RICHMOND showed Brisbane just why there's no replacement for experience in finals footy on Saturday night.
The Lions played in front of the biggest AFL crowd the Gabba has ever seen – 37,478 – and they did a lot of things right, but there was no fairytale return to September after a 10-year absence.
While the home team shot themselves in the foot with a case of goalkicking yips, the Tigers were clinical whenever they got within range of the big sticks.
Shai Bolton flies high for a mark. Picture: AFL Photos
It was the master against the apprentice, and a stark reminder of why Richmond is favoured to win the premiership in 2019.
In the first quarter, Brisbane had 23 inside 50s to the Tigers' six.
The result? A narrow 12-point advantage courtesy of an inaccurate 4.6 to the visitors' three straight.
TIGERS TAME LIONS Full match coverage and stats
Eric Hipwood, one of 14 Lions playing his first final, showed his inexperience by pushing Dylan Grimes to the deck and reversing a Charlie Cameron kick at goal from 30m.
It was a soft free kick at best – and at worst a dive from Grimes – but it was aggression channelled in all the wrong ways by the young forward.
Brisbane was on top in general play – 26 more disposals, 14 more contested and six more clearances – they simply couldn't capitalise.
It didn't change a lot in the second quarter. More good play for even less reward and an 11-point half-time deficit.
Richmond steadied the ship around the contest and the home team continued to spray attempts at goal wide of the mark.
Dan McStay and Oscar McInerney won't enjoy watching the simple set shots they missed, while Cameron and Cam Rayner rushed very gettable snaps.
With 17 players from the victorious 2017 Grand Final team on the field, Richmond rode out the early onslaught and cashed in when they got their chances.
Shai Bolton's magical mark and bullet pass for a Tom Lynch goal, Daniel Rioli's brilliant roving for another, and Dustin Martin's dismissal of Daniel Rich in a one-on-one marking contest to kick the second of his six goals all demonstrated the way things should be done.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan realised his team had missed a golden chance.
"When we had ascendancy in the first half … we didn't hit the scoreboard and put enough pressure on," he said.
"The lesson is to take your chances when they're there."
On the flipside, Richmond was never flustered, with experienced wingman Brandon Ellis telling AFL.com.au the past three years of finals had them prepared for anything.
"We knew we had to weather the storm early, we knew it was going to be an arm-wrestle," he said.
"We back in our system, we back in everyone to play their role and fight.
"They put us on the back foot, but it's a game over four quarters, not one-and-a-half.
"We stayed composed. We're a pretty level-headed group."
And after half-time, the cream rose.
Shane Edwards (13 disposals in the third quarter) and Dion Prestia (11) started reversing the trend around the stoppages, while Martin was simply irresistible.
The Brownlow medallist showed Brisbane how to finish with three more goals in the third term including a classy left-foot snap at full pace from a stoppage.
Brisbane had 25 scoring shots to 22, and also finished in front in disposals (+39), inside 50s (+11), clearances (+5) and contested possessions (+13).
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It shouldn't surprise that in the club's biggest game in a decade, its most experienced player – Luke Hodge – and another that has been to a Grand Final, Lachie Neale, were its best.
But just like the Tigers had to endure losses in 2013, 2014 and 2015 as it sought to learn the finals caper, Saturday night was Brisbane's turn to cop a lesson.
"We've kept the same group for the last three years, which is unheard of," Ellis said.
"We know how each other work, we know how each other play, we know what Dimma wants us to do.
"They kicked a lot of points, which kept us in it, so the scoreboard pressure wasn't really there.
"We made the most of our chances, which I think was the difference in the end."
