Notes and votes from Liahm O’Brien [@BigSmoove83]

For many onlookers, this game is one that they’re willing to put into the history books as a forgotten four points. If I were sitting at home on the couch, I’d have probably agreed with them. But this was a rare occasion in which I was able to get along to a Tigers game having flown over from the apple isle early Friday morning. When it comes to watching Richmond live, I tend to see the game with rose coloured glasses on – yesterday was no different. I was able to look past the missed field kicks, small crowd and open roof and see this performance favourably.

Given that the ‘hard to watch’ display of last week was fresh in the minds of our supporters, this week was all about the response. It can be said that the scoreboard did not reflect the total tiger dominance during the course of the game. The game really got rolling in the first quarter, where Jack and his mosquito fleet took charge, while our midfield really putting their heads in the hole, firing out disposals from the contested packs and running rampant. The tackling pressure of Butler in particular was quite impressive. Interesting from the first quarter too was the decision to play Nankervis forward, a move that I really liked. He was lively up forward and created a contest when called upon, until he was called to relieve Ivan Soldo in the ruck.

A fast first term was then followed up by a much slower second quarter. The lions had settled into the game and started to wrestle back some momentum, largely due to the performance of Witherden down back. Coupling this with some costly turnovers from our midfield, the Lions were able to get back into the game….and yet, I still felt that we were in control, even if it meant only taking a slender eight point lead into the break. The brick wall built by Astbury and a third game player in Nathan Broad was pivotal to my confidence. Both men out bodied their opponents and on occasion left them to win another contest further afield – a very encouraging sign.

A comfortable 31 point win was set up by a game breaking third quarter. This was when our stars came out to shine. After a reasonably quiet first half, Dustin Martin tore the Brisbane midfield in half with a damaging display of contested football and Cotchin did much the same. To me, though it was Jack that provided the spark with an impressive snap from the pocket to start the third term. Right in front of the cheer squad of all places, this moment set the tone for the rest of the match. He created something out of nothing and his team mates followed suit. Soon after, Rioli would scrap for a ball in the opposite pocket and punched a ball to the advantage of an oncoming Dan Butler for a major. In the last quarter, Trent Cotchin was left two on one at full forward and somehow he was able to win a 20-80 contest which resulted in a team mate cashing in for a goal. To top this off Dan Rioli got amongst the goals himself with an incredible snap from the pocket after dancing and weaving around 3 opponents.

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In all, this was a typical Richmond result – we dominated in the midfield against a star studded line up, Jack took apart the best opposition defender with four majors and the backline was again resolute. Yet, we weren’t able to cash in on the scoreboard despite a great level of control. I’d call it a ‘nice response’ to last week’s game. It wasn’t our best performance, but at the same time this was far from the worst game I’ve seen from the club. We did what we had to do to win, nothing more and nothing less. Four points is four points….and on to the next one. On that note, here are my vote getters (honourable mentions to Prestia, Broad, Ellis and Caddy).

5 Jack Riewoldt – an absolute game breaking performance. Jack always looked in control of his man Andrews. Not only did he kick four goals but he brought the mosquito fleet into the action with his competition in the air. Kicked an absolute barn burner to set he tone early in the third term.

4 Dustin Martin – forget the turn overs throughout the first half, this guy was unbelievably good. His clearance work was something to marvel at, beating the entire Brisbane midfield brigade by himself. Capped off a very classy performance with two goals and stood up under very close Nick Robertson (booooooooooooo) ‘attention’.

3 David Astbury – a lot has been made about his season and the player coming of age. This game was could be used to highlight the narrative. His great strength was his contested marking, winning numerous one on one duels. Won a heap of favours with the crowd by flying the flag in testing times – very Tiger-ish.

2 Trent Cotchin – another exceptional game, his role in the midfield was excellent again as highlighted by a great third quarter. Another encouraging sign was the amount of time he was able to play in the forward line. Coming out of the goal square, he looked incredibly potent and his competitive efforts were great – I’m hoping he gets more time inside 50.

1 Dan Butler – his game should be the standard setter for our small forward brigade for the remainder of the season. While he kicked three goals, it was his tally of seven tackles that were a game changer. Played a crucial role in keeping the ball inside our attacking half – I don’t know what the blueprint is for the rising star award, but his 20 goals for the season and near four tackles a game have flown right under the radar of the media.

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Leaderboard

Votes and notes by Liahm O’Brien

I look at games in Adelaide with both excitement, nostalgia and fear. It is the city in which I got to see my all time favourite Tiger in Joel Bowden play his 250th game in 2008. It is a memory that I hold in high regard despite the ten goal loss we suffered that day. When I look at Adelaide as a football landmark I see the contrast between the ecstasy and agony involved in our great game. To me, the Adelaide Oval itself is a spectacle of history, beauty and horror. It is a ground that is a homage to the history of the game with its magnificent scoreboard and hill, which are a throwback to the era where Robran and Blight were the faces of South Australian football. It is also the site of some of our absolute worst defeats of this century, namely the 2014 elimination final. The round 6 encounter with the Crows was simply another addition to this ballad of pleasure and pain. Paul Kelly said it best when he sung that “All the King’s horses, all the King’s men, wouldn’t drag me back again”.

Going further than the 5-0 start that we’ve enjoyed in 2017, it was fantastic to see Steve Morris make it back to senior football after suffering an ACL injury in Hobart last year. With many positive vibes going into the game, the final score is somewhat of a bitter pill to swallow. Adelaide’s own success story in Andy Otten set the tone for the game in the first minute, taking a strong contested mark in front of our talisman Alex Rance. He wanted the footy and did everything in his power to get it, a mantra that Don Pyke’s men have followed from the first minute of 2017. Despite this it seemed that we had settled into the euphoria of the first quarter, trading goals with the Crows and out muscling them around the contest. This was no more evident than in the pack mark that Daniel Rioli took at the top of the goal square over the opposition key defenders. It was here that my own optimism grew and many encouraging thoughts raced through my head. In hindsight, there’s only one thought that I wish had come to fruition from the first quarter hysteria. That is, “Blow the fucken siren” as we’d taken a 19-18 point lead. After the second term had started, our hopes of doing football’s unthinkable had been buried in the boulevard of broken dreams that is Adelaide.

A flurry of five minutes by Rory Sloane and Matt Crouch in the second quarter really wrestled the ascendency back for the Crows as they shifted gears for the remainder of the game. This sparked a trend of centre bounce clearances that resulted in continuous scoring passages. Jacobs tapping down to Sloane or Crouch or Douglas. It didn’t matter who. The Crows as a group of 22 had the hunger and the desire to move the ball forward at any cost. When we would bang the ball inside our forward half it was the dynamic brigade of Atkins, Laird and Talia that would move it back the other way at twice the pace that it had previously met them. The result of this was a monumental amount of ball going to the Adelaide forwards with high quality. Walker in particular benefiting from this with a bag of 5 goals. The only real note I was able to make from the second half was that this was essentially a continuation of the tone that had been set by the Crows in the second quarter.

Let it be known that while I am deflated from this result, I think I speak for a majority of Richmond supporters when I say that we are not without hope. 5-0 starts to a Richmond season do not come around often and to see the rejuvenation of a club that looked very lost in 2016 has been great. This is without mention of the fact that that we have done this after trading away one of the best to don the yellow and black in Brett Deledio, a player that had for so long been our barometer. Moreover, I am in awe of the Adelaide Crows. This is a club that has lost a number of key players to free agency, been compromised at drafts and tragically lost a coach… and yet they are fitter, hungrier and more attuned structurally than any other team in the game. Even though we leave with our tails between our legs, we must see next week as an even bigger test for our club. Now our backs are to the wall after what has been an impressive start. The great test comes through how club will respond.

Votes:
5 – Trent Cotchin: Our skipper proved why he is the man to lead the club. No matter how many clearances the Crows seemed to win, he was battling hard to try and stop the dam walls from bursting. His team highs in disposals (26), pressure acts (33) and tackles (11) are proof that Cotch will do whatever it takes to see his club improve and will do so when he is faced with all kinds of adversity.
4 – Shaun Grigg: One of the more underrated players in the competition, Shaun Grigg had to be an everywhere man and wore the burden of being the tall midfielder. Often having to go up against Sam Jacobs in ruck duels around the ground, Grigga showed just how big his heart is. I’d even go out on a limb and say he is probably our best club man. Week in and week out, he takes on whichever task is put in front of him.
3 – Kane Lambert: Taking a break from his newfound tagging niche, Lambert got involved in both attack and defence, following the lead set by his skipper. His 8 tackles and 17 pressure acts were complimented nicely by his 8 score involvements and late third quarter goal. He really took it up to the Adelaide midfielders and can hold his head high.
2 – Alex Rance: The score line does not reflect the way in which this man played. No matter how many times the ball went inside Adelaide’s forward 50, there was ‘Tross’ to spoil and halve the contest. His 11 intercept possessions were a testament to the way in which he tried to stop all comers from scoring.
1 – Dylan Grimes: In a similar fashion to his backline partner Rance, Dylan Grimes’ performance flew under the radar. Given the tough job of defending Eddie Betts at the Adelaide Oval, he played a dour and ugly brand of football to keep the forward pocket marvel to just one goal and one behind for the game. This was a very encouraging sign in an otherwise torrid affair.

Votes and notes by Liahm O’Brien

The advice given to me when I first started doing these Benny reports for Tiger Tiger Burning Bright was to ‘write from the heart’. If there was ever a week for this sentiment to be acted upon, then it is this one. I hope to do my best.

Approaching the game against Geelong the mantra of the whole club, from the president all the way through to the property stewards had to be ‘no excuses’. Last week’s performance against Collingwood bridged a significant gap in work rate from weeks prior. It was the embodiment of full human effort and it was a thing of beauty. Today’s game was similar to an extent. For three quarters we the fans were treated to similar feelings and for a moment I could take comfort in the fact that what I was witnessing was what seemed to be a rejuvenation. There was hope in my heart that we had swam through the mire and come to the fork in the road that Robert Plant talks of in Led Zepplin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ultimately changing paths and finding the winning formula… But, as with everything in life there is no guarantee. The Geelong barrage of the last quarter seemed to never end. With every score there was a glare at the clock. ‘Can we hold on? Get it long down the line! Blow the whistle ump’ were all thoughts that raced through my head as endless chains of possessions ended up in a reduced and eventual non existent lead. Dangerfield, Selwood, Enright and Taylor all taking us to task in emphatic fashion. Geelong run out four point victors on the back of inspired play that had been lacking on their behalf for most of the day. Not even our behemoths could hold back the flood caused by the break in the levee. Many feelings had run through my head throughout the day. Feelings of ecstasy at Shaun Hampson’s snap, of the excitement at Rioli rolling one home, allowing us an insight into the years that await and of pride in the sight of Jack willing all 22 men in yellow and black on, something that he loves doing more than the fans themselves. He has left an endearing legacy on this football club already and I’m thankful for the passion he brings to the game week in, week out. Yet only one feeling remained as channel 7 rolled through to it’s various news broadcasts, that of hurt. Hurt for both the warriors that had gallantly tried so hard to achieve something so great, only to be overrun by an elite outfit and for those watching live or at home in their yellow and black, cheering, jeering and hoping.

My final thought on the game is one to help all Richmond people come to terms with today. At all levels, from the tireless warrior that streams out of his backline to fight with every breath in his being, to the watchful eyes of the club hierarchy to the lowly barracker at ground level watching on with scarf in hand and heart in mouth… Be proud in what took place but we must be better. As a collective we must want and need more.

Votes were difficult to do, but I have nonetheless narrowed it down to five worthy players.

5 – Alex Rance: For every willing entry that Geelong made inside their attacking 50, there was a man prepared to put it all on the line to repel their efforts. Rance seemed to spoil almost everything within the three body lengths, constantly making up ground on his opponents and impacting on the ball when he truly had no right to do so. He turned 20-80 chances into contests won and allowed Tom Hawkins to leave the ground only after his colours had been truly lowered.

4 – Dustin Martin: Looked to create at every opportunity with his long kicks. This was the biggest tick from his game as he used the ball in a manner that was needed. Always found a way to contests around the ball through sheer force of gut running and could often be seen wrapping an opponent up or ripping the ball from their grip. Another game from him that fills me with hope looking towards Brownlow night.

3 – Jayden Short: Forget the gaffe in the last quarter where he ran out of the goal square without playing on, we must put the game of Jayden Short into perspective. This is a kid that burst onto the scene as an impact small forward who has reinvented himself mid season, turning into a very reliable half back. I loved how he took the game on constantly off of half back, giving a quick handball and blocking for the next guy in the chain.

2 – Daniel Rioli: In my opinion the best game he has played in his short career at the club. He always looked threatening when the ball was within 80 metres of our goal, constantly chasing, tackling and nagging. Finished with two very classy goals and appeared from the clouds for his tackle on Steve Motlop during the third quarter, a sight that excited many. A very rare player that gives us a glimpse into the past and the future of the club.

1 – Shaun Hampson: Time and time again he finds himself battling multiple opponents and one thing remains… Shaun Hampson will never shy away from the challenge. Made some really nice efforts around the ground, whether from marking or bringing the ball to the feet of his rovers. Hard to believe I’ve done this without mentioning the unbelievably good snap from the pocket in the second quarter in which he turned on a dime and delivered the goods.

The Benny

47: Martin
33: Rance
32: Cotchin
29: Riewoldt
23: Miles
17: Hampson
13: Griffiths
12: Deledio, Lloyd
11: Houli
7: Edwards, Grimes
9: Castagna
6: Short
5: Lambert, Grigg, Drummond, Markov
4: Hunt, Rioli
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
6: Short
5: Drummond, Markov
4: Rioli
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 is back at the G against St Kilda.

Votes and notes this week by Liahm O’Brien

From a personal and a team perspective, if we could decide on a song to describe the night it would be unanimous decision to choose Ironic by Alanis Morissette. Dad and I arrived at the ground early, beating the Hobart traffic to take our seats in front of the hill ready for this grand spectacle, this massive night in Tasmanian footy.  By half time, our excitement had turned into worry and anxiety. While we were within touching distance on the scoreboard in terms of scoring shots, we were being out hunted and out run. These fears were realised when a third quarter onslaught blew us off the park, our ever present key defenders trying their hardest to stop the barrage being bestowed upon them. For those at the game, it would have been clear that there was too much of a focus on the ball and not enough on structure, meaning North could overlap with absolute ease. In all, there is no better conclusion than to say that this is a hard game to talk about. Very rarely do you come away from watching your team play live without a highlight or memorable moment, but this one for me went through the motions and was very hard to watch.

The hellacious night was only compounded by further ‘irony’ to put it lightly. Players that had worked hard over the last month to transform themselves as footballers and to win a spot at senior level had all succumbed to injury. For Steve Morris, the last few years of being on the fringes had appeared to be over. He had looked confident over the last month on field, leaving his man on numerous occasions and would always either impact the contest or win the ball. To see him try to fight on despite doing a severe knee is a testament to his character. Ben Griffiths on the other hand has added last night’s game to the ever-growing list of tricks he cannot take. Griffiths going from a makeshift forward to a ruckman that can play as a big on-baller with a booming kick, has been the equivalent of finding an abundance of spring water in the Simpson Desert. He’s been phenomenal for the team, but unfortunately injuries look like showing their ugly head yet again. In fact his form at Blundstone Arena for injuries leads to a 100% strike rate, a stat that reflects the severity of injury to his career. Without even taking into account the withdrawal before the game of Dylan Grimes, and Nick Vlastuin going down, it can be said that our experience with Hobart was one of carnage and chaos. To quote former Soviet War Commissar Leon Trotsky, this game should be ‘thrown into the dustbin of history’, never to see the light of day again.

Nonetheless, I did find some winners. Here they are:

5. Anthony Miles – wherever the footy was, he was on hands and knees next to it. Tried his hardest as he always does to win clearances and tackle hard, even bobbed up in defence to take an intercept mark. This wasn’t an easy task given the battering ram approach of Ziebell, Swallow, Wells and Cunnington (first half). Was very happy to see Rioli pass off to him for a set shot in the last which he duly slotted. ‘Snip’ deserved a goal for his efforts. He showed ticker and can hold his head high from this one.

4. Alex Rance – I cannot profess my love for Alex Rance in any logical and sane way. He proved again last night why he is the best defender in the competition. For Waite and Brown to walk off the ground with 1 goal between them, despite the quality of the ball that went into their forward 50, was an immense win for us.

3. Shaun Hampson – speaking of immense wins, ‘Hammer’ did the job he needed to in an emphatic fashion. With Goldstein out, he had to be a force with the hit out and was, ending +34 in ruck contests and often tapping the ball to good spots. His true impact was probably lessened by the way in which the North midfielders hunted the ball in packs and sharked it from the taps. He worked hard to make contests around the ground, often flying 1 on 2.

2. Shaun Grigg – did a good job in and under at stoppages, but also worked hard around the ground to get the ball moving forward. I also thought he was one of a select few that ran both ways and was accountable for his man as North went into attack. Provided a real presence on the ball and tried his hardest to repel the battering ram coming towards us.

1. Trent Cotchin – the skipper tried his hardest and along with Grigg was pivotal in and under against a tough opposition. His tackle on Sam Gibson early in the game was fierce and should have probably set the tone for greater team efforts given it was against the run of play. I’d expect ‘Cotch’ to be on his way to bringing home his 4th ‘Jack’ given the form he is in and the effort that he brings week in, week out.

That’s my take on proceedings from this weekend, onwards and upwards from here. Let’s bounce back and really stick it to the Suns next week at the G! – go Tiges.

The Benny
23: Riewoldt
18: Cotchin
17: Martin
15: Rance
13: Miles
12: Hampson
11: Houli
8: Deledio
7: Edwards
6: Lloyd
5: Lambert, Castagna, Griffiths, Grimes
3: Townsend, Short, C. Ellis
2: Rioli, Grigg
1: B. Ellis

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award
13: Miles
12: Hampson
11: Houli
3: Townsend
2: Grigg

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player
5: Castagna
3: Short
2: Rioli

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

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal
5: Castagna
3: Short

We still hope to get a volunteer from ORCS to do votes next week. Email if you’d like to get involved.