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Richmond 10.12 (72) def. Essendon 8.11 (59)
The Richmond Tigers have picked up their third win in a row and moved to 5-4 on the season after spoiling Dustin Fletcher’s 400th game with a 13-point triumph over the Essendon Bombers.
In front of over 83,000 fans at the MCG, the match itself failed to live up to the special ‘Dreamtime at the ‘G’ occasion. Both sides took the wrong option far too often, missed targets badly by hand and foot, while poor kicking for goal often ruined the rare passages of play where it all came together.
Essendon started the game with real intent, winning the first six clearances and pressing up forward. The wind was taken out of their sails quickly however, with goals against the run of play to Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin giving Richmond an unlikely 11-point lead.
A point-blank goal to Jake Carlisle got the Bombers on the board, but Cotchin’s second of the night just on the quarter time siren gave Richmond a 10-point lead that, given the circumstances, was very commanding.
The second quarter threatened to pass by without a single goal for either side, before Richmond looked to have blown the game apart with two quick goals in time on.
Essendon pinched two back just as quick however, heading into half time with an 11-point deficit but with all the momentum on their side. They continued their hot run in the third quarter, with consecutive goals to Watson, Colyer and Daniher getting Essendon within a point.
A late goal to Kamdyn McIntosh steadied the ship for Richmond, with the eight-point margin at the final break setting up an enthralling last quarter.
Quick goals to Grigg and Colyer looked to have set up a fast and free flowing final term, but Stephen Morris and substitute Cory Ellis were able to put through two more for the Tigers, allowing them to shut the game down and grind out the 13-point win.
Brandon Ellis was adjudged best afield with 33 disposals and eight marks, but the Richmond star had a healthy supporting cast in Trent Cotchin (24 disposals, two goals), Brett Deledio (27 disposals), Dustin Martin (25 disposals, one goal) and Shaun Grigg (20 disposals, two goals).
Essendon on the other hand were carried forward by Brendon Goddard (27 disposals, 10 marks), Dyson Heppell, Brent Stanton, Michael Hibberd (24 disposals each) and Travis Colyer (19 disposals, two goals).
But it was a tough night for their skipper Jobe Watson (17 disposals), while Jake Carlisle couldn’t make the most of his nine marks, kicking one goal, three behinds and having two other set shots fail to bother the scorers – costly errors in a low scoring game.
RESULT
Richmond – 3.2 | 5.6 | 7.10 | 10.12 (72)
Essendon – 1.4 | 3.7 | 6.8 | 8.11 (59)
GOAL KICKERS
Tigers: Cotchin 2, Grigg 2, C. Ellis, Morris, Martin, Griffiths, McIntosh, Riewoldt
Bombers: Colyer 2, Daniher 2, Carlisle, Watson, Chapman, J. Merrett
Attendance: 83,804
Dreamtime at the ‘G reaches fever pitch on Saturday night, as the eight-placed Richmond Tigers and ninth-placed Essendon Bombers face off in an incredibly important match. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:20pm (AEST).
After a poor start to the season that saw them drop winnable matches against the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, the Tigers have come roaring back.
A thrilling five-point win over arch-rivals Collingwood got them back into gear, and they followed the effort up with a stunning 33-point victory over Port Adelaide last Sunday night.
That’s good enough for eighth spot on the ladder at present, but with a record of 4-4 and a percentage just over 100, Richmond’s season could go anywhere from here.
Despite falling away in the contested possession category this season – an area they’ve performed well in over the last two seasons – the Tigers have found success this season depriving their opponents of the ball altogether.
At 334 per match, Richmond concede 10 fewer disposals per game than anybody else in the competition. With a healthy effective disposal percentage of 73.4 per cent, the Tigers are using the 30 extra possessions they have per game to great effect.
They’ll have their work cut out for them against a Bombers team that pressures well, but if Richmond’s opponents don’t get the ball, they simply can’t score points.
At 4-4 and just outside the eight, you could be forgiven for thinking Essendon have been inconsistent this season. The results haven’t always fallen their way, but for the most part the Bombers have been a genuine chance in every game.
Sitting in ninth heading into June isn’t ideal, but James Hird would be confident his side can play come September if they continue on the path they’re going.
The Bombers have worn their opponents out with an efficient kicking this season. Sitting fourth in the competition for kicks and marks and fifth for disposal efficiency is impressive, but the club’s work rate off the ball has been outstanding too, with an average of 70 tackles a game.
But while this game plan has worked for them through the middle and down back, up forward Essendon have spluttered.
The preference to kick has made their forward entries very predictable. Despite sitting in eighth with 52 inside 50s a match, the Bombers languish in 14th for marks inside 50 per game with nine and 13th for points per game with 81.
Joe Daniher kicked six goals last week in a potential coming-of-age performance, but he’ll find the job a lot tougher against Alex Rance. The Bombers need to balance their need to develop Daniher through constant target with kicking a winning score every week.
Neither team is likely to make any changes to their teams for this one. Should Tyrone Vickery succumb to his knee injury, Liam McBean looks to be a safe bet to play his second AFL match.
For the Bombers, big-game specialist David Zaharakis will be racing against the clock to overcome an ankle problem, but looks more likely to need another week out. The club is confident Dustin Fletcher will be able to overcome a minor niggle to suit up for game number 400.
Prediction
Both clubs have an enormous amount riding on this game, with its result sure to affect the finals.
With both teams coming into some form of late, we’re set for an absolute thriller. But given Richmond’s purple patch has come across two huge matches, look for them to repeat the dose this week.
Tigers by 4 points.