A scintillating seven-goal-to-one last quarter from the Richmond Tigers has seen them claim a 51-point win over a disappointing Geelong and book a home preliminary final in two weeks’ time.
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With the margin a precarious 13 points heading into the final quarter, it looked to be anyone’s game – for about two minutes.
Goals to Shaun Grigg, Kane Lambert and Jacob Townsend – all assisted largely by Dustin Martin and all kicked within four minutes – put the game beyond the reach of the Cats and from there it was party time.
Jason Castagna and Josh Caddy goalled to blow the margin out to 46 points and from there the sting was gone.
Harry Taylor scored a late consolation goal for Geelong – their only major of the quarter – before a highlight-reel reply from Trent Cotchin and a salute from Jack Riewoldt saw the match reach its final 51-point margin.
Brownlow medal favourite Dustin Martin was incredible, collecting 28 disposals – ten in the last quarter – seven tackles, six clearances, nine inside 50s and four goal assists.
Dion Prestia (31 disposals, six tackles, one goal), Kane Lambert (24, six inside 50s, one goal) and Trent Cotchin (20, seven clearances, nine tackles, one goal) were also superb, while Alex Rance was able to keep Harry Taylor to just eight disposals and the one mark.
Geelong were led valiantly by Mitch Duncan (29 disposals, 11 tackles), Scott Selwood (27 disposals, eight tackles, eight inside 50s) and Zac Smith (51 hit-outs) but the vaunted ‘Dangerwood’ duo struggled.
Patrick Dangerfield’s 31 touches came at just 45 per cent effectiveness, while Joel Selwood only managed 19 disposals in his return from an ankle injury.
The first few minutes of the game made a 51-point Richmond seem likely, with an early Townsend goal and relentless Tiger pressure putting Geelong on the back foot.
But Chris Scott’s side turned the game into an arm wrestle, conceding just the one more goal – a late major to Caddy – to trail by just 12 points at the first break.
The Tigers continued to suffocate their ‘hosts’ in the second quarter, holding a 25-4 lead well into time-on, before two quick goals to Geelong – including a Dangerfield running major on the siren – saw the margin slashed to just nine-point at the main break.
Geelong converted their late ascendancy into a strong third quarter start, taking a one-point lead through a James Parsons goal and several behinds, but Damien Hardwick’s charges put through three of the quarter’s last four to take their 13-point lead into the last break and set up a final quarter performance for the ages.
Richmond got through the night unscathed despite Alex Rance (head) and Brandon Ellis (shoulder) both leaving the ground at times, whereas Geelong lost Cam Guthrie to a potentially season-ending calf injury.
Don Freo
Guest
Matty's not correct here though. You are still getting it all wrong.
Mattyb
Guest
Yeah,someone has to be held responsibie,whether it's the player,coach or medical staff. Selwoods going to be very sore you'd imagine,if he doesn't get up next week or plays the same that responsibility will be magnified.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
I might've been a bit harsh on 'Cat', but he's been leading with his chin for so long now, I couldn't resist.
boburra
Guest
I, like a lot of people did not know what we were going to get from the Tigers this year. For a successful year I thought there had to be 3 targets to achieve. 1st. reach the finals, 2nd. win their first final & 3rd. wind their second final. So far 2 /3. I don't know, call it history, call it what you want,but I cannot get away from the feeling that if Richmond do not win their preliminary final it will do them more harm than good. So now there are 2 monkeys of your back, you just have to work on the 3rd. Although I did not watch the game last night, congratulations to the Tigers on the win, and I really would like to see you win in a fortnight.
anon
Roar Pro
Selwood put himself before the team last night.
anon
Roar Pro
Thank you Matty
Simoc
Guest
Well that was a surprise to me. I've seen Richmond play great for periods but never the whole game. What has got into them. Fantastic crowd. They'll be hard for anyone to beat if they repeat that performance.
David C
Guest
Hiding under a rock I presume.
Mitcher
Guest
Without getting to analytical, surely this is the true test of loudmouth forum types like 'Cheersquad Cat'. Fine to be the purveyor of arrogance on the daily, there's plenty of space on the internet, but you'd want to show up today and take your penance. As a Geelong cheersquad member, I have a question anyway. With almost 100 yrs of history how can your only "clap clap clap" chant fail to even pronounce the town you represent accurately. Geeeeeeee-long. Surely those crepe paper warriors can come up with something better.
Brayden Rise
Roar Pro
Tigers magnificent and now in the soft side of the finals, they should make the grand final now and would worry me if the Crows get through. Richmond v Adelaide grand final now. As for the Cats they looked slow, really slow and reactionary. Scott didn't have any aces to play. 2 final wins from their past 11 finals if the Cats lose next week tells a tale however Cats fans want to dress it up.
Kane
Guest
Well the Tiger's have certainly surprised me, i never seen this coming this year. After watching last night they are every chance to win the whole thing. I believe there is only 2 side's that can beat them and that's the Swans and the Crows. The Swans have to do it the hard way but that might just be the best way with all these weeks off that the AFL have put in. Going to a couple of exciting prelims in a couple of weeks
Slane
Guest
Imagine the noise of over ninety thousand Richmond fans and 2 GWS fans at the MCG!
I ate pies
Guest
I expect that the tigers will choke their run and GWS won't be able to score.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Both QFs have played out as I expected them to. Tigers-Giants PF would be fascinating.
13th Man
Guest
Wow they were impressive. The lid is well and truly off at Tigerland. As I said before the match I thought the winner of this would end up in the GF whilst the loser would go out in straight sets. Hard to see the Cats getting past Sydney or Essendon and then Adelaide in Adelaide. Richmond look the goods and it truly will be great for footy if they can win one. After the Doggies last year, the Tigers winning a flag would be another fairytale. In the past Richmond would have choked in that position but it seems that the old Richmond are gone and now that the elusive final has been won they could go on to far better things.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Well done to the Tigers, I thought the Cats would continue their streak against them but Richmond looked fantastic.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Has anyone remembered to put the 'Cat' out? ie. the glee club guy who spends an inordinate amount of time on here berating Richmond & rooting for Geelong.
anon
Roar Pro
Yep. Don't forget that when Geelong were gifted a final in Geelong in 2013 against Fremantle they still managed to lose. I can remember in the early 2000's how much Port Adelaide were rubbished year after year for having great home and away seasons and then getting bundled out of the finals early time and time again. Everyone would talk about them having a style of play that "doesn't hold up" in September. Yet from 2001-03 Port had two finals wins. Geelong from 2012-17 has had two finals wins. Geelong seems to escape scrutiny because Bomber Thompson won a couple of flags last decade and Chris Scott seagulled one in 2011. What's Chris Scott brought to the table in finals since then?
Brian
Guest
The hawks in 2016 and port in 2013 were close to winning too
Brian
Guest
Its kike scott is surprised every year when finals are at the mcg