Richmond’s opening term of 9.1 (55) against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last Saturday was its best first-quarter performance since Round 4 of the 1995 season when it scored 9.2 (56) against North Melbourne at the MCG.
Overall, it was the 12th best first-quarter score in the Tigers’ 100-year VFL/AFL history.
The full list of Yellow and Black opening-term blitzes is:
- 11.6 (72) v Footscray at
- 11.5 (71) v St Kilda at
- 10.5 (65) v St Kilda at Moorabbin in 1978.
- 10.4 (64) v Fitzroy at Junction Oval in 1978.
- 10.2 (62) v Footscray at Western Oval in 1972.
- 10.1 (61) v
- 9.5 (59) v Essendon at
- 8.11 (59) v
- 9.4 (58) v Fitzroy at
- 9.4 (58) v
- 9.2 (56) v
- 9.1 (55) v Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in 2008.
Meanwhile, Matthew Richardson has now moved into clear second place on
Interestingly, Cleve Hughes’ impressive six-goal display against Port last Saturday was only the sixth time since ‘Richo’ started his league career in 1993 that another key forward besides him has bagged half a dozen goals or more for the Tigers.
Hughes joins a select group, comprising Jeff Hogg, who kicked seven goals against the Sydney Swans at the MCG in Round 10 of the 1993 season; Brendon Gale, who scored six v Fitzroy at the MCG in Round 21 of the 1996 season; Brad Ottens (playing full-forward in Richo’s absence), who booted six v Geelong at Kardinia Park in Round 9 of the 2001 season; Ben Holland, who kicked six v the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome in Round 17 of the 2003 season, and Jay Schulz, who snagged six v the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in Round 14 of the 2004 season.
