The Richmond Tigers have kicked their 2017 season off in style, riding a monumental effort from superstar midfielder Dustin Martin to defeat the Carlton Blues by 43 points in the first game of the season.
Martin was clearly the best on ground, collecting 33 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six clearances, six inside 50s and four goals.
If not for giving off some assists to Shaun Grigg and debutant Dan Butler, he could have finished with six majors in a dominant display.
It was an encouraging team performance from the Tigers, with manic forward pressure barely sighted in 2016 forcing turnover after turnover and helping them keep the ball hemmed in close to goal.
After an entertaining first quarter that saw Richmond pull away late to lead by 18, they put Carlton to the sword in the second quarter with four unanswered goals.
The Blues offered some resistance later in the quarter, but Damien Hardwick’s men were able to take a commanding 37-point lead into the main break.
The match took an interesting turn in the third quarter, with Carlton kicking five goals to two to trim the margin to a somewhat manageable 25 points at three-quarter time, but the Tigers kicked clear in the last quarter to enjoy a comfortable win.
Complementing Martin were new recruits Dion Prestia (28 disposals) and Toby Nankervis (27 hit-outs, two goals), who shone alongside veterans Trent Cotchin (21 disposals, eight tackles) and Shaun Grigg (27 disposals, six tackles).
Small forwards Jason Castagna, Daniel Rioli and debutant Dan Butler all kicked two goals each, while Nick Vlaustin made his presence felt at both ends of the ground with 12 tackles.
Carlton were led valiantly by Marc Murphy (35 disposals, seven tackles), Kade Simpson (33 disposals) and Matthew Kreuzer (39 hit-outs), but were let down by poor ball use from veterans just as much as the youngsters.
Final score
Carlton Blues 14.5.89
Richmond Tigers 20.12.132
Goals
Carlton Blues – Weitering 3, Wright 3, Silvagni 2, Kreuzer 2, Armfield, Casboult, Thomas, Gibbs.
Richmond Tigers – Martin 4, Rioli 2, Butler 2, Nankervis 2, Castagna 2, Lloyd, Caddy, Edwards, Riewoldt, Vlaustin, Cotchin, Prestia, Grigg.
Disposal leaders
Carlton Blues – Murphy 35, Simpson 33, Gibbs 26.
Richmond Tigers – Martin 33, Prestia 28, Grigg 27.
Aransan
Guest
Steve, there have been a few swingmen who have had problems with injuries and the injuries are more likely to occur on the forward line with young players having immature bodies. Most teams would be worried about having to counter Weitering forward as he is such a gifted player and he may have to take a fair amount of punishment playing there. In about 3 years time I think he could play anywhere except perhaps the ruck.
Macca
Guest
So it isn't the rhyme but the cadence you have an issue with? And the banner wasn't a limerick so my knowledge of the is irrelevant.
Macca
Guest
Steve. I don't have an issue either but if McKay knocks down the door Weitering will go back
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
You must know nothing about poetry, or even limericks. On an even lighter note, Carlton apparently paid an agency to come up with that doggerel! I assumed it was written by a 12 yo.
Macca
Guest
Travis - with Marchbank and SPS you are up to 6 positives - if you throw in Plowman (who was better than Marchbank) and Silvagni (who was very great good) that's 8. I'd be happy with that. And one minute we are playing too many kids and the next you think we should have tredenRowe and Simpson - make up your mind
Macca
Guest
You must pronounce barber and disaster differently to the rest of the world
steve
Guest
Carlton aren't going to be poor. Sure they will get trounced in some games here and there, but for the most part you will see improved performance over last year, games into youngsters but with less wins. We will end up with another top 4 pick at the draft.
Macca
Guest
Cat- Cripps had a 12 week injury 17 weeks ago, played 1/4 against the saints, 3/4 against Freo then had 10 days to recover - how are the blues rushing him? Odds are he will be back to top form next week
steve
Guest
Macca, I disagree, Bolton has said he wants Weitering to become a genuine swingman, and I think this year will see Weitering spend a lot of time playing forward. I actually don't have an issue with it. I'm fine for the time being with Marchbank, Plowman and Rowe as the KPD's, with Macreadie too.
steve
Guest
Think Prestia was a very good pick up for the Tigers. He had a very good game last night.
steve
Guest
Agreed Macca, Cripps had a stinker, so to did Simpson and Ed Curnow. Charlie wasn't much better TBH. The sooner White and Armfield are dropped and replaced the better too. I would replace White with Wiliiamson, a medium defender with speed, Drop armfield for Palmer and drop Thomas for Cunningham.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Yeah it would have been interesting to see what we could of got for Rowe and Simpson. Perhaps Freo might have given up Fyfe for them. You are right Paul you need a good mix of experience and youth otherwise you are just throwing the kids to the wolves. I would expect/hope that Bolton keeps playing the young ones but to be mindful of their development. In the last 2 years Carlton have drafted 11 kids and I would imagine all of them will have played some senior football before the season has finished.
steve
Guest
The only place Daisy needs to be dropped is to the VFL. As soon as next game is preferable.
Paul D
Roar Guru
You don't get wins just by playing kids. In fact it's often counter-productive. Leppa pushed the kids out on the paddock for us last season at times with very little mature age support and we were getting flogged, not only that, the floggings can be that damaging that your kids don't wind up developing well and lose confidence in their gameplan and their abilities. You need that buffer of a few senior heads to be flogged into the dirt and take the hits and provide reassurance and perspective out there. Juggling that is key and ideally you would like Carlton to finish the season with 2-3 more kids in the starting lineup than they started with but with the amount of kids Bolton fielded last night I don't really see how you can complain given it's round one. No-one would have given a brass razoo for Simpson or Rowe at this stage of their careers anyway so saying they should have been traded for quality talent is an economic argument that doesn't make any sense.
Paul D
Roar Guru
You don't want to wait and see them play against someone a bit better first? I'd like to see Richmond against a team that doesn't have a bunch of prep school kids finding their feet before pencilling them in as finals contenders.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
I was being flippant Macca, and no, it wasn't a huge insult. It was simply lame. "Disaster" & "barber" do not rhyme. Poetic justice that the thing started to fall apart before the players even got there.
Alicesprings
Guest
Best game I've seen Dusty play ever. Their midfield is A-grade. The inclusion of Caddy and Presti, as good as those players are, the pressure that they will take off other in the midfield will be telling. The Tigers are going to take some beating this year. Not easy beats thats for sure.
Cat
Roar Guru
Doesn't explain why he moved like a 70 year old out there. (And yes, Macca, that is an exaggeration, I am not going to provide statistical analysis to back it up.)
Cat
Roar Guru
A team with legit prospects of playing finals with part of the season already played versus a team with no hope of playing finals and the season just beginning. Besides that, yeah, exactly the same /sarcasm. Two wrongs don't make a right either.
Travis
Roar Pro
Apologies Macca- I forgot to mention Marchbank and SPS. They will be good players for Carlton. But you get my point. The older brigade such as Simpson and Rowe had shockers last night though. Again should of been traded for some quality talent. I'm not doubting a lot of these players are going to be stars one day, but once they become stars, the good clubs will just take them from us. No player wants to play in a losing environment, i'm already worried we'll lose Cripps as he is being targeted by Freo. When we have talent we need to do everything possible to keep them and by doing that we need to win games.