RICHMOND has revived its ailing season with an impressive 64-point win over Fremantle in the west.
The Tigers won every quarter, withstanding a brief comeback in the second term and a flurry of Docker dominance in the fourth to win 20.17 (137) to 10.13 (73).
The result lifts Terry Wallace’s side to a 2-2 record, leaving them just outside the eight, while Fremantle’s third loss in the opening four matches leaves it facing an uphill task, with games against Adelaide (away), Geelong (home) and the Western Bulldogs (home) in the next month.
Spearhead Matthew Richardson kicked four goals for the Tigers, while skipper Kane Johnson had 36 touches and former Bulldog Jordan McMahon showcased some deft footwork, including a memorable goal from beyond 50 in the third term.
But the win was less to do with individual performances, and more the result of a hard-working team display and a commitment to fast, attacking football. Of Richmond’s 22 only Luke McGuane, who injured a shoulder, finished with fewer than 10 possessions.
The Tigers wasted chances in the first and second quarters, and looked likely to pay dearly when Fremantle kicked on 2.2 to cut the margin to just 10 points nearing time-on in the second term. And an unlikely fourth term collapse seemed possible when Peter Bell kicked the quarter’s opener to bring Freo within six goals.
But Richmond responded on each occasion, kicking three telling goals ahead of half time and hitting back in the last term with game-breaking goals to Richardson and Shane Edwards.
Fremantle lost Byron Schammer with a knee injury, and Dean Solomon early after a brutal three-way collision with teammate Chris Tarrant and McGuane. Solomon was carted from the ground but returned after half time and finished with 13 touches.
Beside’s McGuane’s injury, the Tigers were unscathed.
Richmond led by 16 points at the first change, but should have been further in front after whitewashing Freo in the centre breaks.
Chris Newman opened the goal-scoring after 30 seconds, and two goals to spearhead Matthew Richardson helped stretch the margin to 21 points.
But the Tigers wasted several chances, including a gimme by Graham Polak late in time-on. And missed shots in the second term by Matt White and Jay Schulz allowed Freo to counter-punch too easily.
Fremantle lifted when Matthew Pavlich grabbed his first at the 11-minute mark of the second quarter, and a series of incisive attacks ended in a goal to Luke McPharlin.
Richard Tambling came alive for the Tigers in the second half. Nathan Foley, Brett Deledio, Jake King and Troy Simmonds were outstanding, while Richardson reveled in his role as a roving wingman.
Both sides made late changes, with young Tiger Matt White brought in for Daniel Jackson and Fremantle’s Robert Warnock replacing defender Michael Johnson.
The Tigers face two of the league’s unbeaten sides in the coming fortnight, with the Bulldogs at Telstra Dome next Sunday followed by an appointment with Hawthorn in round six.
Richmond 5.7 10.11 14.13 20.17 (137)
Fremantle 3.3 6.7 8.9 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Richmond: Richardson 4, Tambling 3, Hyde 3, Morton 2, Brown 2, Newman, Polak, McMahon, Deledio, Edwards, Tuck
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, McPharlin 2, Tarrant, Mayne, Farmer, Crowley, Bell
BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Foley, Johnson, Brown, Simmonds, McMahon, Tambling
Fremantle: Bell, Gilmore, Pavlich, McPharlin, Mayne
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fila, Ellis, Keating
Official crowd: 37,541 at Subiaco Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
