Two last-quarter goals from Kane Lambert – one a fluke and one a ripper – have seen the Tigers down minor premiers Port Adelaide by six points and powered Richmond to their third grand final in four years.
Coming into the fourth quarter holding just a two-point lead, the visitors fell behind early when Power spearhead Charlie Dixon kicked a marvellous set shot from 51 metres out on the angle. But stout defending, and two majors from Lambert, ensured the Tigers would hold the lead when it counted.
Lambert’s first came from a throw-in, deep in forward 50 for the Tigers. With players everywhere scrambling for the ball, the 28-year-old just threw a grubber on the boot and it evaded several shins to dribble over the line and restore Richmond’s lead.
Several minutes later, he was the beneficiary of a somewhat controversial deliberate out of bounds free kick paid against Hamish Hartlett, but he made the most of it, unleashing a picture-perfect snap to put his side out by two kicks.
Peter Ladhams converted a free kick for the Power to bring the margin back to under a goal, but they couldn’t mount another challenge. Toby Nankervis took a great contested mark in defence with a minute left to just about seal it, before they held on for the remaining seconds to reach their third decider in four seasons.
Richmond gave Port Adelaide a taste of their own medicine, especially in the second half. After heading into the sheds down 20-13 in the clearances, the normally contested possession-averse Tigers took it right up to the bigger-bodied Port midfielders in the second stanza and won the clearance count 28-9 – 12-5 in the third quarter and an unfathomable 16-4 in the last.
Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia – who both missed Richmond’s home-and-away loss to the Power – led the way with five each, while David Astbury, Shai Bolton, Jack Graham, Dustin Martin, Kamdyn McIntosh, Toby Nankervis and Marlion Pickett all had three.
Nankervis was close to best-on-ground, with the ruckman racking up a match-high ten tackles to go with his 13 touches and 19 hit-outs. Martin was excellent with 21 touches and two first-half goals, while Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt both kicked one each in otherwise quieter nights.
For Port Adelaide, they just looked slightly off all night. They were slower to the ball, got beaten badly in the ground ball, looked rusty and sloppy when they did have it and, ultimately, just missed too many targets. Ollie Wines tried his hardest with 24 disposals and four clearances, Brad Ebert had 18 touches, seven tackles and two great defensive displays in the last quarter before going with a concussion, while Connor Rozee looked lively in the first half and kicked two goals.
But too many of their midfielders had disposal efficiencies under 60 per cent, including Wines (58.3), Travis Boak (50) and Robbie Gray (52.6). Dixon was also well-held all evening, having little impact beyond his fourth-quarter goal.
The Tigers will now play either Brisbane or Geelong in the grand final next weekend at The Gabba, aiming to win consecutive premierships for the first time since they saluted in 1973 and 1974.
Port Adelaide – 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 6.4 (40)
Richmond – 2.1 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 6.10 (46)
Goals
Power: Rozee 2, Duursma, Lycett, Dixon, Ladhams
Tigers: Martin 2, Lambert 2, Riewoldt, Lynch
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Hinkley about to sign a extension Joel to stay around with us,are you staying with us or going elsewhere!!!
RT
Roar Rookie
Yeah what a shame he was pinged. :stoked:
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
I am not impartial, but I agree, technically, the OOB decision were all there. Do they pay most of those during the year, probably not. But, the umpires paid the first, and continued paying them, so the consistency was there. Unfortunately Hartlett decided to do it on a night when the Ump's were red hot on the rule, he had a few earlier examples to get his eye in, so to speak, but unfortunately for Port he got pinged.
RT
Roar Rookie
Have a look at the free just before that one that resulted in the kick to that spot. 2 Port players collided and it was paid too high. I couldn't see any infringement.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Big congratulations to tiger fans realist,sven , richie and co..we gave it our best shot but came up just short .Obviously disappointed but also very upbeat for the future,dont think port lost any fans on friday night. Richmond are a fantastic football club,we had them at our home deck and they have been living in the hub in queensland for however many weeks and came down and got the job done,other clubs have self imploded in these times but the great clubs rise to the top .You guys will be hard to beat next week.It was a great test for us to see where we are at against a full strength tiger outfit gunning for 3 flags in 4 years .Very upbeat about next year,Ebert Watts and Westhoffs retirements give us extra salary cap space to chase someone decent and also opens the door for Georgiades Bergmann Mead Williams and this years first round pick Jones to push their case for selection early next year,all high draft picks so im excited to see what this next crop of youngsters brings to our side next year and many years to come ,think it will be very exciting to watch
Chris
Guest
Robert Walls said "it takes 10 years to win a Premiership" - much of the recruiting and setup was done under his coaching for their dynasty. Same with Richmond - all their champions were recruited under the Terry Wallace era and fed into Hardwick's time as coach. Under Hardwick over half of our first round picks have either gone to other clubs or overwhelmingly don't even play anymore. The coach is only as good as the team around them - with a mention they are only as good as they listen to that team.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
The problem with that theory is that the looser they are on awarding free kicks for deliberate out of bounds, the more the players will be sending the ball to the boundary line without fear of giving away a free kick. It will compound & you will be seeing a heck of a lot more throw ins. The reason they brought the rule in is because fans appreciate seeing a player using skill to keep the ball in play than a low skill player knock it over the boundary causing anti-climax.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Besides Ken Hinkley, 11 of the other 17 coaches in 2020 have never coached a premiership team either. Lets sack them all I say. That will stop each & every one of the those clubs from treading water & bring them instant premiership success!
Ron The Bear
Roar Rookie
Maybe have another look, Ladhams was tackled around the shoulder and let the ball go (or it was jarred loose). Typical play-on situation. Unnecessary at that stage of a close final and kept Port alive. Then there was Hartlett getting a free for being collected by his teammate and feigning head-high contact where there was none (staging, anyone?). And Ebert made front-on contact while effecting his courageous spoil. The final count was 24-19 Port’s way but people will see what they want to see.
sven
Roar Rookie
plenty to be proud of your boys brendon, cant agree u were robbed & if your boys hadve got up reckon i woulda copped that sweet (& be gutted too), very close game
Kane
Roar Rookie
I'd rather a couple more boundary throw ins a game than game changing shots at goal
junkscience
When you lose a really close game you always get that feeling. Are we really good enough to go the full distance ? As an Eagles supporter we are really at the crossroads ... old list, traded lots of picks for Kelly. In many ways getting close is worse than knowing you were never in the hunt. I think Port are definitely in the “window” with a good core of experienced players and some young guns and that is the best you can hope for each year. The other aspect is Richmond .... sometimes you get into the window but there is just someone better at the moment ... thinking of the Lions and Hawks in previous years. As far as the coach goes I think he has done great job this year. You will be back next year
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Missed his teammate by such a large margin that it left the umpire no choice but to assume it was deliberate.
Nick
Roar Guru
Too old, too slow, too good.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
TTF, I did acknowledge Dusty and Richmond. Dusty two goals in particular. Well done, hope we can join you.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Think keeping Ryder for 1 more year may have been enough.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
:crying:
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Salty at all, Brendan? But then again, you were 'robbed' last night, weren't you? It's a pity you can't be as gracious as you expect everyone else to be.
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
It’s also a guess if they don’t pay it Kane. They are asked to make a decision on intent. I think you are after beyond reasonable doubt. Might lead to a lot more throw ins.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Very unlikely. Too old, too slow.