All right, let’s get through this. Richmond travelled to Perth to collect their four points against the Eagles at Optus Stadium. The only matters up for contention were any possible injuries, suspensions, and what percentage boost the Tigers might come away with.
Let’s be real, the Eagles aren’t challenging good football teams this season, but there is a lot more for the Eagles to play for. Honour, respect and the Joe Blow over the fence who had paid their money to come and watch you compete at your chosen profession. Holding your spot on the list might also be a big factor for some players too.
The Tigers came into the match having won four of their last five games. With their last two losses coming against Brisbane at the GABBA and Port Adelaide, which is not a bad form line at all.
West Coast looked like they had responded against the Saints, following back-to-back mammoth 100+ point losses. They played a disappointing first 25 minutes against the Lions, but were not completely disgraced after that point. Back at home against the Tigers, they would have been hoping for a solid outing.
The Eagles gained some solid experience with the return of Sam Petrevski-Seton, captain Luke Shuey and Shannon Hurn. The Tigers recalled Ivan Soldo with the suspension of captain Toby Nankervis, leaving Dylan Grimes as a solo skipper for the match.
But enough preamble, let’s get into The Stuff that mattered.
The Best Stuff
Shai Bolton
It was a match that mirrored his season. Shai Bolton could’ve been anything in this game. Plenty of run and dash. A bit of flair, a high flying mark and a lot of shots on goal. Linked up really well with the likes of Rioli, Martin and the other Richmond midfielders. When Bolton is in this sort of form, there isn’t much that the opposition can do other than just hope he misses his shots on goal. Which he did.
Daniel Rioli
The running man. Looked like he just about blew the GPS unit up! Put a footy in front of Daniel Rioli and he might just trade his soul for a handball as he’s running past, such are his screaming demands for the footy. The Eagles just had to be more switched on to it. Rioli is the source of the Tigers drive off half back and they love to give him the ball. Time and time again, Rioli went screaming passed a player and they gave it, and then he went on for more. The definition of a 70+ metre player. The only issue might be that the Tigers need to realise they don’t have to give it to him every time.
Bailey Williams
Just loved this game from Williams. He really stood out with his attack on the footy. Flew for everything, competed hard against Soldo in the ruck. Got forward in the first quarter for a goal. Was bloody unlucky to give a free kick away on halftime in the Tigers forward half to concede a goal. Faded a bit as the game went on but it’s been a long season for Williams and he has battled tirelessly. there are some great signs there for Eagles fans.
The Good Stuff
Shuey’s early attack
Just something that showed the Eagles wouldn’t be witches’ hats in this game was some of the efforts of Luke Shuey. You only have to look at some of the efforts of Simpkin and Co. early against the Cats last week, which just showed that they may not have been up for the fight.
There was no such signs for the Tigers in this game as in the opening minutes Shuey gave two very clear efforts to signal to his team there would be no short steps today. Going head-on with the Tigers ruck in Soldo in the Tigers forward fifty. And then against 15 seconds later, diving on the football with little regard for anything else in an attempt to stop a score.
Young Eagles Learning
Brady Hough had a moment you would want to forget. The ball is kicked on the switch to him and Liam Baker in a contest on the outer wing in the first quarter. Baker gathers the ball and Hough goes to tackle him. Baker then proceeds to stiff-arm Hough to the ground and then run forward with the ball off the half-back flank. It’s a terrible feeling, in that moment when you know you haven’t got enough of a grip and slide off in the tackle. You either didn’t commit enough, or you just weren’t strong enough. Baker then gets another few disposals in the possession chain as the Tigers move the footy.
They stumble at the half forward line, and Pickett ends up with the ball, and he decides he wants a goal. Hough has regained his feet and tracked the footy back to the Eagles defence, he’s going to try and lay another tackle. Pickett thinks he’s also going to break through it, but Hough isn’t about to let this happen to him twice in one play and hits Pickett with a proper tackle. Hitting him with force, body-to-body and takes him down.
It was a wonderful example of not giving up on the play and learning from your experiences. You might not put everything into that first tackle, and it gets broken, so you make sure you put it all on that second one.
Just Tough
Liam Baker. That is all. A player that every team needs and wishes they had more of. Just relentless desire and fight for the football and the willingness to put himself in harms way to get it. Some players are happy to be “tough” when its their turn to lay a tackle or a bump or crash a pack. Others, like Baker, are courageous, and “go” all the time and don’t care what’s coming the other way. Just… tough.
Was also funny when Baker got rundown in the early in the last quarter after crumbing a contest on the half forward line. Baker was immediately tackled and dispossessed and got up clearly indicating to the umpire that he thought that decision was a bit rough. Eyes blazing and a wry smile. He was right, as well.
The Other Stuff
The Eagles cannot catch a break!
By this point, it’s fairly certain that there is a permanent ladder set-up over the entranceway of the Eagles headquarters that everyone has to walk under to enter. That is the only way to explain their wretched run with injuries in recent history. This game was no different. A concussion protocol (luckily passed) for McGovern, Oscar Allen looked like he did some damage to his shoulder and Ginbey subbed off in the first quarter with a hamstring. Add in Barrass padding his stats with flying scorpion kicks over Jack Riewoldt, and it was a recipe for disaster.
Dusty’s Elbow
An errant elbow from Martin may just cost him a week, here. Hopefully, it’s only a fine, but with the current state of AFL media and the way the MRO is handling every other incident, its likely the media will want him out for a month and the MRO may just give him the death penalty.
Other then that it was good to see Martin getting involved in plenty of the play. He still has some seriously good football left to play. No one wants to have Dustin Martin line up for the opposition in a big game, even now.
500 Up!
He’s been controversial, and had plenty of ups and downs across his career, but well done to Jack Darling on kicking his 500th career goal. A premiership player for the club and top five for games played. A real champion for the Eagles.
One Missed Call
Andrew McQualter might say that there is no issue with Maurice Rioli not taking his call after being subbed during the fourth quarter, but I doubt Rioli survives selection this week. Bad enough to be subbed out of a game tactically for poor output, but too top it off by taking umbrage with the coach for his decision. It’s a fine line for a player to tread.
IT WORKS!
Hallelujah! brothers and sisters the ARC technology was useful. Late in the game a long set shot by Jack Riewoldt looked to skim the goal post on the way through. The goal umpire however signalled a goal. The Eagles players identified it. Riewoldt didn’t really celebrate and the ball looked to have deviated. Bear in mind, the score review wasn’t called for, so the ARC had to be conclusive for it to be overturned. And, in the exact situation it was brought in for, the ARC did its job. If you listen closely, you’ll hear champagne glasses clanging in Gil McLachlan’s office at 8am Monday morning.
The Wrap
West Coast
This was actually a good showing from the Eagles. I don’t think we could ask much more form them. Outside of a 20 minute run of six unanswered Richmond goals, either side of half time, they were with them the whole day. Their veterans returned to some form, their kids showed plenty of heart and dash. Their defensive pillars were as reliable as ever. Even in defeat I thought the Eagles should have been prod, given where their season has been at times in 2023.
A daunting trip awaits to face the in-form Carlton at Marvel Stadium. Anyone remember what happened when the Eagles played the Blues earlier in the year? What a time to cop them again! But after that is the big one, the Kangaroos back at Optus. With arguably the best team they’ve had on the park this year, the Eagles need to try and build something next week to prepare themselves for their big chance for another win.
Richmond
The Tigers banked the win but will ultimately rue not winning by enough. Richmond has now had the luxury of playing the Eagles twice and has defeated them by 46 and 38 points. Not sure if they have noticed, but percentage may yet be a pretty big factor in the final make-up of the top eight and to have had two cracks at the worst team in the competition and failing to put them to the sword isn’t good enough. Yes, it was the Eagles best team on paper for the year, but the Tigers still find themselves under the 100% mark.
An interesting match-up next week at the MCG against a plucky Hawthorn team who has shown themselves to be more than capable of knocking off good sides on their day. That is then followed by a huge match-up against Melbourne, that could be season-defining for both clubs.
