1. Deledio untouched
Brett Deledio is at his most damaging for Richmond when he is left unopposed to create the play off half-back. Conversely, he is notorious for struggling to cope with a hard tag, so it was puzzling that Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson chose to start the game allowing the Tigers to play an extra player in defence. Invariably, that player was Deledio who, with 10 disposals in the opening term, helped the Tigers get off to a bright start. And when Deledio was off the ground, or found an opponent, it was the likes of Bachar Houli or Chris Newman who found themselves unmarked, and both are also renowned for their smart use of the ball. After half-time, Nathan van Berlo was assigned to Deledio.
2. Good Jack
Richmond full-forward Jack Riewoldt announced himself at the MCG with a pair of bright orange boots, easily spotted through the MCG gloom. It smacked of the day being 'all about Jack' but his team ethic was on show from the start. In the first term he worked furiously in the centre and helped push the ball forward. He then got involved in the next contest, keeping the ball in play and passing to Dustin Martin who snapped a great goal. In the second term he wheeled out of a pack 45 metres from goal but instead of blazing away, he saw Newman in a better position and speared the pass to him. Newman then goaled from the set shot. Before the match, Tiger coach Damien Hardwick said that Riewoldt was enjoying his best season yet because of the unselfish nature of his game and against the Crows he demonstrated why.
3. Road killed
Adelaide has now lost eight of its last nine outings at the MCG. The last time it beat a team not called Melbourne was round 20 of 2009 against Hawthorn.
4. Better effort
Sanderson put it on the Crows during the week after the lamentable effort against the Sydney Swans last week at home. Their endeavor and industry could not be faulted this time around and they kept the Tigers honest throughout, but it is hard to imagine two players they could least afford to have lost between seasons than key forwards Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker. By the start of the final quarter ball magnet Scott Thompson was playing out of the goal square as the Crows went small. Not till Patrick Dangerfield kicked his second goal at the 25-minute mark of the final quarter, did the Crows have a multiple goalkicker. Tippett, by the way, returns to Adelaide next weekend, this time in a Swans jumper. Good thing for the Crows, they'll be on their bye week and, presumably, out of town.
5. King Patrick
Twice in 18 hours, we have been reminded that the spoils can go to those who play in losing sides. On Friday night, Carlton's Brock McLean won the David Parkin Medal for his fine performance in his side's 15-point loss to Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium. On Saturday afternoon, Dangerfield was universally considered the best player on the ground despite Adelaide's hefty loss. "It would be nice to have him at the Tigers," marveled Richmond coach Damien Hardwick. "He is an incredible player. He's a powerhouse, a very, very good player."
Ashley Browne is an AFL Media senior writer. @afl_hashbrowne
Brett Deledio is at his most damaging for Richmond when he is left unopposed to create the play off half-back. Conversely, he is notorious for struggling to cope with a hard tag, so it was puzzling that Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson chose to start the game allowing the Tigers to play an extra player in defence. Invariably, that player was Deledio who, with 10 disposals in the opening term, helped the Tigers get off to a bright start. And when Deledio was off the ground, or found an opponent, it was the likes of Bachar Houli or Chris Newman who found themselves unmarked, and both are also renowned for their smart use of the ball. After half-time, Nathan van Berlo was assigned to Deledio.
2. Good Jack
Richmond full-forward Jack Riewoldt announced himself at the MCG with a pair of bright orange boots, easily spotted through the MCG gloom. It smacked of the day being 'all about Jack' but his team ethic was on show from the start. In the first term he worked furiously in the centre and helped push the ball forward. He then got involved in the next contest, keeping the ball in play and passing to Dustin Martin who snapped a great goal. In the second term he wheeled out of a pack 45 metres from goal but instead of blazing away, he saw Newman in a better position and speared the pass to him. Newman then goaled from the set shot. Before the match, Tiger coach Damien Hardwick said that Riewoldt was enjoying his best season yet because of the unselfish nature of his game and against the Crows he demonstrated why.
3. Road killed
Adelaide has now lost eight of its last nine outings at the MCG. The last time it beat a team not called Melbourne was round 20 of 2009 against Hawthorn.
4. Better effort
Sanderson put it on the Crows during the week after the lamentable effort against the Sydney Swans last week at home. Their endeavor and industry could not be faulted this time around and they kept the Tigers honest throughout, but it is hard to imagine two players they could least afford to have lost between seasons than key forwards Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker. By the start of the final quarter ball magnet Scott Thompson was playing out of the goal square as the Crows went small. Not till Patrick Dangerfield kicked his second goal at the 25-minute mark of the final quarter, did the Crows have a multiple goalkicker. Tippett, by the way, returns to Adelaide next weekend, this time in a Swans jumper. Good thing for the Crows, they'll be on their bye week and, presumably, out of town.
5. King Patrick
Twice in 18 hours, we have been reminded that the spoils can go to those who play in losing sides. On Friday night, Carlton's Brock McLean won the David Parkin Medal for his fine performance in his side's 15-point loss to Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium. On Saturday afternoon, Dangerfield was universally considered the best player on the ground despite Adelaide's hefty loss. "It would be nice to have him at the Tigers," marveled Richmond coach Damien Hardwick. "He is an incredible player. He's a powerhouse, a very, very good player."
Ashley Browne is an AFL Media senior writer. @afl_hashbrowne
