Star speechless after EPIC season-saving 36pt comeback in brutal ...
Richmond has pulled off the most remarkable barnstorming finish to keep its season alive, fighting back from a 36-point deficit in the shadows of three-quarter time to break Hawthorn hearts with a one-point win in a spectacular case of highway robbery.
When Mitch Lewis kicked his fourth goal to put the Hawks up by 36 points late in the third term, it looked like the Tigers’ top-eight hopes had gone up in smoke.
But after being largely outplayed in the opening three quarters, Richmond flicked the switch in devastating fashion and kicked the last six goals to overpower the Hawks 14.12 (96) to 15.5 (95), ensuring their charge towards the top eight remains on course.
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QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT
There were no late changes for either side, with debutant Matthew Coulthard (Richmond) and Ned Long (Hawthorn) named the starting subs.
Chad Wingard kicked the first goal for Hawthorn as skipper James Sicily had an impressive start to the game, taking three early marks to stamp his authority on the contest.
“This is the big problem,” Fox Footy’s David King said as Richmond struggled to move the ball past Sicily.
“He’s on fire. What a player.”
Then goals to James Worpel, Chad Wingard and Finn Maginness gave Hawthorn an 18-point lead.
“Their handball game from stoppage, the Hawks, is causing huge problems for Richmond already,” King said.
“The Hawks are asking some questions. On counter-punch they’ve been exciting.”
There was a nervous moment for Hawks ruckman Ned Reeves, who’s likely to be scrutinised for a dangerous tackle.
But two late Richmond goals to Dustin Martin and Jacob Hopper helped the Tigers trim Hawthorn’s lead to six points at the first change.
The Tigers then took the lead at the start of the second term when Ben Miller took a strong mark and produced a brilliant checkside goal before Tim Taranto nailed a set-shot attempt.
“This is some sort of response from the Tiges. They’re running in waves. They can’t go with them, the Hawks,” King said.
But the topsy-turvy nature of the clash continued as Hawthorn kicked the next four goals through, with Brockman booting his second, Mitch Lewis adding two more and Luke Breust converting his first.
Wingard then pulled off an outrageous soccer goal before Jai Newcombe converted another to make it six straight Hawks goals and a 28-point lead.
“They’re a rabble down back at the moment the Tigers … I haven’t seen them look like this down back for a while,” King said.
A late goal to Liam Baker cut Hawthorn’s lead to 21 points at the major break and gave the Tigers some momentum heading into half-time.
Wingard continued his day out, pulling off an awesome recovery from a spilt mark and snapping a brilliant second goal.
Dylan Moore then snapped his second before Lewis kicked his third as Hawthorn skipped out to a game-high 33-point lead.
Jack Riewoldt then had an opportunity on the three quarter-time siren to give Richmond some hope heading into the final term, only to shank his set-shot and ensure Hawthorn held a 30-point lead.
But Richmond had a few punches to throw still.
Tigers debutant Matt Coulthard was subbed on and made an immediate impact, playing key roles in two goals to Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin as Hawthorn’s lead was cut to 19 points.
And when Taranto kicked a long-range goal and Kamdyn McIntosh floated forward and added another, the Tigers were only five points behind.
“The pressure has lifted, the Tigers’ intensity is through the roof,” King said.
Richmond’s comeback was then complete when Liam Baker pounced on a loose ball and snapped a brilliant left-boot call to give his side a one-point lead — a margin they held onto for the remaining minute of the match.
THE 3-2-1 …
3. TIGERS BREAK CLUB RECORD AS COMEBACK LEAVES STAR SPEECHLESS
Richmond veteran Jack Riewoldt was lost for words post-game.
The Tigers had just pulled off their equal-greatest comeback from three-quarter time after being down by 30 points at the final change. At one stage in the third term, they were down by an even six goals.
Asked how his side came back from 36 points down to steamroll Hawthorn by one point at the MCG, Riewoldt said with a laugh to Fox Footy: “I don’t know.
“Hawthorn played really good footy all day … but the quote came out at halftime ‘hang around’. You hang around, you never know, you get on a bit of a roll.
“Sides that get a few goals against them, the momentum is a big swing and they start to play a bit safe. We started to get some momentum and obviously we scored enough goals to get over the line – just.”
With their top-eight hopes seemingly up in smoke, Richmond flicked the switch in devastating fashion and kicked the last six goals of the match to overpower the Hawks.
Despite having all the momentum in the final term, two missed set-shots from Riewoldt – one from 20m out – looked as though they may have cost Richmond the win.
But a goal from Kamdyn McIntosh from the goalsquare then a magnificent crumbing snap from Liam Baker with 1:04 left proved to be the match-winner.
The Tigers’ pressure skyrocketed in the final quarter as they out-tackled the Hawks 21-12. Then they made the most of their opportunities, booting 5.3 from 12 entries compared to Hawthorn’s 0.2 from 11 inside 50s.
Baker and Daniel Rioli had eight touches for the final term alone, while debutant Matt Coulthard had an enormous impact coming on as the sub, having seven disposals, two inside 50s and going at 100 per cent by foot.
“What a fascinating game,” Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy post-game.
“Richmond weren’t going to give up on their year, they were up against a motivated opponent who were up and going.
“Their run was the thing that gave them a chance in the last quarter.”
Tim Taranto produced another match-winning performance that featured 23 disposals (11 contested), eight tackles and three goals, while Dustin Martin was also crucial in racking up 24 touches (10 contested), seven marks and two goals.
After starting the year 3-7-1, the Tigers have now won six of their last seven games under interim coach Andrew McQualter to roar into finals contention.
“When Richmond are playing like this and taking the crowd with them, it’s unbelievable,” dual premiership Kangaroo David King told Fox Footy.
“They’re going to hang around the bottom bracket of the top eight. Who knows whether they make it, but let’s just enjoy what Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt are able to do and put on a show.
“When the game was there to be won, their senior core said ‘come with me’.”
2. YOUNG HAWKS’ ‘EXCITING’ GLIMPSES BEFORE TIGERS STUNNER
The Hawks did so right for so long. But the experience of the Tigers – they had 14 players with 100-plus games experience while the Hawks only had seven – saw them remain in finals contention.
It was a different story earlier in the day as Hawthorn stunned Richmond with an exciting gameplan that put them on the brink of an MCG boilover.
King lauded Hawthorn’s blistering ball movement, particularly from the back half, as they used overlap handball and a short kicking game that ultimately “challenges all teams”.
“They hunt corridor. They want the ball express into that forward 50. They know they need to move the ball fast to give their forwards a chance against this Tigers back six,” King said.
“Then they can drop back into this uncontested marking mode where they don’t take big risks, short passes – but they still want corridor. They’re not prepared to just kill time with the football, but they’re looking to explode and excite at any moment. It’s caught the Tigers out a few times and brought them great return
“They’re exciting to watch … This brand of football is educating this young team quickly about what’s required at AFL level.”
Buckley added: “They seem to enjoy the open expanses of the MCG, don’t they? When they can get that offensive game going, their pressure is there enough and they’re turning the ball over enough in the right positions, their stoppage game looks in good order and at least squaring that up.”
1. ‘THROWING A COUPLE OF PUNCHES’: WINGARD WINDS BACK CLOCK
Now this was the Chad Wingard the Hawks traded into their club four years ago.
The former Port Adelaide star has endured a frustrating five-season at the Hawks, with injury constantly hindering his availability and, when fit to play, output.
But Wingard on Saturday was in a mood during the first half – and it led to one of his best and most influential games in a brown and gold jumper.
While Wingard’s output dipped in the second half – he wasn’t the only Hawks player guilty of that – he still finished with 3.1 from 17 disposals, nine score involvements and five inside 50s.
The 29-year-old set the tone in the first quarter, which saw him have 10 disposals and three inside 50s. Then there was a brilliant soccer goal in the second term, followed up by a brilliant solo effort where he dropped a mark, recovered and snapped another major at the start of the third quarter.
“It’s definitely a game and a performance he’s been capable of since he came into the competition … This is the type of talent that this man has,” Buckley told Fox Footy.
“In some ways it’s frustrating that we don’t see it as often as we potentially might, but to find and create that chance and then to take advantage of it, that’s elite skill.”
Amid his on-field struggles, the Giants in 2021 came hard for Wingard, only for the star forward to firmly reiterate he wouldn’t entertain the idea of a trade.
Then midway through last year, Hawks legend Dermott Brereton suggested the Hawks should entertain trading Wingard, who this year has suffered a couple of injury setbacks and even spent time in the VFL.
But Wingard, who remains out of contract at season’s end, made a significant statement against the Tigers on Saturday.
“There was a school of thought he’s fighting for his career at the Hawks right now. I tell you what, he’s throwing a couple of punches and landing them … He’s been involved in everything King told Fox Footy.
“He’s been smart. You can see his football intelligence when he drops into little usable holes and his teammates find him. He’s been a great beneficiary of this overlap handball game.
“He’s been well down on the Chad we thought the Hawks were going to get, we all know that. He’s fighting for his football career and he’s putting up a pretty good show.”
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