Injuries a worry, but Tigers right at home
RICHMOND has overcome a spate of injuries to maul Adelaide by 47 points and equal the AFL winning streak at the MCG.
The 15.13 (103) to 8.8 (56) win leaves the Crows floundering with a 7-8 record, at least a game plus percentage outside the top eight.
Richmond now has 17 straight wins on its home ground — a streak that includes last September’s grand final win over the Crows.
That equals the record set by Melbourne in the 1950s.
Adelaide pressed late in the third quarter, kicking two goals and reducing the margin to 16 points at the last change.
The Tigers had lost Jack Graham to a dislocated shoulder after halftime and Dan Butler spent time on the bench with an ankle injury before returning in the last quarter.
But despite Nathan Broad suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone in the last term and Daniel Rioli briefly leaving the field with a sore groin, the Tigers were able to hit the afterburners again in the last term.
The reigning premiers kicked six goals to one in the final term. Richmond has won 12 of its 16 last quarters this season, the best in the league.
Tigers defender David Astbury was outstanding and made sure Adelaide captain Taylor Walker had a dirty night, while fellow backman Dylan Grimes also impressed.
Walker’s only highlight was a booming goal from inside the centre square during the third term.
Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin emerged from his run of below-par form to shine in the second half, while Shane Edwards and Kane Lambert were also prominent.
Desperately needing to reprise their Round 2 win over the Tigers at Adelaide Oval, the Crows made a bright start.
They put Richmond under immediate pressure with the first five inside-50s and kicked the opening goal.
But Richmond steadied and late in the first quarter took the lead when Daniel Rioli executed one of his trademark smothers and then kicked a deserved goal.
Richmond put on a clinic during the second term, with Butler’s brilliant tackle setting up Jayden Short for a goal and Jack Riewoldt dropping the mark of the year before he recovered immediately and snapped another.