Caddy boots six as Tigers forced to fight against Saints
When Richmond and St Kilda last met, under the roof of Etihad Stadium in round 16 last year, the Saints stormed to a 67-point win. It was a moment when the Saints had supposedly signalled they would be a threat in September, while questions were again asked of the Tigers. How things would change.
The Tigers, as we know, would surge to an unexpected premiership, and are firmly in the race again. The Saints, well, they had won only three more times heading into Saturday's clash between the two sides but opportunity beckoned at the MCG. Jake Carlisle may have found himself on report eight minutes into the first term for a forearm strike to the head of Jack Riewoldt in a marking contest, but the heavy hit meant the star Tiger was sidelined for the rest of the match. Bachar Houli then complained of groin soreness, his afternoon ending late in the second term. The door was open for the Saints. Would they burst through?
Trailing by 13 points at half-time, they would at least unlock the door, capitalising on a controversial score review which denied Jack Higgins a goal in the opening minutes to boot the next four. Finally, they would have reward on the scoreboard. Their run and carry was exemplary, a 21-3 advantage in handball receives 10 minutes into the term highlighting their dominance. But, by the time the term ended, the Tigers - as elite teams more often than not do - had settled and regained the momentum.
While the Saints, also missing the injured Brandon White for much of the second half, would continue to fight, they would not have the necessary skills and would lose by 28 points despite having 74 more possessions.
The Tigers found goals from expected and unexpected places in the pivotal third term. Nick Vlastuin, goalless until this point of the season, would deliver successive majors. Caddy, who would finish with six goals and seven tackles, would take a strong mark in front of Hunter Clark and convert, and when the yellow and black faithful rose as one when Dustin Martin punched through a low 50m bomb, they were back in control. The door was again shut.
"They (Saints) had a crack. It's always tough after a six-day break. We lost Jack and Bachar - it was good to get away with a win," Caddy said.
"We just all had to take our turn playing as a key forward. Dusty spent time down there, Cotch as well. We have to keep evolving as a side. Our foundations are the same but we have to keep evolving."
Cotchin was a major factor. He had nine touches in the third term, including six clearances, reinforcing his elite status and willingness to work hard. He would finish with 32 touches, including 17 contested and nine clearances. Midfield opponents Jack Steven and Seb Ross would also find plenty of the ball and Jade Gresham was a threat all day inside 50, booting six, but the Tigers had greater polish - an issue for the Saints all season.
Turnovers were again a factor for Alan Richardson's men, particularly in the defensive half. They also found themselves down an extra man for most of the final term when Jack Newnes took a heavy hit. This had been a test of wills, with the Tigers taking the Saints' best hit but surviving.
Paddy McCartin, donning a helmet in his return from concussion, worked his way into the contest but would finish goalless and unable to quell Alex Rance. Young defender Bailey Rice and Ed Phillips were impressive and shape as factors in the Saints' long-term future, for that's all there is for this year is now about building blocks.
The Tigers had showed no early signs of fatigue coming off a loss to the West Coast Eagles in Perth. Martin and Cotchin were busy early but the Tigers struggled to capitalise on the scoreboard. Caddy converted the free kick to Riewoldt, who had left the field wobbly and would not return. While Riewoldt's absence was a significant blow, the Tigers still had their speed. Butler would boot two before the break but the Saints demonstrated they were up for the contest.
They began to dominate the clearances, and would slice through their opponents in the second term but, typically, their woes inside 50 continued. From 21 inside 50s, they would manage only 2.3. McCartin and Tim Membrey's troubles in front of goal continued, with the former even opting to kick a set shot across his body from 50m near the boundary rather than opt for a traditional drop punt. It's been that sort of season.
Membrey did goal from a handball receive in the goalsquare, while Gresham provided some reward through a set shot from 30m - but it wasn't enough. Rance was dominant inside defensive 50, his double-fist clearing punches as good as a kick. The Tigers had threatened to open up the contest. Caddy roved well in the opening minutes to extend the lead, and when Cotchin neatly side-stepped an opponent in front of goal, the Tigers were in control. The Saints, with Jimmy Webster, Steven, Ross and Phillips finding plenty of the ball persisted, but a steadying goal from Caddy in the shadows of half-time ensured a two-goal buffer.
RICHMOND 3.3 6.4 10.9 15.15 (105)
ST KILDA 2.0 4.3 9.5 12.5 (77)
Goals: Richmond Tigers: J Caddy 6 D Butler 3 N Vlastuin 3 D Martin 2 T Cotchin. St Kilda Saints: J Gresham 6 T Membrey 2 J Billings J Lonie J Newnes J Steven
Best: Richmond: Caddy, Rance, Cotchin, Martin, Ellis St Kilda: Webster, Steven, Gresham, Ross, Phillips
Umpires: Dean Margetts, David Harris, Robert O’Gorman
Official Crowd: 48,850 at MCG.
Votes:
8: Josh Caddy (Richmond)
8: Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
8: Alex Rance (Richmond)
7: Jade Gresham (St Kilda)
7: Jack Steven (St Kilda)