their own footy really well and they help to set up team-mates on the outside.
“But a lot of credit has to go to Collingwood. They’re a really well-drilled side, they’re a well coached side, and their players went out there and executed the game plan, while ours didn’t.”
After an early period of Collingwood inaccuracy, which Richmond managed to capitalise on with two quick goals, the Pies began to mount a sizeable lead, kicking six unanswered goals before quarter time.
But two late goals to McBean meant the Tigers trailed by just 23 points at quarter time, before Chris Knights goaled early in the second quarter to bring the Richmond to within 19 points.
But that was the closest the Tigers came all day, with Collingwood extending its lead again quickly. Despite the best efforts of the Tigers’ midfielders and an undermanned backline, the Pies lead was back out to 40 points at half time.
A six-goal surge in the final quarter saw the Tigers close the margin, but the run came far too late to impact the result of the game, with Collingwood controlling the contest from half time.
Knights and Matt Arnot were the best performers for the Tigers, picking up 20 touches each.
Knights assisted in the forward set up and kicked two goals, while Arnot held his own in the midfield, collecting six clearances and laying seven tackles.
Richmond will play Essendon next Saturday in their final VFL game of the 2015 season.
FINAL SCORES
Richmond 4.2 5.6 6.6 12.6.78
Collingwood 7.7 11.10 18.13 22.18.150
GOALS:
Richmond: McBean 5, Butler 2, McKenzie 2, Knights 2, Gordon
Collingwood: Cox 5, Monkhorst 3, Close 3, Oxley 2, White 2, Witts 2, Dwyer, Moloney, Young, Williams, Seedsman
BEST:
Richmond: McBean, Knights, Butler, Hampson, Wynne
Collingwood: Young, Cox, Monkhorst, Viola, Oxley, Wallace
