Round 2 – Richmond v Gold Coast: It was close until it wasn’t

Richmond up against the Gold Coast in an early Saturday afternoon game at the MCG in March wouldn’t normally hold a great deal of appeal for a ‘neutral’ viewer. But after having watched the Suns dispatch Geelong in their opening round clash I was interested to see how these Suns stacked up away from home on the hallowed turf of the ‘G’. There is also the ongoing interest around the Petracca move north and his early season form.

This was a game that the Suns were expected to win, and win well, and if they want to continue playing at the pointy end of the season it is matches like these in which you need to get the job done with the minimum of fuss, then get on the plane home with the four points in the bag.

Fair play to the Tigers though, they showed up to play, and once they got some opening jitters out of the way, really took the game to the Suns. Halfway through the second term they find themselves a goal up on the more-fancied Suns.

This is much closer than expected, until it isn’t.

With six minutes to go in the first half it is still a one point ballgame (GC 35 – Rich 34), albeit with the Tigers big man Lynch consigned to the pine due to a hamstring issue.

Mac Andrew (no relation) no longer has Lynch to be concerned with and comes up with a turnover on the wing, the rushed kick having been forced further ‘inboard’ than in previous years due to the new last touch rule. The Suns goal via a Joel Jeffrey bomb launched from the edge of the centre square (41 – 34).

Next, it is Mac Andrew again, coming up with an intercept mark in a similar spot to his previous involvement. The ball finds its way forward to John Noble who goals from long range after selling a bit of candy (47 – 34).

The Tigers clear the centre bounce to the wing and from there the ball is pumped in long to the pocket. Ethan Read at 202cm is just too tall in the marking contest. The lad finishes well from the angle (53 – 34).

Half time can’t come quick enough for the Tigers.

The Tigers win the next centre clearance but are missing the big target of Lynch up forward. Nankervis concedes an unnecessary free from a ruck contest and the ball is worked from the Suns left back pocket all to the way to the other end, and a Ben King free kick 20 metres out, straight in front. He does not miss these (59 – 34).

Another centre clearance to the Suns, and again Ethan Read is just too tall when he gets in front at full stretch (65 – 34).

And just like that, the game is done as the half-time siren rings out.

The Suns don’t need to get out of third gear from here in.

Touk Miller just keeps running on top of the ground the longer the game goes on.

Bodhi Uwland continues to get plenty of it (Brothers Bodhi and Zeke, hats off to Mr and Mrs Uwland and their choice of names! That is gold! Please let them have a sister named Moon Unit!).

King kicks an easy seven goals from his eight kicks.

The only downside is when Petracca throws Brownlow Medal markets into a frenzy by retreating to the bench to apply ice to a hamstring. (We hear that he has “hamstring awareness”. Huh? Was he not aware of his hamstrings previously? Has he just been taking them for granted all this time?)

The Tigers still have a long way to go, but there are positive signs.

Harry Armstrong clunked a beauty in front of Mac Andrew during the third quarter and then finished off his work by goaling. At 19 years of age and 195cm he has a lot of upside.

Sam Lalor is another 19 year old that shows plenty of class with the ball in hand. Being a number one pick comes enough pressure as it is, then add to that the Richmond number 4 jumper. That’s a lot of weight for a kid to carry!

(I am surprised to see that he is listed as 188cm midfielder, a centimetre taller than his predecessor Dusty, but also a centimetre taller than the champion centre half-forward Royce Hart. Also, an alarming eight centimetres (or 3 inches) taller than the centreman Geoff Raines. Young people these days!)

At the end of the day, the Suns did what they needed to do. Let’s hope that for their sake Christian Petracca pays more attention to his hamstrings going forward. Maybe just even compliments them every now and then.

There is one other thought that I would like to share in closing. I had reason to be wandering the grounds of Adelaide University on Friday afternoon (the boy wonder was receiving his second degree) and happened to be in the vicinity of the Uni Bar around 3pm. I heard Steely Dan’s Reelin’ In the Years blasting out of the outdoor PA as the youngsters from here, there, and everywhere enjoyed their Friday afternoon in the sun. There is hope for the world yet. Do with that as you wish.

Take it easy.

RICHMOND 2.2 5.4 8.5 9.6 (60)
GOLD COAST 2.2 10.5 14.9 19.14 (128)

GOALS
Richmond: Campbell 3, Prestia, Lefau, Vlastuin, Armstrong, Ralphsmith, Lalor
Gold Coast: King 7, Read 4, Graham, Rogers, Jeffrey, Noble, Long, Miller, Powell, Clohesy

BEST
Richmond: Short, Lalor, Campbell, Taranto, Hopper
Gold Coast: King, Read, B.Uwland, Collins, Petracca

INJURIES
Richmond: Lynch (hamstring), Nankervis (hamstring)
Gold Coast: Petracca (hamstring)

LATE CHANGE
Richmond: Kane McAuliffe (illness), replaced in the selected side by Tyler Sonsie
Gold Coast: Nil

Crowd: 30,468 at the MCG