The Richmond Tigers have booked in a home preliminary final at the MCG, defeating the Brisbane Lions for their first-ever finals win outside Victoria by 47 points at the Gabba.
Brisbane surrendered their best chance of winning the match with an inaccurate performance in front of goal in the first half, kicking five behinds each in the first and second quarters.
In the first they dominated the game in most respects and it felt like they just needed one to get confidence. It took six attempts, but they finally broke through via Charlie Cameron.
Richmond had at that point already managed the first two goals of the game, coming through Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin, but the Lions managed three goals in about two minutes to take the lead.
The Lions went into the first break with a two goal advantage but whatever nerves they had seemed to creep back into them and they weren’t able to add to their goal tally in the second term.
Some of their missed shots in that quarter simply defied belief, with the likes of Cam Rayner, Charlie Cameron, Oscar McInerney and Dan McStay missing gettable ones.
Absolute killers in the last five minutes saw Richmond twice in a row respond to a poor miss at one end from Brisbane with quick goals of their own, through Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton.
(Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Brisbane seemed to lose their nerve over the halftime break and when the teams returned for the third quarter, Richmond were ruthless, kicking the next five goals in a row to take the game away from their opponents.
Brisbane were able to get a few on the board as the game went on but it was much too late. Another awful miss from Lincoln McCarthy early in the fourth summed up the night as a whole.
Dustin Martin kicked six goals, the first time a Richmond player has hit that mark in a finals match in 39 years. He was symbolic of their ability to take chances when they came up.
However arguably their most crucial player in the win was new All Australian Dylan Grimes. When the Tigers were behind the eight ball early on, he limited the damage, containing Charlie Cameron and intercepting Brisbane’s forward forays time and time again.
Shane Edwards, also, was simply sublime.
Lachie Neale was Brisbane’s best, notching another 30+ disposal performance and kicking two goals. Down back, Luke Hodge was solid as a rock in his 24th finals match.
After a frustrating season, Cam Rayner threatened to tear this one apart with some great opportunities in the first two quarters, but had two poor misses and faded out of the game after that.
Richmond are a team who love to punish their rivals’ mistakes, and in the end Brisbane simply made too many. By comparison, Richmond’s 18 goals, four behinds was the second-most accurate finals performance on record.
History will show that the Lions lost by a margin, but with just a little more poise from the home team early it could’ve easily been the other way around. A real missed opportunity.
The Tigers will now host a preliminary final in two weeks time at the MCG, set to play the winner of next Friday’s semi-final between Geelong and West Coast.
Brisbane will welcome GWS to the Gabba next week for a do-or-die semi-final, with the winner of that match surviving to take on Collingwood at the MCG in a fortnight.
The one sour note for the night from a Richmond perspective was a potential ankle injury to Daniel Rioli which seemed to trouble him in the last quarter. One to keep an eye on.
Mitch Robinson for Brisbane appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in the final term which may end his season.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
That is 2 straight Richmond wins over the Brisbane Lions, that should settle any doubt which is the better team right now. Also impressive showing by the Richmond supporters.
David C
Guest
Umpiring was questionable at times, not biased. Wish people would stop saying this.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Yep, we paid off the umps. Didn't you see that brown paper bag that we took into the umps rooms after the game? Seriously...there must be a week go by without someone saying 'worst umpiring ever'... but don't think its ever happened. And Dusty's clever tap to Jack was just pure footballing skill...
Seymorebutts
Guest
'' joint mad Monday..'' a ha ha ..that gave me a chuckle. Depends on the Giants... if they are all switched on they can beat anybody. But if the Lions do get the win they could make it interesting against the Pies. Cant imagine they will kick so poorly again this season. Amazing season, I coudn't predict a winner.. history says one of sides who had the week off will lose the prelim so nobody should be counting their chickens just yet. We could still see a Giants Cats decider.
Seymorebutts
Guest
Exactly, most teams who win flags do an apprenticeship measured in disappointment and tears... its rare that a side just wakes up and burns through a finals series like the Dogs in 2016 ... Brisbane might go out in straight sets and there would be no disgrace in that. If you dont put the ball through the big sticks the top sides will punish you, and thats what happened.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Yes. We arent the greatest side in the past three years anyways. There really hasn't been one. 2017 we were the best in finals, 2018, best in H&A and stumbled into finals. 2019... ???
Milo
Roar Rookie
Agree you should beat the Giants and win or lose against the Pies the Lions have had a magnificent year.
RT
Roar Rookie
The Reiwoldt free was there. The Grimes reversal should not have been paid but neither should the original free to Cameron so no biggie. Overall the umpiring was not that bad and despite the scoreline it was a pretty good game that should have been closer. The thing that really marred the game was Brisbane's kicking.
Jezza31
Roar Rookie
Not a Brisbane follower, but sympathies with them, because the umpiring was the worst and most bias I have ever seen. Multiple and consistent non-calls. The Richmond players seem to know they could get away with infringing. The Martin "throw" one of many instances! Just sayin!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I'm not barracking for any team (other than the Dogs), just for a good game. We had 4 dud games to open the finals, which is disappointing (although we all expected it of West Coast v Essendon). The Tigers v Lions contest was marred by bad early umpiring - that's not Richmond's fault by the way, but it was very unfair on the Lions.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
And what about your bias? Barracking for another team other those playing doesn’t exactly make one neutral.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Grimes fined for staging!!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
You guys are Richmond supporters watching through rose-coloured glasses. Enjoy.
Freddy
Guest
...interestingly after quarter time richmond outscored brisbane by 8 points for every three...spite the statistics showing the lions dominated in near every category including shots at goal, the game is decided by outcomes not statistics....the one constant in recent years tigers lions games at the gabba was the outcome....
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Not according to others, you might end up with egg on your face
Realist
Guest
Reiwoldt free was a 50:50 but it was poor defense by Brisbane to allow it to go through untouched. Hipwood still bumped Grimes so overturn was justified. It only erased a non free kick to Cameron anyway. What were the other 2? Brisbane won the free kick count 25 -22 and had the rub of the green on many 50:50s.
Slane
Guest
The goal gifted to Riewoldt is the one he kicked from the center square? What a gift.
Iambillbob
Roar Rookie
Hahahahahaha jealousy
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
1 goal gifted to Richmond and 3 denied to lions = 4 goals (although it remains to be seen whether lions players would have converted, but all 3 were directly in front, 20-30 metres out). Absolute shocking umpiring - Richmond's good luck I suppose, but I'd be filthy on that handicap if I was a lions supporter.
Realist
Guest
Reiwoldt free was a 50:50 but it was poor defense by Brisbane to allow it to go through untouched. Hipwood still bumped Grimes so overturn was justified. It only erased a non free kick to Cameron anyway. Brisbane's tactics of trying to get in the Tigers faces was laughable really and failed miserably. Also, you obviously didn't see Zorko's staging? Brisbane won the free kick count 25 -22 and had the rub of the green on many 50:50s.