Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has raised concerns over the growing use of extreme defensive tactics in the AFL after his side ground out a dour eight-point win over Sydney on Sunday.
The Tigers piled on three quick goals in the opening ten minutes to put a break on their opponents, but the match quickly descended into a slugfest as rain fell at the Gabba.
The teams managed just three goals between them after quarter-time as the Tigers prevailed 4.10 (34) to 3.8 (26).
It was the second-lowest combined match total in the AFL era, with Richmond unable to capitalise on their inside-50 dominance (53-36).
“It was a horrendous game of football,” Hardwick said post-match.
“It was hard to watch, it was hard to play. It was just incredibly frustrating.
“Unfortunately it’s sometimes how games pan out.
“You have a lot of players in one D50 and they can’t get out and we can’t score.
“We had 50-odd inside-50s for four goals, which is farcical in nature.”
(Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Callum Mills roamed free as a spare man as the Swans resorted to pushing players back to flood their defensive zone.
It was the third time in five matches since the season restart that Richmond have not managed more than five goals and Hardwick was concerned about the spectacle of the game.
“There’s not much I can do, we’re attacking and we’ve got 75,000 people in our forward 50, so it’s pretty hard,” Hardwick said.
“We’ve got to figure out how to negate it because it’s probably happened a couple of times this year and it’s become a tactic in the AFL.
“Fold back mentality is really keeping sides in games and it’s creating the game that we got tonight. It’s not pretty.”
Jayden Short (26 disposals), Kane Lambert (24) and Jack Higgins stepped up for Richmond, who lost five senior players because of injury and family reasons during the week.
Mills (29), Jake Lloyd (24) and Ryan Clarke (23) worked hard for Sydney, while Swans forward Tom Papley (two goals) was the only multiple goal kicker for the match.
Sydney fielded nine players with fewer than 30 games’ experience and their disappointing afternoon was compounded by injuries to Josh Kennedy (knee) and Isaac Heeney (ankle).
Kennedy strained the medial ligament in his left knee before quarter time and sat out the rest of the match, but Heeney played through pain from his first-quarter injury before limping off in the final few minutes.
Sydney’s tough day started with a contentious deliberate rushed behind call on Mills, who was pushed over the goal line by Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt.
Mills was penalised anyway and Riewoldt kicked the first goal of the match.
Tigers flag hero Marlion Pickett will be scrutinised by the match review officer for a late bump that caught Heeney high.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Notice Sydney are scoring now when it’s not pouring rain? Crazy stuff.
Mark
Roar Rookie
Like you have such a handle on Reality, Marky having just sifted through your “comments” history I tend to disagree! :laughing: My point was in regard to Clarkos initial years of coaching when the Hawk were deplorable but he still coached his players to play attacking footy and never resorted to flooding. Please explain to all of us in detail how Clarko “is as defensive as they come” now, as you so eloquently put it! Come on Mr Football, let’s see what you’ve got, if anything!
Mark
Roar Rookie
Not wrong. You accept that. You’re the embarrassment. Your posts, having looked at your comments history, are hugely embarrassing. All you ever do is take pot shots at people. What a brainiac! Suggest you bu11 ou1!
Mark
Roar Rookie
Dimma was not wrong and he didn't accept it. Now you have to accept that.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Wrong. Accept it. Getting rather embarrassing for you now.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Dimma was wrong and he’s accepted it. Now you have to.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Deceitful? Calm down
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Realist does not deal in reality. Clarko is as defensive as they come.
Mark
Roar Rookie
Righto.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
I agree, you have the Hardwick situation wrong ???? I’m sure he’ll change the game plan next time. Maybe
Mark
Roar Rookie
I’m glad you agree.
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Yeah, naaah
Mark
Roar Rookie
Maybe Hardwick called Longmire because he's a mate of Horse's and even though Hardwick was right he knew he'd crossed the Line in how Coaches treat each other.
Mark
Roar Rookie
Well if your argument doesn't stand-up, then you probably are...although I do appreciate the pun!
2dogs
Roar Rookie
Hardwick called Longmire to apologise. Maybe because Hardwick was wrong....
SteveyS
Guest
The only heatmap I've seen is a possession heatmap so not surprising if its scorching hot in the swans defence given that the tigers kept kicking it to mills. Anyway feels like I'm beating a dead horse here.
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
At least by saying 18 players Realist you are not accusing the Swans of cheating like Dimma did and his '`75000`comment'. But it's still hyperbole as there would have been no more than 2-3 minutes of total game time where that would have occurred. I've watched the press conference and I agree he started fine but he just shouldn't have gone into berating the other teams tactics. He apologised after but (pun intended) the Horse had bolted. I can't see how you can defend what he said. Clearly he was frustrated with his own teams performance and the quality of the game but he shouldn't have put the blame on the opposition tactics - it was poor form. Particularly given the players the Swans had out.
Mark
Roar Rookie
What was?
Mark
Roar Rookie
Suggest you take your own advice buddy.