Round 1
RICHMOND 3.4 5.6 10.7 12.9 (81)
CARLTON 3.2 8.7 11.13 18.17 (125)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Grigg 2, Martin 2, Cotchin 2, Vickery, Nahas
Carlton: Hampson 3, Betts 2, Armfield 2, Yarran 2, Lucas 2, Waite, Simpson, Garlett, Thornton, Kreuzer, Murphy, Robinson
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Martin, Foley, Houli, Rance
Carlton: Murphy, Carrazzo, Simpson, Curnow, Scotland, Judd, Kreuzer
Crowd: 78,285 at the MCG
Summary: Richmond kicked off its 2012 campaign against arch rival, Carlton. Making their debuts for the Tigers were ex-Crow ruckman Ivan Maric, Steven Morris, and the Club’s first pick in the 2011 National Draft, Brandon Ellis. The Tigers trailed by 32 points midway through the third quarter, before storming back into the contest with five straight goals, however Carlton steadied and ran out 44-point winners.
Damien Hardwick: “We managed to regain our composure at various stages, but not for long enough to actually inflict some damage against Carlton on a consistent basis. Steven Morris’ competitiveness was really good, Brandon Ellis will take a little bit of time to get there, but he showed when he got the ball, he used it well.”
Round 2
COLL’WOOD 2.8 5.10 11.12 12.13 (85)
RICHMOND 1.6 2.10 4.13 8.16 (64)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 3, Thomas 3, Blair 2, Fasolo 2, Paine, Jolly
Richmond: Miller 4, Deledio 2, Edwards, Conca
BEST
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Reid, Sidebottom, Cloke, Thomas, Swan
Richmond: Rance, Deledio, Grigg, Miller, Tuck, Cotchin
Crowd: 57,268 at the MCG
Summary: An eight-minute burst from Collingwood at the start of the third quarter, that netted five goals, ended Richmond’s chances of pulling off an upset win. Richmond fought back, outscoring Collingwood four goals to one in the last quarter, but lost the game by 21 points. Brad Miller was the Tigers’ leading goalscorer, with four.
Damien Hardwick: “Tonight there was no doubt we played the style we’re probably more attuned to play over the course of the regular season. The pleasing thing is we’re getting close to those top four sides that we’ve had trouble with over the course of my first two to three years here.”
ROUND 3
Richmond 4.4 6.8 15.11 20.13 (133)
MELB 2.3 5.6 6.6 11.8 (74)
Goals
Richmond: Cotchin 3, Miller 3, Conca 2, Nahas 2, Deledio 2, I. Maric, Martin, Riewoldt, Houli, Vickery, Grigg, Jackson, Tuck
Melbourne: Clark 2, Howe 2, Trengove 2, Dunn 2, Watts, Jones, Sellar
Best
Richmond: Grigg, Conca, Houli, Deledio, Cotchin, Rance, Martin, Tuck, Nahas
Melbourne: Howe, Jones, McKenzie
Crowd: 49,826 at MCG
Summary: Richmond led Melbourne by just eight points at half-time in the must-win encounter at the MCG, before unleashing a devastating third-term blitz. The Tigers slammed on nine goals to one, ensuring their first win for season 2012 was a convincing one. Richmond had 13 individual goalkickers contribute to the 59-point victory.
Damien Hardwick: “You constantly hear about Cotchin, Deledio, Martin, these types of players, but [for] Grigg to have 35-plus possessions and ‘Axel’ Foley, I thought he showed signs of circa 2007-08 when he started to run and carry the ball a bit more.”
ROUND 4
GEELONG 4.1 7.3 10.4 11.9 (75)
RICHMOND 3.1 3.6 7.10 9.11 (65)
GOALS
Geelong: Stokes 2, Chapman 2, Hunt, Selwood, Hawkins, Podsiadly, Duncan, Motlop, Christensen
Richmond: Nahas 2, Riewoldt, I. Maric, Vickery, Grigg, Jackson, White, Foley
BEST
Geelong: Bartel, Guthrie, Lonergan, Taylor, Mackie, Selwood, Hawkins
Richmond: Foley, Deledio, Cotchin, Nahas, Grigg, Ellis, Tuck
Crowd: 25,000 (approx) at Simmonds Stadium. *A power failure at the stadium meant accurate crowd numbers were not recorded.
Summary: A lack of experience and composure were telling factors in Richmond’s 10-point loss to the reigning premiers at Geelong’s home-ground. Kicking with the wind in the last quarter, the Tigers appeared to have all the momentum when Nathan Foley levelled the scores with 12 minutes remaining. But the seasoned Cats were able to find a way to win, seemingly against the odds.
Damien Hardwick: “Good sides make you pay and it’s disappointing for our playing group. They worked their backsides off, I thought, and we just didn’t quite get the reward we were after.”
ROUND 5
Richmond 4.2 9.4 12.11 14.13 (97)
W. COAST 5.3 11.6 12.9 16.11 (107)
GOALS
Richmond: Miller 3, Jackson 2, Martin 2, Riewoldt 2, Vickery 2, Cotchin, Ellis, I. Maric
West Coast: Darling 4, Hill 3, Hams 2, Lynch 2, Masten 2, Cox, Kennedy, S. Selwood
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, I. Maric, Martin, Deledio, Foley, Rance, Grimes
West Coast: Kerr, Gaff, Priddis, S. Selwood, Glass, Darling, Lynch
Crowd: 28,448 at Etihad Stadium
Summary: Richmond looked set to topple one of the AFL heavyweights, only to fall short at the finish. Brad Miller kicked three goals for Richmond, star midfielders Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin combined for 55 disposals and three goals, while Ivan Maric was a colossus in the ruck against West Coast’s dynamic duo of Dean Cox and Nic Natanui.
Damien Hardwick: “We’ve got to start gaining some ground on the opposition. It was always going to be a tough start [to the year], we knew that. I think this group has come a hell of a way, now we come into games expecting to win. No longer is it ‘Jeez, I hope we get close’.”
ROUND 6
PORT ADEL. 1.2 2.2 6.4 8.6 (54)
RICHMOND 3.2 8.7 9.10 13.13 (91)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Renouf, Broadbent 2, Stewart, Jacobs, Butcher, Young
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Nahas 3, King 2, Miller, Newman, Deledio, Conca
BEST
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Hartlett, Jacobs, Cassisi, Renouf, Boak
Richmond: I. Maric, Deledio, Tuck, Rance, Nahas, Morris, King
Crowd: 18,552 at AAMI Stadium
Summary: Richmond’s win was built on the back of a powerful performance in the second quarter.
The Tigers seized total control in that term, piling on 5.5 to the home side’s 1.0. Jack Riewoldt, with four goals, Robbie Nahas, three goals, and Jake King, two goals, were damaging forwards.
Damien Hardwick: “We want bigger and better things and I think they’re now beginning to understand that the honourable losses are now no more. I’ve said previously our performance up to this stage was okay, without quite getting the four points, but to come over here and beat Port on their home deck by 37 points; it’s not easy travelling.”
