• Richmond defeated Fremantle 12.12 (84) to 8.9 (57)
Richmond finally beat a Ross Lyon-coached side and an AFL heavyweight, downing Fremantle 12.12 (84) to 8.9 (57) in a low-scoring grind at the MCG.
The sixth-placed Tigers kicked the first three goals of the match and led all day, but took until deep into the last quarter to bury a Dockers side missing stars Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin and Hayden Ballantyne.
It was Richmond's biggest scalp so far this season, but their job gets harder in the next fortnight, when they face reigning premiers Sydney at the SCG then top-placed Hawthorn.
Hard-running captain Trent Cotchin was outstanding with 34 disposals and a crucial goal.
The Tigers started brightly, Jack Riewoldt (four goals) putting them 18 points up after 15 minutes when he smothered a kick off the boot of Lee Spurr and banged through his second from outside 50m.
But for the rest of the first half, Richmond managed just one more goal to the Dockers' two to lead by just 13 points at halftime.
The Tigers hadn't won any of their 10 previous meetings with Ross Lyon-coached sides, seven against St Kilda and three against the Dockers.
Sunday's win was built on fierce defensive pressure when they didn't have the ball and extreme patience when they did.
Rather than try to weave their way through the Dockers' forward press, the Tigers were prepared to chip the ball around in defence and the midfield until a way opened up.
It made for a low-scoring, slow-moving game and meant the Tigers ended up having 55 more kicks than Fremantle yet entering their attack just five more times.
The Dockers threatened to erase Richmond's lead in the third term, when Tendai Mzungu kicked three goals, including two in succession, the second of those from a 50m penalty to cut the margin to nine points.
But the Tigers responded with the last three goals of the quarter, with Cotchin putting a free kick through from 50m after the siren to push the lead back to 21.
The Dockers again threatened with the first two goals of the last quarter.
But Riewoldt goals either side of a brilliant hurried snap from Daniel Jackson shut the gate.
Alex Rance was strong in defence for Richmond, Brandon Ellis and Dustin productive in midfield and 100-gamer Matt White restricted Dockers speedster Stephen Hill.
Nathan Fyfe and Mzungu (three goals) were good for Fremantle and Ryan Crowley blanketed Brett Deledio. Reported by guardian.co.uk 11 hours ago.
Richmond finally beat a Ross Lyon-coached side and an AFL heavyweight, downing Fremantle 12.12 (84) to 8.9 (57) in a low-scoring grind at the MCG.
The sixth-placed Tigers kicked the first three goals of the match and led all day, but took until deep into the last quarter to bury a Dockers side missing stars Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin and Hayden Ballantyne.
It was Richmond's biggest scalp so far this season, but their job gets harder in the next fortnight, when they face reigning premiers Sydney at the SCG then top-placed Hawthorn.
Hard-running captain Trent Cotchin was outstanding with 34 disposals and a crucial goal.
The Tigers started brightly, Jack Riewoldt (four goals) putting them 18 points up after 15 minutes when he smothered a kick off the boot of Lee Spurr and banged through his second from outside 50m.
But for the rest of the first half, Richmond managed just one more goal to the Dockers' two to lead by just 13 points at halftime.
The Tigers hadn't won any of their 10 previous meetings with Ross Lyon-coached sides, seven against St Kilda and three against the Dockers.
Sunday's win was built on fierce defensive pressure when they didn't have the ball and extreme patience when they did.
Rather than try to weave their way through the Dockers' forward press, the Tigers were prepared to chip the ball around in defence and the midfield until a way opened up.
It made for a low-scoring, slow-moving game and meant the Tigers ended up having 55 more kicks than Fremantle yet entering their attack just five more times.
The Dockers threatened to erase Richmond's lead in the third term, when Tendai Mzungu kicked three goals, including two in succession, the second of those from a 50m penalty to cut the margin to nine points.
But the Tigers responded with the last three goals of the quarter, with Cotchin putting a free kick through from 50m after the siren to push the lead back to 21.
The Dockers again threatened with the first two goals of the last quarter.
But Riewoldt goals either side of a brilliant hurried snap from Daniel Jackson shut the gate.
Alex Rance was strong in defence for Richmond, Brandon Ellis and Dustin productive in midfield and 100-gamer Matt White restricted Dockers speedster Stephen Hill.
Nathan Fyfe and Mzungu (three goals) were good for Fremantle and Ryan Crowley blanketed Brett Deledio. Reported by guardian.co.uk 11 hours ago.
