RICHMOND has recorded its best win of the Damien Hardwick era and perhaps ended Hawthorn's premiership hopes for 2012 after a wonderful 62-point win at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Thanks to a virtuoso ruck performance from ruckman Ivan Maric, six goals from Jack Riewoldt and a tougher, harder midfield that held a 260-203 edge in contested possessions, the Tigers improved their record to 4-5 and kept their hopes of a finals berth alive.
Five talking points: Richmond v Hawthorn
The Tigers led all day and won each quarter. Hardwick noted before the game that Richmond's downfall for much of the game had been to allow their opponents a burst or two each match where they dominated in play and that did much of the damage on the scoreboard.
The Hawks had their moments of dominance on Saturday but from quarter-time on the Tigers could always manufacture the steadying goal. Case in point being the third term when the Hawks several times got to within three goals, only for Richmond to steady on each occasion.
Click here to see all the best match pics
Goals in the final minute of the third term to Maric and Robin Nahas extended the lead to 29 points at the final change. Then three goals in the first five minutes of the final quarter, a wonderful snap to Daniel Jackson followed by two to Riewoldt extended the margin to eight goals and they were dancing in the aisles behind the Punt Road goals.
The Tigers ended up rattling home eight goals in a blistering final quarter that long-suffering Tiger fans will have on high rotation all week.
"I thought the way we hunted the ball was really impressive," Hardwick said.
"We were playing against a side that's very, very good in that area; I think they were No.3 overall in contested possession differential.
"To win against a side like that in that sort of manner when I thought we hunted the ball really well, especially inside 50, I thought was good also.
"That was probably the most pleasing thing."
Hardwick, a former assistant to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson knows the Hawks well. His first-year defensive coach Ross Smith knows them even better, having crossed to the Tigers at the end of last season, and they got their match-ups right from the opening bounce.
Steven Morris blanketed Cyril Rioli. Alex Rance had the better of Lance Franklin, who finished with just one garbage-time goal after struggling for much of the day in front of goal. The Hawks laboured when going forward, but with their two most damaging forwards stymied, they had no real avenues to goal.
The Tigers spanked the Hawks at contested possessions and were far more efficient going forward. Trent Cotchin (31 possessions) was everywhere, while Shane Tuck (35 possessions), and Nathan Foley (27 possessions) were great at clearances.
The Tigers also spread beautifully - with and without the ball - and the likes of Shaun Grigg (25) and Brett Deledio (32) also racked up impressive stats.
Jake King with three goals and Shane Edwards with two were also terrific foils for Riewoldt and King, as you would expect, was at Hawthorn all day.
Hawthorn had few good players in one of its more lamentable efforts of recent years.
Shaun Burgoyne provided drive off half-back, Jordan Lewis was good around the contested and lifted in the third term when the Hawks were still in the game, while Luke Breust was an opportunist forward with three goals. But like his side, they didn't come particularly easy.
But the Hawks did little to disprove doubts over their backline and the forward line still needs a shake-up. When Franklin and Rioli don't shine, nor does their side.
Clarkson said it wasn't panic stations just yet for the Hawks and denied that wholesale changes would be in order.
"We had 22 blokes out there today that we thought could get us the win against Richmond," Clarkson said.
"We have players we could consider coming back onto the side but we just didn't have enough effort of consistency and endeavour across the game."
The Tigers face another big test on Friday night, as they tackle St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. Hawthorn, now 5-4, returns to Launceston for the third time this year and faces North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon at Aurora Stadium.
RICHMOND 4.4 8.8 13.9 21.11 (137)
HAWTHORN 1.3 4.9 8.10 10.15 (75)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, King 3, Edwards 2, Martin 2, Jackson 2, Morris, Cotchin, Tuck, I. Maric, Nahas, Deledio
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Rioli 2, Roughead 2, Young, Smith, Franklin
BEST
Richmond: I. Maric, Tuck, Cotchin, Morris, Foley, Rance, Griffiths, King
Hawthorn: Burgoyne, Lewis, Roughead, Breust, Gibson
INJURIES
Richmond: Batchelor (rolled ankle), replaced in selected side by A. Maric
Hawthorn: Guerra (cut head), Shiels (quad), Young (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Brandon Ellis replaced in the fourth quarter by Addam Maric
Hawthorn: Liam Shiels (quad) replaced at three quarter time by Paul Puopolo
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Kamolins, Findlay
Official crowd: 51,617 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
