Match

Richmond vs Melbourne

Commentary / 24 Apr 2022

Pre Game

00:00
The Demons have won 11 of their past 14 games at the MCG, conceding just 63.5 points per game in the process. They kept Richmond to 48 points in the corresponding game last season, winning by 34 points.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:04
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Shai Bolton)
02:14
Trent Cotchin has had an immediate impact, winning the only two clearances and his team's lone intercept possession, which launched the Tigers' first goal.
04:20
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
05:32
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Dion Prestia)
06:44
The Tigers have applied four tackles from five attempts (80%). They have recorded a tackle efficiency of just 49.6% this season - ranked last.
09:24
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
10:13
Melbourne has been inaccurate early, scoring two behinds from four shots at goal.
11:14
Richmond is on top at stoppages, winning the first four clearances. It has lost this differential by 6.8 per game this season - ranked 17th.
12:11
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
14:12
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Tom J. Lynch)
14:22
Tom Lynch boots his team's second goal, sourced from a kick-in. The Tigers have generated 20% of their score from defensive 50 chains this season - the third-highest percentage in the AFL.
15:50
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
17:00
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
17:10
The Demons continue to be wasteful in front of goal, scoring 0.5. They have recorded a scoring accuracy of 61.1% this season - ranked sixth.
22:57
Nick Vlastuiun has won four of his team's 10 intercept possessions. He won a team-high 10 in his return from injury last round.
23:57
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
26:37
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Toby Nankervis)
28:20
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
28:30
Melbourne has grabbed five marks inside 50 approaching quarter-time. It has taken 12.8 per game this season - ranked fourth.
30:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
31:48
A late Sam Weideman goal keeps the Demons' perfect first-quarter record intact. They are the only team to win every opening term this season.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
03:01
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jason Castagna)
04:32
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
06:03
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
07:23
Richmond is absorbing the Demons' attack conceding just two behinds from seven Melbourne entries this quarter.
08:43
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
08:53
The game is being played in the Demons' forward half. They have recorded 23 disposals in their forward half this quarter, 16 more than the Tigers.
10:03
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
13:25
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
13:35
Melbourne is extending its lead one point at a time. It has now scored five behinds from 11 inside 50s this quarter. The Tigers have generated just two inside 50s in this period.
15:43
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
15:53
Charlie Spargo breaks the goal drought. The Demons have kicked three goals from 29 inside 50s (10.3%). They scored a goal from 23.8% of their entries from rounds 1-5.
18:00
This quarter has been played on the Demons' terms. They have dominated at stoppages, winning eight clearances to the Tigers' two, allowing them to keep the ball in their forward half and generate 15 inside 50s to two.
19:51
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jack Graham)
20:01
The Demons have dominated the second term with 15 inside 50s to the Tigers' three, however, both teams have scored one goal each.
21:05
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
22:12
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
22:22
Richmond has generated three inside 50s following a Demon behind and booted two goals from these entries. The Tigers have kicked six goals from kick-ins this season - the second-most in the competition.
26:03
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Liam Baker)
26:13
The Tigers have been beaten at stoppages this quarter, winning five fewer clearances than Melbourne (5-10), but they have kicked the only goal from this source.
28:10
The Tigers were able to get the game back on their terms in the last 10 minutes of the second quarter, breaking even in contested possession (10-10), winning the clearance count by two (4-2), and generating four more inside 50s (6-2), kicking three goals from their entries.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:37
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Tom J. Lynch)
00:47
The third quarter has been the Tigers' best this season, winning four and scoring 140 points - the third-most across the opening five rounds.
02:15
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ed Langdon)
03:12
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
03:57
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Shai Bolton)
05:39
Demons Interchange - Harrison Petty off due to an injury.
05:56
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
06:06
Sam Weideman breaks a streak of four consecutive Richmond goals. He has not had a lot of the ball, winning just four disposals, but he has had an impact, recording three score involvements, including kicking two goals.
10:01
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
10:43
Nick Vlastuin has now won a game-high nine intercept possessions - three more than any other player and five more than any teammate.
13:07
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
13:58
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ed Langdon)
14:08
With that goal to Ed Langdon, the Demons now lead the third quarter by nine points. They have not lost a third-quarter this season.
15:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
16:02
Melbourne is now getting rewarded for its dominance. It leads the clearance differential by five (6-1) and the contested possession differential by 12 (26-14) this quarter and has generated six more inside 50s (11-5), kicking three goals to the Tigers' one.
19:07
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
21:06
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
21:16
Bayley Fritsch was quiet in the first half, recording just two disposals and having no impact on the scoreboard. He has won five disposals this term, with four of these involved in a score for his team, including kicking two goals and assisting another two.
23:37
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
24:54
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
25:04
Liam Baker has won three clearances, with two of these launching his team's only goals from this source.
26:58
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
29:21
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jayden Hunt)
29:53
Melbourne won the contested ball by 15 in the third quarter (38-23) and was able to better connect with its forwards, taking six marks inside 50 from 21 entries. Bayley Fritsch grabbed three of those marks inside 50. The Tigers have taken four for the game.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:59
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
04:50
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
05:00
The Demons have now booted six goals from their last 22 inside 50s after kicking just three goals from their first 35 entries.
08:56
Clayton Oliver has won a game-high 18 contested possessions - four more than any other player, as well as 10 clearances - also a game-high. He has won 8.2 clearances per game this season - ranked second in the competition.
10:35
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
13:33
Demons Interchange - Luke Dunstan off due to an injury.
14:17
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Riewoldt)
14:27
Melbourne has conceded just 47 points. Since the start of last season, the Demons have conceded just 63.7 points per game - ranked No.1 defensively.
19:32
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
20:16
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Daniel Rioli)
20:26
Another goal from a kick-in to the Tigers. They have now scored three goals from this source - a season-high for the club.
22:37
Clayton Oliver is up to 41 disposals for the game. It is the third time he has recorded 40 or more disposals in 130 career games.
23:32
Demons Interchange - Joel Smith off due to an injury.
28:00
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
29:42
Melbourne starts the season a perfect 6-0, winning this game by 22 points. Its victory was set up with a five-goal burst in the third quarter, which it won by 24 points. Clayton Oliver finished with game-highs for disposals (41), contested possessions (22), clearances (13) and inside 50s (nine).