Minor premiers Port Adelaide scored an uninspiring 20-point win at Telstra Dome on Sunday against a Richmond side that appeared determined to do club legend Jack Dyer proud.
Port led at every change during the round 21 match but was pushed hard by the Tigers in what many assumed would be a straightforward win for the ladder leader.
The wasteful Power eventually won 18.16 (124) to 16.8 (104).
Richmond led for just five minutes in the game – after Andrew Krakouer kicked the opening goal of the match – but never let the Power get further than 23 points ahead and levelled the scores 23 minutes into the third term.
Power coach Mark Williams warned his team against playing ‘too cute’ against the Tigers, but some lackadaisical shots on goal allowed an inspired, but ultimately inferior, Richmond team to rattle its opponent.
An Adam Houlihan goal drew the Tigers level with the travellers, but the Power’s composure was regained after Stuart Dew and Chad Cornes converted just before three-quarter time.
Port had regained a 15-point buffer and was troubled little thereafter thanks, primarily, to forward Warren Tredrea.
Tredrea kicked just two goals to half-time after being minded ably by Ben Holland.
But injury sidelined the Tiger from midway through the third term and Tredrea confirmed Port’s victory with three goals in the final term.
His new opponent, Andrew Kellaway, was caught behind on each occasion before Ty Zantuck – who kicked five goals for the Tigers in a rare day up forward – was forced to move to his customary position.
Richmond began the match with a fierce attack on the footy, but its inferior disposal and finishing afforded Port a 16 point lead at the first break.
The Power kicked four unanswered goals after Krakouer kicked the game’s first.
Significantly, the travellers had 14 entries inside 50 to their opponent’s six. Richmond’s turnovers, particularly out of defence, were also costly.
Richmond strung together three unanswered goals in the entertaining second term, firstly through Zantuck - who nailed his third major 19 minutes in – then Houlihan and Greg Tivendale. Some confident footy, using direct passes through the centre corridor, saw the Tigers - who have not won a game since round 17 - improve as the quarter wore on. Two late goals kept the side in touch.
Mark Coughlan missed a set shot 45 metres from goal in the dying seconds of the term, but it did not influence the Tigers’ momentum as they ran into the change rooms.
It went goal-for-goal in the third quarter before Dew and Chad Cornes goaled in time-on.
Richmond plays Hawthorn next week in its last match of the season, while Port Adelaide meets home town rival Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Sunday.
RICHMOND: 3.1, 8.4, 12.6, 16.8 (104)
PORT ADELAIDE: 5.5, 8.7, 13.15, 18.16 (124)
GOALS: Richmond: Zantuck, Houlihan 5, Richardson 2, Fiora, Newman, Tivendale, Krakouer.
Port Adelaide: Tredrea 5, Dew 3, Stevens 2, Guerra, Cockatoo-Collins, Wanganeen, Thurstans, C Cornes, Cochrane, Montgomery, Pickett.
BEST: Richmond: Zantuck, Houlihan, Coughlan, Tivendale, Bowden, Fiora, Richardson
Port Adelaide: Stevens, Tredrea, Wanganeen, Carr, P Burgoyne, Schofield, Dew
INJURIES: Richmond: Holland (hamstring)
Port Adelaide: Chad Cornes (ankle)
CHANGES: Richmond: None
Port Adelaide: Brogan (shin) replaced in the selected side by Guerra.
REPORTS: None
UMPIRES:Fussell, Kennedy and Woodcock
CROWD: 15,920 at Telstra Dome
