Richmond have sewn up third spot on the AFL ladder, comfortably defeating by 41 points a disappointing St Kilda outfit who arguably played merely one great quarter in Nick Riewoldt’s final ever game.
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Final score
Richmond Tigers 19.8.122
St Kilda Saints 12.9.81
The Richmond Tigers remain well and truly in the hunt for a top four spot, but they must win today’s match against a sentimental St Kilda Saints outfit at the ‘G. Join us on The Roar for live scores and a blog from 3:20pm AEST.
The last time these two teams played, St Kilda utterly dominated a shell-shocked Tigers’ outfit in a purely awesome first half.
The young team from Moorabbin posted a half time lead of 82 points – Josh Bruce’ sole score of 1.5 for the half was more than Richmond’s! – before letting their foot of the accelerator to win by ‘only’ 67 points.
Since that night, though, St Kilda have had four losses and two wins – a disappointing stretch of games by all accounts. Richmond have gone five wins, one loss, and are heading into this game with a very good form line.
It’s going to be a sentimental night for St Kilda supporters, and an exciting yet nervy night for Richmond supporters.
For the ‘away team’, legend Nick Riewoldt is playing what is almost certainly his final game for the club; closing the curtain on a hugely decorated career.
Richmond fans, though, will turn out in their thousands, you’d have to expect, for their final game before what is appearing to be their most promise finals run in years.
A key point heading into this game will be St Kilda’s inaccuracy, which has arguably played a large part in their season’s derailment.
Put simply, they must kick straighter. To kick straighter, though, they need to get supply to the forwards.
Unfortunately for the Saints’ – the 12th most potent team in the competition – they’ll be up against a miserly defence ranked as a Richmond side which has conceded the second most points in the league.
Richmond have made no changes, taking an unchanged side in from last week’s massive win over Fremantle, whilst St Kilda have made just one change.
Jack Lonie is back in the side, replacing veteran Sam Gilbert, who is out with an abdominal strain.
Prediction
With St Kilda’s finals aspirations disappointingly all but gone, and Richmond on the verge of playing finals, you’d expect this one to be a comfortable win for the Tiges.
The Saints, though, would love nothing more than to send Riewoldt out in style in what is only their second game at the ‘G this season.
While I can definitely see the potential for an upset, I just can’t see Richmond dropping such an important game. Richmond will win, but it’ll be close.
Richmond Tigers by 15 points.
Neil from Warrandyte
Guest
Couldn't ask for a better result. The perfect storm. Geelong at the G!!! What timing to end a hoodoo
Cat
Roar Guru
So that's a yes.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT Richmond have sewn up third spot on the AFL ladder, comfortably defeating by 41 points a disappointing St Kilda outfit who arguably played merely one great quarter in Nick Riewoldt’s final ever game. Whilst Essendon’s narrow win over Fremantle (confirmed about 15 minutes into the first quarter) meant that St Kilda’s finals threads were a nearly impossible proposition, they would’ve sabotaged themselves regardless with a poor opening half. There would be no high-scoring action in the first quarter, with both teams taking their time getting their groove on. It was the Tigers who would take first blood, booting two goals in the first 10 minutes – through the excellent Jacob Townsend and Shaun Grigg - whilst St Kilda failed to register an impact. Whilst the Saint’s managed to show passable competitiveness heading towards the end of the first stanza, it was Richmond who finished off stronger, and they had 4 goals to the Saint’s one come the first break. St Kilda’s poor day got worse in the second, as Richmond put them to the sword with a powerful period in which they scored 5 unanswered goals and blew the margin out, before St Kilda steadied through a second, and then a third, goal to Gresham, and a goal to Longer from a controversial free kick. Richmond, though, weren’t bothered, and continued their excellent quarter with late goals to Cotchin and Butler. To their credit, though, St Kilda stormed back into the game, producing a brilliant third quarter. All of a sudden, they produced some brilliant pressure (for the first half of the quarter, they were in their forward half about 70% of the time) and they managed to constrict the previously free flowing Richmond to just the one major, whilst kicking four of their own. The margin was 25 at half time, and the ‘G was on edge. It needn’t be, though, as Richmond found its spark again. The Tigers dominated their opponents in Nick Riewoldt’s final quarter of league footy, booting seven goals to four to run out 41 point winners. For the victors, Dustin Martin was sensational (36 disposals and 3 goals), whilst Brandon Ellis (30 touches), Grigg (24 and 3 goals) and Cotchin (26 disposals). Jack Riewoldt (3 goals) was also impressive, and Jacob Townsend (5 goals, to go with his 6 last weekend) was also a sensational forward target. St Kilda were well served by Dunstan (30 touches), Seb Ross (25 disposals) and Jack Steven (26). Brilliant youngsters Jack Steele (28, and 8 tackles) and Jack Billings (28 and two goals) were also impressive. The man of the moment, Nick Riewoldt, has 15 touches, one goal and 8 marks in a fine, final performance. St Kilda’s season has come to a bitterly disappointing end, and you’d imagine they’d be a large amount of reflection of what could’ve been in such a promising year. Richmond, however, will go into their most promising finals campaign in years, and will face Geelong in their first final in two weeks’ time. Richmond: 19.8 (122) St Kilda: 12.9 (81)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Gresham finishes the game off with his fifth goal, as the Tiger's celebrate a 41 point win. They're top four bound, Nick Riewoldt's career is complete, and St Kilda head into an off-season full of contemplation of what could have been. Match report will be up soon. Richmond: 19.8 (122) St Kilda: 12.9 (81)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND Grigg marks inside 50, and passes it on to Butler, who strolls into a very open goal and puts through what's probably the last goal of the game. Richmond: 19.8 (122) St Kilda: 11.9 (75)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
The sting has gone out of this game, and Richmond have pulled Martin, Rance and Nankervis from the ground to ensure no late injuries or other worst-case scenarios ring true in the final minutes of this game.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL ST KILDA Billings has his second of the game, and St Kilda are putting a flurry of goals through the middle late. Richmond: 18.8 (116) St Kilda: 11.9 (75)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL ST KILDA Membrey's got a late goal for the Saints. Richmond: 18.8 (116) St Kilda: 10.9 (69)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND Townsend. Six majors last week, and five this week. Brilliant. Richmond: 18.8 (116) St Kilda: 9.9 (63)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND Riewoldt boots his third. There's 7 or so minutes left in the game, and the only question left is how much Richmond will win by. Richmond: 17.8 (110) St Kilda: 9.9 (63)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND Prestia. Clinical. That's got to be it, you'd have to assume. Richmond will be top 4 heading into finals. Richmond: 16.8 (104) St Kilda: 9.9 (63)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL ST KILDA That's special from Gresham. His fourth of the match, and St Kilda have an oh-so-slight hope. Richmond: 15.8 (98) St Kilda: 9.9 (63)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND Grigg, for his third of the match, boots a goal. You'd have to think that will just about confirm it for the Tigers now, but stranger things have happened. Richmond: 15.8 (98) St Kilda: 8.9 (57)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND ST KILDA x 2 Billings and Gresham with misses. Richmond: 14.8 (92) St Kilda: 8.9 (57)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND ST KILDA It's a miss from Membrey, and the sting is slowly but surely going out of St Kilda's game, you'd have to think. Richmond: 14.8 (92) St Kilda: 8.7 (55)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND Dustin Martin is a very good player, to put it lightly. That was a sensational run down the boundary, comfortably shrugging off any and all Saints players who dared to chase him. His pass to Townsend is perfect as well, and Townsend makes to mistake - booting his fourth goal of the match. Richmond skipping away now. Richmond: 14.8 (92) St Kilda: 8.6 (54)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND DUSTY!! In the words of BT, that's "an inside out banana!". Whatever that means. It was a timely, and very good, goal though. Richmond: 13.8 (86) St Kilda: 8.6 (54)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND RICHMOND Riewoldt attempts a dribble kick from a tight angle, but it's offline. First score of the quarter to Richmond. Richmond: 12.8 (80) St Kilda: 8.6 (54)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
FINAL QUARTER UNDERWAY Here we go. Nick Riewoldt's final quarter is underway, and Richmond's final chance at locking up top 4 is now. Can't wait for the resolution of this one.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME St Kilda have stormed back into this game, and have trimmed the margin back to 25 points. Richmond still have the lead, but will be feeling somewhat nervous. Let’s see what form of St Kilda shows up in this final term. MAJOR STATS Disposals: St Kilda (306) leading Richmond (284) Clearances: St Kilda (33) leading Richmond (25) Inside 50’s Richmond (45) leading St Kilda (37) Contested Possessions: St Kilda (122) leading Richmond (106) Tackles: Richmond (56) leading St Kilda (53) DISPOSAL LEADERS: Richmond Martin (31), Ellis (22), Cotchin (19), Prestia + Houli (17) St Kilda: Ross (23), Dunstan + Steele (22), Billings (21) GOALS Richmond: Townsend (3), Grigg (2), Riewoldt (2) Butler, Prestia, Martin, Graham + Cotchin (1) St Kilda: Gresham (3), Longer, Billings, Riewoldt, Membrey, Bruce (1) Richmond: 12.7 (79) St Kilda: 8.6 (54)