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First and away
It’s interesting on the night to see the Cats kick away to an early lead, because you know this team has the ability to settle, control tempo and then accelerate when needed. Without a worry.

And it was Cap Cotch who lead the charge, literally. His pickup and dash on the corner of the square, then second effort following the ball upfield for another tackle was a sign that he was switched on, and that we would be too. Those efforts lead to Jack kicking the first. From the restart we snag another, and again it’s the Captain. A few minutes later, our third via a Jack flick over the head. This team. Seriously.

Letting Geelong get some space in the corridor late in the period was not good, and a sign of the play to come. So too letting them get the ball to Dangerfield when they’re struggling.

Despite all the gloom and doom about the look of the game and it needing fixing, we are a very entertaining footy team. How can you not love the run and chase of George when he took on two Cats from the back of the square and forced the ball to the forward 50? Hilarious to show up the Cats with speed and pressure. And Rioli and Shane were very creative with the ball as well.

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Steady second
“Kick not his best though” – BT summing up the Clangerfield cameos for the night. Not quite to QF level though. His hand skills also suffered and the only reason would be from our pressure.

Nank had a great quarter, with a sneaky goal after a goal saving mark a few minute earlier. And when he was off, well – we were exposed a bit.
Speaking of exposing, Titch went up a notch and had the best of the quarter, and Connor also had a few moments. Unfortunately for Connor, there were a few the other way too. Good to also see Rance play all over ‘the best key forward’. Played him completely.

A few more runs from the Cats through the corridor end up in goals… not good and no improvement from the first quarter there.

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On song in the PQ
George scored a steal and a goal early, plus some great pressure… all great George efforts, delivering the first 2 goals for us.
Shedda has a wonderful kicking style, and his vision, and that steal later ! Another long period where we were dominating the game, but the problem was that scoring was hard. Sharing the ball is great but sometimes it was overshared. Another thread of our play to be tightened up before the final.

Corridor Cats… again. Tigers oversharing again. Lloyd and Lambert could have goaled. But at least Towner did… too messy though.

Do like it when Nank gets grumpy and exerts himself. Yeah sure there should have been a free kick, but other physicality from him was great.

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Getting it done
When in doubt, go to Dangerfield… and they did, and they did again.

Its only when you see Selwood live that you can really see exactly what he does in tight and extracting free kicks.

Good to see Selwood and Danger handballing their teammates into trouble too. They looked better than we did in the last quarter, but we also did enough when needed, a 7-point play with Josh and Jack, Lloyd bobbing up for a goal, and then later his defensive effort with those tackles on Tuohy and Henderson.

And gain through the middle Geelong scored. All our good work sending them wide was then undone by open corridors.
Speaking of defensive efforts, Kamdyn, Grimes, Grigg, and Dave… all did real well in the last period.
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To The Benny’s…
So hard to give out the votes to individuals when a solid team effort is the feature of this team.
5 Brilliant early was the Captain, and powering the engine room all game.
4 You could notice when he wasn’t there, and a marked improvement when he was. Is running Nank solo starting to be exploited?
3 Mr Creativity shone all night. Loved Titch‘s game.
2 A welcome return to the George we all know he can be.
1 Jack kicked a modern day bag and presented all night. What a Tiger great

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Leaderboard

After a string of near misses, it looked very likely we were in for another. A few poor choices led to some poor calls and you got that feeling the game was to be taken away from us. It certainly felt that way at the time.

It was another Richmond performance of note. Entirely not a game to give the media speculators more ammunition about the tiger fragility. In fact it was quite the opposite. Noteworthy for our attack on the ball and endeavour around the packs. Some of the polish of the first five wins was missing, but there was no questioning the hardness.

The thought during the breaks was that Essendon, if they were to get away from us with the ball, would end up carving us up. They had their little moments in the first quarter with two bursts of three goals. Those sat in the matchday memory when we dominated general play for extended periods. The memories lingered as the game wore on… if they can get away, we are done for.

But as it happened the threat level diminished as the cream of the AFL’s defenders rose to the challenge. Of course Rance was his Rancetastic and imperious self, and the leftenants around him also went up a notch when needed. Astbury, Grimes and Short were huge. Rocks. Launchpads.

For all the resoluteness of our defence, there is a shallowness to the attacking options. Jack toiled as he does, and our small forwards plus Caddy also ground away. Clean we were not, but we do need another tall to stand up in attack. The forwards were also not helped by what appeared to be the number 468 bus from Essendon to Highpoint (via Maribynong) that was parked down there crowding out space.

I also liked Menadue (generally and also for that skinny kid taking down Bull Goddard tackle), Rioli and the big Nankervis, and also Titch who had moments.

And our first home viewing of Bolton was impressive… great chase down. Just try not to do everything at once, son. And Grigg and Bachar. The former should be in the leaders for the Dyer Medal if it were counted today. The latter for a good display through the back and sweeping up forward. Reckon he always plays well against the Bombers (I wonder why).

To the votes

FIVE to Cotch for an awesome display, sometimes of see-ball-get-ball footy, and sometimes where he sat off the back of the pack to be a third or fourth player in the chain out and forward. And always around stoppages and directing the set-up. And the fend off was superb. McDonald-Tipungwuti is a real talent, but he went down swift enough, and even bounced a touch on the deck.

FOUR votes to a reborn BEllis. Lots of stats and touches and more of the creative stuff… its good to have him back to that sort of form.

THREE to Dusty who along with Cotch decided the game needed winning they would see to it that it was us they won it. And the Caro baggers can get stuffed. He was great, but he also is at that level now.

TWO to our other elite who we have come to expect excellence from. Rance, as before was just perfection.

ONE last vote to give and its a bit of a raffle because so many were so good. But for this week and being part of that 2 goal for a half defensive set-up, it goes to the under appreciated DAstbury.

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Votes and notes this week by The Lapsed Tiger

Toowanoh. It’s not a town in country Queensland. It’s Richmond 3121. And its a lovely part of the world.

From the opening minutes with ‘that goal’ from an acre of space inside a phone box, until drilling a belter from outside 50, Captain Cotchin was at the helm and deserving of the five votes. In between those moments was the usual drive from the Chimp. He is a great ball-finder, chip-kicker, hardball-getter and pill-distributor. And also all the tackles, but mainly the one that pulled Treloar down. Like a lion on a wildebeest. Stopped the Pies attacks dead in their tracks at a vital stage.

Stepping up to be the number one ruck from outside the group has seemed effortless for big Toby the Nank. The bloke is not only big of stature, but also big of heart and blessed with skill. When needed, he stayed on the park after Griff was concussed, and toiled manfully and gets this rounds four votes. Might have been beaten on pure stats by Grundy, but the around the ground work and the overall effort was very important. And that baulk was top class. Who knew big men could sidestep while showing the ball as a bluff.

There was a lot of chat about how Shaun Grigg apparently ‘manipulated’ the third man up rule. But in reality, its a reflection on the rule itself and how ill-considered and rushed through it was by AFL HQ. What happens if a team is a ruckman down…? Someone else has to nominate. What if no one nominates? Go ask the duffers at Collingwood. But enough of that, because Grigg was his usual self around the ground and then some. Enough to earn the three votes this week. That he rucked a few times as well as running into space to be a link showed his commitment to the night.

I may be spinning in ever decreasing circles on assessing Nick Vlastuin, but I think he made enough of an impact to warrant two votes this week. Low on the final stats figures, but was running between the centre and defence as the start of runs, or mopping up loose balls. Somewhere in the third quarter was a gather, blind turn and underground handball to advantage. I can’t remember if it brought a goal, but by gee it looked good.

While held quiet and playing further up the ground for a good two quarters, I liked that Jack could once again rise above. Those marks in the second half, at a time the team was rising and needed a forward to stand up, were superb. Body positioning and strength won the ball as Jack stamped himself on the game. Made it look easy. Vitally needed, and the one Benny vote.

Honourable mentions to;

• The tattooed one himself. Martin had a resaonable game and shone again at moments when needed. Overall a regulation day at the office.
• Titch started well, lighting up the goalsquare with such a well crumbed goal that Cap’n Birdseye would be proud. Solid.
• I like what Astbury did down back. Not a star, but made his presence known when needed.
• A few more nebulous honourable mentions: to the Tiger faithful that remained hopeful after a disappointing first half; and to the blustery, swirly MCG wind that did enough in that second quarter to dilute the Pies’ efforts on goals.

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To round out the season at the MCG, a loss to St Kilda in the manner that we did was a sour finish to the year to say the least. Both teams seemed less than inclined to really put up much effort, and it was clear for all to see this pattern inside the first 5 minutes.
A generally low level of intensity by the players was countered by the frequent reminders by the Richmond hierarchy and marketing team that this was “thank you fans day”. This at least tempered the quickly evaporating atmosphere with some semblance of good cheer.

But what we saw from ‘thank the fans day’ was equivalent to what was played out on the field – a shallow effort to acknowledge the contribution of the 72-plus thousand members and 35,000 that attended.
On our last game at the MCG for seven months, no players approached the boundary fence to farewell the members and faithful. No one went near the most die-hard of all at the Punt Road end. No acknowledgement at all by the players as they wandered away like Brown’s cows.

Granted they were bested and beaten, but that Saturday was more than a loss on the scoreboard, and a loss of four points. It was a loss of connection between home fans and players for another season. A loss of the community of football for seven months.
How was this connection overlooked by the footy department, the marketing and promotions team, and all involved with ‘fan engagement’? These small moments are emotional sinews that wrap and bind people to club, and some fine strands of those sinews were broken on Saturday.

This was the most sour part of the day, and an unfortunate way to round out an ordinary home effort of 6 wins and 5 losses for 2016.

And so to the votes.
In times past I preferred to list the unlucky, and then count up to the best with 5 votes.
This week it will be done in the reverse order. Because really there is not much but charity after the early votes get apportioned.

FIVE VOTES
There was no brighter burning Tiger on Saturday than the most recent NAB rising Star nominee Daniel RIOLI. He worked hard and tirelessly as though it was an early season game with much on the line. Flashes of brilliance from the young man peppered our dark final day at the G for 2016.

FOUR VOTES
Playing well and doing his best to will a very unwilling team to some form of competitiveness highlighted once again why, as captain, COTCHIN should not be questioned on leadership again. Not his best game this year, and not even his best this month, but a beacon when cast against the general malaise of Saturday.

THREE VOTES
Its never easy down back when the others further up field are not on song, but the effort of GRIMES was exemplary. Though he and his defensive brothers were helped by the loss to the Saints when McCartin went off, Dylan was well positioned and close checking throughout. An early and successful stretch of those famous hamstrings in the opening minutes (about where the practice wickets used to be) showed he was switched on.

TWO VOTES
This is where a charitable heart steps in and the cold hard reality that we just didn’t have very many shining lights must exit. So lets offer up another defender.

It was a Rance-esque display of Rance-type defending by Alex RANCE. Solid and dependable as always, and what we now come to expect.
And while were on it, was it too little too late to try Alex as a forward with about 10 mins to go? I think so.
Although Dusty has the Benny sewn up, its fair to say Alex will be challenging him for the Jack Dyer. Best Tiger all year for mine.

ONE VOTE
The papers and radio talked up DUSTY, and hell he may even get a Brownlow vote out of this game, but its a ‘scrape into the 1 vote slot’ sort of game for mine.

ALSO, KINDA, MAYBE…
I thought Houli played his best game since returning from injury, but those other games were not much to write home about.
Grigg was patchy, but threw himself in most when we looked well out of the contest.
Lloyd made sporadic efforts but was found wanting more than he found the goals.
Edwards too flashed in, but he is well below his 2015 level.

Hopefully we can have a mighty crack at the Swans next week, and then regroup, draft, reset and re-load for 2017.
Go Tigers.

The Benny

48: Martin
36: Cotchin
35: Rance
29: Riewoldt
23: Miles
17: Hampson
13: Griffiths
12: Deledio, Lloyd
11: Houli
10: Grimes
7: Edwards
9: Castagna, Rioli
6: Short
5: Lambert, Grigg, Drummond, Markov
4: Hunt
3: Townsend, C. Ellis, Vlaustin, Astbury, Marcon
2: B. Ellis
1: Menadue

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award

23: Miles
17: Hampson
11: Houli
5: Grigg
3: Townsend

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player
9: Castagna, Rioli
6: Short
5: Drummond, Markov
3: Marcon
1: Menadue

Joel Bowden's Golden Left Boot
11: Houli
5: Grigg

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal
9: Castagna
6: Short

This week Richmond flies to Sydney to take on the Swans. If anyone will be there and would like to cast the votes, please get in touch.

Votes and notes this week by The Lapsed Tiger

What a week it had been for Richmond leading into the glare of Friday nights lights. Apparently ‘well connected’ and ‘long-standing Richmond families’ were plotting a clandestine coup to remove selected board members. Sitting in a restaurant, making backroom political moves and treating the club and its 70,000 members as their own fiefdom.

This is not 1984, when the less-professional Tigers were tearing at themselves. That internal struggle saw us off into the wilderness for a decade or more. This is 2016, when the template for football is for it to be run like a business, with targets goals and plans, and embracing change and managing it through.
There needs to be a reduced use of emotion at the management level, and most certainly there needs to be a divorcing of outside influence to the club management. I am fed up with board challenges and coup plotters, and most certainly fed up of people who once had a stake in running that less professional club of my youth now trying to retake control of the tiller.

Also in the maelstrom, was a week where those ordinary 70,000 plus members talked of moving on coaches, players and almost anything not bolted down.
So, how good was it to be playing Collingwood as a way for the players and staff to prove a point.
That they were better than what was delivered the week before (and lets also credit GWS as being a strong finals contender this year too – don’t lose sight of their improvement).
That the systems and talent that got us three seasons of (albeit unsuccessful) finals finishes still had the internal fortitude to play well again.
That they could avenge the 1 point loss at the start of the year, that saw us lose 5 more and basically pulled the season out from under us so early.

UNLUCKY
After a wobbly start, Big Ty then began presenting and stamping authority. Its what we want him to do, and its a welcome return.
It’s getting hard to see Rance doing anything other than trademark Rance-isms. He is no doubt the best defender in the AFL, and was brilliant again this week.
There were two other first year players who also had a great game and Short and Rioli will be a platform for Richmond for 2017 and on.
Big fan of Hampson’s effort too. Maybe Grundy shaded him for most of the game, but Hammer just kept on going.
Would really like to give a vote to Jesse White and Ben Reid too. So good were the pair of them to Richmond in coughing up the ball so often.

ONE VOTE
Down the back half the pairing of Rance and ASTBURY is beginning to bear fruit. Supported by Grimes, its a very solid back end, and Astbury played well filling in holes, linking with Rance, and starting transitions.

TWO VOTES
In the last two quarters when the game was still in the balance, DUSTY began to impose himself on the game and steady the Tiger ship. And I agree with Dugald that maybe the ‘Don’t Argue’ needs to be put back in the bag of tricks for a few weeks. Reduce predictability, and go the handball or kick first.

THREE VOTES
Early on, when we were struggling, it seemed as though MARCON got involved and helped get the engines running. Seemingly in all passages of play in the first two quarters went via the boy from Williamstown. Only his second top tier game, but a top bit of work by the mature age-er.

FOUR VOTES
Another young player that did superbly was the running half back of Comrade OLEG. Good run and drive. Deep kicks that were low, hard and accurate. But most impressively was his ability to pull some of the long steps back a touch, and to dance about and get clear. Under such skill and vision, the people and p̶a̶r̶t̶y̶ team will be united!

FIVE VOTES
By my read the Chimp COTCHIN set the team up in the first half. While the Pies scored early from a few dodgy ones, it was the captain who steadied the ship, set the tone and tempo, and got us righted. Spent a great deal of the game either in and under the clinches spurting out handballs, or just laying off the pack about 5 meters to collect a handball and do the Chimp’s trademark dink of a kick about 20 metres forward to another Tiger.
Led from the front. Who can question his role and captaincy now.

The Benny

43: Martin
32: Cotchin
29: Riewoldt
28: Rance
23: Miles
16: Hampson
13: Griffiths
12: Deledio, Lloyd
11: Houli
7: Edwards, Grimes
9: Castagna
5: Lambert, Grigg, Drummond, Markov
4: Hunt
3: Townsend, Short, C. Ellis, Vlaustin, Astbury, Marcon
2: Rioli, B. Ellis
1: Menadue

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award

23: Miles
16: Hampson
11: Houli
5: Grigg
3: Townsend

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player
9: Castagna
5: Drummond, Markov
3: Short, Marcon
2: Rioli
1: Menadue

Joel Bowden's Golden Left Boot
11: Houli
5: Grigg

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal
9: Castagna
3: Short

This week the Tiges host the Cats on Sunday at the G. Liahm O’Brien will be doing the votes for us.