The Roar
The Roar

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Highlights: Lloyd goal breaks Tigers' drought

Sam Lloyd’s goal after the final siren has given Richmond a pulsating one-point AFL win over Sydney at the MCG.

The 14.17 (101) to 15.10 (100) win on Saturday night broke the Tigers’ six-game losing streak.

Lloyd marked a short pass inside 50m and the siren sounded as he lined up for goal.

He coolly slotted through the biggest kick of his AFL career, sparking wild scenes of jubilation amid Richmond players and fans.

After trailing by three goals at the last break, Richmond burst back into the game with a run of five goals in eight minutes.

Sydney replied with the next four goals and it looked like the Tigers’ bad run would continue.

But Ben Griffiths kicked his fifth goal – a career-best – and then it became a slogging arm wrestle.

Finally, Richmond managed to break clear out of defence and the ball ended up with Lloyd for the game-winning shot at goal.

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Griffiths, Brett Deledio and Anthony Miles starred for the Tigers, while Lloyd kicked three goals.

Midfielder Dan Hannebery was outstanding for Sydney and Lance Franklin also kicked five goals.

The signs were bad for Richmond when Sydney kicked the first three goals in the opening eight minutes of the match – two of them to Franklin.

But the Tigers could not be faulted for their effort and, while their system was not great, they kept in the match.

Griffiths kicked two goals from questionable free kicks just before halftime, the second giving Richmond the lead for the first time in the match.

When Lloyd snapped accurately three minutes into the third term, the Tigers led by 13 points.

But just as they did last week in the second half against Hawthorn, Richmond could not build on their momentum.

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Sydney kicked the next five goals for an 18-point lead at the main break.

While the Tigers lost Bachar Houli with a wrist injury at training late in the week, Sydney also had to leave out their clearance king Josh Kennedy (hamstring).

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