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by Barry Kennedy, reporting for AFANA, from Melbourne, Australia

In a season where injuries have cast a long shadow, Richmond fans can take joy from the fine comeback from play-maker Nathan Brown in a good win over the Kangaroos yesterday. An unusual mist, brought on by bitterly cold Melbourne weather shrouded the MCG yesterday. The lights were turned on shortly after the game began around the time Brown took to the field. Brown's performance was assured  with two polished goals and nice touch. With many young players showing excellent form for Richmond yesterday on the back of Brown's comeback, the Tigers may be emerging from a foggy past. The Kangaroos with noticeably tepid support, ongoing speculation about the club's future and few exciting players currently on its list, the mist engulfing the MCG was an omen a little too close to home for the Roos.

With Matthew Richardson missing for the Tigers, there was some concern over who would kick goals for Richmond. Full forward duties were handed to Adam Pattison with ruckmen Greg Stafford and Troy Simmonds pushing forward to give support. Patrick Bowden was the first to get on the board with a goal after 30 seconds.

The Roos had a much taller forward line with Nathan Thompson, David Hale and Brady Rawlings all offering targets. Thompson who has been  great in 2006 kicked two in the first quarter through free kicks and took an excellent pack mark to have the Kangaroos leading for most of the quarter. Simmonds kicked an excellent running goal from beyond the 50 meter zone for Richmond and Kayne Pettifer kicked another to ensure the Tigers stayed in touch.

At quarter time Dean Laidley's team led by four points, but six points were kicked many from gettable set shots. Unfortunately this has been a trait for the Kangaroos all season. In a further blow, Jade Rawlings, in his second game for the season, was reported for a clumsy hip and shoulder on Richard Tambling. As Tambling had his head over the ball and with the fallout from the Blake Caracella's horrific neck injury still fresh, the ramifications for Rawlings may be serious at the tribunal.

Richmond outscored the Kangaroos four goals to one in the second term. Goals came from Danny Meyer, Chris Hyde, Andrew Kellaway and Brown who received a fine centering kick from Brett Deledio. Thompson added one for the Roos. Richmond's play had more dexterity, especially at ground level,  which was most important in the forward zone where crumbing snaps and running goals were a feature all day. The Kangaroos by contrast looked reactive without the instinctiveness of their opponents. Build ups from defense were weighed down by numerous handballs and their forward line was too reliant on Thompson. Their premier small forward of the last decade, Shannon Grant, doesn't hurt teams as he once did, while Brett Harvey is needed more in defense. Simmonds' all round dominance of the ruck was decisive for Richmond as was a midfield unit led by Greg Tivendale and Shane Tuck.

Tivendale got the second half rolling for Richmond with a great running goal. Jade Rawlings kicked a ripper goal for the Roo's to reply soon after. Richmond's ground level forwards would prove to be decisive for the remainder of the quarter. Kayne Pettifer,  kicked three goals, with Brown kicking one and another by Andrew Krakouer. The lean Pettifer, who was drafted in 2000, is now one of Richmond's best players. He might have taken the mark of the season against Adelaide and was the match winner yesterday. One of Pettifer's goals came from a soft 50 meter penalty that was awarded against Chad Gibson. It was a disappointing decision, stifling a mid quarter run on from the Roos. This revival had reached its zenith with an electrifying run down the wing by Andrew Wells that led to a Thompson goal.  Wells also pulled off some superb tackles and when Corey Jones kicked his second goal the Roos were only 8 points down. Richmond, beginning with the Pettifer 50 meter penalty kicked the next three to close the quarter. The last of them came from a free-running Simmonds who crashed through Glenn Archer, before handballing to Krakouer.

The game was effectively sealed when Joel Bowden, drifting forward, kicked the first goal of the last term. Brett Harvey kicked a clever snap soon after for the Kangaroos but Richmond had already done enough.  Nathan Thompson performed the rare feat of kicking three "posters" in a row (each kick hitting the post for a behind). The last was after the siren bookending a dirty day for the Kanga's, who should have been much closer and may not have many better chances to post a win the remainder of this season. Thompson was definitely the best for the Roo's with five goals, four. Daniel Wells was good at times, as was captain Adam Simpson and fellow stalwart Brett Harvey. Daniel Harris tried hard all day in defense. The Tigers best was Pettifer, followed closely by the consistent Bowden brothers in the backline, the excellent ruck work of Simmonds and Tuck and Tivendale in the middle.

Richmond who lost their opening three games are now out of the eight on percentage. With players such as Hyde, Deledio, Tambling and Dean Polo coming on by the week and with the prospects of Nathan Brown renewing a partnership with Richardson no longer such a pipedream, Richmond supporters have plenty to look forward to.  The Kangaroos have Carlton next week and Essendon after the mid season break to give their season a kick. They will need to win those games if they hope to salvage anything from this season. Daniel Wells appeared to get injured late in the game and with Rawlings unlikely it may be time to see some youngsters come forward at Arden Street.

Like yesterday's fog at the MCG, a winning Kangaroo's unit is tough to visualize in 2006. With crippling debt and an unofficial relocation push well under way, the Roo's need wins like much of Australia needs rain. A touch more adventurous carefree brand of football like that which Richmond is starting to produce is the way through the grey, murky, skies enveloping the Kangaroos.


RICHMOND: 3.2 7.5 13.8 15.12 (102)
KANGAROOS: 3.6 4.9 8.10 9.13 (67)

GOALS - Richmond: Pettifer 4, Brown 2, Meyer 2, P Bowden, Tivendale, Simmonds, Kellaway, Krakouer, Hyde, J Bowden  Kangaroos: Thompson 5, Co. Jones, Green, J Rawlings, Harvey

BEST - Richmond: Pettifer, Simmonds, J Bowden, Pettifer, Deledio, P Bowden, Tuck, Tivendale  Kangaroos: Thompson, Wells, Simpson, Harvey, Harris

INJURIES - Richmond: Kangaroos:

CHANGES - Kangaroos: Firrito (leg) replaced in selected side by Thurley

REPORTS - Kangaroos: Jade Rawlings reported by umpire Shaun Ryan for engaging in rough conduct against Richard Tambling in the first quarter

UMPIRES - Kamolins, Ryan, Nicholls

CROWD - 42,841 at the MCG

Article last changed on Saturday, July 01, 2006 - 12:36 PM EDT


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