Richmond has suffered a fourth straight defeat of the home and away season, falling to Melbourne by 33 points in a disappointing display at the MCG on Sunday night.
Three Demon goals to close the first quarter, and another to Jack Watts at the start of the second term, gave Melbourne an advantage which ultimately proved too much for Richmond to ever peg back.
While Richmond improved their industry for most of the remaining three quarters, Melbourne had an answer for every challenge and consigned the Tigers to a 1-4 record after five rounds.
The effort needed to continually chip into the deficit, but never take the lead, played straight into the Demons’ hands as they withstood the Tiger challenge and accelerated further ahead in the last term.
"I thought they looked a class above us tonight," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said after the game.
"We've got some work to do, we just couldn't bridge the gap. We probably had enough inside 50s but our ball use across the arcs was not quite to the level of the opposition."
Jack Riewoldt was one of the main contributors in keeping Richmond in the contest in the second and third quarters as he kicked three goals, including two from 10 disposals in the third term.
The loss of the Tiger spearhead with a rolled left ankle at the two-minute mark of the final quarter didn’t help the cause; and although he would return for the end of the match, his impact from that moment on was limited.
Alex Rance was another who battled in defence, playing his part in keeping young Demon forward Jesse Hogan goalless. However, the reigning Jack Dyer Medallist will come under scrutiny from the AFL’s Match Review Panel for contact made with Watts’ head in the last quarter.
Richmond can ill-afford to lose their star backman from a defence which has conceded over 125 points in the past three games – the first time since Rounds 20-22, 2009.
Captain Trent Cotchin continued his strong recent form, winning 32 disposals, 20 of which were contested, ten clearances and laid six tackles. Unfortunately for the skipper, the midfield battle was dominated by the Demons, with ruckman Max Gawn providing the majority of hit outs (47) to the advantage of Jack Viney (37 touches), Dom Tyson (31 and two goals) and Nathan Jones (26).
In assistance to Riewoldt, livewire forward Sam Lloyd and tall target Ty Vickery each kicked three goals after quarter time as well.
At the other end Jeff Garlett (four goals), Watts (three) and Bernie Vince (three) were the main goalkickers for Melbourne, as they saluted for the third successive time against Richmond.
After the two teams came together in solidarity as a mark of respect for the pre-game Anzac Day eve ceremony, the game itself was at times spiteful, as melees broke out on the quarter-time siren and in the aftermath of Rance’s final term action.
Former GWS teammates Jacob Townsend and Anthony Miles of Richmond and Dom Tyson and Tomas Bugg of Melbourne were never far away from the fracas, but it would be the Demons’ pair who had the last laugh on this occasion, as they ran out victors in front of a crowd of 59,168.
Townsend took his place in Richmond’s starting 22 in place of veteran Brett Deledio who was withdrawn pre-game due to a lack of preparation.
Richmond host Port Adelaide next Saturday night in the first of three consecutive MCG home games. Each team will enter the match with just one win from their opening five rounds.
Richmond 2.3 7.5 11.9 14.12 96
Melbourne 5.1 11.3 14.7 20.9 129
Goals
Richmond – Riewoldt 3, Lloyd 3, Vickery 3, Edwards, Chaplin, Martin, B.Ellis, Miles
Melbourne – Garlett 4, Vince 3, Watts 3, Gawn 2, Tyson 2, Brayshaw, Bugg, Salem, Harmes, Frost, Kent
