The final analysis
“We need a little bit of a harder edge,” says Tigers defender Alex Rance, who doesn’t look rapt with his side’s effort tonight but is, as the cliche goes, delighted with the four points. On the other side of the ground, Kade Simpson looks like he’s literally been poked in the eye with a sharp stick.
“Their endeavour was good. Their execution was good,” says Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin of the Blues. “I thought Kane Lambert took his game to another level tonight.” Cotchin didn’t unfortunately, but after only 2 touches in the first quarter he worked his way back into it to finish with 21. Best for the Tigers were Lambert with 28 touches and a goal and Dustin Martin, whose 24 were hard-won.
Patrick Cripps was a monster for the Blues – 27 possessions (17 contested), 10 clearances and a goal. Captain Marc Murphy had 27 and a goal, pairing beautifully with the young star. Jacob Weitering had 17 possessions, 7 marks (3 contested) and a few inside-50s in an assured debut. It’s doubtful that anyone has ever looked so much like a senior player on debut. Sam Kerridge had a lot of the ball, Nick Graham looks much improved and Matthew Wright looks a very handy addition. His 3 goals covered for Levi Casboult’s total inability to convert, though the big guy did try his heart out tonight. Who is his goal-kicking coach?
That’s all from us, but thanks for joining us for all the live action. We’ll be bringing you plenty more throughout this 2016 AFL season.
Richmond win it by 9 points!
Richmond 15.8 (92) defeat Carlton 12.11 (83)
And so ends a truly gripping season-opener. Richmond have got away with it tonight but it was a super effort from Brendon Bolton’s Blues, who should be cheered off by their fans in a minute. Patrick Cripps was a cyborg. Jacob Weitering was entirely calm and assured on debut. Everyone put in. But they just couldn’t finish it off.
No goal but it’s almost over - 4th quarter (0:21 remaining): Richmond 15.8 (92) vs Carlton 12.11 (83)
Carlton get the clearance. Big. Walker almost marks. Then he recovers but his snap on goal is smothered. It’s a hot potato in the Cartlon 50 but Richmond clear momentarily to the flank on the souther side. Under 2 minutes. Vickery can’t gather it. Simpson wins a brave free kick and goes short. Graham goes inside 50. Kerridge handballs. Everitt flies. Houli clears. Just over a minute. Weitering goes long inside 50 to the flyers. But the time is ebbing away. Cripps goaaaaaaoooohhhhhh no. His kick is touched before it goes through. These poor Blues.
Carlton goal! 4th quarter (2:42 remaining): Richmond 15.8 (92) vs Carlton 12.10 (82)
Hmm, maybe there’s some hope now that Everitt goals with a long, raking shot on goal. There’s still time...if they’re good enough.
Richmond goal! 4th quarter (5:28 remaining): Richmond 15.8 (92) vs Carlton 11.10 (76)
Things have stagnated a little but there’s a team-lifting byt Kane Lambert, which also get the Tigers faithful up out of their seats and roaring. He’s got 25 possessions too, Lambert. He’s really stood up in the final term. There follows an unfortunate moment for Kerridge when his clearing kick is smothered and Anthony Miles is put through with a handball. He sprints inside 50 and dobs a neat running goal. Game, set, match? I think so.
Cripps up to 10 clearances. Next best on the ground is 5... #AFLTigersBlues
— Ethan (@ethan_meldrum) March 24, 2016
Richmond goal! 4th quarter (10:45 remaining): Richmond 14.8 (86) vs Carlton 11.10 (76)
Riewoldt misses a snap that might have broken Carlton’s spirit. But then Lloyd gets another – a left foot snap that Jamieson thinks he’s touched. He might have a point, the big Blue, but they give it anyway. That’s a blow for the Blues. They’ve put in a superb shift tonight but might walk away empty-handed.
Richmond goal! 4th quarter (12:59 remaining): Richmond 13.7 (79) vs Carlton 11.10 (76)
Now Sam Lloyd makes a cameo and dobs one for the Tigers. He’s barely been sighted in the forward 50 tonight but he broke one tackle, spun around mark Murphy with a pirouette and then snapped well on his left. Did he need to maek it look that hard? Probably not but it’s a gem for his side. Richmond are coming!
Richmond goal! 4th quarter (14:15 remaining): Richmond 11.7 (73) vs Carlton 11.10 (76)
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t actually aware that Shaun Hampson was out there but here he is with a chance to put a dagger in the heart of his old side with a straighforward shot at goal. Oof, he Casboult’s it wide. That was dismal stuff. No matter, moments later Jack Riewoldt marks in plenty of space, goes back to his mark and jails it. That’s how you do it, Levi.
No goal yet but here’s an update - 4th quarter (16:00 remaining): Richmond 10.6 (66) vs Carlton 11.10 (76)
We’re off and away in the final term and there’s a real heart-in-mouth (or first into seat, I guess) moment for Tigers fans when Kerridge runs towards an open goal but duffs a worm-burner well short. Then there’s a heart-in-mouth moment for Blues fans when Levi Casboult marks 30 metres out, right in front. Bit of a double-edged sword, that one. He goes back. No-one in the joint thinks he’ll kick it. He doesn’t think he’ll kick it. And you know what? He misses it.
Have club memberships ever been handed back before the end of March? #AFLTigersBlues
— Roger Oldridge (@roger_oldridge) March 24, 2016
Three-quarter time - the Blues lead by 9 points
Three-quarter time: Richmond 10.6 (66) vs Carlton 11.9 (75)
Are we going to have a boilover on opening night? Patrick Cripps is grinning like a cheshire cat as the siren sounds for three-quarter time and well he might, he’s got 22 possessions and a goal on the stat sheet and he’ll be among the best players if his side pulls this off.
Carlton goal! 3rd quarter (0:46 remaining): Richmond 10.6 (66) vs Carlton 11.9 (75)
There’s a big fly across a pack from Levi Casboult and though he doesn’t reel in the big mark, Wright wins a free kick 15 metres from goal, right in front, and makes no mistake. Every time Richmond rally, the Blues go with them. I know I’ve said it about a dozen times already but this is a gripping opening game of AFL football.
Richmond goal! 3rd quarter (4:04 remaining): Richmond 10.6 (66) vs Carlton 10.9 (69)
Show Me a Hero – a mildly dissapointing David Simon show and also a call to arms for Richmond right now. Where are the big guns? What are they doing? Oh, here they are. Vickery’s getting involved now but misses a chance. Cotchin handballs, Martin breaks the lines and kicks to Corey Ellis and Ellis snaps a very clever left-footed goal. About bloomin’ time.
Carlton goal! 3rd quarter (6:31 remaining): Richmond 9.5 (59) vs Carlton 10.9 (69)
Oh my word, now Wright’s got another and the Blues suddenly have all the momentum in this game. The pint-sized recruit scampered into the goal square and soccer’d it through. This game is off its head.
Carlton goal! 3rd quarter (6:56 remaining): Richmond 9.5 (59) vs Carlton 9.9 (63)
What catch! Andrew Walker reels in a Schweppes classic here – a one-hander that defied probability. He goes back, shoots low and gets the goal. The Blues have the lead!
Carlton goal! 3rd quarter (8:02 remaining): Richmond 9.5 (59) vs Carlton 8.9 (57)
It’s not all pretty at the moment but it’s a fierce contest and I honestly didn’t think Carlton would still be hanging in there closing in on three-quarter time but here’s Levi Casboult shooting at goal from 30 metres out. His kick is...well...a banana from an angle that demanded a drop punt. It’s bad. It’s real bad. It misses by the length of a stretch Hummer. Never mind, Andrew Phillips marks moments later and puts it through from 25 metres out. As he does, Alex Rance limps off the ground for the Tigers. Uh oh.
Carlton goal! 3rd quarter (11:51 remaining): Richmond 9.5 (59) vs Carlton 7.8 (50)
Dear me. Richmond are all over the Blues at the moment but young Rioli has a horror moment when he claims the advantage when Riewoldt had won a free kick at point blank range but dribbles his own attempt straight into the post from close range. Damien Hardwick is so horrified he can barely look. Worse, Carlton swing it down the other end and Wright wobbles through his maiden goal for the Blues. Will that prove costly?
Richmond goal! 3rd quarter (15:46 remaining): Richmond 9.3 (57) vs Carlton 6.8 (44)
Carlton had a chance to score here but they’ve been punished on the rebound again and within the blink of an eye the Tigers sweep it back into attack and Griffiths pops it over the top for Townsend to slot a simple one through from an open goal square.
Richmond goal! 3rd quarter (18:14 remaining): Richmond 8.2 (50) vs Carlton 6.7 (43)
Finally Riewoldt gets involved when he slips free of Jamieson to mark and then goal from 25 metres out on a slight angle.
Carlton goal! 3rd quarter (18:14 remaining): Richmond 7.2 (44) vs Carlton 6.7 (43)
Okay, we’re off in the second half. Reader Ezra Finkelstein has a valid question: “Is it just me or is Carlton not that bad?” At the risk of igniting the Carlton board on Big Footy, let’s give it ten weeks. Anyway, they’re off to a flyer in this term when Cripps runs into space inside 50, receives a pass and romps his way in to an open goal! Damien Hardwick looks like his car’s just been towed.
Patrick Cripps is going okay
Patrick Cripps Q2: 10 disposals (7 contested) at 90% efficiency, 5 clearances. #AFLTigersBlues
— Ethan (@ethan_meldrum) March 24, 2016
Some stats while I have a minute
The major ball-winners for Richmond have been Dustin Martin and Alex Rance, who both have 13 and have played their respective roles with aplomb. Ty Vickery has 3 goals and in the sense of providing a focal point, has kept his side in it.
Patrick Cripps has been a dynamo for the Blues, crashing through contests and breaking tackles to gather 16 touches, while Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs have 15 and a goal each. Murphy has played like a leader tonight. Big ticks for him. Carlton are +3 for contested possessions, +1 for clearances and +7 for forward entries, which reflects their superb application tonight. The Tigers lead the tackle count by 10 but they’ve been chasing tail a little more often than they might have expected.
Half-time: Richmond rally to lead by 7 points
Half-time: Richmond 7.2 (44) vs Carlton 5.7 (37)
That’s it for the first half. The final minutes featured touches for Cothin and Riewoldt, who’ve been non-factors tonight, but Ty Vickery, Dustin Martin and few mates have stopped the rot in the latter stages of that half and pulled the Tigers back into the contest. It’s an absorbing contest so far.
Richmond goal! - 2nd quarter (3:10 remaining): Richmond 7.2 (44) vs Carlton 5.6 (36)
Vickery’s at it again! This time he leads down the centre and gets on the end of Townsend’s pass. Vickery’s 40 metres out, directly in front, but he makes a hash of his conversion and there’s audible groans. Still, things are starting to happen for Richmond as we approach half-time. And then Vickery strikes again, hanging out the back for a handball and when he gets it, pumping a low kick through for his second consecutive goal. Dustin Martin set that up with some bullocking work.
Cotchin can't find the ball and Murphy just shrugs off two or three Tigers players like they're ghosts. #AFLTigersBlues
— Glenn Valencich (@glennvalencich) March 24, 2016
Richmond goal! - 2nd quarter (6:05 remaining): Richmond 6.1 (37) vs Carlton 5.6 (36)
Carlton press again and Kerridge’s near-mark 15 metres goal features no small amount of courage with a man bearing down on him. He’s been a notable player tonight for the Blues and a handy-looking recruit. Now it’s time for frustration in the Blues coaching box when Vickery is gift-wrapped a shot on goal when his opponent Simon White makes an unrealistic attempt to take a hanger. Vickery’s shot is a tricky one in the pocket but he nails it and teammates rush to his side to celebrate. That was a real team-lifter.
Richmond goal! - 2nd quarter (8:39 remaining): Richmond 5.1 (31) vs Carlton 5.6 (36)
There’s a rather forlorn sight here when cameras pan to Brett Deledio, Ivan Maric and other assorted absentees in the stands. They look like they’re watching a documentary about nuclear waste. Anyway, soon the Tigers rally a bit and Vlastuin streams forward to hammer through a long goal from outside 50. There’s life in them yet.
Carlton goal! - 2nd quarter (9:53 remaining): Richmond 4.1 (25) vs Carlton 5.6 (36)
Andrejs Everitt was the man involved in the highest number of scoring shots for the Blues last year and he salutes again here, marking on a searching lead and converting his set shot from 30 metres out. The Tigers are in trouble here!
Still no goal but here’s another update - 2nd quarter (11:14 remaining): Richmond 4.1 (25) vs Carlton 4.6 (30)
Matthew Richardson is a reasonably sharp fella and he calls it correctly here, I think: Carlton are not allowing the Tigers to control the tempo of this game in any way. To give you an insight, dear readers, I’m controlling my own tempo with cheese. This comes after years of refinement to my live-blogging technique; foods that require cutlery just do not work. Anyway, we’re at a stalemate in this match but it’s very willing stuff – physical and tough. Eventually Sam Kerridge marks on the paint of the 50 but his kick fades right.
No goal yet but here’s an update - 2nd quarter (16:00 remaining): Richmond 4.1 (25) vs Carlton 4.5 (29)
And we’re off in the second term with the main talking point in the break being Trent Cotchin’s 2 possessions, which put him at 11 for his last 5 quarters of league football. I’m sure he’ll work his way in eventually but the Blues just aren’t letting up and now Simpson marks just inside 50 before chipping a pass to Murphy, who is having a far more profitable night than his opposite number but misses this chance. There’s a lovely moment when Daniel Rioli tackles Tuohy and looks like someone’s little brother horsing about. Tuohy just drags him along for the ride like he’s a packhorse.
We had 16 inside 50s to Richmond's 12 in the first term. #AFLTigersBlues #BoundByBlue
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) March 24, 2016
Quarter time in an absorbing game of footy - Carlton lead by 3 points
1st quarter: Richmond 4.1 (25) vs Carlton 4.4 (28)
This is a bloody good game of football so far, just quietly. I shouldn’t jinx it. Richmond aren’t going to be handed a round one win, at any rate. Carlton surged forward again but Astbury marked on the last line of defence before picking out Rance with a long, well-weighted pass. Richmond are typically cautious trying to thread their way out of defence but get there eventually. Sam Lloyd kicks long inside 50 and Edwards flies spectacularly, almost reeling in a screamer. With a minute left the Blues maintain their composure well to avoid any scoreboard damage. As the siren sounds they’re right in this!
Carlton goal! 1st quarter (3:16 remaining) Richmond 4.1 (25) vs Carlton 4.4 (28)
Clonk! Dylan Buckley is a slip of a thing but he’s not short on courage, running into the path of a marauding Rance to wear a bit of a shirt-front. It’s a moment that lifts his side too and Marc Murphy soon wins a free kick 35 metres out near the boundary and snaps truly! Murhpy is leading from the front tonight.
Richmond goal! 1st quarter (4:19 remaining) Richmond 4.1 (25) vs Carlton 3.4 (22)
Well that was a pretty ruthless reply. Richmond sweep it forward and Edwards snaps a short-range goal on his left boot with a little less pressure on him than Brendon Bolton would feel comfortable with. Dustin Martin is getting stuck in to his opponents now too.
Carlton goal! 1st quarter (4:49 remaining) Richmond 3.1 (19) vs Carlton 3.4 (22)
Walker has missed an absolute sitter for the Blues. It was a quick clearance out of the centre and a long bomb, at the end of which Walker out-positioned his man to mark but from 15 metres he’s just butchered it. But fear not, Blue fans, Matthew Kreuzer soon has the ball in his hands inside 50, and fluttering about like a ballerina, works his way into position to snap a goal! Carlton have the lead!
Carlton goal! 1st quarter (6:12 remaining) Richmond 3.1 (19) vs Carlton 2.3 (15)
There’s all sorts of pressure on Weitering in Carlton’s defence but he keeps his composure well to evade a tackle, fire off a handball and spark a rebound along the wing. Seconds later it’s in the hands of Gibbs, 40 metres out on a 45-degree angle. He dobs it! Carlton aren’t too shabby at the moment. They’re really taking the game on. Will they maintain it?
Richmond goal! 1st quarter (7:48 remaining) Richmond 3.1 (19) vs Carlton 1.3 (9)
There’s a bit of niggle around the contest in this game – lots of those little if-I-use-my-elbow-it’s-not-a-punch stuff and a bit of overzealous tackling, which is certainly the case when Ty Vickery marks a fraction outside 50 and gets slung to the ground by Michael Jamieson. It’s a 50-metre penalty when Sam Rowe infringes on Riewoldt in the goal square and Vickery hammers it through to get his side going again. He’s looking the goods tonight.
Carlton goal! 1st quarter (9:47 remaining) Richmond 2.0 (12) vs Carlton 1.3 (9)
Richmond are going forward in waves so both Riewoldt and Kamdyn McIntosh get half a sniff of a goal before the Blues clear. Marc Murphy has a couple of forward entries and the second ends up in the arms of Matthew Wright, who is 35 metres from goal on the boundary at the southern side. He approaches his shot at goal methodically but it floats rather ineffectually across the face to be rushed through. Moments later Tuohy squirts a pass around the corner and Jed Lamb marks it 25 metres from goal before leaning back on the kick and putting through his first six-pointer as a Blue! Carlton are hanging in there.
Updated
Richmond goal! 1st quarter (12:54 remaining) Richmond 2.0 (12) vs Carlton 0.2 (2)
There’s a bit of end-to-end stuff now as both sides settle into a bit of rhythm. Casboult is the big target for the Blues and Patrick Cripps is especially hard at the contest so far. But the Tigers are a little slicker when they transition from defence and helmeted big man Ben Griffiths lopes through the half-forward flank region before picking out Menadue 20 metres from goal. He makes no mistake to convert it! This is going to plan now, you’d have to say.
Richmond goal! 1st quarter (15:51 remaining) Richmond 1.0 (6) vs Carlton 0.2 (2)
Oof, Dylan Grimes does even worse than Casboult with Richmond’s first blast at goal, which came after a 50-metre penalty but no harm, no foul: Carlton cough up another when Bryce Gibbs harasses Lambert after he’s marked it. From point blank range Lambert gets the Tigers away!
No goals yet but here’s an update anyway - 1st quarter (16:51 remaining) Richmond 0.0 (0) vs Carlton 0.2 (2)
And we’re away! Gibbs gets it forward to Nick Graham, who goes inside 50 quickly and ex-Crow Matthew Wright bananas through a behind from a tight angle. There’s a big tackle from Kreuzer on Cotchin and I think the umpire was a little charitable to the big Blue in awarding him the ball but he’s due a bit of luck. It’s all Carlton to start with – they trap it inside 50 nicely and build a wall to cut off the clearing kicks.
Andrew Walker gets slammed into the fence and probably doesn’t need to milk it to get a free but does anyway and soon Murphy is picking out Levi Casboult 35 metres from goal, directly in front. In other words: danger territory. His agricultural shot on goal only just scrapes in for a minor score.
Updated
The toss
Is won by Trent Cotchin and the Tigers will kick towards the city end. Let’s do this!
One thing that’s beyond doubt tonight
There’s no better club song. End of conversation. No correspondence will be entered into.
Yellow and black!! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLTigersBlues pic.twitter.com/Bziu2mLIlc
— AFL (@AFL) March 24, 2016
Tigers banner says "the dawning of a new age of Richmond supremacy".
— Riley Beveridge (@RileyBev) March 24, 2016
A bit lazy to re-use the same banner for the 16th straight year imo.
Braithwaite update
Not exactly the Sex Pistols at Lesser Free Trade Hall, is it?
That's the way it's gonna be little darling 🎶🎶 #AFLTigersBlues pic.twitter.com/Tjw91PiiJR
— AFL (@AFL) March 24, 2016
As both sides break through their banners
Phil Withall arrives with our first reader email of the night. “Evening Russell, possibly the only time I’ll write to an AFL MBM, unless my family are watching Dance Moms or some such nonsense, but I have a question that I hope you can answer...”
Err, I’ll be honest, I’d want to run your Collingwood-themed question past the lawyers, Phil. All I’ll say is this: just say no ... Look, I’m not going to tell AFL players how to live their lives on this one.
Ezra Finkelstein is having his say too. “It has been a long time since my Eagles were beaten by the Hawks at the G, now It’s finally time to see Carlton’s delusional finals hopes dashed.” Carlton have finals hopes???
Updated
And another note on music
In case you didn’t know, tonight’s match has some genuinely baffling pre-game entertainment: Daryl Braithwaite singing his hit ‘Horses’ accompanied by, yeah you guessed it, some horses. And we thought ‘the year of the fan’ was already done...
Another note: Barry Rowlings presented Daniel Rioli and Jacob Townsend with thei jumpers down in the bowels of the MCG and it was a lovely moment. They get a presentation box and all. How young do AFL footballers look these days? Depressing...
Happy footy season
I don’t know about you, but I can’t get started on a year of football without listening to this bad boy. Let the 1990s wash over you.
The stage is set #AFLTigersBlues pic.twitter.com/WBXoeWBq5P
— AFL (@AFL) March 24, 2016
Welcome to AFL season 2016!
Yes, at last it’s upon us. Tonight is the night we finally can ditch the home renos and gardening, delete those remaining 30 for 30 docos off the recorder, say goodbye to our loved ones for six months and settle in on the sofa for the real, proper stuff - these sweet, potentially-misleading opening round games in which all our hopes and dreams move us a little closer to either delerious fulfilment or abject misery.
Tonight we have Richmond – possible finalists this year – against Carlton, more likely to be final....spot on the ladder. But that’s all part of the gig. You’ve gotta go up to go down and tonight Bluebaggers can at least revel in the debut of No1 draft pick Jacob Weitering, who is already turning grown adults to goo with his imposing physical prowess and calm manner. Also making their first appearances for the Blues are Jed Lamb, Sam Kerridge, Matthew Wright and Andrew Phillips.
Aside from the obvious, Tiger fans will be most excited tonight by the debut of Daniel Rioli, whose great-uncle was the Premiership great Maurice. His cousin Cyril goes okay too. Rioli will wear Maurice’s No17, which is a lovely bit of footy romance. He’ll also provide plenty of pace and forward pressure once he makes his way out there. Jacob Townsend is the other newbie for the Tigers.
Now, to our teams tonight...
Richmond: David Astbury, Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes, Nick Vlastuin, Bachar Houli, Brandon Ellis, Connor Menadue, Corey Ellis, Kamdyn McIntosh, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt, Sam Lloyd, Ben Griffiths, Shaun Hampson, Jacob Townsend, Trent Cotchin, Daniel Rioli, Anthony Miles, Ty Vickery, Steven Morris.
Carlton: Jacob Weitering, Michael Jamison, Zach Tuohy, Bryce Gibbs, Sam Rowe, Dylan Buckley, Sam Docherty, Nick Graham, Kade Simpson, Jed Lamb, Levi Casboult, Patrick Cripps, Blaine Boekhorst, Andrew Walker, Sam Kerridge, Matthew Kreuzer, Matthew Wright, Marc Murphy, Andrejs Everitt, Andrew Phillips, Ed Curnow, Simon White
Other news: there’s a drug scandal brewing at Collingwood according to the Seven network, who allege that 11 players have tested positive to an illicit substance over the off-season break. Watch this space.
Russell will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a snippet of what he had to say about the 2016 prospects of Richmond, one of the clubs bestowed with the honour of getting the AFL season up and running:
One issue that surely played at least some role in Richmond’s third successive exit in the first week of the finals [last year] was that despite their abundance of statistically elite players (Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Alex Rance, Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Shane Edwards and a few others would be dream recruits for most sides), the Tigers’ depth from spots 16-22 in the senior side isn’t all that flash, especially when momentum is against them. The hope is that those players – Ben Griffiths, Ben Lennon, David Astbury, Sam Lloyd and Jake Batchelor among them – are young and determined enough that more consistent and well-rounded performances might follow.
Read the full Tigers preview here, and one for the Blues here.
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