Richmond followers have paid tribute to former coach Damien Hardwick after the three-time premiership winner resigned in a shock transfer earlier this week.
At the 17-minute mark of the primary quarter of their conflict towards Port Adelaide, who adopted the indigenous title Yartapuulti for Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the Richmond followers in attendance gave a spherical of applause to Hardwick to recognise his monumental contribution to the membership.
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The quantity 17 was chosen in honour of the 2017 premiership which Hardwick oversaw, ending Richmond’s well-known 37-year premiership drought.
However, it will not be a fairytale goodbye for the Tigers, happening by 10 factors 10.17 (77) to 9.13 (67) on the MCG.
Yartapuulti continued their unlikely cost in direction of the highest of the ladder after seeing off a spirited Richmond problem to down the Tigers on Sunday to register eight consecutive wins for the primary time since 2014 – a 12 months by which they made it to a preliminary last – and make a mockery of membership legend Warren Tredrea describing coach Ken Hinkley’s tenure as “untenable”.
The outcome meant Richmond couldn’t make a profitable begin to their post-Damien Hardwick period, 5 days after the triple premiership coach introduced his rapid resignation.
When Yartapuulti kicked 5 consecutive targets to open up a 26-point lead early within the second quarter, it appeared just like the Power had been headed for a large win.
But Richmond responded admirably by getting their operating/transition sport going and on the again of a pointy spike in handballs, they minimize the deficit to simply two factors early within the last quarter.
The Tigers ramped up their strain markedly, too, because the Power suffered badly from the yips, scoring 3.14 from their subsequent 17 pictures after kicking their fifth purpose within the opening time period.
But a pair of majors from Ollie Lord and Jeremy Finlayson within the final quarter steadied the ship as Port’s lead prolonged to 17 factors, thanks largely to their midfield’s clearance domination within the last time period.
Despite the outcome, Richmond recruit Tim Taranto performed the sport of his profession, racking up 33 disposals (12 contested), seven clearances and 4 targets to be the most effective participant on the bottom.
For the winners, Zak Butters continued his wealthy vein of type by accumulating 32 touches (14 contested) and a purpose, whereas Kane Farrell, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis additionally ensured a powerful efficiency from Yartapuulti‘s midfield, as they comfortably won the clearances 37-29, inside 50s 67-45 and scoring shots 27-20.
Down back, Aliir Aliir was magnificent for the visitors as well, rendering Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt ineffectual, while repelling numerous Tigers forward forays.
ALIIR STANDS TALL
Early in the final term with Richmond trailing by just two points, the Tigers threatened to grab the lead when Jack Ross kicked the ball forward.
Aliir was there to save the day for Port, taking the mark sandwiched between Jack Graham and Riewoldt.
From the ensuing transition, Lord converted the set shot to put the Power up by eight points, when they so easily could have found themselves four points down moments earlier.
MCKENZIE TO THE RESCUE
And with 3:15 left in the game, Taranto looked like he kicked another goal to get his team back within 11 points.
However, a lunging dive from Trent McKenzie on the goal line ensured the ball was touched and spared the Power from contending with a nervous finish.
WASTEFUL TIGERS
The Tigers started the second term stronger but for all their domination, wasted numerous shots at goal, kicking a horrible 2.7 to trail by 11 points at halftime when they probably should have been in front.
Although, the Power had their fair share of chances too, managing just five behinds for the quarter.
The worst of Richmond’s misses was a simple set shot from Riewoldt from 25m out straight in entrance which he sprayed to the correct.
TARANTO’S SUPERB SNAPS
After Richmond began the second time period with only one purpose from their first seven scoring pictures, they desperately wanted a purpose to get reward for all their onerous work, and Taranto was the person who delivered.
Just earlier than time on, the previous Giant grabbed the ball and produced a superb snap from the pocket on a really sharp angle to get the Tigers inside 11 factors.
And when Richmond wanted one other purpose desperately within the third time period after slumping to 4.12, it was Taranto once more who produced the products, snapping magnificently from 40m out on the boundary to get his group again inside 10 factors.
– with NCA NewsWire
Source: www.news.com.au
