Match

Melbourne vs Richmond

Commentary / 03 Aug 2019

Pre Game

00:00
Until Round 15, the Demons averaged a goal from just 17 per cent of their inside 50s (ranked 18th in the league). In the past four matches, Melbourne has converted 27 per cent of its forward 50 entries into a goal (ranked third).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:44
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Shai Bolton)
06:03
Richmond's ball use has looked very clean in the opening minutes, with only two turnovers committed from 34 disposals to this point. In contrast, Melbourne has turned the ball over six times in just 21 disposals.
08:17
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jordan Lewis)
09:01
Melbourne opens its own account through Jordan Lewis after Dylan Grimes was penalised for holding the man in front of goal. The Tigers have infringed on three occasions this term, with two free kicks called for holding the man.
09:37
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Corey Wagner)
10:29
The Demons have won the first three centre clearances of the match, with the latest through Petracca setting up their second goal. In the past month Melbourne has outscored its opposition by an average 7.2 points per game launched from centre clearances (ranked third).
12:29
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
12:58
Melbourne has owned the play in the seven minutes since Richmond kicked its first. In that time the Demons have won all three centre clearances, setting up 87 per cent time in forward half, generating all six forward 50 entries and three consecutive goals.
18:25
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Mabior Chol)
18:52
The Tigers have already taken four marks inside forward 50, with their entire score of 13 points generated from the resulting shots. Across its past five wins, Richmond has averaged 13.8 marks inside forward 50 per game (ranked first in the league).
21:22
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Harrison Petty)
25:00
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jack Graham)
25:59
Although both sides have won eight clearances apiece, the Tigers have won just three clearances forward of half way and launched goals from two won from throw-ins.
28:36
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Shai Bolton)
29:10
Richmond edges clear late in the term to take a one-point lead to quarter time. Both teams were wasteful with disposals, with the Demons (2.8) and Tigers (3.2) averaging fewer disposals per turnover than the league average (5.2).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:26
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Shai Bolton)
04:16
Demons Interchange - Jake Lever off due to an injury.
04:27
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
06:17
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kyle Dunkley)
07:50
Richmond supporter will be ruing Jack Riewoldt's set shot miss, as the Demons have transitioned directly from the resulting kick-in for Kyle Dunkley to kick his second career goal. This season, Melbourne has launched a score from 10 per cent of its kick-in chains (ranked equal-second).
08:43
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Tom J. Lynch)
08:58
Tom Lynch has kicked truly from a set shot outside 50 metres to edge the Tigers in front again. The Richmond forward has now attempted eight shots from outside the arc this season, returning three goals and two behinds.
09:58
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
13:32
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Josh Caddy)
15:06
Josh Caddy is welcomed back to the Richmond side with a goal, in his first game since Round 15. This term the Demons have won three more clearances but the Tigers are moving the ball more efficiently, averaging 36 extra metres gained per turnover.
15:44
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Tom J. Lynch)
17:24
The Tigers are making the Demons pay for their turnovers, launching 3.2 (20) from 12 intercepts for the term. Jayden Short has played a pivotal role in these passages, winning four intercepts himself with two resulting possession chains ending in goals.
18:25
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
20:25
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Angus Brayshaw)
21:09
The Demons have put two consecutive goals on the board, launched from successive midfield intercepts resulting in marks inside 50. Melbourne has now taken five marks in that zone, returning 4.1 (25).
23:32
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Shai Bolton)
24:23
Richmond's ability to transition from defensive 50 to forward 50 this term has been a feature, successfully doing so on three from six attempts (50 per cent). This is well ahead of the league average transition rate this season of 19 per cent.
27:48
A second successive quarter closes with both sides kicking three goals apiece, and Richmond's lead is out to three points. Both sides lifted their disposal efficiency in the term, with all six goals launched from defensive half possessions.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:11
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Kane Lambert)
01:32
As rain begins to fall, it has not been a good start to the second half for the Demons. All three of their kicks to open the term have been ineffective, with the dumped torpedo from Sam Frost landing on the chest of Bachar Houli, who in turn hit up Kane Lambert.
03:17
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jordan Lewis)
03:32
Max Gawn is having a large impact around the ground, now with seven intercepts and a game-high five intercept marks. The latest, marking Nick Vlastuin's kick back into play, has launched Melbourne's first goal for the second half.
06:32
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Ivan Soldo)
07:39
Not to be forgotten in the ruckmen discussion, Ivan Soldo has hit a kick off the ground from the forward 50 throw in straight through the middle. Playing his 17th senior game, this is just Soldo's fifth career goal, and first from general play.
08:32
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
11:00
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jack Graham)
11:17
Richmond is imposing itself in the wet conditions this quarter, winning five more clearances than Melbourne and setting up eight extra forward 50 entries. The Tigers have generated 78 per cent time in forward half this quarter.
14:19
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Harrison Petty)
15:23
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
15:56
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Dustin Martin)
16:32
It seems Dustin Martin is improving week after week as we head towards finals. After a season-high 38 disposals last week, in this term the 2017 Brownlow Medallist has won three intercepts and a clearance on his way to eight disposals, four forward 50 entries and 251 metres gained.
18:40
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Dion Prestia)
19:28
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Dan Butler)
21:29
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Daniel Rioli)
22:03
Richmond has seemingly adjusted more effectively to the wet conditions, lifting its kick-handball ratio to 1.86 from 1.27 before half time. In this term Dustin Martin has gained 277 metres individually, almost a third of Melbourne's tally combined (884 metres gained).
25:55
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Tom J. Lynch)
26:13
Melbourne is finding it very difficult to transition out of its backline, with Richmond winning 12 forward half intercepts for the term. The Tigers are tightening their grip on the match, with 13 extra forward 50 entries for the quarter and nine scores to three.
29:49
Melbourne has particularly struggled in third and fourth quarters all season. The Demons have now been outscored by 134 points in third terms, and heading into this final stanza they have been outscored by 147 points in fourth quarters (ranked 17th).

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:27
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Shane Edwards)
02:30
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
04:02
In a bleak season, Bayley Fritsch has been a shining light for Melbourne in the forward line. Across the past month, the Demon forward has recorded 59 points of scoreboard impact, comprising both his own scores and assists (ranked first at his club).
09:51
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
10:00
Although they have struggled in a number of aspects this season, the Demons have managed to average 3.8 more inside 50s than their opposition (ranked fourth). It is telling that in his match, Richmond (60) have entered forward 50 double the number of occasions as Melbourne (30).
12:14
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Daniel Rioli)
14:04
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
14:34
Dustin Martin has reached 30 disposals or more for the 60th time in his 219-game career, and added a goal from outside 50 metres for good measure. He has delivered the ball inside 50 on 11 occasions, just one behind his personal best.
17:35
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kyle Dunkley)
19:12
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Corey Wagner)
20:24
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
23:03
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Shai Bolton)
23:22
Since half time, Richmond has taken 11 marks inside forward 50 in comparison to just four by Melbourne. The Tigers have kicked 6.2 (38) from set shots in the second half, of their total 7.9 (51).
27:22
Six individual Richmond players have recorded more than 400 metres gained, led by Bachar Houli with 629 metres gained helped by his 21 kicks and two running bounces. Only one Melbourne player has recorded more than 400 metres gained.
28:36
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
28:52
Richmond has recorded a 33-point victory to mark its sixth in a row, and fourth successive win against Melbourne. After half time the Tigers gained 679 more metres than the Demons from just four extra disposals, while committing eight fewer turnovers.