‘Dumb Richmond’?
ABC Grandstand commentator Gerard Whateley used the tag ‘dumb Richmond’ to describe the Tigers midway through the final quarter on Saturday, and given the terrible toll paid through turnovers and senseless 50m penalties, it may be a hard one for the Tigers to deny. Despite having more of the ball, leading forward 50m entries by 50-41, winning the lion’s share of free kicks, clearances and contested possessions, the Tigers never looked likely to damage the Roos on the scoreboard. Even worse, the Tigers gifted goal after goal to the opposition – often by losing possession while crabbing cross-field or missing short targets by hand and foot coming out of defence. At 2-4 after six rounds and with tough fixtures in the run to their Round 11 bye, the Tigers are staring down the barrel of a thoroughly disappointing 2015 and need to rapidly shake themselves free of Saturday’s ‘dumb’ footy if they’re going to resurrect their season any time soon.
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What’s cooking?
Given the ill-discipline that cost both sides free-kicks and cheap goals during the second term, it would have been easy to believe steam was emerging from both coaching boxes. But with temper tantrums ruled out there was some confusion as to why a cloud of thick smoke had blanketed the Ricky Ponting Stand shortly after quarter-time, forcing some patrons from their seats at the southern end of the new structure. Reports soon surfaced that a ‘serious barbecue fire’ had been responsible and that the Tasmanian Fire Service had been called out to ensure the situation was under control. Purists may argue that any barbecue fire was ‘serious’, but given fire-related incidents have already occurred at Domain Stadium, the Gabba and Adelaide Oval in 2015 the ‘Blundstone blaze’ was soon overshadowed by North’s big win.
Don’t forget about Ben
While the pre-match focus was on Jack Riewoldt’s return to Hobart for his first AFL outing at home, the star Richmond forward wasn’t the only local product on show at Blundstone Arena. Former Devonport and Glenorchy player Ben Brown threatened to overshadow Riewoldt during the early stages, and only a couple of wayward shots at goal stopped him. As it happened, Riewoldt was the first to kick a goal after a smart lead in the 27th minute allowed him a set-shot he converted with no fuss from 40m out. Not to be outdone, the mop-topped Kangaroo bobbed up barely a minute later to claim a one-handed mark and kick a goal on the siren to give his side a seven-point lead at the break.
Drawing a crowd
The Kangaroos are steadily gaining a foothold in Hobart, their local support growing year-on-year, and club president James Brayshaw suggested on Saturday that talks are underway to negotiate a new deal once the three-year arrangement ends in 2016. But given Richmond has now been involved in pulling record crowds at both Tasmanian AFL venues, it could easily be argued that the ‘yellow and black’ are a genuine drawcard on the Apple Isle. Saturday’s 16,131-strong crowd was a couple of thousand better than the previous record at Blundstone Arena, set when North hosted West Coast in 2012, but still fell well short of the 20,971 that turned out in Launceston to see the Tigers take on Hawthorn way back in 2006.
Roos on fire
Despite holding a narrow lead throughout the first half, it took until the third term for the Kangaroos to find a decisive break over the misfiring Tigers. With Ben Griffiths concussed early and niggles seemingly curtailing the output of a couple of other Tigers, Richmond was already short on man-power and could scarcely afford the string of turnovers, free kicks and 50m penalties that cost it goal after goal. Smelling blood, the Roos piled on pressure and reaped seven goals for the quarter, three of which came from the boot of lively small forward Lindsay Thomas, who finished with a bag of five. Staring at a 41-point deficit at the final change, the only question left to answer was whether the disappointing Tigers could find the wherewithal to fight until the final siren.
