Dusty to the rescue again

DAMIEN Hardwick has maintained his cool all season.

The Richmond coach has been understanding each time his side has mucked up late in a game and surrendered a lead.

But at three-quarter time yesterday against Carlton, “Dimma” would have been entitled to blow his lid. Richmond had the ball camped in its forward line for enough of the game to have the four premiership points stitched up much earlier on.

But in what has become a recurring theme for the yellow and black this season, another inaccurate day in front of the sticks kept the door ajar for Carlton at the last change, when the Blues trailed by only 13 points.

If Carlton could jag a couple of sneaky late majors it could continue the round of upsets. Enter Dustin Martin. Hemmed in tight on the boundary 60m out, Martin evaded three separate attempted tackles from Kade Simpson and Patrick Cripps and produced a piece of magic that lifted his side.

Martin delivered a perfect handpass to Dion Prestia who, on the burst inside 50m, hit-up Dan Butler in one of the cleanest pieces of play for the day.

From the next centre bounce, skipper Trent Cotchin found Jack Riewoldt with a wobbly clearance kick, sealing back-to-back goals to ice the 26-point win at the MCG.

Phew, Hardwick said up in the box. It wasn’t pretty until Martin stepped in.

Martin had a modest first half, but was the difference after the main change to finish with 14 score involvements in his 30 possessions.

That’s another three Brownlow votes and a healthy boost to his contract price, you would think.

Richmond just cannot afford to let this man go.

The Tigers were relieved to triumph in a relatively close one, keeping the club in touch with the top-four. It continues an impressive rebound from the low-point of last season.

But fresh challenges have surfaced, too, and it will take more than this week’s inevitable extra goal kicking practice.

Richmond had plenty of delivery forward but suffered from the absence of a genuine second key forward-ruck yesterday.

Hardwick said last week it had to be addressed in its list management.

Ruckman Toby Nankervis has been one of the pickups of the year but he was beaten by Matthew Kreuzer yesterday.

It underlines the importance of Ben Griffiths’ comeback from serious concussion issues.

Richmond tried to lower its eyes and continue to hit up small forward targets yesterday but Carlton did a fine job of countering their efforts.