IT WASN’T as bad as the corresponding round last year, but the result was the same – Richmond appear to have run a struggling Geelong back into form.
In the protective arena of the Telstra Dome, last year’s margin was a massive 157 points, and while this year’s 30 points at a wet and cold MCG was nothing like as bad, the middle of the game was similar with the Cats doing as they wished.
Geelong belted the Tigers in the third term to the tune of seven goals to one, ending the match as a contest. The teams split the final term with the Cats eventually winning 14.15 (99) to 10.9 (69).
For the Tigers, their first pick in last year’s draft, Trent Cotchin, got his first run in the big time when ruckman Adam Pattison was switched out due to the weather. Cotchin did well in the wet, getting four touches in the first term, including a goal with his first touch, a dribbling snap from 20 metres that skidded through, before finishing with two and showing good endeavour throughout the match.
Matthew Richardson was all over the ground in the first half with 13 touches (20 overall), defender Kelvin Moore worked hard against several opponents, but Jake King’s good work was undone by some errors under pressure in the second half.
Super-stopper Cameron Ling fought an enthralling battle with Nathan Foley until Ling and skipper Tom Harley collided in front of the benches late in the second term. Both Cats returned after the long break, and Ling appeared to be shocked into action with a super third term.
Cats champion Gary Ablett returned from a calf injury to show his class on Chris Hyde, leading the Cats possession count at every break and using the ball beautifully, while Matthew Scarlett was his usual dangerous self running out of the backline.
Richmond was clearly the better team in the first term, putting two goals on the board before the Cats had their first, which came when Andrew Mackie cleverly snapped it back to the hotspot from beside the point post for Paul Chapman to mark.
New Richmond forward Joel Bowden then knocked a loose ball on for Brett Deledio to kick his second before David Wojcinski boomed the soggy ball home from well outside 50 to make the margin a slim seven points at the first break.
The Tigers then goaled twice in the first 10 minutes of the second term, both from 50-metre penalties, but with the margin out to 20 points, Geelong fought back strongly in the last 15 minutes of the term, with Ryan Gamble kicking a brace to have the margin at one straight kick at the half-time break.
The Cats cranked it up after the break, kicking seven goals to one, several from defensive errors from the Tigers. Chapman and Ling both slotted a couple, while Bowden slotted the only major for Richmond.
The last term saw the teams trade goals, with the Tigers winning the term four majors to three.
Net week, the Tigers take on Essendon at the MCG, while Geelong face Collingwood, at the same venue.
Richmond 3.2 5.4 6.7 10.9 (69)
Geelong 2.1 4.4 11.12 14.15 (99)
GOALS
Richmond: Deledio 2, Bowden 2, Cotchin 2, Richardson, Edwards, Tambling, McMahon
Geelong: Chapman 4, Gamble 2, Ling 2, Wojcinski, Ablett, Mooney, Milburn, Hawkins, Selwood
BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Johnson, Cotchin, King
Geelong: G.Ablett, Chapman, Ling, Bartel, Mackie, Wojcinski, Scarlett
INJURIES
Nil
CHANGES
Richmond: Pattison replaced in selected side by Cotchin
REPORTS
Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Head, Mollison
Crowd: 37,275 at the MCG
RICHMOND midfielder Mark Coughlan could be forgiven for thinking he is living a Shakespearean nightmare as he battles his body in an effort to get fit for AFL footy.
The 2003 Dyer Medallist had the debilitating groin complaint osteitis pubis, then a knee reconstruction. Then another. Now he’s got hamstring issues that are so severe he’s been sent off to Germany to be treated by the specialist who cured Geelong premiership player Max Rooke’s hamstring: Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wolfhart.
Richmond medico Dr Greg Hickey said Coughlan, 26, would spend a couple of weeks in Germany while being treated.
“Mark had a recurrence of a hamstring injury on Wednesday, and after a fair bit of discussion, we’ve decided with Mark that certainly he was interested in pursuing all avenues, and it’s culminated with him going to Germany, leaving yesterday,” Hickey said.
“As you know [Dr Muller-Wolfhart] is the fellow that treated Max Rooke and a lot of very high-profile European and international sportsmen as well, for soft-tissue injuries of this type.”
Some of the German doctor’s treatments are new and little understood, with the treatment being considered for Coughlan involving an injection of hylart, a mixture extracted from the fleshy crest on cockerels.
Hickey said Coughlan would not be abandoning conventional treatment despite the use of the unorthodox, with club rehabilitation and conditioning coach Warren Kofoed travelling with him.
“I gather it involves the comb of roosters, and things like that, so there’s a few things that are out there and they’re not necessarily proven scientifically,†he said.
“But there’s a lot of people, like Rooke, that have done well, and whether or not it’s got the scientific basis behind it yet, we want to give Mark every opportunity.
“And obviously, he’s still going to be doing the routine things, and that’s why Warren’s there – he’s going to be doing all the things that we would be doing with him anyway.”
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