The Tigers have run over the top of a tiring Melbourne to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, helped in no small part by a six-goal haul to Jack Riewoldt.
Melbourne were well on top in general play for most of the first half, but struggled to make it count on the scoreboard.
The young Demons’ intensity and forward pressure gave them by far the greater chances, but their forward entries were scrappy and they found scoring difficult in the heavy conditions.
Richmond seemed to be struggling in general play, but were able to be effective enough in the forward line – particularly Riewoldt – to hang in and close the margin to one straight kick at half time.
That narrow Melbourne lead really didn’t reflect the contest – the Dees led the inside 50s 39 to 20 in the first half.
While that was going on, Melbourne lost Tim Smith to a rib injury, while Jake Spencer hurt his shoulder early and was eventually withdrawn after trying to battle through.
Those injuries, plus a relatively young side, began to play a big factor in the game as the Demons struggled to run out the half.
However, in the third quarter Melbourne finally began to get rewarded for their hard work. While the Tigers seemed to have the better of general play the Demons found more space on the counterattack, and opened up what looked like a matchwinning four-goal lead late in the third quarter, with the surface wet and scoring difficult.
It seemed to be the Tigers wasting their chances as the third quarter ticked away, scoring three consecutive behinds late in that term.
With both sides playing scrappy footy and finding scoring difficult in the wet, Melbourne’s 20-point three-quarter time lead looked fairly safe.
But Richmond immediately got on top at the start of the final quarter.
Riewoldt opened the last term comeback with an early goal, and from then on the ball was more or less locked in the Richmond forward half for the next ten to fifteen minutes.
Melbourne were flagging badly as the quarter wore on, and completely failed to get any run trying to clear the ball from defence, attempting tired lobbed kicks to contests at half back on several occasions.
Rioli goaled to close the margin to seven points, before a super goal to Dustin Martin brought the game effectively level.
It was none other than Jack Riewoldt who eventually put the Tigers in front at the 24-minute mark of the final term with his sixth goal of the night.
Melbourne tried to rally late but simply didn’t have the legs to run out the game, and the Tigers consolidated to win by thirteen points, having 5.5 to 0.2 to run out the match far stronger.
The Demons would bemoan the injuries that cost them late, but in truth it was their wastefulness in the first half when they had the better of the game that was the big factor.
They’ll be crossing their fingers that Jake Spencer will be right for next week for a now crucial game against Essendon, but it doesn’t look good.
However, they’ll be very happy with Michael Hibberd’s debut for the team, probably their best player with 27 touches and a goal. Jayden Hunt also continued his good start to the season.
For Richmond, their best was surely Riewoldt with six goals, some of them absolute beauties.
Dustin Martin had an indifferent first half, but was superb late to finish with thirty-two touches and a goal. Some of his fend-offs tonight were imperious, brushing aside opponents with ease.
Final score
Richmond Tigers 12.16.88
Melbourne Demons 11.9.75
Philby
Guest
Well, first of all, the Tigers weren't supposed to finish above 12th, that is, if you listened to/read any of the 'expert' predictions for the year. Now that we've won five straight, the same experts are saying that we've beaten no-one (erm...didn't the 'experts' read the draw before making their predictions?). As for who we've beaten, both Eagles and Demons are decent teams, and will likely figure in September, but of course, with the Demons, they had injuries to key players, so the win doesn't count. I suppose if we had a key injury, say to Dusty, and lost after leading by 20 points at 3 quarter time, would the focus have been on the Dees' 'easy' win or on Richmond not winning without a key player? Keep the doubts flowing, I'm enjoying the mental gymnastics. Rather than looking at the actual game play from the Tigers / Dees game (where we had many players below their best, and for the most part, were clearly outplayed), I'd focus on how the lads dug in and found a way to win. I think they can do the same against the Crows.
Don Freo
Guest
You contradict yourself...as you regularly do.
Cat
Roar Guru
You are correct and thank you for proving my point Don. Giles and Vardy are not average fill-ins they are below average, hence the struggle.
Don Freo
Guest
That is a weakish theory. It holds no water for WC. Giles and Vardy are not adequate fill ins for NicNat...or Lycett. WC is at least 4-1 with Nic Nat. Griffin and Clarke could not clone Sandi's impact.
Cat
Roar Guru
Star ruckman are overrated. However losing a ruck midgame is a different issue altogether. It shows the risk clubs are taking by only selecting one genuine ruck. The difference a star ruck over an average ruck actually makes is very small. A star defender, forward or midfielder will provide far bigger bang for the buck over their respective average replacements. If Spencer doesn't go down midgame, Melbourne probably don't lose; therefore, losing Gawn didn't cost them anything. It was not having a legitimate backup midgame that cost them.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Melbourne lose Gawn and then two weeks in a row the opposition ruckman is BOG and the Demons lose. Yet ruckmen are supposedly overrated? Garry Lyon said when Gawn went down that he thought it would potentially cost Melbourne 3-4 wins. Well, it's already cost them two IMO.
Philby
Guest
Have to agree, even though I'm a Tiges supporter. Demons seemed clean and fast in the first half while we continually fumbled and hesitated - only going in once a Demon player had the ball. The positive is that we hung in and took the win against the odds when the opportunity came. You can't always be at your best, but you have to adjust somehow, and we did that well. Great learning experience for the younger lads, who unsurprisingly, will be inconsistent here and there. Crows will be a big test, and no doubt the experts will tip them en masse. We need to play better than this week, but I think we can find a way to push them all the way. Centre half forward remains a big problem, and I'm wondering if it's time to try Mabior Chol there - he's raw, but has great presence and athleticism. I'd like to see Miles get back in at some point too - I think we missed him against the Dees but fortunately, that didn't cost us.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
I didn't say the Crows would lose - just that the Tigers had a chance. With our full squad at Adelaide Oval we would win this by at least 10 goals, now you might be a chance to get within 5 goals. 1/ You have the best defence statistically because you have played 3 of the bottom 4 teams! 2/ The Crows have THE most efficient forward 50 entries. Tigers forward line is revitalised because it was really crap before. 3/ You now actually have a ruckman, you lost a top 5 midfielder and replaced him with 1 average one and one who can't stay on the park!
Neil from Warrandyte
Guest
Excuses for a 'loss' have begun already. Normally these start after losing to Richmond, not before the game has been played. Instead of using your own teams deficiencies, why not look at Richmond's strengths as to why you might lose- for example 1/ Richmond statistically have the competitions best defence, 2/ Richmond now have one of the competitions most efficient forward 50s with a revitalised forward line, 3/ The additions of Prestia, Caddy and Nankervis to the midfield have given the Tigers improved depth in this area. No team will probably go through undefeated for a whole season and although this looks like the tiger's first loss coming up, pros and cons of both sides needs to be addressed in determining if a team wins or loses. 2/
Swannies
Guest
Richmond are a different side this year and won't drop their bundle. Even if they lose 4 or 5 games they'll still make the eight. Maybe not the PF but should go as far as a semi-final. Just glad Hardwick is getting things right and proving his critics wrong.
Alicesprings
Guest
What is for sure their game against Adelaide will be fascinating but i think the game against the bulldogs will be the defining one. Granted if they cop of few floggings over the next month no doubt their belief will be dented. Just don't see that happening. Rich v Ade - 4 goal loss Rich v WB - could go either way Rich v Freo - 4 goal win Rich v GWS - 4 goal loss After that month they only play 3 top 8 teams for the remainder of the year. I reckon they're a sneaky chance for top4 but will probably finish up at 5 or 6.
Cat
Roar Guru
How much belief will be left if they drop the next four straight, or even three of four? That is my point. So much of their 'form' is based on 'belief', what will be left after the form wanes? its easy to delude yourself when you are running over the competitions also fans will be much harder to maintain belief when then get slapped around by actual good sides.
JD
Guest
I agree with that. I think they would have lost that game in recent years.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
As a Crows supporter I think we normally beat Richmond pretty easily: Riewoldt normally can't get a kick on Talia, Tex monsters Rance (or Tigers play Rance on Eddie), they don't have enough quality defenders to keep the other guys quiet, the midfield keep going backwards so the Crows wait for a mistake then go forward and kick a goal, Dusty does what he wants - but with Riewoldt quite he has nobody to kick it to. But this year the Tigers might have a chance! No Talia, so Riewoldt might have an influence. We struggle against small forwards, so Rioli and Dusty might cause problems. The midfield is actually kicking and handballing forward. And we are down 2 key forwards - Jenkins & McGovern - 85 goals between them in 2016.
Alicesprings
Guest
They may well loose three of the next four but their draw for the remainder of the year is pretty easy. They're a different team this year - playing with belief - they'll be mighty had to beat in Melbourne with the tiger army behind them. I can see them ending up on 16 wins 6 loses - wont be finishing 9th this year.
Sammy
Guest
I dont know what team you follow kaniel but the way port are playing i think whatever team you follow (unless it is the crows or GWS) your team wont beat port in adelaide this year..as much as i hate to say it as a crows supporter, port have improved big time and they will finish in the next group of teams below adelaide, GWS and geelong.
Kaniel Outis
Guest
Port aren't a good team, they are front runners, who won't even finish near the eight come seasons end.
powa
Guest
I am not sure where to put Richmond, they havent played any other good teams yet, whereas the crows have beaten gws and port
Cat
Roar Guru
Yeah I am not that bullish about the Dockers, but I think off the back of two straight losses the old Tiger wobble will be back. Watching last nights game you can already see them regressing, a couple losses and they'll be back to last year.
Don Freo
Guest
Melbourne are fine. If the big boy hadn't gone down, they probably would have won. What is good for the comp is the Richmond resolve at 3/4 time. That is something we haven't seen before.