AFL heavyweights Collingwood and Richmond have played out their first draw in more than 100 years as football made a welcome return at the MCG on Thursday night.
Almost three months since the competition went into shutdown mode, the traditional rivals produced a dour slugfest in slippery conditions.
Tigers speedster Shai Bolton had the final chance to win the match in a frantic final few minutes, but his kick on the run from 50m dropped short and was knocked through for a behind.
The teams finished locked on 5.6 (36) apiece in what was only the second draw of their long and illustrious history – the first was way back in 1917.
Collingwood had kicked the first four goals of the match to shock the reigning premiers in a stunning first-quarter blitz.
But they managed just one after quarter-time as Tom Lynch (three goals) helped Richmond grind their way back into the contest.
Jack Riewoldt and comeback kid Jack Higgins also had late chances to snatch victory for the Tigers but could not convert their set shots late in the final term.
Players from both sides took a knee before the opening bounce in a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Coaches and support staff joined the united stand around the boundary line in a player-led initiative for the worldwide cause against systemic racism.
The match, which was broadcast live into the United States, wasn’t the most eye-catching example of the Australian game for sport-starved fans overseas.
But the contest was willing and Collingwood were the cleaner and neater of the two sides early, piling on four unanswered goals in the opening term to grab the early ascendancy.
The Pies dominated stoppages as Taylor Adams won six first-quarter clearances and their set-up behind the ball forced Richmond to kick long.
The Tigers increased their work rate around the contest in the second term and Lynch finished off their hard work, kicking all three of his goals before half-time to reduce the deficit to 14 points.
They continued grinding away and when a review led to Higgins being paid a mark on the behind line, the energetic youngster marked his return to football with a goal from a tight angle to reduce the margin to two points.
It was Higgins’ first game in almost 12 months after he underwent brain surgery late last year.
Neither side managed a goal in a tense final quarter, with the final three behinds to Richmond levelling the scores.
BigAl
Roar Rookie
Totally agree ! Honestly, how many AFL games are decided by 1 contentious score ? Yes, yes I know this game was a draw but an AFL game is far more likely to end in a boring and tedious blowout than this sort of thing. The AFL would be well served in trying to curb this than worrying about one scoring attempt.
Matches
Roar Rookie
There are probably several decent tiger fans. Every club has a few in the extreme. It just seems the tigers have several extremely bad ones (“realist” we’re looking at you) who behave live juvenile dropkicks, with no ability to see reason and are very vocal (more’s the pity).
George Apps
Roar Rookie
I honestly could not see the "mark", imo the ump. made a mistake!
Realist
Guest
That may be accounts for one quarter. How do explain 29 to 70 Pete! Bruise Free Collingwood. Go missing when the blow torch is applied.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
Either way, we were lucky, but as they say "it's in the book".
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
The rule has two parts caught and control. If you catch then control becomes redundant. It’s a given you have control at that point. The control part of the rule is only relevant if it is a juggled mark
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
That’s because the Tigers were chasing us for most of the first half. Listen to your own coach occasionally and he can educate you if you don’t want me too. He said in the presser that the Pies were first to the ball. Hard to lay tackles while kicking goals and being chased by your Hollywood boys.
RT
Roar Rookie
Well it wasn't Pickett so I don't know what it has to do with your hypocrisy in judging him.
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
So the AFL installs cameras for goal line vision and you just ignore the vision?
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
I understand that’s the rule, but from the replay you cannot unequivocally say he had actually caught the ball, that’s my whole point, he has his hand on it, yes absolutely, does he have control, that’s the murky bit IMO.
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
Eddie you are arguing it because you don’t know the rule: 14 2a (I) a Player catches or takes control of the football before it has passed completely over the Boundary Line, Goal Line or Behind Line; or He caught it before the ball had passed completely over the behind line. Simple it’s a mark.
Realist
Guest
After that game, I think the Tigers know they're going to be "too good" for Collingwood come finals time.....and so do Collingwood.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
De Goey has kicked 48.22 in 2018 and 34.22 in 2019. Considering a lot of his shots on the run that sounds pretty good to me. I think Dusty is the best player in the competition but he has gone 37.29, 31.21 and 32.15 past three years so comparing goal kicking?
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
I don't hate anything Realist. Life is too short.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Yessssss! The comparisons between the two of late are ridiculous. De Goey is potentially very good but isn't in the same league as Dusty at the present time. Jonathon Brown getting a bit ahead of himself there and people lap it up.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
It's not about the ball though, it's about the completion of the mark. Can't believe I'm actually arguing this, as it's my team that benefited from the call
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Hilarious.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
Spot on
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
And he was a Pie growing up, hehehehehehe
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Richmond kicked two after half time. Wouldn’t get carried away with them either!