With 3.39 left on the clock in the first quarter, Nick Vlastuin, from a set-shot, kicks his first goal in AFL football. What happens next is something to remember. He is mobbed by his teammates; a rolling maul of Yellow and Black descend on him as he jogs back to the centre. For those of us watching on television, it’s a sight to savour. If ever we doubted, with 3.39 left on the clock in the first quarter of Nick Vlastuin’s third AFL game, he had arrived as a footballer. Now was his time of initiation.
These moments are important, and always will be remembered. (Where were you when Steve Morris kicked his first goal?). How a team shares the success of others says much about the group ethos, about the selfless acts required for the greater good. In 20 years hence, long after these players have stopped playing, and our coaches no longer coach, here are the memories that linger fondly in the mind.
What is football, but a bag of hope, a collection of dreams, a sharing of memories?
The clock stopped, and for reasons of historical documentation, what follows is the running order and method of player celebration:
- Ivan Maric (embraces Vlastuin with arm around his shoulder)
- Dustin Martin (a bear hug to his head with gusto)
= 3. Jack Riewoldt (a grapple, joins Vlastuin in a jig, sends him off with a back slap)
= 3. Luke McGuane (a grapple, and joins with Riewoldt in a dance)
- Shane Edwards (head clasp with arm and hand)
- Shaun Grigg (hand embrace)
- Brett Deledio (high five)
- Brandon Ellis (intimate full body hug)
- Chris Newman (pat on head)
- Orren Stephenson (high five and pat on the head)
- Bacha Houli (high five)
- Jake Batchelor (body touch-up with a chest embrace)
- Daniel Jackson (high five)
Freudian psychoanalysis of the manner of each players’ congratulatory gesture could well say much about them (are forwards more extroverted than midfielders?). After the celebrations, Vlastuin receives a drink bottle from a bespectacled trainer, takes a sip, then the Channel 7 footage cuts to Damien Hardwick. Reflected in the glass panel of the coach’s box window is Kelvin Moore, in luminous orange, returning to the boundary line where Shane Tuck stands. The sub is yet to be activated; Nathan Foley is on the bench.
The footage in inconclusive, but this suggests that of the 17 other Richmond players on the field when Nick Vlastuin kicked his first goal, at least 13 of them manhandled him in acknowledgement. Shane Tuck and two others were on the bench and, therefore, unable to participate.
Six players are unaccounted for: Chris Knights, Robin Nahas, Jake King, Alex Rance, Troy Chaplin, and Steven Morris. Of these, it is no business for the latter three to be congratulating a goalkicker. Such displays of celebratory emotion for a dour defender are counter-intuitive. Note Harry Taylor’s subdued response to his goals kicked for Geelong. Harry Taylor belongs down back. He does not know how to celebrate.
Assumptions are that Knights and Nahas were off the field. Empirical research also suggests that had Reece Conca been playing, and on the field, he would have bestowed on Vlastuin a “Conca cuddle”. Reece Conca knows how to share the love. He is not afraid of his emotions.
Jake King, then, is the missing link. Where was he when Nick Vlastuin kicked his first goal? Why is he not seen in the footage making body contact with Vlastuin? Is Jake King Mr X? Is the hard man of the forward line a little guarded about his masculine intimacy?
It is, of course, a moot point. Seven seconds after play is resumed, Jake King kicks another goal from broken play and I don’t care what he does, so long as he keeps doing this. Jake King is his own man, and I am in no position to argue. His goal was the second in a sequence of three in 34 seconds of game time, the likes of which, in all my days of watching Richmond, I cannot remember seeing before.
I watch the game at home with my partner, and her brother, who is a Sydney Swans supporter. He goads me that this is Richmond and I should take a photograph of the score. I do this. Port Adelaide 13, Richmond 44. Three minutes later, after Chris Newman kicks truly from the 50-metre line, I take another photograph. I can hardly believe what I see. The camera cuts to a slow-mo shot of Jake King celebrating in front of a Richmond crowd – it is an image of untrammelled joy – and I wish only that I was there also.
**
A list of select tweets from #AFLPortTigers, as posted from the beginning of the first quarter:
@D3wizlsAFL Big call by Lynchy: Port to play finals if they win this game
@Lozzahpls So excited for Foley to be back
@SCrawf9 @Richmond_FC This is your LIFE
@Beastiano Great start Jacky
@SERG10_D The Big O looking really good
@PaulC_78 Has the bubble burst for Port Adelaide?
@TheBellsy Jack Riewoldt, you are just full of class.
@chris8875 That one’s for you, Mark Maclure.
@andrew_porter Vlastuin. First goal. Outstanding
@natyibetta Big O!!! The ruckman that rocks!!!!
@Jasonkfraser Jack Dyer medal for Dustin this year #lockitin
@jetcas1434 6 goals up and still stressed about winning. The life of a Tiger supporter lol
**
Everybody who follows Richmond knows of the recent criticisms levelled at Jack Riewoldt. What has been said, and by whom, is on the public record. What everybody who follows Richmond also knows is that on Saturday afternoon at AAMI Stadium, Jack played a sublime game of football that helped ensure the win. His bottom line was five goals. The bigger story is how, in a time of scrutiny, he responded with such forthright honesty in his performance. He chased, he competed, he created, he took double the number of contested marks as the next best on the ground, and after the game he spoke to the camera with refreshing candour and openness.
Two of his five goals were virtuoso performances, and they need retelling.
The first came at the 16-minute mark of the first quarter, from a set shot tight in the pocket. The angle looked improbable for a right-footer. Riewoldt casually stepped inside and struck the ball instead on his left, floating it high and with a curling trajectory that arced through the goals. Channel Seven’s commentator, Hamish McLachlan, punctuated his narration with two words: “RIEWOLDT! TERRIFIC!” And it was.
The second came 17 seconds after Jake King’s goal, which in turn had come 17 seconds after Vlastuin’s goal. The Tigers were running hot. Orren Stephenson taps the ball from a centre-square bounce to Brett Deledio’s advantage, who kicks deep into our forward 50, where seven players compete in the air (four defenders v three forwards). Riewoldt stays on his feet, the ball spills to the back, he gathers it around his knees, cuts sharp left, holds the ball aloft to sidestep Campbell Heath, accelerates, and, as tackled by Thomas Jonas, kicks a check-side on his right foot for a goal.
Pundits often call this the “football smarts”. Riewoldt is a fine set shot from an obtuse angle, but he has also a spearhead’s guile and cunning. He knows where the goals are and mostly he knows how to find them. He is the finisher, the gunslinger, the bloke who seals the deal. It is a job that comes with great responsibility, and also great expectations.
Football nowadays has become a game of numbers. A body of thought has a vested interest in analysing each play by spreadsheet. Probabilities are calculated, risk mitigated. But among the organised chaos of 36 men chasing an oval ball, there is room still in the game for vignettes of artistry, for a craftsman’s touch. And, thus, it was twice on Saturday afternoon with Jack Riewoldt.
**
A list of select tweets from #AFLPowerTigers, as posted from the beginning of the last quarter:
@SERG10_D Mark McVeigh “Chris SMITH went down with a knee injury” He’s forgotten to take his Vitamin C shot today #prettyboy
@TitusOReily Watching this with a Richmond supporter gives you insight into the sheer terror the tiniest comeback produces.
@Kimbo_Ramplin “It’s Richmond’s to lose.” A statement to strike terror into the hearts of Tigers’ supporters across the land.
@MVFCLR22 Surely not?
@Andrew_Schmidt9 What’s with the pony-mullet on the port player? He looks like an evil bogan wizard…
@chris8875 Reckon Richmond should be persisting with this young Stephenson fellow. Seems to know what he is doing. Shows a bit.
@AdamGMCKay Feeling for Knights right now. Hope it’s not what we’re thinking
@kel_holbeck Tiger legend in the making @jakeking28 Weightman esque player & just as popular
@AndrewGigacz Has Port Adelaide’s number 34 done anything to make him blush? Was hoping to see Redden redden.
@TomCurrie Trent who?? #holdingusback #deadweight
@MatthewP29 Chris Newman has been good today
@joelproctor_ Very courageous Tucky!
@AndieHensley We thank thee, Oh Lord, for the lovely little bag for Jack. Amen. (Goes back to chewing nails till they bleed)
@Adam_Price Tigers can’t lose from here can they?
@kavanagh27 I think we are home. Maybe
@CherylCritchley I just breathed out.
@PeteRepeatRT “There’s still time if they’re good enough” – does any team ever win after a commentator says that?
@SERG10_D: To Robert Walls and Mark Maclure … Go SUCK on a LEMON
@t_shaped Best thing abt #aslpowertigers – we’ve been getting lessons recently. And we’ve learned from them
@ScotE_2hotE Ken Hinkley subs on Alan Richardson to save his unbeaten coaching record.
@FrankTromboni It looks like torps are back in fashion
@paulesmith don’t think we can lose from here! It is full time though…
@mikjeffo Anything to shut @kochie_online up.
@noni467 Just woke up from a nap to a beautiful thing…
**
Each Richmond game this season, I have watched with pen and paper. I write notes as the play unfolds, making observations that I hope to fashion into a story. The running order from the top of the first page of Saturday’s notebook read like this: “Lids – white shorts/black boots. OS wins first tap-out – early mark. Bronx cheers for Chaplin. Jackson turn-over. Riewoldt intercept. OS wins first three tap-outs. Tuck playing with intent (31yo 167 games). Ellis attack on contest!! JR 2nd goal: “Riewoldt, terrific!” Vlastuin first goal – TEAM CONGRATULATIONS.”
Looking back over the notes now, Saturday’s game was the most complete team performance for Richmond this year. Every player contributed, every player offered something to the win. On individual performances, notwithstanding the two disturbing injuries (see below), I could not suggest one player whose place in the team for next week could be in jeopardy.
I liked the discipline of Morris, who in the first minute of the second quarter short- passed to King inside 50, rather than bomb away for a long goal. I liked Shane Edwards’ 14 contested possessions, and his creativity in congestion. I liked our stand-in captain’s leadership, his run-and-carry, his reading of the play. I like it every time ‘Dusty’ is near the ball. I liked Jackson’s game, and I liked it when he hugged Nathan Foley on the boundary line, our first sighting of ‘Axel’ on the field since Round 10 last year. I like all about Brandon Ellis and Nick Vlastuin. I liked the Big O’s tap- work. I liked Ivan Maric’s contributions. I liked Luke McGuane’s harry up forward and down back in his 100th game. And I especially liked Chris Newman’s lunging tackle late in the last quarter.
Here was a game where Richmond played the percentages well. The Tigers used the boundary line when they had to. They slowed the game down with tempo football when it suited. They looked organised around stoppages. They were miserly in defence. They won a game that was played a long way from home, when the odds looked against them. They did a job on Port Adelaide, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
**
The weekend’s sour postscript was the two injuries. Shane Tuck is a brave man, he is a team player, and I hope his shoulder heals quickly. If this is to be his last season – and I hope it isn’t – I do not want it to end like this. He deserves better. He deserves another chance. I hope we all see Shane Tuck run around later in the season, hopefully in September sunshine.
My enduring image of Saturday’s game was of Chris Knights lying on the ground, clutching his right knee, in pain, having just kicked a goal. It is a sight no football follower wants to see. The reaction is visceral. Ivan Maric bent down and placed two hands on his body – a moment of tenderness among the brutality of the game – and I thought at once of a wounded beast on the plains of Africa.
Football is a game of crude Darwinian logic: it is survival of the fittest. The football field is an animal kingdom, and it has no place for the weak and the infirm and the wounded. In that moment when Chris Knights lay on the ground, burying his face in the grass – to distract from pain, to alleviate the shock – he must have felt the loneliest man in the world.
In such a succinct moment, such a chance encounter, all he knew had been turned upside down. Life no longer had any certainties. He knows the doctors and trainers will arrive, he knows he is leaving this field on a stretcher, he knows a surgeon’s scalpel awaits, and that there will be hours and days and weeks and months of rehabilitation. But nothing is known after this.
It is an affecting realisation. This could happen to anyone. It is the risk of any footballer.
After replays of Chris Knights’ right knee buckling and deforming, and footage of the medical staff lifting him on a stretcher and onto a motorised cart, the Channel 7 coverage cuts to the Richmond cheer squad. Our supporters stand in solemnity, applauding as he is carried off. It has the mark of a funeral. Everybody feels sorrow.
Channel 7 commentator Tom Harley, the former Geelong captain, best encapsulates the mood. “Our thoughts and best wishes to Chris Knights as he contemplates a recovery from that injury,” he says. “All sorts of things would be going through his mind at the moment.”
Since moving to Richmond as a free agent, Chris Knights has played five games as a Tiger. He has kicked six goals, including three in the game against Freemantle that kept us in the contest. He has done enough already to endear himself to Richmond fans. The future looked assured, his prospects full of promise.
Now, at least for this season, for him it is over. The game is up. He can no longer do what he has done for so long. He can no longer do what he has worked so hard for. He can no longer do what he must dream of doing before each game. With 6.08 minutes left on the clock in the second quarter, I write a simple message in my notebook: “Chris Knights – thank you”. It is a sentiment that I imagine would be shared by Richmond supporters everywhere. For that moment, all our wishes could only be for the welfare of one man, who for now lay alone on the ground.
Tiger tiger, burning bright.
or Twitter: @dugaldjellie
