The Richmond Tigers have won their third premiership in four years after beating the Geelong Cats 81-50 in the 2020 AFL grand final
After trailing at halftime, the Tigers turned in a dominant second half to surge past the Cats, led by another outstanding grand final performance from Dustin Martin, who scored his record-breaking third Norm Smith Medal for best on ground.
The Richmond superstar produced the match-turning moment late in the second quarter. After Geelong had opened up a 22-point lead, Martin somehow fended off Jake Kolodjashnij from a stoppage and snapped across his body against the run of play to pull the margin back to 15 at the major break. It was one of Martin’s game-best four goals.
The Tigers carried the momentum from that crucial play into the third, kicking four goals to one before starting the final term with the opening three majors.
While Geelong had beaten Richmond at the contest in the first half and benefited from the absence of the concussed Nick Vlastuin, the Tigers gained the ascendancy in close and were able to find a more organised defensive set-up after the major break.
A booming Sam Menegola goal from outside 50 with seven minutes to go gave the Cats a glimmer of hope, but Martin’s fourth and Jack Riewoldt’s second put the result well beyond doubt.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
The match started at breakneck pace, but was brought to a sudden halt after a couple of minutes due to two significant injuries. A stray Patrick Dangerfield elbow collected Vlastuin high, leaving the Tigers defender prone and requiring the stretcher to leave the field. In the same passage of play, Gary Ablett landed awkwardly in a tackle and appeared to dislocate his left shoulder.
Vlastuin didn’t play any further part, but Ablett was able to return in his final game of AFL footy, and, while clearly hampered by the injury, still played a key role for the Cats, setting up a number of goals with some typically classy handballs.
Once the game got back underway, the Tigers kicked the first two majors through Dion Prestia and Kamdyn McIntosh, but the Cats finished the term with a one-point lead courtesy of some excellent set-shot finishes from Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan.
Chris Scott’s men threatened to break away in the second quarter, enjoying a far better run of the play but, while jumping out to a 35-13 lead, their dominance wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard. Gryan Miers was one of a handful of Cats to miss goalscoring opportunities, inexplicably playing on and snapping instead of going back for a set shot or running in close to the goalsquare after being gifted possession deep in forward 50.
That and other missed opportunities proved crucial, with the Tigers capitalising on Martin’s outstanding goal late in the term and powering their way to a second consecutive premiership.
2020 AFL grand final match result
Richmond Tigers 12.9 81 (Goals: Dustin Martin 4, Dion Prestia 2, Jack Riewoldt 2, Kamdyn McIntosh, Jason Castagna, Kane Lambert, Tom Lynch) def Geelong Cats 7.8 50 (Goals: Sam Menegola 2, Cam Guthrie, Mitch Duncan, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Gryan Miers)
Dave
Roar Rookie
Very true Neil, every season is different and has to be judged on its own merits! Hopefully we can challenge again next year, however certainly never a guarantee!
sven
Roar Rookie
guess jack can donate one to his cuz
sven
Roar Rookie
reckon if u dont improve youre going backwards as the comp gets harder every year, as neil stated cats will be up there again along with others, port u would think, wc may have a better run with injuries, plus theres usually someone else comes up & u need a certain amount of luck too ... gunna enjoy this one for a bit before worrying about next year, cant wait for the finals dvd box set to come out, just about worn the other ones out
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
This one's for you, Brendon. Cheers Maaaaaaate!
Philby
Guest
Aah...so Nick Riewoldt becomes a premiership player after all...
sven
Roar Rookie
ask me again if we pull off the hat trick but yeah '17 was exciting cause of the drought & how well we played against a strong opponent, '19 was satisfying but not very exciting for the last half, this one was great again cause of the quality of the opposition & very exciting for the way we were able to turn the game around & keep going .... cant imagine it'll ever be anything less than marvellous every time ... they just dont come around that often so u just gotta treasure em
sven
Roar Rookie
loved those great cat sides, brisbane didnt like them but liked their game style, hawks were brilliant but just didnt like em or their game style
sven
Roar Rookie
that '11 team was a champion team, one of the best ive seen..........reckon u need a lot of things to go right to salute so next year will be no gimme, other teams are improving & so we will need to as well... we were lucky with injuries late in the year, got a lot of our big outs back for the finals ... every flag is bloody hard to win .... a few teams in the frame for next years i reckon
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I really liked the Hawks, and Geelong, and Brisbane in their Dynasties. I think it may be some roar commenters that's colouring my judgement.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Banter Pete Banter :thumbup:
2dogz
Roar Rookie
You might find out in 2054,55 and 56 when Buckley is still coaching and Ed is still president :laughing:
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Sven. I’m curious as unfortunately don’t know but is there any part of number 3 so quick together that just becomes less exciting, even a bit disappointing in that you mourn the feeling of 2017? I know some Hawk fans who said that after the threepeat. I imagine I’d be just as excited if the Pies had won 3 in 4 years but just curious.
Boo
Guest
Sven, don't disagree with your anaylasis I think Scott has never made much difference when it counts so he trys things to get browny points.That game reminded me of our 2011 flag in reverse we lost the player and Collingwood hardly scored in the last third of the game.Richmond didn't have it all there own way coming into the finals losing players and the belief that the shorter qtrs weren't in yr favor.The only question other teams need to ask is how did Brisbane beat you.Cant see any logical reason other than injuries why you won't win next year.
sven
Roar Rookie
yeah as the old canned heat song goes 'speed kills' .... geelongs chipping around worked for a bit but they never got any speed on it unlike the previous 2 weeks, the tiges seemed happy for them to do a small sideways chip whilst they set up to eventually force a contest & then punish on the counter if they gained possession. it looks like disorganized chaos at times but when they succeed in getting into good scoring positions so often maybe its time to reassess what is happening, perhaps it is controlled chaos & they seem to be on the same page so there is some sorta system happening..... surely scotts coaching needs to be looked at, not saying u sack a bloke whos just got u into a granny but he does like to pull some funky moves at times that dont produce, eg last 2 finals losses to tiges start of 3rd qrt starting kelly hff last year, this year danger deep fwd, u would surely want your best mids in the guts to start the 1/2 at least, playing your AA full back on a wing whilst lynch dominates last years prelim, dropping stanley v pies last year too, he gets ahead of himself at times does scott....... like rohan & he's had some horror injuries im glad he's been able to overcome but always thought of him as a bloke that goes missing in big games when at the swannies, he is doing the same for the cats ... danger would be desperate to reproduce some of his brilliance in a big final, poor game for such a gun ....when the heat gets dialled up a few of the cats blokes have been found wanting a bit, still see them being competitive next year & without too much tweaking may take the next step finally, been admirable to have been up there for so long
Bell31
Roar Rookie
I thought it was a really exciting intense game - 2 or 3 points in it at the last break and dusty 'going off' - can't ask for more if you're a neutral observer and football fan (but can we avoid all references to 2018.... Not sure I'm over that yet)
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
I reckon so. A happy club. And smart. Dusty made the day great ... Oops night.
sven
Roar Rookie
reckon the players & fans are 2 totally distinct things, pretty sure the players dont worry about the petty bu*llsh*it fans get up to too much, they seem to have their heads where they need to be to perform at their best
2dogz
Roar Rookie
:crying:
Boo
Guest
Scott can't coach so it matters not.Should have played Forte in the Ruck to really work Nankervis over .Played Danger on Dusty for the pyschological effect and a second tall.Lynch did little but kicked as many goals as Hawkins Riewoldt stepped up in the second half.Geelong didn't have that second tall option.Rowan is the girl with the curl and Tuohy is a Backman playing forward.Yeah we will be thereabouts but in big games we get outcoached.IMHO Richmond's speed is there biggest strength so it makes no sense playing Dangerfield and Rowan deep at the start of the third QTR.Ablett should have played as a dummy full forward out of the square.Great club Geelong but there not ruthless enough when it comes too sacking coaches.Dont worry about our failings is this the best Tigers team ever? I have read other posts bagging there game style whereas I think it's brilliant how they hardly take possession before moving the ball on.I have coached a bit and your continually encouraging players to move the ball quickly never seen anyone do.it faster than Tigers.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Its truish. Many tiger fans are agitators of tribal hatred. They believe if they can get you to hate them then that means you are scared of them. It started getting old in mid 2018 but will reamain a boring and somewhat dull weapon of psycho warfare as long as their players respond to it. Which they obviously do. I have no answer to this CIA like intelligence. :silly: