After two one-point games on Saturday afternoon, it was going to take some doing for this game to rival that of Geelong-Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide-Carlton in the excitement stakes. Sure enough, by the end of the night, those two games were clear winners when it came to atmosphere and thrill-factor. The dead rubber was a low-key, flat affair that was played in a rather open and unexciting manner. While it appeared there were more Essendon supporters in the 60,979-strong crowd, with Richmond fans clearly saving themselves for next weekend's drought-breaking finals appearance, the feeling in the ground was subdued. The Essendon players were flat, which is unsurprising given the emotionally draining week (and season) they've had, and that was contagious with the Tigers also lacking spark and zip before half time. The saving grace was the weather, with the balmy Melbourne night after a day in the low 20s giving everyone the sense spring – and September - are well and truly here.
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2. Well played, Tiger fans
During the week, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick used a weekly dissection video of the previous round on the club's website to issue a plea to supporters attending the game. He asked they refrain from booing Essendon captain Jobe Watson, who has been the target of jeers on and off this season since his June admission of taking banned substance AOD-9604. Hardwick said while he understood the Bombers were their opposition, they also deserved respect. "They were put in a situation they didn't want to be in, so let's just bring our best game where we can," Hardwick said. "We still want to win, we're still very driven to win, but let's play the game fair."
All credit to the Tiger army, they left Watson and the rest of the players well alone in regards to negative cheering, although all bets were off when it came to Jake Melksham in the third quarter after an altercation with Daniel Jackson left the Richmond midfielder with a blood nose.
3. Old habits die hard
Jackson has spoken of how meditation right before a game has helped curb the on-field anger that saw him a regular visitor to the tribunal in previous years. While he's having the season of his life and is in the frame for Richmond's best and fairest, a brain snap in the third quarter almost potentially cost him his first final next weekend. Jackson was flattened in the above-mentioned marking contest with Melksham, which resulted in the Essendon midfielder kicking a goal. There was remonstration between the pair afterwards, with Jackson going in for what looked like an attempted head-butt. Luckily, or unluckily, depending on how you look at it, Melksham raised his arm at the last minute and Jackson planted his face on the Bomber's elbow and hit the deck with a blood nose. Had the contact been higher and actually seen the heads connect, Jackson would have been in a spot of bother in regards to playing next week.
4. Now you see them …
We knew going into the game it was the last time Essendon pair David Hille and Nathan Lovett-Murray would grace the MCG with both announcing their retirements during the week. Hille had 15 disposals and five clearances for the game while Lovett-Murray kicked the Bombers' first goal late in the first quarter. But who else won't be seen in their respective club colours again? Shane Tuck has retired and started as Richmond's substitute before he came on in the third quarter, with his future beyond this game unknown given the coaches have to find room for Jack Riewoldt, Chris Newman and Shane Edwards this week (although Matt White's hamstring injury opens the door somewhat). And what about the out-of-contract Bombers? Club great Matthew Lloyd told 3AW during the game's call he wasn't sure if Stewart Crameri would be seen in the red and black again, as he believed there was a four-year deal from the Western Bulldogs to be on the table with the Brisbane Lions also circling.
5. Sponsorship celebrations
In the hours before the game, both clubs announced they had extended partnerships with current sponsors. The Bombers announced Antler Luggage, which has had an association with the club since 2004, would stand by them in 2014. Antler Luggage managing director Sonney Roth said the company was "delighted" to be sticking with the Bombers despite "a challenging year". "Most importantly, those involved have admitted that mistakes have been made and Antler Luggage now looks forward to working with the Essendon football club to build on the great foundations we have laid together for so many years," Roth said. The Bombers also announced their association with Yakult, also in play since 2004, would continue through what Yakult Australia managing director Kenji Ono said would be the beginning of "a process of redemption" for the club. Not to be outdone, the Tigers announced a four-year extension of their agreement with joint major sponsor Jeep. It will take the partnership through to the end of 2017, which is the biggest sponsorship deal in the club's history.
Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan
2. Well played, Tiger fans
During the week, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick used a weekly dissection video of the previous round on the club's website to issue a plea to supporters attending the game. He asked they refrain from booing Essendon captain Jobe Watson, who has been the target of jeers on and off this season since his June admission of taking banned substance AOD-9604. Hardwick said while he understood the Bombers were their opposition, they also deserved respect. "They were put in a situation they didn't want to be in, so let's just bring our best game where we can," Hardwick said. "We still want to win, we're still very driven to win, but let's play the game fair."
All credit to the Tiger army, they left Watson and the rest of the players well alone in regards to negative cheering, although all bets were off when it came to Jake Melksham in the third quarter after an altercation with Daniel Jackson left the Richmond midfielder with a blood nose.
3. Old habits die hard
Jackson has spoken of how meditation right before a game has helped curb the on-field anger that saw him a regular visitor to the tribunal in previous years. While he's having the season of his life and is in the frame for Richmond's best and fairest, a brain snap in the third quarter almost potentially cost him his first final next weekend. Jackson was flattened in the above-mentioned marking contest with Melksham, which resulted in the Essendon midfielder kicking a goal. There was remonstration between the pair afterwards, with Jackson going in for what looked like an attempted head-butt. Luckily, or unluckily, depending on how you look at it, Melksham raised his arm at the last minute and Jackson planted his face on the Bomber's elbow and hit the deck with a blood nose. Had the contact been higher and actually seen the heads connect, Jackson would have been in a spot of bother in regards to playing next week.
4. Now you see them …
We knew going into the game it was the last time Essendon pair David Hille and Nathan Lovett-Murray would grace the MCG with both announcing their retirements during the week. Hille had 15 disposals and five clearances for the game while Lovett-Murray kicked the Bombers' first goal late in the first quarter. But who else won't be seen in their respective club colours again? Shane Tuck has retired and started as Richmond's substitute before he came on in the third quarter, with his future beyond this game unknown given the coaches have to find room for Jack Riewoldt, Chris Newman and Shane Edwards this week (although Matt White's hamstring injury opens the door somewhat). And what about the out-of-contract Bombers? Club great Matthew Lloyd told 3AW during the game's call he wasn't sure if Stewart Crameri would be seen in the red and black again, as he believed there was a four-year deal from the Western Bulldogs to be on the table with the Brisbane Lions also circling.
5. Sponsorship celebrations
In the hours before the game, both clubs announced they had extended partnerships with current sponsors. The Bombers announced Antler Luggage, which has had an association with the club since 2004, would stand by them in 2014. Antler Luggage managing director Sonney Roth said the company was "delighted" to be sticking with the Bombers despite "a challenging year". "Most importantly, those involved have admitted that mistakes have been made and Antler Luggage now looks forward to working with the Essendon football club to build on the great foundations we have laid together for so many years," Roth said. The Bombers also announced their association with Yakult, also in play since 2004, would continue through what Yakult Australia managing director Kenji Ono said would be the beginning of "a process of redemption" for the club. Not to be outdone, the Tigers announced a four-year extension of their agreement with joint major sponsor Jeep. It will take the partnership through to the end of 2017, which is the biggest sponsorship deal in the club's history.
Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan
