We’ve made it to Round 4 and we’re starting off with a Thursday night battle at the Gabba when the Brisbane Lions host the Richmond Tigers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
For both clubs, the early part of this season hasn’t gone to plan. Tonight is a chance to get an important win on the board and get the season back on track.
For Brisbane Lions, it’s been a horrendous start to the year. The danger signs were there in the aftermath of last season, when a mass exodus of players left the Lions leaving an inexperienced list for this year.
And to add to their woes, the Lions have been decimated by injuries. Daniel Rich is out for the season. Brent Staker hasn’t made a game yet this season – neither has Ash McGrath or Claye Beams. And now ruckman Matthew Leuenberger is injured and is looking at a long stint on the sidelines.
The form so far this season has been far from impressive. Beaten in all four games so far this season, with last week’s 113-point defeat to Port Adelaide the biggest loss any side has faced yet in 2014.
While the Lions have been through hard times, they have the advantage this time round being at their home, the Gabba.
They’ll be determined to put in a strong showing for forward Jonathan Brown, who will be playing his 250th game.
The last player still at the club from their premiership three-peat, Brown has been a tireless worker for the club; and the Lions will want to put in a good game to honour one of their all-time greats.
Former Richmond player Luke McGuane will make his first appearance in Lions colours tonight, while draft selection Darcy Gardiner will make his AFL debut.
It hasn’t been much better for Richmond. They did manage one win, against Carlton in Round 2. But losses to Gold Coast, the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood see the Tigers languishing well outside the top eight and desperate for a win to build some momentum for the season.
The Tigers have also had injury worries this season. Brett Deledio remains on the sidelines, while the likes of Ivan Maric, Todd Banfield and Chris Knights are yet to step on the field in 2014.
Ricky Petterd returns to the Richmond lineup tonight, looking to spark a team into action who have been well short of their best.
Even with both teams having injury woes and struggling for form, there’s still plenty of quality players on the paddock.
For the Lions, Tom Rockliff will be pivotal. A suspension set him back early in the season, but even in a well beaten side last week, his class was there to see as he picked up a stack of possession.
Former Cat Trent West has done well in his new colours, but will need to step up a gear in Leuenberger’s absence and become the number one ruck option.
For Brisbane’s sake, milestone man Jonathan Brown will also need a big game. This may be his last season, but he still has some more heroics left in him.
Richmond’s Trent Cotchin is a ball magnet, and is sure to get heaps of the ball; the Lions will have work to do to keep him quiet.
Dustin Martin is showing signs of his enormous potential and will be keen to step up another level this week.
In the forward line, Jack Riewoldt has struggled for form after being the leading goalkicker last season. But he’s too good of a player to be down for too long. Is tonight the time he returns to his best form?
For the winner, four valuable competition points are up for grabs, as well as the chance to build some momentum and get their season back on track.
But for the loser, especially if it’s a heavy loss, the repercussions are too awful to contemplate. Possibly a coach under pressure and certainly their finals prospects will already be looking bleak.
Join us tonight from 7:30pm (AEST) as we bring you the action as it happens. Leave your thoughts and comments below as the match unfolds and we get the Easter weekend under way with an important game of footy.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Great blog Mds loved it as I was out with some mates and needed Richmond to come home and kick some goals (which they did). Sounds like the Lions shouldn't have been in the game but thanks to Richmond's inaccuracy they were for much of the game. I noticed Brown had another 4 goals to his name, the champ is surely playing well in his last season!
mds1970
Roar Guru
After a very ordinary first half, the game sprung to life in the third quarter, as the Lions burst from the sheds full of running and even threatened to pull off what would have been a shock result as they took the lead. But the Tigers steadied with a run of five goals. The Lions were still within striking distance as the last quarter started, and had Mayes converted a very kickable shot, the final outcome may have been different. But the Tigers then stepped up again, pulling away to end up with a very comfortable win. Thanks for joining us on The Roar for tonight's game. No Good Friday games, but there'll be plenty more games being blogged over the remainder of the weekend. And I'm off on holidays to Adelaide for a few days, and I'll be catching the Giants against the Crows live on Sunday; a chance to check out the new Adelaide Oval. Have a happy Easter everyone!!
mds1970
Roar Guru
Jonathan Brown kicked 4 goals in a beaten side in his milestone game. Chaired off by two team-mates, as players from both sides gave him a guard of honour. Great sportsmanship from the Tigers.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Richmond 15.16 (106) def Brisbane 9.9 (63) Goals : Richmond - Riewoldt 4, Gordon 3, Martin 3, Edwards 2, Cotchin, Arnot, Petterd. Brisbane - Brown 4, Lester, Bewick, Cutler, Taylor, Paine. Best : Richmond - Cotchin, Petterd, Riewoldt, Jackson, Grigg, Ellis. Brisbane - Rockliff, Brown, Zorko, Lester, Redden, Adcock
TomC
Roar Guru
Well, to be fair, that was a much better game of footy in the second half.
mds1970
Roar Guru
A 53-point win for the Tigers, and the strains of the team song blare out over the PA system; the crowd going into a roar as YELLOW AND BLACK is sung
mds1970
Roar Guru
And there's the siren, it's all over. Richmond 14.16 (106) def Brisbane 9.9 (63)
mds1970
Roar Guru
33 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 15.16 Brisbane 9.9 Richmond centre break, and Griffiths finds Dustin Martin 30 out directly in front. Goes back, slots the goal through.
mds1970
Roar Guru
31 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 14.16 Brisbane 9.9 A turnover from the kick-in and it ends up with Jonathan Brown who marks 25 out on a tight angle. It hasn't been a fairytale milestone game, and the Lions will lose; but here's a chance to bring up a 4-goal haul for the day. Tight angle, but Brown makes no mistake.
mds1970
Roar Guru
30 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 14.16 Brisbane 8.9 Patfull goes long from outside the 50. Zorko throws a foot at the ball, hoping to divert it from its behind-bound trajectory, but doesn't change the end result. A point for the Lions.
mds1970
Roar Guru
28 minutes - Richmond 14.16 Brisbane 8.8 Morris from half back to a running Bachar Houli who goes long and finds Gordon 45 out. Makes no mistake with the kick, that's 3 for the quarter and the Tigers are running away now.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Lewis Taylor holding his shoulder as he goes through the interchange area.
mds1970
Roar Guru
22 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 13.16 Brisbane 8.8 Ball in a pack on the Richmond forward line. Edwards soccers off the ground, but the shot goes wide.
mds1970
Roar Guru
19 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 13.15 Brisbane 8.8 The Lions get one back. Getting the ball deep on the forward line, ball on the ground and Cutler soccers it through.
mds1970
Roar Guru
18 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 13.15 Brisbane 7.8 Centre break, and Nathan Gordon marks just inside the 50. Makes no mistake with the kick, Gordon has his 2nd and the Tigers their 13th. The pressure's off now.
mds1970
Roar Guru
16 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 12.15 Brisbane 7.8 And another one for the Tigers. A turnover on the 50 metre line, Gordon left unmarked 25 out to get the ball and face no pressure as he puts the goal on the board for a 37-point lead. The floodgates have opened now.
mds1970
Roar Guru
15 minutes - Richmond 11.15 Brisbane 7.8 That was silly. The debutant Darcy Gardiner pushed Dustin Martin over to give away a free, 30 out next to the boundary. But Martin's shot is off target.
mds1970
Roar Guru
13 minutes 4th quarter - Richmond 11.14 Brisbane 7.8 Griffiths has a set shot from the 50. Doesn't make the distance, ball goes to ground. Edwards soccers off the ground for a goal and a 30-point lead - and that's the ball game.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Attendance 20,646. Didn't look that many early, but the ground noticeably filled out after half time. Maybe many of them stayed in the bar for the first half.
mds1970
Roar Guru
11 minutes - Richmond 10.14 Brisbane 7.8 Tigers get the ball down the ground, and Dustin Martin marks in the pocket. Impossible angle. Runs around, has a shot, but misses.