Never has the old saying “A week is a long time in football” rung more true than it did here.
Both teams saw reversals in form, bringing them back into alignment with pre-season expectations.
While the Tigers had their moments, this was undeniably Port’s game. Their home crowd thoroughly enjoying the 140 – 68 routing that gave the Power a much-needed percentage boost. The locals gladly accepted some hope that last week was just a blip, while Tigers fans coming off the high of a win were given a little more reason to maybe hold off on adding a finals package to their memberships.
Recent form
It’s only Round Two, but both teams showed that form can turn instantly with the right conditions. Richmond were riding high with an inspirational come-from-behind win over Carlton, while Port looked to avenge a 15-goal smashing delivered at the hands of Collingwood. This game promised a little glimpse into whether the round one results were an indication of whether these teams were defying the expectations placed upon them in preseason, or if Collingwood were a lot better and Carlton a lot worse than the early mail would have you believe.
Based on this result, Richmond supporters might still feel optimistic, but the reality of the situation is that they’re not ready to climb into the top half of the ladder just yet has hit them like a brick to the face. I know, I know, many pundits have the Tigers pencilled in for the spoon, and their age profile does suggest that this is a safe bet, but it’s not all bad news at Tigerland, even if half the squad has never seen a wall-mounted phone.
Starting strong
Quality sides move the ball with an efficiency and timing that would have German automotive engineers jealous. Port showed this in spades as they regularly managed to pop out little handballs that seemed to just hang in the air as a running teammate hit it at full pace, never breaking stride but easily breaking the lines.
If Port’s early ball movement resembled a Swiss-manufactured wristwatch, then Richmond were more like the old LCD alarm clock where half the elements were dead, leaving you wondering if you’re looking at a 2, 3 or a 5. I don’t want to go too hard on the kids, but I haven’t seen this lack of organisation and forethought since my mate invited his future Father-in-law to his bucks show that was held at the cheapest strip club in town (though it could be said that finding out your soon-to-be Dad has a thing for redheads and a suspicious sniffle after a quick bathroom visit might help with getting him to keep quiet about anything stupid you happen to do, but that’s a whole other matter).
What struck me was how un-struck Port’s ball carriers were. Richmond’s mids and backs showed plenty of chase, but all too often bounced off the more mature bodies of their Port opponents. Richmond pride themselves on their ‘blood and guts’ history, but far too often this was found to be severely lacking. Yes, it’s a young side, but that doesn’t excuse deciding to hand tackle so often, as well as the severe lack of shepherding and other basic get-your-body-in-the-way style of play that they seemed to actually enjoy last week.
One bloke willing to throw his weight around was Jayden Short. He copped a HTB free against him early that to my eyes looked like the ump was a bit premature (though there was an even-up shortly afterwards to Nankervis in the middle), but whenever there was a young lad getting some extra physical attention, he was right there trying to fly the flag. It may not have been a huge flag, and it may not have been waving very hard, but he was doing his bit. His first quarter scuffle with Horne-Francis showed a little bit of spice, but it was kind of like the pickled jalapenos you get with a fast-food burrito, when what they needed was the home-made chilli paste that your Vietnamese neighbour made with their home-grown chilli plants.
For Port, they had a glut of players doing whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted to do it. Mitch Georgiades is probably a little underrated outside of Port’s four walls, but he was part of multiple plays where Port gathered the ball in the corridor, handballed to a running mid, who then hit Mitch on a lead, lace-out and with just that little jump to ensure he couldn’t be easily spoiled. It’s bread and butter footy, but that’s exactly what’s needed for a team that has thrown its hat in the ring as premiership contenders.
No comeback this week
A 33-point deficit at the first break should have killed off all hope for the Tigers, but after last week, it looked like they still had players willing to take the game on.
So often in these situations, we see younger sides opt for damage control once they’re five goals behind. Choosing to staunch the bleeding and settle for an ‘honourable loss’ rather than dare to take the game on and risk a huge loss in the hopes that they can string together some goals and wrest back the momentum.
But… that didn’t last long.
If Port landed some solid hits in the first quarter, the second quarter saw them throw a swift roundhouse kick to the head of the Tigers squad. Three unanswered goals in the first few minutes had them reeling, and they continued to (Powell-)Pepper the goals. The halftime score of 13.11 could easily have been far more intimidating if Port had focused on setting up teammates rather than going for snapshots.
SPP converted a few, but missed some too, likewise, JHF and Joel Berry missed some that should have been majors, but it’s entirely understandable to take those shots at this point of the season, and with the game looking well in hand. SPP converted a beautiful one in the pocket that had Eddie Betts calling for trademark infringement, so a couple of misses are acceptable when you can deliver on those ones.
Speaking of delivering, Connor Rozee’s delivery was at a gold standard here, both for quantity and quality. 39 touches and seven clearances is a good game for anyone, but throw in seven marks, five tackles and two goals, and I can’t see how anyone wouldn’t be putting him down for three votes on Brownlow night here.
By halftime, Richmond were down by 65 points, and had more tackles than disposals inside 50, showing that while they were putting in effort, it wasn’t creating scoring opportunities. The game was effectively over.
If this were a late-season match, Port might have pushed themselves to pile on some ridiculous percentage, but as it is they seemed to take the foot off the gas slightly, while Richmond did come into the second half with a bit more focus, they still struggled to get clean possession chains while Port cantered through the middle at whim.
Ruck battle
As has become common recently, both teams went with one true ruck with some relief from part-timers while the big boys had a breather, so for most of the game Nankervis and Sweet went head-to-head.
Nankervis is only three years older, and gives up a bit over two inches in height to Sweet, but his 120 extra games experience was on show here, taking the nod over Jordon in a handy display of ruckwork.
Don’t get me wrong, when it came to the actual tap, Sweet did his job. He had a plethora of options at his feet in a quality midfield that could turn half chances into quick stoppage clearances, so he knew that a 50/50 ball would work to his side’s advantage, while Nank had to be much more precise with his less battle-hardened small brigade. Understanding this, Toby would frequently decide to just get the clearance himself (finishing with a game-high eight), man-handling Sweet using body positioning and lowering his hips to protect the drop of the ball.
I know I bang on a bit about ruck work, but if you’re a young lad keen on playing the big man position, you could do much worse than watch this match-up for a class on how a slightly smaller bloke can control the stoppage over a taller ruck. It’s no Xerri v Gawn, but it’s still a good watch.
Go for Boak
On the night he passed club legend Russell Ebert for most games in Port history (393!), Boak put on a vintage display. 28 disposals, 10 in the first quarter alone, and enough “Dad energy” to make the Tigers’ cubs feel very small. His ability to read the play was on point today, as shown by his first goal where he called for the ball to be delivered to his second lead, ran to the spot and turned to receive a perfect button hook style of play after Berry balked his opponent to switch onto his preferred left foot.
Let it never be said that Boak is anything but a champion of the game, and he may have a couple more seasons in his legs if today is anything to go by, but… are we really counting preseason games in the total?
Still, in his current form, I’d say that joining the 400-game club isn’t off the table, and possibly even passing a few players on that list too.
Mitch Georgiades – See ball, mark ball, kick ball.
The Full Forward position can be one for excitement machines as they fly for marks and kick a bag, so it’s a bit jarring to see a bloke have a great match, yet be so nonchalant about it.
Georgiades has all the skills, but a workman-like approach that avoids the Capper-esque flair (and unnecessary errors) of some of his peers. He plays the position in a simple way, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. His coordination with his midfield and his quick first step acceleration served him well this week, getting space into a leading lane and receiving the ball lace-out, walking back and converting.
Sure, the backflips and gesticulations make highlight reels, but it’s the reliable goal-kickers that help a forward line function. He’s only 23, and has a lot of improving to do, but the season is off to a good start for the young spearhead, especially after returning from injury.
SPP with the GOTY contender
Sam Powell-Pepper, freshly back from injury, set the stadium alight with a goal of the year contender from the boundary. From 40 out and on such a tight angle that he could have picked up a pie and a coke from the vendors on the mezzanine, he slammed it through and turned to the crowd to give the locals a bit of a rev up.
It’s one of those shots that if you miss it, the coach will hammer you with it on the Monday review, but nail it and the whole side lifts. We will definitely be seeing that one again and again through the season.
Tiger cubs
Fear not Tiger Army, it’s not all bad news. Young Harry Armstrong showed promise with two goals in the final term, earning himself a few pats on the head and possibly a Happy Meal on the flight home. Seth Campbell also snagged a couple, including a sneaky leg breaking dribbler that probably should have been a handball to a teammate, but most of Richmond’s experienced players barely troubled the statisticians. One exception was Jacob Hopper gave it a crack with 24 disposals, but I’m hard pressed to remember many of them being qs impactful as they needed to be.
A Short Temper
Clubs with young players need to blood their talent, but they also need to protect it. You can’t recruit 18-year-old kids and throw them against seasoned opponents and expect them to come out of it without some deep bruises, and that’s the reality of a contact sport. Players will test each other physically, right to the edges (and occasionally a bit over) of what the rule book allows.
So with that in mind, who’s going to stand up for the likes of Lalor, Campbell and Armstrong when their opponent takes liberties? Nankervis is the big man on the field, but at the stoppage, his eyes are on the ruck contest, so it’s left up to someone to play the role of enforcer. If I had my pick of the squad, I wouldn’t have immediately nominated Jayden Short for the job, but it seems like he’s put his hand up anyway.
When the young lads were getting a bit too much heat, Short was nearby to remonstrate. Was it effective? Debatable. Was the effort necessary? Absolutely. If anything, he was let down by teammates leaving him stranded far too often. It took until the second half for Richmond to show unity on that front, likely driven by a bit of a spray from Yze.
But well done to Short, in intent, if not in result.
The Stats that Stung
- Port had the top 11 AFL Fantasy scorers. Read that again. Eleven.
- Richmond rely heavily on Taranto, Hopper and Mcintosh to generate possession chains. Hopper had 24 disposals for 454 metres gained in a decent-ish outing, but Taranto’s 17 were regularly intercepted or ineffectual, and Mcintosh’s 18 weren’t much better, being less impressive than his yellow headband.
- Port wins the disposal count by 180. Read that again. 180. Port threw a perfect three dart round while Richmond couldn’t be trusted with sharp objects.
- Willie Rioli’s three snags – perfect small forward seagulling. Rioli played the small forward role beautifully, swooping in on a loose ball like a seagull on an errant chip because no one had the wheels or the footy know-how to run with him. The only reason it wasn’t four of five goals to his name was because a few times within 30 metres of goal, he was looking to milk a free by dropping to his knees or throwing his head back, but in this case, the umpires weren’t biting. I know every team does it, and it’s basic forward craft, but I personally dislike it when that much mayo is put on contact (as I’m sure we all do when it’s not our own team doing it). He’s not the worst, but he’s too good of a player to lean into this as much as he did here.
- Jase Burgoyne: 32 touches and two goals – quietly brilliant. Rozee, Wines and JHF will get the headlines, but Burgoyne put together a very solid game here. Very, very impressed with this kid.
- Miles Bergman needs a haircut and a shave. I’m not saying he doesn’t look good, but I noted a couple of times in this match (and many others) where his good work was credited to JHF. They have a similar build, both sport the flowing blonde locks that are the envy of bald blokes in the stand, and a moustache that suggests they could pinch hit as a test cricket fast bowler, but come on Miles, you need to differentiate your brand!
- The Tigers conceded 140 points — their worst score against Port ever.
Injuries:
Port’s only sour note came with Jack Lukosius copping a knee injury early. Christian Moraes replaced him, but it’s unknown at this point how bad the injury is.
Sam Banks was subbed off with a concussion after an accidental head knock. I guess that means Port’s player is getting three weeks. Tough break.
The only other major injury was to Richmond’s pride, but fans can rewatch 2017-2020 highlights for comfort, although, there was almost a return to the bad old days of the 90s when you heard the Tigers fans booing their own side. Don’t be that guy.
Next up:
Port have a short break to take on Essendon on Thursday. Essendon have been a bit unlucky so far this season, coming up against a Hawks side that played out of their skin in round one, and kicking a score of a hundred against the Crows, yet still losing by over ten goals. Their defence has given up more easy entries than Bonnie Blue, and will be sorely tested by the quick forward movement by Port’s mids.
Essendon will have their wins this season, but I don’t see it coming here. Port is too well-drilled, moves the ball too effectively and is just a bit too hungry to drop this one. Unless Essendon suddenly has a massive turnaround in defensive pressure, they’re going to give up more than 20 goals as Georgiades gets his silver service, and even if McKay manages to run with him, SPP, Rioli and JHF will be at the drop of the ball, ready to convert those half chances into six points.
I know that predicting big margins often leaves the punter with egg on their faces, but I’m putting it out there anyway: Port by ten goals.
Richmond take on the Saints on Saturday, and will be looking to return to their round one form. The Saints are a bit of a mercurial side, having dropped their round one clash against Adelaide, though the Crows look like they’re taking a leap up the ladder this season. They managed to see off Geelong this week, and that is never an easy task. On paper, the Saints should easily account for Richmond, but Tigers fans will be hoping for some of the run and dash from the Carlton match to be on display.
I don’t think it’ll be a big margin though, as the Saints structure tends to prefer controlled movement rather than the surge football style that the Tigers made popular, but I do think it’ll be a strong win for the Saints.
St Kilda by 40 points.
