Richmond’s bid to end an MCG win drought dating to July last year has fallen short, unable to hang on to a slender half-time lead over an unimpressive Adelaide in a 37-point defeat.
Only 22,123 fans turned up on Mother’s Day to watch the last-placed Tigers lose for the eighth time in nine matches after having a sniff of back-to-back victories when they entered the main break with a 10-point lead.
The Crows’ stars – predominantly Jordan Dawson, Izak Rankine and Wayne Milera, who combined for 35 disposals in the third quarter – took over to put Richmond’s band of kids, battlers and past-their-prime flag heroes to the sword as the visitors piled on six straight goals to avoid an upset.
Put simply, Adem Yze’s injury-ravaged Tigers were spirited, but didn’t have another gear to go to once Adelaide woke from their slumber, although they fought the match out.
Richmond, who snapped their losing streak against West Coast in Perth a week ago, are a long way from the Damien Hardwick premiership teams that won a record-setting 22 consecutive matches at the home of Australian football between 2017-18.
They are neck-deep in a rebuild, one made all the harder because of a league-worst injury list that reached 17 once prized draftee Sam Grlj (managed) was a late withdrawal on Sunday.
Then, defender Tom Brown suffered a game-ending forearm setback in the first quarter.
The Crows are also a shadow of their minor premiership-winning selves from last year, and their general lack of intent was exposed in the first two quarters.
Hard-headed Tiger midfielders Tim Taranto and Jack Ross were the main reasons their side won the contest and clearance battle up to that point, with support from lesser lights such as Kane McAuliffe and Patrick Retschko – and a bit of spunk from Seth Campbell.
Campbell’s brilliant finish while deep in the pocket and running away from goal in the first quarter was one of the highlights of a game mostly lacking in them.
Among the unavailable Tigers were captain Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, foot soldiers Rhyan Mansell, Hugo Ralphsmith, Sam Banks and Maurice Rioli and young guns Sam Lalor, Josh Gibcus, Harry Armstrong, Taj Hotton, Tom Sims and Josh Smillie.
Perhaps, Taranto, Short, Noah Balta, Ross, Tom Lynch, Nick Vlastuin, Nathan Broad, Campbell and Ben Miller – who won his battle with Riley Thilthorpe – were the only first-choice options who played against Adelaide.
Richmond may have done themselves a disservice by claiming five victories last year in a season many predicted them to go through winless.
Critics have come for them, given the perceived lack of progress in their second season under Yze.
However, in reality, this regeneration attempt cannot be properly judged for years yet based on how long it has taken most clubs – including the Crows – to resurrect their fortunes.
More to come
