A six-goal burst from a wasteful Richmond has lifted them to a 38-point victory over West Coast at Optus Stadium.
The Tigers made it 5 wins from their final six video games with a 14.14 (98) to eight.12 (60) win however West Coast’s enchancment was evident for big intervals of the sport.
Just 10 factors separated the groups nearing half-time earlier than Richmond took over.
Dustin Martin handed to Liam Baker for a set shot purpose and when Ivan Soldo kicked precisely after a free kick in a ruck contest, Richmond led by 22 factors.
The query was, might West Coast keep in contact after the lengthy break? The reply was no. Richmond began the second half beautifully with objectives from Jack Ross, Ben Miller, Tim Taranto and Dion Prestia in a devastating blitz. Richmond seized the momentum at stoppages and made West Coast pay.
They’d struggled for accuracy within the first half and at one stage they have been 3.9, however as soon as the Tigers discovered their vary and put their foot down, they surged to a 42-point lead.
The Eagles continued to press and acquired again into the competition however the lead was too massive. Sam Petrevski-Seton had the possibility to make it a 21-point sport in the course of the closing time period however missed after which Richmond kicked a purpose down the opposite finish.
West Coast misplaced Reuben Ginbey to a hamstring harm in the course of the first quarter which noticed veteran sub Andrew Gaff injected into the sport because the clock ticked in the direction of time-on.
The Eagles had loads of early harm worries with Jeremy McGovern spending greater than 20 minutes off the bottom being assessed for concussion and Tom Barrass being concerned in an enormous fall.
Oscar Allen additionally hit the bottom onerous after a flying for a ball and clutched at his left shoulder. While he returned to the sport, the important thing ahead didn’t have a disposal till the third quarter however nonetheless managed three objectives for the day.
Richmond dominated the early territory sport however couldn’t get probably the most out of that. They had 18 inside-50s to 6 within the first time period and took eight marks inside 50 however kicked simply two objectives. The inaccuracy continued within the second time period as each groups wasted alternatives.
An enormous second in West Coast historical past occurred late within the third quarter when Jack Darling kicked his five hundredth profession purpose.
Darling marked a go from Tim Kelly and snapped the ball via earlier than celebrating the numerous second. He hit the publish earlier within the sport when the milestone awaited, however grew to become simply the third Eagle behind Josh Kennedy and Peter Sumich to achieve 500 majors.
All eyes have been on Gaff after his struggles in current weeks and he confirmed he might nonetheless win the footy by amassing 12 possessions within the second quarter. He completed with 24 for the match.
West Coast had 50 inside-50s in a constructive signal for the longer term and in addition gained the clearances. But Richmond’s mid-game burst proved to be the distinction.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
