Dreamtime in the west lived up to expectations with Richmond coming out 39-point winners against a fast-finishing Bombers outfit at Optus Stadium.
Darcy Parish was best on ground for the Dons, picking up 44 touches and winning the Yiooken award for man of the match.
Richmond led for most of the game with superstar Dustin Martin kicking three and having 27 touches in an influential midfield role.
Richmond went into the game playing just the two big men in Mabior Chol and Callum Coleman-Jones. Coleman-Jones predominantly played the big man up forward without injured star Tom Lynch.
Chol was in control of the ball early, dominating hit outs and having 19 touches and five intercept marks for the game.
Coleman-Jones was more of a chop-out ruckman throughout the game but was sparingly used throughout the game as the ball drifted forward and the likes of Jack Riewoldt, Jason Castagna and Jack Graham were sharking any ball.
Richmond have had a habit of using a smaller more agile midfielder to fill the spot of the second ruckman at centre bounces.
Shaun Grigg was the prime example used in Richmond’s breakthrough 2017 premiership win. Marlion Pickett was used in Saturday night’s game when Chol was rotated off the ground as the second ruckman.
Mabior Chol needs help in the ruck for Richmond. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
The game heavily favoured Essendon through those parts of the game with Parish, Zach Merrett and Dyson Heppell getting first use of the ball.
Andrew Phillips dominated the ruck tap outs and Essendon dominated contested ball and centre clearances with them beginning to swing back the momentum and clawing back a 30-point lead.
Richmond’s premier ruckman Toby Nankervis is set to spend a number of weeks on the sidelines and Ivan Soldo is not expected to return in season 2021.
A second ruckman with a key forward like a Coleman-Jones would give the Tigers an extra string to their bow.
Samson Ryan at 206 centimetres has left Melbourne and was on an extended list on the flight to Perth.
Although he is yet to make his debut, Ryan could provide the second alternative in the ruck to Chol with Nankervis’ extended injury absence.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You raised that game as the subject.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Urban myth. If you want a stat, consider a "fact" that Dusty only competes for a maximum of 10 minutes each quarter.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
That's all good and well. Neither her nor there. Get back to me if WC can overcome the Tigers this week, I'm sure you'd have no trouble doing so.
Lachlan Mitchell
Roar Guru
Yeah miller young kid , been watching him at VFL and he looks to be changing into a defender , defiantly could be used as more than a chop out
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
ttf, Naitanui played 75% game time against Carlton so I don’t know where you get your ToG% from, but Samson will have Bailey Williams to win a couple of hitouts on. Who will play on Ryan? Kennedy and Allen both back. We’ll give it a shake and you wouldn’t want Naitanui to get a head of steam if it’s tight in Q4.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Colina is an interesting one. Not available until 2022 if he measures up (pardon the pun). Certainly add some height if he does. 213 cm I’m led to believe.
Footyguy
Guest
Deserves a chance Ben Miller, Kalgoorlie lad, been patient
Chris_S
Roar Rookie
Why not give Ben Miller a try. He is 198 cm and pretty quick. The tigers used him in the ruck in the reserves last year to improve his flexibility. Or he could fill-in in defense to give Balta a run in the ruck. He has been training against two of the best forwards in competition so I would love to see how he would go in a really good back line and supported by Grimes and Broad
Lachlan Mitchell
Roar Guru
Mate Collina also on the rise - look out for him
Chanon
Roar Rookie
They are probably worried they will lose leg speed!
row
Roar Rookie
yey whippet prob not right as he is tall, but he does get pushed around at VFL level. Still he shows a bit, good prospect with plenty of mobility, just not sure he's ready at AFL level.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Probably, but Nic Nat rests for 40 % of game time. Perfect for Samson to show where he's at. Not so sure he's a whippet either, can play forward.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Samson Ryan is the future. West Coast will bring talls so why not match them and roll over the top?
row
Roar Rookie
Agree on Pickett but Samson not sure, he's a whippet and needs time, Nic Nat will push him to wherever he wants to.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Been wanting the Tigers to play 2 ruckman for quite some time now. Using Pickett in the ruck hurts us, particularly against the better sides. Perfect timing this week to use Chol and young Samson in combination against WC, leaving Jack and Zombie to play as key forwards only.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
So a couple points: 1. Using Callum Coleman Jones as a chop out ruck was the right call as it would make the Richmond forward line smaller and they would be able to more easily outmanoeuvre the slow backs the bombers have which is kinda what ended up happening. 2. It is dangerous to use Pickett as the opposing ruckman because there were a couple moments on the weekend where he looked like he was gonna end up tunneling the Richmond player