Last Quarter Surge Downs the Dees
Richmond vs Melbourne
| Team | Goal | Point | Score |
| Richmond | 12 | 16 | 88 |
| Melbourne | 11 | 9 | 75 |
Analysis
A last quarter surge by the Tigers has helped them win their 5th game of the season, joining ladder leaders Adelaide and Geelong sides.
The game was played in front of 85,657 fans on a cold and wet night at the MCG as part of the ANZAC eve match.
Jack Riewoldt kicked Richmond’s first goal of the game after great team play. It was his first of 6 goals for the night. The rest of the first quarter went goal to goal with Melbourne leading at the first interchange.
The second quarter was no different. Melbourne had been first to the ball, but was unable to make use of its Forward 50 entry differential, only leading by a goal going into halftime.
After the main break, it was the great intent by the Dees which allowed them to once again be first to the footy and use the ball more efficiently when going into the forward line. After a great third quarter performance in which the tigers fell asleep, the Dees went into the last quarter with a 20 point advantage.
When the fourth quarter started, it had looked like Melbourne would keep the tigers out of the game and go ahead to win its third game of the season. But the Tigers had other plans.
A tactical change by the coaching team spurred the Tigers to change their game plan and play a more efficient brand of football. Living up to their name, the Tigers pounced on every opportunity that came their way.
It was Tigers gun Full Forward who started the tigers comeback with an early opposite foot snap early in the fourth quarter. Minutes later after another great team build up, it was the young liveware who kicked the goal and continued the Tigers fight.
The Tiger army were on their feet and with a goal to the tiger faithful favorite Dustin Martin, they were within a point. Fear was starting to overtake the Demons, and with another goal to Jack Riewoldt, the Tigers hit the lead. The Inside 50 count was reversed thanks to the late push by the Tigers, with the tigers leading the count 12 to 2 in the last quarter.
A Counter attack by the tigers with Josh Caddy snapping truly over his head put the remaining hope the Dees had to bed. It was a truly spine tingling moment as the tigers, spurred on by a great last quarter performance and the thousands of fans there to give their support, the tigers went on to win the game 12.16.88 to 11.9.75.
I was lucky enough to be in attendance as the Tigers, after a bad first three quarters, played an absolutely prolific third quarter, to beat the Demons in front of a record crowd.
The Tigers face the Adelaide Crows next week at Adelaide Oval. It is the clash of the titans as the two undefeated teams come together to battle it out.
The Demons face The Bombers at Etihad stadium.
YAS
