By Barry Kennedy, AFANA Reporter in Melbourne
There were very different stakes for Richmond and West Coast in the round 22 clash at a sunny MCG yesterday. The Eagles had two home finals sealed and, with key players out, could use the clash as a pre-Grand Final work out on the hallowed MCG. For the Tigers, the game was a chance to send off two retiring veterans -- Mark Chaffey and Greg Stafford. Lesser lights on the Tigers side were probably playing for the future.
Things began to look ominous for the Tigers from the outset. Well performing Tigers ruckman Troy Simmonds, touted as an All-Australian prospect, was getting a towelling from Dean Cox. This dominance was giving Ben Cousins, Chris Judd and Chad Fletcher first use of the ball from the center, not a happy prospect for any side hoping the wing the Eagles. And on top of this, young Mark De Cras, in just his fifth game, was effervescent as a leading forward, giving the Eagles their first two goals. De Cras remained lively throughout the first stanza and was getting marked by his third opponent by the end of the quarter.
Kayne Pettifer kicked the Tigers' first to peg the margin to 9 points half way through the quarter. It was the only flicker of resistance by the Richmond side, that was allowing the Eagles defenders to reload effortlessly time and time again. The sure supply from their own back-half enabled the Eagles to put the Richmond backline under relentless pressure. Richmond's defense was further unsettled by the form of LeCras and the tall timber of Quinten Lynch and Sam Butler and even taller ruckmen Cox and Mark Seaby sprinting into the forward line.
The Eagles gave the goals a peppering and took a 31 point lead to the break. Had the Eagles taken more of their chances they could have been up by 50 points.
Center clearances by the Eagles' gun midfielders continued the trends established from the outset with Steven Armstrong becoming the new foil in the forward line. Armstrong kicked three for the quarter while Lynch kicked two spectacular goals, one after an audacious bork and another in the form of a 65 meter long bomb.
With Fletcher, Cousins and Judd doing as they pleased and a multi-dimensional forward line purring, the 54 point margin at half time didn't do justice to the Eagles dominance. Richmond's only goal for the quarter came from captain Kane Johnson. Nine-goal hero from last week, Matthew Richardson, was having a frustrating day with fumbles and kicks over his head replacing the 21 marks of the last round.
If the Eagles form had looked impressive in the first half, the third quarter was highly destructive. They kicked three in the first four minutes and put on 11 goals for the term, its second highest scoring quarter of its 20 seasons. Richmond also managed to lift with five of their own, making no attempt to slow down or frustrate the Eagles.
Chris Judd again demonstrated his Brownlow merits with three smart goals, all built on his trademark turn of speed. Sam Butler got two as did LeCras.
Chris Hyde, Tambling and Joel Bowden were among the scorers for Richmond. Bowden had been stoic all game alongside Andrew Raines, while Brett Deledio and Kane Johnson were trying hard in the middle.
With the margin 89 entering the last, the result was largely academic. Richmond was successful in averting a fourth 100 point drubbing for the season, which would have been an unwanted record for the club. Matthew Richardson scored two goals early in the last, while retiring Stafford kicked two late goals to take his contribution to three in his last hurrah.
The Eagles crowd were in good voice throughout, celebrating the thoroughness of their victory, but rose triumphantly when Lynch steered through another long goal. The conversion evoked memories of Saverio Rocca in his early years or even Malcolm Blight's famous after the siren goal. The excitement in the crowd when it was obvious he was going for a goal might be compared to a basketballer measuring out an audacious dunk in a slam dunk competition. Lynch is probably the biggest kick in the AFL and this kick probably went 75 meters. Look out NFL.
Cousins, Fletcher and Tyson Stenglein rounded off their days while Judd gave Eagle supporters a late scare coming off injured. It was later confirmed as no more that cramp.
The Eagles will now take on Sydney, their greatest contemporary rival outside of Fremantle, in what should be a fascinating qualifying final next week. They were very good against the Tigers and still have Daniel Kerr, David Wirrapanda Andrew Embley and Ashley Hansen to bring into the side.
The Tigers book-marked their year at the wrong end of a pasting, (the Western Bulldogs were the instigators of a similar mauling in round one). Richmond finished a game out one position shy of a top eight finish, but still look far from a top eight side. Even so the likes of Andrew Raines, Richard Tambling Brett Deledio and Chris Hyde are coming on fast and will be even more valuable next year.
So as the Eagles will jostle for places in the side next week, the Tigers will compete amongst themselves for a position by the bar on their upcoming 'mad Monday' ritual. Richmond will celebrate the careers of two retiring players starved of success, while the Eagles welcome the arrival of Mark LeCras and Steven Armstrong as new potential champions. Many feel that the balance of power in the AFL is now outside of Melbourne. One look at the Top Four this week provides stunning evidence.
Best: West Coast: B Cousins M LeCras C Judd C Fletcher D Glass D Cox D Chick. Richmond: A Raines M White B Deledio T Roach K Johnson.
Injuries: West Coast: B Staker (head) C Judd (groin). Richmond: A Krakouer (ankle) replaced in selected side by L McGuane.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: A Davis B Allen S Meredith.
Crowd: 35,016 at the MCG.
There were very different stakes for Richmond and West Coast in the round 22 clash at a sunny MCG yesterday. The Eagles had two home finals sealed and, with key players out, could use the clash as a pre-Grand Final work out on the hallowed MCG. For the Tigers, the game was a chance to send off two retiring veterans -- Mark Chaffey and Greg Stafford. Lesser lights on the Tigers side were probably playing for the future.
Things began to look ominous for the Tigers from the outset. Well performing Tigers ruckman Troy Simmonds, touted as an All-Australian prospect, was getting a towelling from Dean Cox. This dominance was giving Ben Cousins, Chris Judd and Chad Fletcher first use of the ball from the center, not a happy prospect for any side hoping the wing the Eagles. And on top of this, young Mark De Cras, in just his fifth game, was effervescent as a leading forward, giving the Eagles their first two goals. De Cras remained lively throughout the first stanza and was getting marked by his third opponent by the end of the quarter.
Kayne Pettifer kicked the Tigers' first to peg the margin to 9 points half way through the quarter. It was the only flicker of resistance by the Richmond side, that was allowing the Eagles defenders to reload effortlessly time and time again. The sure supply from their own back-half enabled the Eagles to put the Richmond backline under relentless pressure. Richmond's defense was further unsettled by the form of LeCras and the tall timber of Quinten Lynch and Sam Butler and even taller ruckmen Cox and Mark Seaby sprinting into the forward line.
The Eagles gave the goals a peppering and took a 31 point lead to the break. Had the Eagles taken more of their chances they could have been up by 50 points.
Center clearances by the Eagles' gun midfielders continued the trends established from the outset with Steven Armstrong becoming the new foil in the forward line. Armstrong kicked three for the quarter while Lynch kicked two spectacular goals, one after an audacious bork and another in the form of a 65 meter long bomb.
With Fletcher, Cousins and Judd doing as they pleased and a multi-dimensional forward line purring, the 54 point margin at half time didn't do justice to the Eagles dominance. Richmond's only goal for the quarter came from captain Kane Johnson. Nine-goal hero from last week, Matthew Richardson, was having a frustrating day with fumbles and kicks over his head replacing the 21 marks of the last round.
If the Eagles form had looked impressive in the first half, the third quarter was highly destructive. They kicked three in the first four minutes and put on 11 goals for the term, its second highest scoring quarter of its 20 seasons. Richmond also managed to lift with five of their own, making no attempt to slow down or frustrate the Eagles.
Chris Judd again demonstrated his Brownlow merits with three smart goals, all built on his trademark turn of speed. Sam Butler got two as did LeCras.
Chris Hyde, Tambling and Joel Bowden were among the scorers for Richmond. Bowden had been stoic all game alongside Andrew Raines, while Brett Deledio and Kane Johnson were trying hard in the middle.
With the margin 89 entering the last, the result was largely academic. Richmond was successful in averting a fourth 100 point drubbing for the season, which would have been an unwanted record for the club. Matthew Richardson scored two goals early in the last, while retiring Stafford kicked two late goals to take his contribution to three in his last hurrah.
The Eagles crowd were in good voice throughout, celebrating the thoroughness of their victory, but rose triumphantly when Lynch steered through another long goal. The conversion evoked memories of Saverio Rocca in his early years or even Malcolm Blight's famous after the siren goal. The excitement in the crowd when it was obvious he was going for a goal might be compared to a basketballer measuring out an audacious dunk in a slam dunk competition. Lynch is probably the biggest kick in the AFL and this kick probably went 75 meters. Look out NFL.
Cousins, Fletcher and Tyson Stenglein rounded off their days while Judd gave Eagle supporters a late scare coming off injured. It was later confirmed as no more that cramp.
The Eagles will now take on Sydney, their greatest contemporary rival outside of Fremantle, in what should be a fascinating qualifying final next week. They were very good against the Tigers and still have Daniel Kerr, David Wirrapanda Andrew Embley and Ashley Hansen to bring into the side.
The Tigers book-marked their year at the wrong end of a pasting, (the Western Bulldogs were the instigators of a similar mauling in round one). Richmond finished a game out one position shy of a top eight finish, but still look far from a top eight side. Even so the likes of Andrew Raines, Richard Tambling Brett Deledio and Chris Hyde are coming on fast and will be even more valuable next year.
So as the Eagles will jostle for places in the side next week, the Tigers will compete amongst themselves for a position by the bar on their upcoming 'mad Monday' ritual. Richmond will celebrate the careers of two retiring players starved of success, while the Eagles welcome the arrival of Mark LeCras and Steven Armstrong as new potential champions. Many feel that the balance of power in the AFL is now outside of Melbourne. One look at the Top Four this week provides stunning evidence.
WEST COAST 5.8 10.12 21.13 26.17 (173) RICHMOND 1.1 2.6 7.8 12.13 (85)Goals: West Coast: M LeCras 5 S Armstrong 4 Q Lynch 4 C Judd 3 S Butler 3 A Hunter M Seaby D Cox M Rosa C Fletcher B Cousins D Banfield. Richmond: G Stafford 3 J Bowden 2 M Richardson 2 K Pettifer C Hyde C Howat K Johnson R Tambling.
Best: West Coast: B Cousins M LeCras C Judd C Fletcher D Glass D Cox D Chick. Richmond: A Raines M White B Deledio T Roach K Johnson.
Injuries: West Coast: B Staker (head) C Judd (groin). Richmond: A Krakouer (ankle) replaced in selected side by L McGuane.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: A Davis B Allen S Meredith.
Crowd: 35,016 at the MCG.
Article last changed on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 11:46 PM EDT
