TRADITIONAL rival Carlton has dashed Richmond's hopes of celebrating the side's centenary with a win, running away in the final term to win by 30 points at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers led at every change in front of a good crowd of 73,503, but conceded 7.4 in the last quarter to go down 12.16 (88) to 17.16 (118).
Adding to a frustrating finish for the Tigers, superstar forward-cum-midfielder Matthew Richardson appeared to hurt his left hamstring during the final term and did not finish the match on the ground.
Richmond's biggest lead was an 18-point margin at the six-minute mark of the second term. The Tigers fought back well in the third term when the Blues threatened to seize control, but faded when it mattered in the final quarter.
On the back of his outstanding 39-disposal performance against Port Adelaide last round, Joel Bowden continued his fine return to form with another 32 touches. Brett Deledio also continued his vastly underrated season with 30 disposals.
Young forwards Cleve Hughes and Mitch Morton, who both played their best AFL matches last round, led Richmond's goalkicking again with three goals each. First-year Tiger Trent Cotchin also impressed again.
Former rookie Kelvin Moore was the given the task of standing Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola and his efforts for much of the match were first class, until Fevola bobbed up with two of his four goals in the final term.
Among Carlton's best were acting captain Nick Stevens, half-back/winger Heath Scotland, Bryce Gibbs (three goals) and Andrew Carrazzo, who was locked in an enthralling duel with Nathan Brown (he registered six behinds for the day).
The match started with few indications of the tight contest that was to come. Nine behinds were scored – five from Richmond and four by Carlton – before Brad Fisher opened proceedings for the Blues at the 14-minute mark.
That proved to be Carlton's only major for the term, as Richmond finally found the big sticks four minutes later via Morton, while Deledio kicked truly after the quarter-time siren.
Richmond extended its eight-point quarter-time lead into a three-goal buffer early in the second term, before the Blues regained the ascendancy with three in a row, to lead by the narrowest of margins at the 18-minute mark.
Tiger big man Graham Polak, who copped a heavy knock to the ribs from Brendan Fevola late in the first term,reappeared in the second quarter, after initially looking in serious trouble.
He was swung forward after starting the match down back and bobbed up with an important goal, ending Carlton's brief surge. From that point, the Tigers managed three of the last four goals before half-time, including two from Hughes.
Hughes' third after the half-time siren gave the Tigers a 12-point advantage.
Carlton started the second half in commanding style, booting three unanswered goals to hit the front by six points.
But when Richardson kicked a brilliant one-bounce goal on the run from the Southern Stand side, the Tigers leveled the scores, elevating the game's intensity considerably.
Morton bobbed up with two for the Tigers, Carlton forward Eddie Betts threaded a classic crumbing goal, and Brown had the opportunity to land his first goal of the day after the three quarter-time siren, but sprayed his kick.
The final stanza looked set to a beauty, but Carlton ended any thought of a happy birthday for the Tigers, booting the first five goals of the quarter.
Richmond 2.7 7.9 10.13 12.16 (88)
Carlton 1.5 5.9 10.12 17.16 (118)
GOALS
Richmond: Hughes 3, Morton 3, Richardson, Johnson, Deledio, Riewoldt, Simmonds, Polak.
Carlton: Fevola 4, Gibbs 3, Fisher 2, Betts 2, Murphy, Wiggins, Edwards, Cloke, Stevens, Grigg.
BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Bowden, Polo, Foley, Moore, Simmonds, McMahon.
Carlton: Stevens, Carrazzo, Waite, Scotland, Bentick, Gibbs, Thornton.
INJURIES
Richmond: Richardson (hamstring), Thursfield (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Jake King.
Carlton: Judd (concussion) replaced in selected side by Joe Anderson.
REPORTS
Richmond: Jake King reported for wrestling Bret Thornton by emergency umpire Matt Stevic in the third quarter
Carlton: Bret Thornton reported for wrestling Jake King by emergency umpire Matt Stevic in the third quarter
Umpires: Rosebury, Kamolins, Wenn
Official crowd: 73,503 at MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.
