Match

Geelong Cats vs Richmond

Commentary / 08 Sep 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to MCG for the Geelong Cats v Richmond Round 1 clash.
59:33
Outs for Cats: D.Menzel, W.Buzza
59:34
Ins for Cats: J.Selwood, Z.Guthrie
59:35
Outs for Tigers: O.Markov
59:36
Ins for Tigers: J.Caddy
00:00
Some contrasting strengths for these teams. Geelong has won 37 percent of its offensive one-on-one contests this season (ranked first), while Richmond has won 34 percent of its defensive one-on-one contests this season (also ranked first).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:44
The opening centre bounce going the way of the Tigers but no score resulting from this. Richmond has generated an inside 50 entry from only 64 percent of its centre bounce clearances (ranked second last).
02:41
Richmond has the first three inside 50 entries to start the game, with this territorial control leading to the opening goal to Townsend following a forward half turnover.
03:55
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
04:44
The Tigers have already generated five forward half intercepts, with Geelong struggling to clear the ball fro defence. Richmond has won 29 forward half intercepts per game this season (ranked second).
05:53
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Dustin Martin)
07:23
Richmond lead the contested possession count 14-9, and inside 50 entries 7-1 in a promising start for Tiger fans.
08:25
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
12:13
Tigers Interchange - Alex Rance off due to the blood rule.
12:17
Geelong has steadied winning the last three clearances, and had the last four inside 50 entries, but has not been able to get an answering goal during this period.
14:56
Richmond lead in loose-ball gets (13-5), and this has been an area of strength for the Tigers this season. Richmond has averaged eight more groundball gets per game than its opposition in 2017, which is the second-best differential of any team.
17:15
Both teams currently have kicking efficiency of less than 50 percent, with the pressure (both implied and perceived) causing errors. The AFL average for kicking efficiency is 66 percent, and the Tigers average a competition-low 63 percent.
17:46
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (James Parsons)
22:22
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Josh Caddy)
22:32
The behind to Caddy followed a contested mark after another forward half intercept by the Tigers. Richmond lead 4-2 in contested marks, and the Cats are ranked fourth in this area in 2017.
27:15
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Josh Caddy)
27:43
The second goal for Richmond came from a forward half stoppage. The Tigers have scored from 42 percent of their forward half stoppage clearances this season (ranked third).
28:38
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Kane Lambert)
30:40
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mitch Duncan)
31:06
Geelong has already recorded nine clanger kicks. This season the Cats average only 19 such kicks per game (ranked second).
31:48
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Harry Taylor)
31:51
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
32:01
A great first quarter for the Tigers who lead by two goals due to an advantage in groundball gets (34-22), clearances (12-9) and inside 50 entries (13-10).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:23
Richmond lead forward 50 marks (4-2), with three of these marks taken by Caddy. The Tigers also lead in forward 50 tackles (6-1).
03:43
Richmond has had 10 of the last 11 inside 50 entries, with its forward pressure helping to lock the ball in its half.
04:19
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Dion Prestia)
05:54
The last nine clearances have all gone the way of the Tigers, who are having the game played on their terms at the moment.
08:11
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Kane Lambert)
08:42
Cats Interchange - James Parsons off due to an injury.
11:16
Nick Vlaustin has taken a game-high four intercept marks for the Tigers. Richmond lead 10-7 in this area, and average 17 such marks per game (ranked third).
15:37
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Dan Butler)
15:47
Richmond is continuing to swarm all over Geelong and now lead 10-3 in forward 50 tackles. The Tigers have generated 14 forward half intercepts and scored 2.3.(15) from these opportunities.
19:35
Both teams have applied 40 tackles, but Richmond lead in free kicks for holding the ball 7-1, with its tackles more effective than those of Geelong.
21:00
Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood have had a combined 13 disposals for the Cats. These two have averaged 28 first half disposals this season.
25:38
The Cats finally get on the scoreboard, with a goal launched by a defensive 50 intercept mark by Zach Guthrie. Geelong has averaged 16 points this season from defensive 50 chains (ranked fifth).
26:05
Tigers Interchange - Brandon Ellis off due to an injury.
29:00
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
29:04
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
29:14
The two Geelong guns in Selwood and Dangerfield combine for a crucial late goal to the Cats from a forward 50 intercept. Geelong has scored 1.2.(8) from its nine forward half intercepts, and average 35 points from 25 such intercepts.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:58
Cats Interchange - Cameron Guthrie and is possibly out for the game.
02:33
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
03:57
Geelong is the No.1 ranked team this season for contested mark differential (Richmond is ranked 15th). The Tigers currently lead 6-4 in this area.
07:22
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
08:27
SCORE GOAL - Cats (James Parsons)
08:48
Geelong has won five of the last six clearance, and it was a forward half stoppage win that launched the last goal to Parsons.
10:23
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
10:31
Richmond has averaged 32 points from 83 defensive half chains this season. Tonight the Tigers have scored just 0.2.(2) from 45 such chains, and are relying heavily on forward half chains to generate scores.
12:02
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mark Blicavs)
12:23
Geelong has won the last five clearances and had the last five inside 50 entries, with control of this game heavily influenced by stoppage wins.
14:14
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Zach Guthrie)
15:44
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
15:53
In the third quarter, the Cats lead contested possessions (21-13), clearances (8-3) and inside 50 entries (8-2), but has only the one goal to show for this period of control.
19:10
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Shane Edwards)
21:03
After six consecutive inside 50 entries the Tigers finally capitalise on a forward half intercept with the Vlastuin goal. Richmond has now scored 3.5.(23) from 23 forward half intercepts.
22:49
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Shane Edwards)
23:08
The Jack Riewoldt tackle and free kick launched the last goal for Richmond (again from a forward half intercept). Riewoldt has a game-high six score involvements and five tackles for the Tigers.
25:22
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Zach Tuohy)
27:51
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
28:23
The goal to Hawkins was the second of the night for the Cats to come from a forward half stoppage. Geelong lead the clearances 13-7 this quarter, and have scored 2.3.(15) to 0.1.(1) from this source.
30:52
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Dion Prestia)
31:13
A vital late goal to the Tigers, launched from the defensive 50, was the first goal of the night Richmond has scored from a defensive half chain.
31:50
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
32:00
Geelong has already recorded 30 clanger kicks, which equals the most it has had in any game this season. The Cats have kicking efficiency of only 51 percent, and their previous worst this season was 58 percent.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:00
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
02:57
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Shaun Grigg)
03:09
Four of the last five goals to the Tigers, and with the game starting to open up, the last two goals have come from defensive half chains.
04:11
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Kane Lambert)
04:46
Geelong has outscored its opponents by 266 points in final quarters this season (ranked first). Richmond is ranked fourth in the last quarter this season.
06:04
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Dan Butler)
06:24
Dustin Martin now has an equal game-high nine score involvements, which includes five score assists (an equal season-high for Martin).
08:06
The Tiger fans are celebrating as their team dominates the final quarter. They lead contested possessions (18-6), clearances (4-1) and inside 50s (8-0).
09:44
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jacob Townsend)
11:42
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jason Castagna)
13:44
Richmond has eviscerated Geelong in the final quarter, and kicked 8 of the last 9 goals in the game. The Tigers have had 12-1 inside 50 entries, and won contested possessions 26-10.
17:22
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (James Parsons)
18:30
Geelong has averaged 13 points from centre bounce clearances this season (ranked third). Tonight the Tigers have won the centre bounce clearances 9-5, and lead 7-0 in points scored from this source.
19:47
The Cats have scored just 1.4.(10) from 21 forward half intercepts. This season Geelong has averaged 35 points from 25 such intercepts.
20:57
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Harry Taylor)
21:24
Richmond has scored 6.6.(42) from 27 forward half intercepts. This season the Tigers average 34 points from 29 such intercepts.
22:27
Geelong has been the No.1 ranked team this season for contested possession differential, but currently trail 137-154 in this area. Dion Prestia has a game-high 16 contested possessions (also a season-high for Prestia).
23:34
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Trent Cotchin)
25:24
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
25:59
Trent Cotchin has equal game-highs for clearances (seven) and tackles (nine), and has also contributed the second most groundball gets (12).
28:19
Richmond lead forward 50 marks 17-5, with 12 different players registering such a mark. The Tigers also lead in forward 50 tackles 21-4, with 12 players also contributing in this area.
30:59
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
31:09
A thumping 51 point win for the Tigers, who completely dominated the final quarter scoring more points (45) in this quarter than Geelong did for the whole game. Dustin Martin the star with his six score assists the equal most by a player this season.