The Fremantle Dockers have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, with David Mundy slotting an ice-cool goal after the siren to break Tiger hearts.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Richmond Tigers 10.10.70
Fremantle Dockers 10.12.72
After starting the season with 5 consecutive wins, Richmond have stumbled with two consecutive losses- and another defeat to Fremantle would risk throwing away their great start to the year. Join The Roar for live scores, highlights and analysis from 1:10pm (AEST).
Richmond fans were up and about after five straight wins had the Tigers entrenched in the top four, with Damien Hardwick’s team’s spark up forward and strength through the middle hallmarks of their success.
A crushing loss to Adelaide in Round 6 halted their momentum, but the Tigers looked like bouncing straight back against the Western Bulldogs, leading by 33 points halfway through the second term.
But the Bulldogs steadily got on top, taking the lead late in the last quarter to emerge with a five-point win that broke yellow and black hearts.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Tigers: Dustin Martin was brilliant yet again, David Astbury was a pillar in defence, and Jack Riewoldt finished with four goals, including the 500th of his career in another sublime display up forward.
In-form ruckman Toby Nankervis was a huge loss for the Bulldogs clash, being outed for a week with suspension, and coming up against man mountain Aaron Sandilands, the former Swan will be chomping at the bit to repay his side.
By contrast, the Dockers gave up an early lead last week to Essendon, trailing by as much as 27 points before overrunning the flagging Bombers to emerge with an eventually comfortable 37-point victory.
Since looking on the brink of disaster after two thumping losses to Geelong and Port Adelaide in the first two rounds, the Dockers have recovered to sit on the brink of the top eight, and a win here could see them rise even further, other results permitting.
Key to their success has been the resurgence of Lachie Neale in midfield after a quiet start to the season, the imposing form of former Hawk Bradley Hill on the wing, and the rapid improvement of defensive stalwarts Michael Johnson and Lee Spurr down back, but in reality, the whole team has lifted considerably.
And with Matt Taberner finishing with four goals in a career-best game against the Bombers, Fremantle look like having some genuine forward firepower for the first time in a long while, with Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten also beginning to gel as a duo.
Remarkably, the Dockers’ surge has coincided with a decline in form from midfield superstar and captain Nat Fyfe, whose future at the club becomes more clouded each week as the rumour mill goes to work.
Others have been able to pick up the slack in recent weeks, but up against a vastly improved Richmond outfit, a big game from the Brownlow Medallist could tip the scales in Freo’s favour.
Prediction
With both sides in good form and all but fully fit, this is a difficult match to pick. It’s one that could swing either way, but home ground advantage does give the Tigers a slight edge, and they should be able to get the job done in front of their legion of fans.
Richmond to rack up win number six by 13 points.
Midfield ace Lachie Neale has risen rapidly from 2013 Grand Final substitute to 2016 Doig Medallist, and the 23-year old will notch up his 100th game against the Tigers.
Can Neale and his teammates mark the occasion with an inspiring away win? Or will the Tigers recover from last week’s heartbreak and push themselves back towards the top four?
Tune into The Roar from 1:10pm (AEST) for our rolling blog, live scores and highlights, and remember to give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Slane
Guest
Being Richmond.
Tim Miller
Editor
Thanks AD. I tell you what, those last few moments were hectic.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Thanks so much for your call, Tim! You did a great job.
Tim Miller
Editor
Fremantle 10.12 (72) defeated Richmond 10.10 (70) by 2 points at the MCG. GOALS Fremantle: Kersten 2, Mundy 2, Taberner 2, B Hill, D Pearce, McCarthy, Fyfe. Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Caddy 2, Martin, Cotchin, Castagna, Rioli, B Ellis. BEST Fremantle: Walters, B Hill, Sandilands, Mundy, Johnson. Richmond: Martin, Grigg, Rance, Caddy, Nankervis.
Tim Miller
Editor
Whew. That was fun. What a great game to watch, particularly that last quarter. Though I'm guessing it wasn't nearly as entertaining if you had a vested interest. Anyway, that's all from me. David Mundy the matchwinner for Fremantle with a goal after the siren after Richmond had kicked five goals in a row to hit the front with just 21 seconds on the clock. Amazing match. Why can't footy be this brilliant all of the time?
Tim Miller
Editor
Fremantle: M. Walters, three votes. Walters has been well down on his usual output early this season, but a move into the midfield has worked wonders for his form. The hard-as-nails number 10 was in everything, particularly when the match was won- in the third quarter. Had plenty of the ball, nearly always used it superbly, and could have had three goals but missed all of them. It was the only blemish, however. It was no wonder the Dockers began to flag when he was injured late in the third term and was severely hampered in the last. 38 touches, seven marks, and as much drive as an ice-road trucker. Probably the best game he's every played, and certainly the best game I've seen him play.
Tim Miller
Editor
Fremantle: B. Hill, two votes. In a scrappy, often unlettered game, Hill's drive forward, silky skills and ability to find space through hard running were the difference. Had 18 possessions to half-time, and he's the sort of player who can cut you up with even half that number. Only had the 10 touches after the break, with not as much influence, as the Tigers put more work into limiting his drive, but he's proving to be a vital inclusion for the Dockers this season.
Tim Miller
Editor
Predictive Brownlow time, Freo fans! (Guessing most Richmond supporters have begun arranging flights to Swahili around about now.) Richmond: D. Martin, one vote. Absolutely inspirational, and once again, was at his best when the match needed to be won. Not as prolific as he has been in the past, but his influence over this game was colossal. Summed up by a moment late in the last, when with two to beat inside 50, Martin first pressured Garrick Ibbotson into coughing it up, then, hemmed in on the boundary, issued a trademark fend-off and delievered lace-out to the leading Jack Riewoldt. Riewoldt let him down with a miss, but much like Richmond's eventual defeat, it was through no fault of the tattooed marvel.
Tim Miller
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't want the ball in anyone else's hands. Mundy is such a reliable player.
Peter chrisp
Guest
Good to see
Michaelj
Guest
More to the point: What were Richmond doing for the first three quarters?
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL FREMANTLE Okay, so, the last play. What were Richmond doing? Why wasn't everyone back? Sandilands got it down to Neale, who burst from the centre and drove it long, and Mundy, David Mundy, somehow found space to take the mark in the forward pocket. And the siren sounds as he goes back. Everyone on edge. Except for Mundy, ice water flowing through his veins, who stepped back, and Justin Longmuired it through! Richmond 10.10 (70) Fremantle 10.12 (72) FULL TIME
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
DAVID MUNDY!!!!!!!!!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Best ending of the year. Honestly, I don't think anything will match that. I am beyond happy right now oh my god
Tim Miller
Editor
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
Josh
Expert
Phwoar.
Tim Miller
Editor
HE KICKS THE GOAL! HE KICKS THE GOAL!
Tim Miller
Editor
30 out, moderate angle. David Mundy.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
OH GOD