RICHMOND GETS AROUND RIOLI JR
A classy debut to remember for young Maurice, kicking a goal for the club his late father was a legend at. And for the Suns another famous NT footy name, Jeffrey, also scored
RICHMOND has kept its season alive with a come-from-behind 33point win over a gallant North Melbourne outfit at the MCG.
After falling behind by as much as 26 points late in the second term, the Tigers bounced back after a slow start by rediscovering their famed pressure footy and surged ahead with a sensational second-half – booting 11 goals to three after half-time.
Jack Graham (36 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles) and Dion Prestia (29 disposals) helped turn the tide while Nick Vlaustin (30 disposals, 14 marks) set things up brilliantly from half-back.
The win puts the Tigers into ninth place and within two points of eighth placed GWS who they face next weekend in a virtual ‘elimination final’.
After getting the early bounce, North Melbourne ran out of gas after half-time as their run-and-gun attacking brand of football waned after half-time – with the result all but sealing the wooden spoon.
Luke Davies-Uniacke (38 disposals) was immense for the Kangaroos while Aaron Hall (37 disposals) and Cameron Zurhaar (four goals) were equally impressive.
Richmond failed to find their much-needed response in the opening-term as they were held goalless by their buoyant opponents.
North Melbourne pinned holes in the Tigers defence, stretching them with their daring and rapid ball movement through the corridor – resulting in the Kangaroos booting the first three goals of the contest.
David Noble’s side continued to dominate the contest after quartertime and Zurhaar was the main benefactor kicking three first-half goals.
However, wastefulness in-front of goal kept Richmond in the contest and Jack Riewoldt’s goal on the halftime siren cut the margin back to 20 points. After halftime, the Tigers finally got into their groove, rediscovering their famed pressure and putting the inexperienced Kangaroos to the sword with seven-goal third term – to open a ten-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A Jack Mahony goal straight after three-quarter time got North Melbourne back within a kick but a late avalanche of Tigers goals put the result beyond doubt.
RIOLI JR DEBUT
AFTER weeks of biding his time in the VFL, Maurice Rioli Jr was finally unleashed on the big stage.
Rioli, who is the son of late-great Maurice Sr, got his opportunity in the side after putting together a solid run of form in the VFL while also joining nephew, Daniel in the lineup.
After a quiet start, Rioli had an impact in the second half, kicking his first career goal at a crucial juncture to get the Tigers back within a single point in the third term.
HALL BREAKOUT SEASON
AARON Hall may be one of the most underrated players in the entire AFL.
Since arriving at Arden St from the Gold Coast, it has taken time for Hall to find his feet at the Kangaroos but since moving to half-back under coach David Noble – he has fit in like a glove in North’s attacking gameplan – ranking elite in disposals, kicks and metres gained.
Hall continued his fine season, backing up his 36-disposal effort last week with 37 against the Tigers and a whopping 717 metres gained.
NORTH FINALLY RETURNS TO THE ‘G
After 853 days, North Melbourne finally returned to the MCG.
Despite being based only kilometres away, the coronavirus affected fixture of the past two seasons has meant the Kangaroos have had to wait since Round 3 of 2019 to return to the home of football.
In the period since North last graced the hallowed MCG turf, Richmond had featured a whopping 24 times.
TIGERS: 0.3, 2.4, 9.6, 13.11 (89) ROOS: 3.4, 5.6, 7.8, 8.8 (56)
BEST
TIGERS: Graham, Prestia, Vlaustin, Nankervis, Edwards, Parker.
ROOS: Davies-Uniacke, Hall, Simpkin, Zurhaar, Anderson, Ziebell. GOALS
TIGERS: Edwards 2, ColemanJones 2, Riewoldt 2, Baker 2, Bolton, Rioli Jr, Parker, Ralphsmith, Prestia.
ROOS: Zurhaar 4, Larkey, Scott, Taylor, Mahony.