AFL Round 17: There’s fight in the Tigers yet

By Josh Barnstable

I go about my usual Sunday ritual: waking up to the sound of my alarm at 9.55am, just enough time to go nab the papers, return to my room and watch AFL Game Day, followed by the Footy Show. After an hour of the Footy Show, I decide to help myself to some leftover pizza from the previous night. Then it’s back to my room where I listen to the pre-match antics of the Triple M commentary box. I also keep my ear out for the scores between Melbourne and Sydney. I boldly tipped Melbourne to defeat the Swans on a ground where the Swans would hold a slight advantage. By half-time of the match it seems over for the Dees. It won’t stop me from staying up late to watch the first quarter of the replay on Seven.

But back to the Bombers and the Tigers; Richmond run out looking a different side. For one, because Shane Tuck is not playing for the first time in ages, and two, the Tigers are wearing their clash strip, which I had my doubts about it but it looks OK. Ben Cousins and Trent Cotchin return to the team that drew with North Melbourne last week. Had they been playing last week, the Tigers would have been gunning for two in a row today. Nathan Brown also gets his chance to grab a position in the team and hopefully head into 2010 with a new contract. He just hasn’t been the same since Round 10, 2005 when he snapped his leg.

The first quarter begins and the Bombers have a goal on the board after just two kicks, with Scott Lucas kicking the first after a free kick to Paddy Ryder before the ball has been bounced. The Tigers reply through Jack Riewoldt and Jake King before Mark McVeigh snaps a goal to put Essendon back in front. A late goal to Mitch Morton sees the Tigers leading by 3 points, 3.2 to 2.5. Cousins has started in fine form, with 12 touches in the first quarter while Andrew Welsh has 8 for the Bombers.

The second quarter starts and Jason Winderlich gathers from a stoppage and snaps a goal to give the Bombers back the lead. The Tigers get on a roll, though, with Riewoldt snapping a goal, Matt White somehow kicking a goal from 45m out that barely bounces through, Brown crumbing a pack in the goalsquare, Riewoldt getting on the end of a Richard Tambling run-and-kick which was very reminiscent of Phil Manassa and finally Brett Deledio kicking a big goal from 55m out. The Tigers lead by 29 points, not quite the 42 points they led by this time last week but still commanding. The Bombers claw back, though, with late goals to Ryder and Adam McPhee that sees the margin at half-time cut to 16 points, 5.6 to 8.4. Cousins is up to 19 possessions while Brent Prismall and Jobe Watson are on 15 disposals.

I take time out at half-time to make myself a quick Milo and return to the telly. The third quarter begins and the Bombers continue their momentum, with early goals to Ricky Dyson and Lucas cutting the margin to 3 points. Daniel Jackson replies for the Tigers with a running goal out of the centre before Andrew Lovett kicks two in a row to give Essendon a one-point lead. Kyle Reimers then goals, giving the Bombers a 6-point break. The Tigers reply with goals through Riewoldt twice and Jayden Post kicks the first goal of his AFL career; about time, it seemed he was there abouts in each game. The Tigers would have been feeling nervous though, as go into three quarter time with a 12 point lead, 12.9 to 10.9.

The final quarter begins and Riewoldt kicks his sixth goal to snuff out any Essendon revival in my opinion, especially when Post kicks his second. The Tigers lead by 23 points. Ryder kicks his second goal. Worry Richmond fans? No, Morton steadies the ship for the second time in two weeks with a goal, taking the margin out to 22 points. Courtenay Dempsey kicks a goal on the run, followed by a Brent Stanton goal after some clever work by Winderlich. The margin is 8 points.

Worry Richmond fans? YES!

The final minutes are frantic. Reimers takes a courageous mark and kicks a goal to cut the margin to 5 points. I feel bad for all the Richmond supporters who are above 80 years of age, and the Essendon supporters in that bracket as well. With the ball driving long inside the Essendon 50, they need a mark. Matthew Lloyd is off with a heel complaint and gone are the days of a Lucas screamer, if the days were ever present. They need Winderlich to take a specky, Davey to crumb a pack, Reimers to do the unthinkable. They need Jay Neagle in the side. The Tigers have Jarrod Silvester, Will Thursfield, Luke McGuane and Adam Pattison to take the mark and save the Tigers from defeat. Then a little player jumps out and marks. It’s Shane “Tich” Edwards. Of all the players to take a game-saving mark in defence, it’s little Tich. He clears the ball, the siren sounds, the Tigers win by 5 points, 15.11 (101) to 14.12 (96).

Rivalry Round has been a big hit this year, and today’s result certainly didn’t disappoint. I knew I should have picked Richmond today. I bloody knew it!

As I write the final details on my notepad, my kitten bounds into the room and jumps on my bed. She twirls around me, being Mrs. Nice Kitty so can get a pat. As I continue writing, she is distracted by my pen. She takes one swipe at it, connecting with my hand. Blood falls on the page. There’s fight in the old tiger yet, or in this case the young kitty.

Essendon 2.5—5.6—10.9—14.12.96
Richmond 3.2—8.4—12.9—15.11.101

Goalkickers:

Essendon-Ryder 2, Lucas 2, Lovett 2, Reimers 2, Stanton, Dempsey, Winderlich, McPhee, McVeigh, Dyson

Richmond-Riewoldt 6, Morton 2, Post 2, Jackson, White, Brown, King, Deledio

Best:

Essendon-Welsh, Ryder, Lovett, Prismall, Fletcher

Richmond-Riewoldt, Cotchin, Cousins, Nahas, Post, Deledio

Crowd:

47,412 at the MCG

Votes:

3: Jack Riewoldt (R)
2: Trent Cotchin (R)
1: Andrew Welsh (E)