Richmond VFL is back on the winners’ list after defeating Port Melbourne convincingly at ETU Stadium.
After falling to Geelong by 17 points last Saturday, the Tigers responded strongly on Friday night to beat Port Melbourne by 49 points, 4.15 (39) to 13.10 (88).
In a physical contest that saw 168 tackles laid between both sides for the match, the Tigers started well via Joel Garner (24 disposals, three marks, eight tackles and four clearances), Kaleb Smith (22 disposals, seven marks and five tackles) and Matthew Coulthard (19 disposals and five marks).
Sam Banks was a standout in a half-back role on Friday night, racking up 37 disposals to go along with nine marks, three tackles, four clearances and a goal.
In a tightly contested opening quarter, the hosts converted two goals through Sam Davidson and Mohammad Yassine to take a narrow lead into the first break.
A positive for the Tigers was the performance of AFL-listed Category B Rookie Oliver Hayes-Brown.
In his first official outing in Tiger colours, he performed admirably in the ruck with 13 disposals and 43 hit-outs.
After an 18-minute period of no goals in the second term, Harry Scott broke the deadlock.
Goals from Nicholas Collier, Campbell Gray and Josh Pollocks quickly followed to make it four in-a-row for the visitors.
A dominant seven-minute period gave the Tigers a 27-point buffer heading into the main break.
The Tigers started the third quarter just as they ended the second and piled on five unanswered goals.
Like his performance against Geelong in Round 10, Pollocks was lively in the forward half for the visitors.
He hit the scoreboard with two goals and showcased his aerial prowess with two spectacular marks on the night.
A highlight in the quarter came from Sam Banks, who launched from outside-fifty to convert for his side.
Tom McCarthy (18 disposals, four tackles, three clearances and one goal) took advantage of the undisciplined hosts on the stroke of three-quarter-time to extend his side’s lead to 56 points, and to make it nine goals in a row for his side.
In the final term, the Tigers saw out a strong victory away from home with two majors from Sam Davidson to extend the final margin out to 49 points.
Davidson was influential on the night, finishing with four goals from his 16 disposals.
Richmond now move to a six-and-four record in season 2024, and have an improved percentage of 102.3%.
They will look ahead to their next challenge against Box Hill next Saturday, June 15 at the Swinburne Centre.
Port Melbourne 0.4 1.9 1.11 4.15 (39)
Richmond 2.3 6.6 11.7 13.10 (88)
Goalkickers: Davidson (4), Pollocks (2), Gray, Collier, Scott, Yassine, Banks, Green, McCarthy
Best: Banks, Davidson, Garner, Smith, Hayes-Brown, Green, Wilson
