Richmond has given triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin the best possible celebration with a 20-point win over St Kilda in his 300th game thanks to a Tim Taranto sealer at a rain-sodden MCG on Saturday night.
After trailing early in the first quarter, Cotchin sparked the Tigers to life with the first of his two opening half goals to spur his side to a 17 point lead mid-way through the second quarter.
After the Tigers got out to a 24 point lead in the driving rain in the third quarter, the St Kilda small forwards rallied to cut the margin back to a goal at three quarter time.
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The Saints pressed in the final quarter but failed to take advantage of their opportunities before Tim Taranto and Shai Bolton sealed the 20 point win, 13.12 (90) – 11.4 (70).
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
There were no late changes for either side with Hugo Ralphsmith (Tigers) and Cooper Sharman (Saints) named as both sides starting tactical subs.
Jade Gresham got the Saints off to a perfect start in the opening minute. Following up his work from the centre bounce to win a free kick for a high tackle in front of goal and converting with ease.
Josh Battle doubled the lead with a goal from long range but despite the lead, there were early cause for concerns for Saints fans as young star Nasiah Wanganeen – Milera hobbled to the bench favouring a lower leg injury.
The Saints skipped out to a four goal lead before Shai Bolton kicked the first for the Tigers, making the Saints pay dearly off a turnover.
Jayden Short, fresh off a three goal performance last week converted a long range goal to set the Tiger army alight before Max King kicked his second goal of the opening quarter.
The Tiger Army was on their feet again as milestone man Trent Cotchin marked inside 50 and kicked a goal in his 300th game.
The “Scriptwriters doing their job at the MCG,” Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy on the Cotchin goal.
The Tigers kicked two more goals to open up a 10 point lead in a high scoring opening quarter. Leading 6.4 (40) – 5.0 (30) at the first change.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second quarter as Cotchin kicked his second goal of the game to light up the MCG once again.
But the Saints hit back against the run of play as Max King found space at the top of the 50m line and hand passed off to Dan Butler, who broke a run of five unanswered Tigers goals.
“Their efficiency is keeping them in this so far” Jobe Watson said on Channel 7.
St Kilda drew closer thanks to Anthony Caminiti, keeping his feet at the back of a stoppage and kicking off the ground to bring the Saints within three points.
As the rain got heavier, the Tigers kicked away once again with Kamdyn McIntosh and Liam Baker pouncing on mistakes in the Saints defensive 50 to stretch the lead back to 17 points.
Jack Higgins pulled one back for the Saints before Ben Miller restored the 17 point advantage for the Tigers in the shadows of halftime, leading 10.7 (67) – 8.2 (50).
Richmond activated their sub at the start of the second half, after Samson Ryan injured himself in the second quarter after he landed awkwardly contesting the ball. He played on until the main break before being subbed off at the main break, activating Hugo Ralphsmith into the game.
The scoring dried up as the rain continued to tumble down at the MCG as both sides had different goes at surging the ball forward yet couldn’t score.
The Tigers eventually broke the scoring deadlock when Nick Vlastuin floated forward and set sailed from beyond the 50m to open up a 25 point lead.
The Saints small forwards got to work once again, cranking up the pressure to kick three quick goals to get the margin back to one goal as three quarter time neared.
“All looks very different suddenly from a St Kilda perspective” Hamish McLachlan said on Channel 7.
“Kick forward at all costs, tap it on, muscle it on, roll it on, whatever you can.
“Suddenly St Kilda are looking a lot more like Richmond.”
A late behind to Ben Miller saw the Tigers take a slender seven point lead into the final break, leading 11.10 (76) – 11.3 (69).
The Saints dominated the territory again in the opening stages of the final term with repeated forward 50 entries but couldn’t convert multiple chances in front of goal, with shots from Mattaes Phillipou and Max King failing to make the distance.
The Saints squandered another chance through Jack Higgins who caught Richmond captain Dylan Grimes holding the ball inside 50 but failed to register a score.
Tim Taranto sealed the game for the Tigers as he collected the ball from a spillage just inside the 50m line before kicking with the outside of his boot to put the game out of reach for St Kilda.
Shai Bolton finished off the night with a rolling effort from the boundary to seal a 20 point Tigers win – 13.12 (90) – 11.4 (70).
The 3 -2-1 (with Ben Cotton)
3. ‘SCRIPTWRITERS ON FIRE’ AS COTCHIN LIGHTS UP MILESTONE
The Tiger faithful gathered at the MCG to celebrate the man that led them to the ultimate joy three times over.
While it was the Saint that got off to a flying start in Trent Cochin’s 300th game, the milestone man didn’t wait too long to assert himself on the contest when he kicked a team lifting goal to send the Tigers fans into raptures.
Lining up from beyond the 50m arc, Cotchin went back and nailed the set shot much to the adulation of his family, his former coach Damien Hardwick, and the adoring Tiger army.
“(The) Scriptwriters (have been) doing their job at the MCG,” former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.
It was one possession in a big opening stanza for the milestone Tiger who had 11 first quarter possessions to ignite the Tigers fightback in the first quarter before being a key pillar across the ground all night.
“The 300 gamer has been the inspiration” Lyon said on Fox Footy.
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown highlighted that Cotchin had gone back to his “traditional role” in the centre square in recent weeks.
“He’s gone back into the centre square.. Resuming his traditional role,” Brown said on Fox Footy.
“(Start in the) Centre square but knows how to float forward at stoppages at goal, that’s where he’s got his couple of goals from.”
Brown added: “The Tigers have looked sharp. Their forward half pressure has been outstanding; they’ve been able to create a lot those intercepts in the forward half and this man (Cotchin) has been central to that.”
Cotchin finished with 29 disposals, 14 contested possessions, five tackles and 2.1 in a near best on ground display.
2. TIGERS ‘HAVEN’T CLOSED CHAPTER ON 2023’ IN ‘CREDIT’ TO MCQUALTER
Richmond is “mobilising” and back in the finals race in 2023, according to AFL great Garry Lyon, with caretaker coach Andrew McQualter deserving credit for the club’s resurgence and proving his credentials.
The Tigers’ win over St Kilda marked the club’s third-straight victory to suddenly sit half a game outside the top eight in ninth place ahead of their mid-season bye.
Lyon believes McQualter, who’s guided the team to a 3-1 record since taking over from Damien Hardwick, has breathed new life into Punt Road and that he warrants serious consideration for the full-time role beyond 2023.
“They’re mobilising. I thought they were gone and there was no chance … and that the resignation of Damien Hardwick meant they would start to prepare for next year,” Lyon said of the Tigers post-match on Fox Footy.
“The Richmond army has mobilised and they are absolutely back in this hunt. That is a credit to Andrew McQualter.
“It might be a Paul Roos situation (at Sydney). Paul Roos made it impossible for Sydney not to appoint him when he became the interim coach then went on to become a premiership coach.
“There’s a sense that there’s something a little bit exciting happening here. For those that have written the story of 2023 in relation to the Tigers … they’ve said: ‘No, we haven’t closed a chapter on 2023’.”
McQualter said this week he would consider his coaching future in Richmond’s bye this week.
Lyon likened McQualter to second-year Magpies coach Craig McRae as the ideal modern-day leader for a club.
“He’s a young man who fits the persona of the modern-day successful coach. I’m talking about Craig McRae – lower profile, a bit understated and a relationship builder,” the Demons great added.
“They have responded and they’re up and about right now … all of a sudden the competition is saying: ‘We haven’t seen the back of Richmond’.”
Indigenous footy great Eddie Betts also praised McQualter, noting how his subtle changes have paid dividends.
“(McQualter has) brought in a game plan, switched up a few magnets and put players in different positions,” Betts told Fox Footy.
“If they keep winning and play finals … will he get that position?”
1. KING V BALTA MATCHUP ‘OUTSTANDING’
Footy fans were treated to an enthralling battle between two of the best players in their respective positions in Max King and Noah Balta.
And as put by Demons great Garry Lyon, it’s a matchup “we’re going to enjoy for 10 years to come,” with King, 22 years old, and Balta, 23.
Although the rainy conditions took away from the battle as it became more of a scrappy, ground-level game, there were some exciting one-on-one contests between the two guns throughout.
King was on fire early with two first-half goals and some big marks, but he wasn’t able to hit the scoreboard afterwards including missing two crucial opportunities for goals in the fourth term.
Balta meanwhile finished with 10 intercepts and did a job negating King for the most part, of course, helped by the dour conditions.
“The matchup between King and Balta has been outstanding,” Lyon said on Fox Footy.
Triple-premiership Lion Jonathan Brown noted how the Tigers getting on top in the contest helped nullify King’s influence.
“Two very powerful units… what’s made it harder for Max King to be able to control Balta is the pressure from Richmond up the field in the front half has been fantastic,” he told Fox Footy.
“As we know, those Richmond defenders like to slide up towards their goal, they get dangerous and get off their man and that’s when Balta and these guys can fly for the intercept marks.”
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