Stuff about football & community & belonging
If you are a podcast listener, don’t miss the new one by Sam Lane called The Originals. It’s about the background to Richmond’s women’s team, and it got my attention straight away with this quote from Peggy O’Neal;
If you are intrigued like I was by the thought of our capable and calm leader kicking over a chair; check it out here. https://www.richmondfc.com.au/richmond-media/podcasts/the-originals
I’ve been looking forward to last night for weeks, and really couldn’t sit still as the day went by. Richmond at last made it’s debut in the 4th season of AFLW. I won’t say this often about any game of senior footy, but the four points were not the main focus.
There are so many great stories around women’s footy, and the greatest are at either end of the age spectrum.
There are the older women who have had a chance to play Australian Rules at the highest level, in front of massive crowds. And I’ll bet if you walked them back to 2013 or 2014 you’d find someone playing basketball or hockey or netball who had given up on ever being able to play footy again after ageing out at 13 or 14. This applies to Olympians like Erin Phillips but also people like Lauren Tesoreiro who was coaching netball and working in a nursery.
At the other end of the scale are girls like Alexandra. She’s 3, and went along to the footy last night with her deep-dyed-Tiger dad Jason. She will grow up not remembering a time when Richmond fielded only men’s teams. Just like boys always have, she’ll be free to dream of herself one day, big and strong, fit and fearless, wearing the yellow and black and representing Richmond. I love that it’s now a possibility.
I have three minor disappointments. The least of them is the result; it would have been amazing to come out and beat last year’s finalists in our first game, with goals aplenty to cheer.
We kicked two in the last quarter, but they were cheered very hard and will always be remembered.
I am a bit disappointed in the crowd. While I’m glad no-one who wanted to be there was left stuck outside, I do wish more Tigers had gone along to see the historic game. I know plenty of Richmond members, just like the wider footy world, are skeptical about the entertainment value of AFLW.
I would just ask every Tiger to embrace it now. Don’t wait for Richmond success to get on board. How would you have enjoyed 2017 if you hadn’t endured 2016 (and the rest)? I truly believe Richmond can bring something new to AFLW, and that manic defensive pressure and chaotic attack we love will show itself sooner rather than later.
Lastly I am sad that with the heavy traffic of players going in all directions and high profile additions to the club, we go into our first season without any of our 2018 foundation VFLW leaders on the list. Kate Dixon, Elise Hogan and Jess Kennedy. Elise retired in 2018 after 4 games due to concussion. Jess won the 2018 B&F but had a quieter year in 2019 – it just looks like neither she or Kate were redrafted to the AFLW list.
I guess that’s a reminder that this is not a charity, not muck-up-day, not a sideshow. This is a national league, these women are playing for their lives, and no-one gets a game without fighting for it. But Jess, Kate and Elise will always be on the Virtual Duffle Coat.
Mae O’Reilly is writing a match report so I won’t spend long on the game itself. Our defence was under siege throughout (conceded 1.8 in the first half) but I loved how they did their jobs. Like Sudanese AFLM players, Akec Makur Chuot stands out on appearance alone, but she was outstanding in her role at fullback. I felt like watching her and Seymour, Miller, Monahan – this is a back six I can get behind and I WILL learn everyone’s names.
Our first AFLW goal came through power forward Sabrina Frederick, and it was a wonderful moment. But how was the second goal; a big blonde nº8 for the Tigers takes the contested mark then plays on, sells the dummy and steers the long kick right through the middle. It’s hokey to compare to JR8 but I’m doing it anyway, well done Courtney Wakefield.
Next week: Gold Coast. Now its about the four points.
My first feeling after the siren in 2017 was: peeved. I can’t really explain it – I had expected Adelaide to win. That’s a pissweak explanation but I have never thought of a better one.
We were visiting Tiger mates in Launceston for the occasion. We had the whole last quarter to soak up the idea that we were going to win. But for me it didn’t happen. After the siren I sent silly terse responses to congratulatory texts, and refused to sit and watch the TV with our hosts as the usual muppets like Eddie sat behind their desk and mouthed platitudes about my club. I insisted Marcus come and kick the footy with me in the gathering dark while I tried to work out what it all meant.
As days went by and Richmond were still premiers, it started to really dawn on me that the drought was over, and happiness set in. I did my bumper sticker design, everyone loved it, and by then the 2017 premiership was a landmark in my life.
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Obviously it wasn’t a long wait for the 2019 premiership, but in a way it has felt like an eternity. In August 2018 it felt like we would not only win that one but every flag for the forseeable future. I had another think coming.
This season has been marvellous. No-one wants to see injuries, especially to senior players that disrupt the whole team plan for the season – but how well did we manage it? How seamlessly did every single replacement fit in? Ross, CCJ, Egg, Balta, Marbs.
25 games from big Tom.
Stacky! Marlion Picket!! They don’t call it Punt Road for nothing.
How impressive were our senior men like Dylan and Sheds and Caddy and Bachar and Dusty and Jack in learning new roles, finding an extra gear, shrugging off their own niggles?
Leading up to the Grand Final one after another I heard players say as Cotch did: it will be nice to win another flag, but… we are building something here and that’s what we are really proud of. This kind of process-not-results talk is very common but rarely is it as convincing and authentic.
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It didn’t convince me, and that’s because I was already thinking the same way. I don’t attend any finals; so Grand Final day was going to be very similar for me whoever was playing. Might watch it, or might not (like 2018 when I chopped a lot of firewood). Tiges turned it on in the 2nd half and got over Geelong – into the granny. Nice.
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Usually we have dinner with Mum and Dad on Saturdays. I organised for them to come to lunch instead with the idea that I would wave them off at the gate, then hunker down in front of the TV with Tiger Marcus and no other distractions.
The folks decided to stay for the first quarter. And also my wife’s sister and family announced they were going to come by to watch it with me (a lukewarm Collingwood fan, a North Melb fan who can probably name twenty players on their list, my niece who will spend the game on her phone, and a yappy small dog). I forgot to set the TV to record it. All sub-optimal.
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I’ll talk about the game itself in another post. We kicked 17 goals to 3.
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I felt really weird after. I didn’t want to be with other Tigers, didn’t want to talk or read about the game, couldn’t watch a replay, bought a Sunday Age for posterity only. Thoughts that went through my mind;
Why did I feel like this again? I might have an answer and its bloody obvious. I think it’s missing out. It’s missing the fun, missing being there.
We attended round 23, 2013, when we sealed a first finals spot for 18 years. And I felt like I didn’t need to join the chase for finals tickets; I was happy enough to just know we were there. And it turned out to be a crushing experience anyway for those in attendance.
Since then I have stuck to my approach; I leave the finals tickets for people who have attended through thick and thin over the years. So I missed three losing elimination finals, then I missed three glorious wins, then a solid hiding handed to Hawthorn, a shocker against Collingwood, two fighting come-from behind wins over Brisbane and Geelong, then this spanking of the Giants. I have missed all of that, and been happy to avoid the anxiety, drama and expense, and the social overload of all the online Tigers I know who’ll be there.
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But that approach ends now. Next time Richmond makes the finals, whenever that is, I am going to embrace the anxiety, the chaos and all my fellow Tigers. I am coming to Melbourne.
These are all my favourite photos from the day. Hats off to the photographers. Australian Football is pretty poorly served by administrators, commentators, journalists and whatever Sam Newman is – but what a wonderful lot of snappers we’ve got.
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Clashing with this game, I was invited to go out to MONA and see Robert Forster. My gut reaction was noooo – its a huge game and I’ve got to watch it live. And Forster, aaaaah it’s great music but he’s such a knob. In the end, the gig won out. A night out with old friends can’t be recorded and experienced later like the footy. And Forster was actually great fun.
I maintained radio silence and came into the house with no knowledge of the score; although I did sing Tigerland in the car on the way home. Optimism has become the new default. Turns out there was five minutes left and we were gone out of sight, it was our night. I have watched the replay and these are the highlights, celebrations and frustrations.
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It’s very wet which suits us. It’s Bachar’s 200th, and I don’t remember a player held in such universal respect by Richmond people for what he has brought to our club and the footy community.
@masonsixtencox gets a charity free immediately and does the right thing, shanking a behind. A note for the rest of the game: umpires guess ruck frees and so do commentators, because there are NO RETIRED RUCKS COMMENTATING. Why is this? I think Grundy has done a little bit of special comments; but tonight he’s out there grappling with Ivan II.
The inaccurate ones, Bruce and BT are competing from the go for the worst howler. “Short, missed out on that grand final last year”. Then Treloar goals, he has great hands in the wet. Dusty handpasses to stationary Ivan II who is unfazed and flicks it on – everyone in this group trusts everyone else, it’s amazing. Houli and Vlastuin exchange handpasses while galloping the wrong way, brimming with confidence that openings will appear around them if they hold their nerve.
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Bolton gets it out wide and will always think of shooting first. In isolation this annoys me a little, when he has mates lining up in better positions; but in the big picture it’s good to have at least one goal guts. Vlastuin has started magnificently; his slalom run out of the back pocket another display of poise. A good sequence comes to Dusty who is a way out but the pure authority of his finish for our first goal lifts the team and the fans. Sidebottom has probably never had a worse quarter – his boots are on the wrong feet. Ellis hears his footsteps and Sidey takes possession but sprays his shot horribly. Bruce: “Crisp, strong in the hips” – I reckon he reads a lot of WH Auden.
Lord David Astbury absolutely nails Mihocek, everyone gets up with laughs all round. The wet footy is intense and even, the game hasn’t settled into any pattern yet. Then, Lynch is lucky twice. Goals from a cheap free, then is allowed to spin around and around in a tackle before dishing to Shai; goal. We’re off. “Graham, with his heavy hips” Bruce, I will pay you to stop talking about hips.
The soccer kick is the order of the day. Cotch and Dusty go to hoof the same ball off the deck – Cotch pulls out of it and I think that is when he gets a hammie twinge. He’s off for the day, but seems extraordinarily chirpy about it. He’s also waiting for news of his third baby being born.
Unusual to see two gun players on the bench with big grins all round, a minute before quarter time. Especially when one is already done for the day.
Lynch is pretty slow in a straight line, but that’s not surprising. I hadn’t realised he has played every game this season – that is admirable coming off his serious injury and no pre-season. Sidey and Pendles are not firing and De Goey invisible, Stephenson and Moore missing. We should be flogging these guys.
More ruck free kicks. Grundy gets one and while Ivan looks to the ump for the mark, behind him Grundy just gallops away and kicks a point. Up the other end Ivan wins the ruck lottery, and goals from his free kick.
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Broad kicks to Short, who kicks to Houli, who unloads with a huge woooof up the left wing to Riewoldt who outmarks Howe, spins and kicks it out in front of Lynch. Tom gallops onto it and goals, sensational team footy. 5.4 to 1.2 and quarter time.
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In the 2nd Q we dominated every moment until one minute to half time, when we spoiled it by coughing up two quick ones.
Tiges win every one-on-one in the first 90 secs. De Goey misses and it goes down the other end for a stunning goal. Lambert kicked from the centre to Lynch on 50. Lynch turned and launched a kick to the vacant goals, but by the time the ball landed Lambert was there to toe it through. Insane running. Marbs sells a dummy, nonchalant. We are playing off Dimma’s short pitch, as Astbury is taking intercepting marks at the front of the square. George seems to be drifting into defence more, he’s everywhere applying pressure and linking up.
In defence a Pie marks, plays on but has no idea what to do, and drops it at Dusty’s feet. He holds the hapless Pie at bay while he side-foots the sherrin to Stack who goals, its 46 to 9. Collingwood are a rabble. Marbs executes an off-balance drop-kick. Lynch goals again after the ball goes straight through Crocker’s marking attempt. Soldo is matching Grundy.
Jack and Tom team up for Tom’s 4th. Lynch hacked it in Riewoldt’s direction, leaving him a lot to do. But Jack is up to it, and in return lays it on a platter for Tom who nails the shot on the run, 61 – 11. Then we take the foot off the throat and allow a couple of Pies goals for a half time score 61-24. I think Collingwood may have run up the white flag at half time otherwise, it’s been that one-sided.
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I’ll be brief with the 2nd half, which was a little disappointing really. We don’t goal for most of the 3rd Q, then Martin marks and kicks it round the corner. He has been BOG. Grimes hasn’t had a mention yet but he has been just flawless in his timing, decision-making and leadership. Bruce compares him to Ben Hart, then Sydney Stack to Andrew McLeod. “If Grimes and Stack end up as good as Hart and McLeod they’ll be happy with their careers…” uhh respect to Hart but Grimes is a better player already, thanks.
De Goey goals, then Jack Riewoldt thumps a big goal from 55 after a delicate pass from Jack Graham who has hit his namesake on the chest twice this quarter. At 3QT it’s 78-40.
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In the last quarter we are finessin’ in forward 50. We’ve got three tall targets, and Dan Rioli pinpoints Marbs who is a lovely set shot. The Collingwood president leaves as Crocker hits the post. It was a lovely touch from his Channel 7 rivals to linger on his furious red-faced antics. Final score 98 – 66.
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Benny Votes
Martin 5, Vlastuin 4, Grimes 3, Lynch 2, Graham 1
Leaderboard
Martin 36
Houli 33
Grimes 27
Vlastuin 25
Lynch 23
Edwards 22
Stack, Prestia 18
Lambert 12
Ellis 11
Cotchin, Bolton 7
Castagna 6
Nankervis 5
Baker, Broad 4
Chol 3
Astbury, Ross, Naish 2
Graham, Rioli, Balta 1
Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another clubAnthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footersGreg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler in 2019
Prestia 90
Graham 76
Castagna 53
Vlastuin 52
Stack 51
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Its Sunday, its cold and rainy, and am I sitting by the heater with the radio on. My plan was to work while I listen but I am finding it impossible due to pre-game anxiety. I am just going in circles.
I am actually feeling confident of a solid win and of the team gelling well, but also in the long run it will be to no avail. I did the ladder predictor earlier and it told me we would finish 9th below Essendon on percentage. Our percentage is worse than Hawthorn’s and they are 15th.
I am delighted for Marbs that he’s been retained in the side. It will be good for Noah Balta to have a rest and – I am confident he’ll be a long term player at Richmond.
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Terrible start. Junk 50 entries from us. Saints have stolen our game plan. Pinging it around. Ross does a little Dan Rioli-style pat to keep the flow going and it ends in a Josh Bruce running goal. Then two more to Acres and Marshall. We are in deep awfully quickly.
Sydney Staaaaaaaack!!! 7 stars have come back into this side and the one who has to kick start us is a 19-year-old. A fantastic screamer – sounds good on the radio but I have now seen it on Twitter. He lines up Hunter Clark from 15 metres away to be his stepladder. What a wonderful addition to Richmond he is. It is so right that we are the only club that would take him, because we are the club that can use him best in my opinion.
Stack above the pack 😎🚀#AFLSaintsTigers #gotiges pic.twitter.com/uw6yBNQWNi
— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) June 30, 2019
Sydney’s mark by the amazing Kate Birrell, painted back home from a photograph
And the ball got down to him thanks to a wonderful strong mark from Mabior Chol on the wing. He’s playing well, has great awareness and seems ready for this level.
Marbs! Marks and goals after leading out to Dusty, with three minutes left. A confident start from the South Sudanese Sensation.
Vlastuin is running and spreading, has six marks for the quarter. We are back in it at the break 18 – 12.
Kate’s plein air painting done on the spot, under the dome. Her work here on her site is worth a good look.
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Stack goals again while am I making a sandwich, and Dion scores a behind to put us in front. And… breathe.
Then the Saints take control again, somehow getting their kicks in without much pressure from our midfield. Suddenly, from a point up we are 4 goals down in six minutes. I am feeling furious, disconnected and anxious sitting by the radio.
Goal to Bolton. Lynch brings it to ground in a pack and the little feller is front and centre and kicks straight.
It’s all happening too fast. I want it to slow down. Now I am looking over Marcus’ shoulder at his phone for the rest of the quarter. Marbs again! What a lovely left foot set shot he is.
Then Sydney out on 50 just within the boundary steps inside and sinks the goal from 45. Dusty is being given ages by the umps to get rid of it. It’s not really fair but I am not petitioning the AFL about it. The new no-mo Stack has 3 goals.
We go in four points down with no goals yet from the Anglo-Saxon contingent. The scoring has swung in big storm surges and I am feeling a bit seasick. Lambert is making a terrific return, 16 touches so far.
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On ABC radio the half time chat with Brad Sewell and Parko is about Stack needing to build his tank to play midfield. Parko: “I hope he stays unfit so he keeps jumping on people’s heads like he does”.
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We restart and its with Lynch who misses, and cops a serve from the radio team. “You never see him DEMANDING the ball” – Sewell.
Finally after a long wait a really good team chain of possessions ends with Lynch in the square, and he roosts it towards the roof. Great goal. Back in front, and into seventh on the live ladder which we all shouldn’t care about in June.
10 minutes after half time Sewell says “McIntosh had Lynch SCREAMING at him for a pass out wide and McIntosh turned back into the channel”. Yeah Brad, you are turning out to be a bit of a dickhead.
Dusty must have sensed the pressure Tom is under, because he took a risk to square it to him for the first goal of the 2nd half, when could have kicked it himself in his sleep.
Dan Rioli goals easily after great work from Martin and Graham and a shimmy from Sheds. Then Caddy adds another. Sydney had the chance there to destroy his opposite nº44 Wilkie but simply dispossessed him. We have a 14-point lead, the ship is steadying as we have kicked the last six.
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At this point our old dog went berserk, because his best mate went past the back gate, and he NEEDED to get out there. So my idea of a walk with my head down listening to the rest of the game became instead a social walk with a dear (human) friend who has no interest in footy. But it was lovely to see the dogs play and my game-day anxiety just faded for the thirty minutes or so, until I excused myself to come back in and listen to the conclusion.
[Highlights I missed were: Ellis goal. Caddy delivery to Lynch. Amazing chain of possession with great evasive skills from Bolton and Castagna, George ends up slotting it from boundary on his left. Wonderful.]
When I get back the Sainters are starting to fray, and no-one nominates for the ruck, allowing Marbs to stroll in in and kick a very easy goal, his third.
We are easing in now to a comfortable win with some confidence-building goals to Chol and Lynch. Though having said that Marbs doesn’t seem lacking in confidence. And Sydney Stack – words fail me. He’s moved forward and kicked four. Could be anything. Could win the Brownlow, this year.
Since typing that I have looked at the official Brownlow vote predictor and S Stack is currently on zero votes.
In the Saints’ second half they kicked 3.10. If they had kicked straight they could have given us a serious fright. At times they looked a good match for us, and when they decided to play keepings-off we had no option but to occupy space and be patient.
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Benny Votes
Dusty (5) was in classic form and had both the Saints and the men in green in his thrall.
Stack (4) had an amazing 15-touch game. Kicked four goals, was also a creative engine and a defensive menace in the front half. A revelation as a permanent forward.
Chol (3) kicked 3 goals in his third game, and did it all – forward, back and ruck, with aplomb.
Prestia (2) had 29 touches and carried a load, with both Edwards and Cotchin having quiet returns.
Vlastuin (1) had 26 touches and 11 marks and was a dead end for many St Kilda thrusts forward.
Leaderboard
Houli 30
Martin 28
Edwards 22
Vlastuin 21
Grimes, Stack 18
Prestia 14
Lynch 13
Ellis 11
Bolton 6
Cotchin, Nankervis 5
Baker 4
Broad, Chol, Lambert 3
Ross, Naish 2
Rioli, Castagna, Balta 1
Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another clubAnthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footersGreg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler in 2019
Prestia 69
Graham 50
Baker 45
Castagna 44
McIntosh 43
Saturday nights we have dinner with my Mum and Dad. Since the Tiges have become box office gold, this often means a clash with the only game of the round I intend to watch. They are nice people who raised me so I am pretty disciplined about time-shifting the game and just focussing on what they are saying about their fruit trees, their friends’ health challenges and what things were like in Launceston in 1946. Drays feature heavily.
All this is by way of saying I watched the 2nd half of our heavy loss to the Bulldogs live (without taking notes), and have now just gone back to the start. The hard drive has some sort of palsy and won’t let me get past the Billy Gowers reverse-head-butt on Grimes. But I’ll give you what I’ve got.
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Start was promising, lovely footwork from Ross stepping around big Z Cordy and centreing the ball for Lynch but it was intercepted by Kam McIntosh who goaled. But then Bontempelli [Italian for “little good times”?] began his masterclass which continued all night.
Mendadue crashed in hard to make a chance for McIntosh’s 2nd but he missed. Bolton hit a target by hand while being put in a spinning sleeper slam. Caleb Daniel having a clumsy game – gave the ball to Captain Sheds who hit up Caddy who notched our 2nd. Rioli was running into goal with only the pitter patter of little Caleb’s feet behind him and he shot from too far out, like an under 10. Next minute he was run over, coming up with sore leg and ribs. Dr Matthew Richardson suggested he’d picked up a “hip pointer”.
Dogs murdering their shots at goal. Stacky sold the dummy then gave to Baker who put it over the goal umpire’s hat. Baker has the now-standard Bulldogs munter hairdo. Bolton delivered a perfect pass to Balta 15m out but he dropped it under light pressure.
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Bont loped about doing as he pleased and found dear old Sam Lloyd who at last kicked straight. They’re the most inaccurate team in the league and that’s the only reason we went in 3 points up at quarter time, 3.2 to 2.5. Vlossy turned his ankle just before the siren and it looked like we might have lost another couple of senior Tigers.
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After the restart Naughton was doing what he liked, playing on Broad, with Grimes on Gowers. I’d have swapped but then I’ve only coached u/12 school soccer. Darcy loved Naughton “marking it at it’s highest point”, the sign of a real doofus. Nank was exuding power and menace, the man just loves to tackle other humans. Dogs flicked the switch to ACCURATE and like that we were in trouble. Their mids were delivering it silkily under little pressure. The first 20 minutes were all Dogs and it rained goals at the Alan ‘Banana Legs’ Hopkins End.
Balta was getting a bath in defence but he’s hopefully learning heaps. Vlossy was never 100% after QT – he sold Stacky into terrible trouble from a kick-in but the young man has a touch of the Wanganeen rubberlegs and he eluded capture; then shortly after took a remarkable pack mark amongst taller timber. His composure is wonderful. He and Bolton both seem untackle-able.
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The last ten minutes of the term were all Tiges but our shape was all wrong. Our first shot of the term came from Nank. Broad was bobbing up on the edge of 50, he’s never scored a goal in his life. Terrific fellas but something’s amiss when the ball is repeatedly in their hands up the ground, not with say Sheds or Caddy or George. Finally just before half time Stacky delivered to Bachar who got a lucky free for beard-contact, and slotted a desperately needed goal.
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After half time I raised the roof at home when Balta galloped around the boundary to kick a wonderful solo goal. Nank continued to tackle like a 2-metre-tall Maurice Rioli. Dusty was having an influence inside. But the Dogs just looked too tall for us. Dylan Grimes had an off game, which is like saying the last pylon standing had a bad day when London Bridge fell down. Was someone blocking for Naughton so no-one could get a run to spoil? It felt like it. He had a day out.
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As we lost so badly, I think readers will forgive me skipping the last quarter; I thought I’d be able to rewatch but let us just draw a veil over it.
If we’d been playing a front-runner I would be happy to call this a natural tipping point; you can only cover x missing stars and now we have solved for x. There were the early injuries to Rioli and Vlossy, who played on but didn’t look nimble [Ed Richards ran around Vlossy towards the end of the night like he was set in concrete]. BUT – this was the Dogs, who are possibles for the lower end of the 8 at best (from where they can win the flag of course). I think there’s no excuses . Although I’m not bothered by the final margin we should never have let ourselves get that far back.
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The Benny Votes
5 Stack – never looked flustered, never put a teammate under pressure.
4 Vlastuin – had his hands full and kept trying to play our way
3 Nankervis – up against a giraffe in English he played smart and his tackling was good
2 Baker – is getting more of it every week. A reliable kick for goal and good in traffic.
1 Bolton – also got his hands on it more than he has, his field kicking is sublime
Not too bad: McIntosh, Prestia, Lambert, Martin, Balta
Leaderboard
Edwards 19
Vlastuin 14
Grimes, Lynch 12
Stack 11
Martin 6
Nankervis 5
Ellis, Prestia 4
Cotchin, Broad, Lambert, Houli 3
Ross, Baker 2
Rioli, Bolton 1
Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another clubAnthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footersGreg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler in 2019
Prestia 36
Nankervis 26,
McIntosh, Lambert 24,
Castagna 23
Graham 21
Hi everyone, its Chris here. Time has passed and I still feel gutted about losing the preliminary final to Collingwood. I ignored the first three quarters of the Grand Final, something I have never done before. And to be honest, it was a doozy. But we weren’t there. We were all so certain we would be – maybe we “got ahead of ourselves” – and I still feel like it’s an opportunity missed, and that casts a shadow back over all our good work and the fun of being the top dogs all through 2018.
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But it was fun. We had fun in the sun as premiers, games clear on top of the ladder, with the reigning Brownlow medallist, coach of the year etc, we won everything but the Cox Plate. This year we got Jack winning the Coleman medal, Snags won the GOTY, and we broke the 36-year McClelland trophy drought. Winning stuff was fun. And that’s my analysis done.
Next year I am handing the baton of The Benny to Brendan O’Reilly whose excellent work you have already enjoyed here from time to time. Thanks to Brendan for this offer at a time when we thought TTBB might be looking at a year off in 2019. I will continue to chip in photos and graphics and keep adding to the Richmond Virtual Duffle Coat. I am interested in trying to get a public display of the Coat happening somewhere in the Richmond 3121 vicinity so if you have any ideas about that, drop me a line.
Take care in the off season, and bring on 2019.
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Awards
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Full Tallies
Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another clubAnthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footersWinners 2018: Toby Nankervis 2017: Shaun Grigg 2016, 2015, 2014: Bachar Houli
Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2018: Baker, Chol, Eggmolesse-Smith, Moore, Stengle
No votes yet.
Winners 2018 no award 2017, 2016 Jason Castagna 2015: Kane Lambert 2014: Anthony Miles
Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler
Graham: 107
Cotchin: 103
Conca: 92
Grimes: 82
Nankervis: 81
Winners 2018 Jack Graham 2017 Trent Cotchin
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We did not smash our way into September, we did not barnstorm … we cruised our way into September. Over the last month we collected the 4 points without too many thrills or spills. Injured players recuperated, we stayed on top of the ladder. There was no change to the season’s starting proposition – Richmond are the best team in it. This was unfortunate for journos, who have to work hard to try to spin a grander narrative.
I only made it to one roster match this year – the first. At quarter time of round one I thought, oh boy, Brendan Bolton’s boys are going to scare some good sides this year. But it was not to be – we went in radically different directions after that. That Sliding Doors bloke has probably done a really smart episode about it.
For New Richmond’s 4th final Marcus and I settled in to watch in the spare room, decorated for the occasion. Ellis dropped! Didn’t quite see that coming.
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Q1
Such an intense beginning. I love footy like this, a mad scramble with intense desire for the ball trumping systems and even skills. The great thing is it is widely available in September all over the country.
Richmond were on top of the Hawks and dominated the quarter. One of our many forward thrusts fell into George’s hands and he, presented with many options, chose very well, chipping it across to Kam McIntosh. Immediately after this kick I saw Sheds coaching Dan Rioli who was fully tuned in to the voice of experience. Shortly afterwards Dan crumbed a ball at his ankles and scored an opportunistic goal.
We were killing ’em really. The one shot they earned was shanked badly by one of their leaders, Burgoyne. Our composure was superior but we gave away a couple of 50s which resulted in goals, keeping Hawthorn in the game. They started to show glimmers of fight late in the quarter.
Q2
Again it was our quarter early before Hawthorn gave themselves some hope late. Nank marked and the TV producer clearly knew what would come next although the Hawks didn’t. He dished to Shorty who missed. A fight broke out and the same TV producer decided to focus on that while the game went on in a little window. Now listen old mate. This is a final at the MCG with everything to play for. This isn’t a dead rubber at Metricon in the Sunday graveyard shift. If you must show the fight you pop THAT in the window while we watch the game.
Breust missed a soda and any small apprehension I had felt melted away. Shortly after that Dusty thumped a wonder goal from the boundary; we are doing the impossible while they are stuffing up the probable. Wonderful to see Kamdyn hit the scoreboard and he seemed to be bobbing up everywhere.
Dusty threaded the needle on the boundary to find Prestia. Mitchell seemed to have gone quiet. Our best in the first half are Dusty, Sheds, Rance, Cotchin, Kamdyn and George. Our backline was impenetrable. I called the game for us at half time.
Q3
Kamdyn in defence took another great stopping mark then set off on a brave run that came off. So many of our next tier are playing with boundless confidence. Moments later up the other end he nailed his third. Our defensive marks are winning this game. They can’t get an inside 50 for love or money. Grimes is having a great quarter as Rance did in the first. Astbury is quiet. Dion goals again – ours are just coming so easy compared to theirs. Rioli goals. We are simply too good for this mob. They fell into the top 4 and we owned top spot, and it looks like it. You’ll have to do better than this, rest-of-the-AFL.
Now Higgins goals. The Hawks have 5 majors – we are just crushing them with pressure. Edwards magnificent. It’s like we are playing a different game. Never in my life (apart from 2nd half of 2017 GF) have I felt so confident that Richmond is on its way to a flag. As Joe suggested last week, Dusty was playing August footy in August and now he’s unveiled his September footy, and its something to behold. Congratulations on your 200th, to the best player going around at the moment and probably one of the all-time greats.
Q4
Dusty the Great went quiet later in that term. Hawks inexperienced players have not stood up, some senior players have had mares (Gunston, Breust) and Clarkson has not fired a shot. Nankervis is such a key for us – thank you baby Jesus and the Blessed Oliver Plunkett for looking after him these last two years. Nank just does his job, it’s as simple as that. And we love him for it.
Sheds tries a few cute moves in this quarter that don’t come off. Riewoldt and Rance both have ankle/foot scares. At the end the vice captains come off arm in arm, sore feet forgotten for now, with a week off to sort them out. There’s Rachel Hofton in the cheer squad!
Oh we’re from Tigerland. What do you mean I have to go to work tomorrow?
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Benny Votes (double for finals)
10 Dusty – Just majestic
8 Prestia – Gained 626 metres for the night
6 McIntosh – Was everywhere, career-high 3 goals
4 Cotchin – 26 touches, was consistent all night
2 Rioli – Moments of genius
Leaderboard
Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another clubAnthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footersGreg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2018: Baker, Chol, Eggmolesse-Smith, Moore, Stengle
No votes yet.
Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler
Graham: 105
Cotchin: 96
Conca: 87
Grimes: 79
Nankervis: 77
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It’s ironic that as Richmond barrels towards a likely 2nd successive grand final, TTBB is sputtering uphill on bald tires with practically nothing left in the tank. This is not a plea for financial support – we don’t cost much to run and that’s covered by our merch sales (thank you to everyone who has bought a little piece of Tiger Tiger for themselves). Spare time for blogging has been hard to come by of late, and even organising contributors takes time and energy. But the end is in sight!
To business – our unimpressive but competent dispatch of Essendon in round 22, about three weeks ago. We looked too good for most of the night but gave up the last 4 goals of the game. We went in without Cotch, Lambert, Prestia or Astbury, but brought back Nank and sent Ivan II back to the VFL.
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More was probably written about a handshake at the coin toss than was written about the match. Such as by the self-satirising Andrew Bolt. I don’t know Adam Saad very well but I do know Bachar Houli is a great Australian and if more like him are keen to come here, I will bake them a halal cake.
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Q1: Loved Grimes attack on the ball to dead-heat Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. And George’s one-two dance move for our third goal.
Q2: Our quarter but we lost our way in front of goal, kicking 1.6. A chain of passes out of deep defence ending with Bachar in the forward pocket was sublime. And Caddy marking on the point post while Goddard was busy pointing.
Q3: A frustrating night for stand-in skipper Jack although/because Josh Caddy just kept judging the pack marks better. Bruce McAvaney said “Caddy” like he was singing a death metal song about golf. Young Baker kicked his first.
Q4: Cale Hooker who is a 7/10 footballer briefly looked like a 9 and Essendon gave their long-suffering faithful a bit of sunshine. We switched into cottonwool mode and coughed up some cheapies. Not Dan Rioli though, his late tackle on Adam Saad saved a few blushes. As Dimma said “It was a terrible game of footy, but I was happy with the win”.
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Benny Votes
With only the highlights clip as a refresher on the game, I am once again giving the Benny votes out just as the best players were listed in the AFL match report.
5 Martin
4 Caddy
3 Rance
2 Short
1 Edwards
Leaderboard
Blair Hartley Appreciation Award: for players who have joined Richmond from another clubAnthony Banik Best First Year Player: for anyone who was yet to debut before round 1Joel Bowden’s Golden Left Boot:for left footersGreg Tivendale Rookie List Medal:
upgraded from the rookie list during the current season
Potentially eligible 2018: Baker, Chol, Eggmolesse-Smith, Moore, Stengle
No votes yet.
Maurice Rioli Grip of Death Trophy:
For the Tiges top tackler
Graham: 90
Cotchin: 88
Conca: 78
Grimes: 74
Nankervis: 73
Lambert: 61