Posted on May 5, 2008 | Category: Match Reports
Richmond 16.11 (107)
St Kilda 17.8 (110)
This was the one that got away. The Tigers probably outplayed the Saints for most of the game - defeated by poor disposals, a few big runs of play from the Saints, Stephen Milne and really filthy luck. The match see-sawed all night, neither side really able to break away completely. The game followed this pattern in the final quarter, with both sides looking like they would win at different stages. With a minute or so to go Kelvin Moore (who put in quite a decent game), took a fantastic mark and had a set shot from not too far out, which would have put the Tigers ahead. His fading kick nicked the post on the way through. Then justice looked possible when Jack Riewoldt marked 52m out from goal and was ready to pass off (probably to Richo), but the siren went (due to a timekeeping error) and he was forced to try for an unlikely victory - falling short by a couple of metres. Robbed.
Considering this was a winnable game that we lost - plenty. The first, and most obvious was the endeavour and desire of the boys in yeller and black. Players who historically have been bad-mouthed as a bit too soft by naughty supporters like myself, Tambling and Deledio in particular - put their bodies on the line in some really tough situations. Deledio ran back with the flight to attempt a mark he never would have gone near a year ago - and despite clashing heads was back in putting his body on the line only minutes later. We won hard ball gets 66 to 28.
Troy Simmonds put in one of his best games for the club - certainly since returning from last year’s unlucky injury run. He dominated the ruck, winning hit-out after hit-out against a lost Kositchke, resulting in another big win in the clearances stakes. Mitch Morton continues to impress - looking like a damaging figure in the Tigers forward 50.
And of course Richo. I remarked yesterday that if there’s a Richmond supporter left in all the country who wouldn’t willingly have Matthew Richardson’s babies, then they are kidding themselves because the man is a workhorse. There isn’t a player in the league working harder -the man just ran and ran all day without respite. In a season where the number of rotations off the bench is reaching epic levels, Richo played 100% of gametime - huge parts of it on the wing. And the big, dumb, ugly one has (for the moment at least) sorted out his kicking boots with another 5 to his tally. It’s completely illogical that to get more goals out of our key forward - we moved him out of the forward line. (Even with the price currently sitting at $9.00 - the big fella might be worth laying down some cash for the Brownlow)
We lost. And we’ve been there or thereabouts in our last three games and have only 2 points to show for it. Honourable loss or not - we badly need a win to make our ladder position demonstrate the quality of football we’re putting out on the park and it’s not happening. Unfortunately, after the big V game, we’ve got a bit of an Everest in playing against the reigning premiers. We needed this win, and whether by some unfortunate umpiring decisions inside forward 50s, the width of the goal posts or just bloody Stephen Milne - we didn’t get it.
Disposals. We got plenty, but our problem is most definitely quality rather than quantity. We gave the game away in some ways by not being able to kick it to our own men. It’s the ongoing trauma of being a Richmond barracker that you see your side consistently lose matches because of poor basic skills. I don’t understand how it is that we haven’t yet addressed this issue, but it’s biting us and biting us hard.
@#$@$$% Milne. I picked him out as a danger player for us in the preview, and it’s disappointing to have the prediction come true. We don’t seem to have a defender who has the nous and the pace to match a genuinely intelligent small forward like Stephen Milne. It was devastating in that last quarter to be fighting so hard for our goals, only to see the ball sail through the sticks as soon as it entered the St Kilda forward 50. It killed us.
3 - Matthew Richardson
2 - Nathan Foley
1 - Troy Simmonds
We needed this one desperately, but will beat teams if we play like this. Was so hard to see such a great effort once more go unrewarded, but the signs are there for a positive future. We just need to win some close games soon. Both Kelvin Moore and Jack Riewoldt will want to forget this game, unfairly considering they both played solid games. But that’s the nature of footy.
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May 5th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Just how many games do you reckon have lost time?
May 5th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
From my perspective I’d see it as the Saints hanging on through massive trials. Perhaps Moore’s post was payback for injuring Reiwoldt.
But anyway bad luck, you had the intensity and persistence (plus the umpires-disgraceful first half) but we got the points.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Gaz, do you really want to engage on umpiring? Ball gets kicked about 25m to a Jay Schulz makrk - doesn’t get paid and directly results in a goal.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
[...] Richmond lose by 3 points after Kelvin Moore misses a shot at goal with a minute to go. Wounded Tiger headline for the match report: “One Moore Goal Away“ [...]
May 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Birss gets clotheslined in the centre square and gets called for blocking. Symmonds gets a gimme 15 metres out!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
It is one argument you will never win as both teams get calls each way. Its all about who capitalises best on those chances and Saints (unfortunately) did.